Info on an L245DT

nu2tractors · Dec 14, 2010

Hi folks,
Am looking at an L245DT 4WD and could use help in what to look for and some gen info. Year is unknown as yet but has 582 hours, great rubber, no rust and good paint. No implements. Have not started it up yet but am told it runs fine. I see evidence of leakage on the front gear spindles, more on right than the left but no evidence of leakage anywhere else. Price is $2k. So-with a 5 speed and the 3 speed-how low is low/low? Have seen posts and listing from 20-32 hp--what is it really? Am reading stuff about hyduaulic problems but most seem to be air leak related. Is PTO hyduaulic or shaft? Any other comments or things to look for appreciated.

picker77 · Dec 15, 2010

I ran an L295DT for 14 years until recently when I sold it to get a new JD. Great little tractor. Mine was 4x2 transmission with gear drive PTO, and low/low was REALLY low, which I liked. All mechanical systems worked well with no hassles the entire time. The only problems I ran into were:

Drippy steering-assist cylinder (it's external, easy to get to but parts for it non-existent and hydraulic shops in my area wouldn't touch it because of non-availability of internal seals/parts). Eventually I gave up and just kept a tray of Oil-Dri under it to catch the very slow drip, which was maybe a few teaspoons a month. Don't know if the L245DT had power assist steering or not.

Two freeze plugs popped and had to be replaced (actually, they aren't real freeze plugs, just manufacturing casting plugs in the oil passages, but they look and work the same way). No big deal but will shoot oil four feet sideways and scare the pants off you when they blow.

The thing that eventually made me sell it and move to a new tractor was it didn't have a loader, and to put one on would have been big money. Would have required bolting on a small front hydraulic pump (available, but expensive) to run the loader, plus a third party loader and control valve/hoses, total cost near $6K installed. Obviously hardly worth it for a tractor with a sale value of about half that.

If it doesn't come with a loader, that would be the deal killer if you think you need one someday. Otherwise, for brush hogging/box blading, etc. the LxxxDT series are great little tractors and very reliable, with a good strong 3pt hitch setup. I handled a very heavy Rhino 5' brush hog with mine with no problems at all, the 4WD worked great with R1 tires, and it would pull a full 5-1/2' box blade of dirt or gravel no problem--but I did add a full load of front weights, which are absolutely necessary without a loader on board.