Is this a Good Thing?

[yooperdave]

Does anybody here have experience with HONDA garden tractors? This one has some of my interest.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4335848200&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Thanks

Yooper Dave

 

[bontai_Joe]

They were a very well built tractor, but a little underpowered. Unfortunately they are now orphans as Honda hasn't sold ANY tractors in the USA for several years. I hear parts are quite hard to come by and expensive. Also the seller's optimistic notion that he will get $6500 for his machine is just that I think, optimistic. Unless you just GOTTA have it to satisfy some internal genetic urge, I'd probably pass on this and look for something else. especially if the price goes much higher than the $3600 it is sitting at now. You can buy a comparable Deere 400 series tractor with more H.P. and MUCH better parts support than this Honda. See examples below:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50374&item=4335316625&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50374&item=4335319934&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50374&item=4336087762&rd=1

 

[gamble77]

Yeah, parts are hard to come by and very expensive. That is to say, parts are still available but the suppliers (or at least the one we use) is VERY slow about getting the parts to us and once they are there they are a pretty penny. Great machines, but pricey to fix.

 

[Molerj]

I will jump in here too & agree with the parts being outrageously expensive. Just worked on a small lawn tractor. Blades which for the normal tractor are 12.00 were 25.00. Belts are more expensive. I deal with an aftermarket company & if they have them the cost on the Honda products aren't much different than the other parts (MTD,AYP, Murray etc.) The mark-up is way higher. The starter in this tractor cost 356.00 from a local Honda shop. I found it thru an electric shop for 110.00. Same exact Nippon/Denso starter. Go figure. I'm told the same for a Honda automobile. Very well made products, but pricey to fix when things go bad.

 

[twinstackram]

I can agree,I have the smaller version of that being the RT5000 which is an 11h.p. but has everything that the bigger one has. parts are expensive,I bought a 3 point hitch for mine 2 yrs ago for around $325,that's all that I've got for it,other thanbelts,which I started having trouble with this summer,which are $ 45 at the dealer,but what you do is call the dealer and get the sizes you need and go to the parts store for around $7. keep in mind my local Honda dealer does not handle parts nor do they work on these tractors,keep this in mind,because these tractors don't use motors like briggs,kohler or the normal motors you might be use to working on yourself,that could cause problems later on.

 

[yooperdave]

The auction closed for quite a bit less than what the seller was hoping for. If nothing breaks, the buyer got a good deal.

Yooper Dave

 

[bontai_Joe]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The auction closed for quite a bit less than what the seller was hoping for. If nothing breaks, the buyer got a good deal.

Yooper Dave )</font>

It might be a good deal, but I would have passed on it at $3000. Just too hard to find parts and even harder to pay for them. The $4200 plus it sold for would buy a REAL NICE used Deere 400 series, or a great used Simplicity, Cub, Wheelhorse, Ingersoll, etc that parts are still available for. The same money could also buy a decent NEW garden tractor from the same brands mentioned above with no attachments other than the mower.

 

[rugs]

More info about Honda tractors here:
http://www.rugwire.com/honda/
Parts (and attachments) *are* available for these tractors, but, as others have noted, both can be pricey....

These tractors used the same Agro-Tec/RAD quick attach system as used on small Kubotas.

rugs