Is this worth looking at?

[Reverend Blair]

I put an ad on Kijiji for a JD 318 or other garden tractor with an FEL. This is the only response I've had so far:

I have a Case 446 with Blower, 42 inch Deck, Tiller, 3pt hitch, 3pt rear blade, chains, and manuals power by a 16 horse Onan. Motor went on it this summer and I don't have the valve control for the tiller. Will consider 2500.00 or trade for a good (near new type condition) blower and tiller for my New Holland sub-compact. I would prefer a front mount blower but would consider a rear 3pt.

This would do the jobs I need it for. It's the right size and has a decent reputation. $2500 for something not running though? Seems a little steep.

I'm not familiar with the small Case tractors, so I have questions.

Okay, so the motor "went" whatever that means, and I'd still have to find a loader for it.

Is the motor likely to be rebuildable or am I more likely to be looking at a re-power? What are parts like for 16 horse Onan? Are they pricey? Are they available? What are my options for a re-power? How easy is it to find a loader for these tractors?

I wouldn't mind the scraper blade, and the tiller would see some use, but the snow blower and mower would see little or no use. Is there a decent market for them? How much of the cost of an FEL is that likely to cover?

Help! I'm not even sure if I should call this guy back.

 

[goatman 1]

Not a bad price considering the equipment. However, an Onan that went might prove to be a very costly repair, especially if you can't do it yourself. Last year I built an Onan 18 hp on a Case 448, and the cost of parts was near $ 1100.

 

[Reverend Blair]

Yeah, a little more probing and it turns out that he replaced the cylinder, rings and piston a couple of years ago. I still don't know what's wrong with the engine, but my confidence in it is dropping like a rock at this point. Either he rebuilt it wrong or there's something else going on.

Also, it turns out that an FEL for it, which is what I'm really looking for and what the ad I placed specified, is rarer than hen's teeth around here.

I placed this ad:

I'm looking for a small garden tractor with a front end loader. A John Deere 318 would be the ideal size, but any manufacturer will do. Will consider one that needs repair if the price is right. Will consider other attachments as well.

My replies so far have been this one, a person with an MTD mower, somebody with a "snowblwger" of indeterminate type and origin, and somebody selling a Ford 946, which as near as I can tell is a huge field tractor slightly larger than my house.

Also a man in Australia wants to know if I'm interested in being his friend. You know, I just might be if he's got a shovel.:confused2:

 

[jnelson]

With a blown engine and missing the rear hydraulic PTO valve I think it's worth about 20 - 25% of what he is asking, max. Onans are expensive to rebuild or repair and the PTO valve in good condition can easily run you several hundred dollars. Given what the seller has revealed, how much else might be wrong with the tractor that he is not revealing?

Some will argue that you could piece it out and make back your money by selling the tiller, the 3 pt, and other parts, but that requires that you advertise it and go through all the other pain associated with selling, shipping and getting paid, and why do that unless you can make money doing it? IMO - It might make a good project tractor for someone but not at the price he is asking!

JN

 

[beenthere]

Getting something other than Deere that is that old (as the 318 which was a great classic for Deere) is risky at best.
For a small tractor (318 size) I'd suggest looking at the 400 series (425, 445, 455) with loader. These tractors are a very strong series and handled the FEL very well. They were followed by the X series that could come with 4wd, so in effect they made the 400 series FEL's more available in the used market.

Stick with Deere, my friend...

 

[jnelson]

There's nothing wrong with getting an older Case / Ingersoll tractor in general. Used (and new) parts are readily available and they are one of the most durable and functional GT's available back then or today. I have a 448 with a variety of implements and have never had problems obtaining parts though I am able to do my own repairs. If I had to rely on a dealer to perform maintenance and repairs then I would have to go with Cub or JD - both of which have dealers close to me. In the case above I would warn the OP away from any brand (including JD) given conditions and price similar to those listed in the sellers ad. In fact, the JD 318 also uses an Onan power plant and so the costs of repair or repower would be almost the same.

Interestingly, the Rev indicated in his post that he was looking for a GT with a FEL (which was not part of the package offered by the seller). If the FEL is an important component for him then I recommend that he keep looking until he finds a good deal on a tractor with one installed. I say this because in just about every case I have ever seen it is cheaper to purchase the tractor and FEL as an assembled and functioning set than to purchase one and then the other. This also lets him be sure that everything fits properly, works well, and there are no additional parts or pieces required to make it work. This would apply regardless of the brand of tractor.

JD, Case, and a number of other GT manufacturers offered tractors with a FEL package. In most cases they were heavy duty GT's up to the task of handling a small FEL. I owned a Sears SS-15 with FEL for a number of years and found it both handy and fun to operate. I also found it had limitations regarding the size of project that it could handle and eventually sold it to be replaced by a 28 HP diesel 4 x 4 CUT.

In this situation I'm guessing from reading the OP that the overall package is more important than the specific brand.

JN

 

[mopacman]

The 425 JD get away from the onan and are a more modern engine. Case has a 644, 646, and a 648 that come with a built on loader and are raited at 700 pounds. I have a 646 that is a great machine. The Ingersol brand is a newer case that gets away from the onan engine and has power stearing which is a big plus. Some Ingersols come with loader and 4 wheel drive and are still built in USA.................Larry

 

[jnelson]

I've watched some of the diesel repowers shown on this and other forums. One of these days I think I would like to attempt one on an Ingy 448 or later model. Done correctly I think that a diesel repower really adds new life to the older heavy duty GT's.

JN

 

[Reverend Blair]

Getting something other than Deere that is that old (as the 318 which was a great classic for Deere) is risky at best.
For a small tractor (318 size) I'd suggest looking at the 400 series (425, 445, 455) with loader. These tractors are a very strong series and handled the FEL very well. They were followed by the X series that could come with 4wd, so in effect they made the 400 series FEL's more available in the used market.

Stick with Deere, my friend...

Yeah, I'm quickly coming to that conclusion. There are actually implements/attachments available for them around here too. Loaders are pretty rare though, not least because this is farm country so people tend to buy bigger machines. I'm generally not much of a brand loyalist, but the Cases were rare around here and the Ingersols were non-existent. In this size range, about the only thing that has readily available parts etc. is John Deere.

There's a 455 for sale (loader, tiller, 56" mower, and FEL), but it's more than I really want to spend (about $7K) and it's quite a drive from here. At that price, I'll have to wait until these clowns finish my basement to see if I have enough money left. Of course, at the rate these guys work I'll be pushing up daisies before my basement gets finished. That'll teach me for hiring out a job.

Oh well, I don't really need a machine before spring. I was just kind of hoping to find one now because things are cheaper here in the winter.

 

[jnelson]

OK. I can see how your location could influence your brand decision. I'm in an area where there are a reasonable variety of Case/Ingersoll tractors and implements available.

I still think that your best option will be to find the tractor AND loader together unless you can get a steal of a deal on either or both separately.

Good luck with your search. Let us know how you make out!

JN