JD 316

[Anonymous Poster]

I'd love a compact/subcompact and my needs are probably more in line with something like a BX 2200 etc. But I'm building a new home on 25 acres and have to buy all sorts of things at this time. I'm learning that New Houses are hungry for cash!

I've located a mid-eighties JD 316 with an ONAN-TWIN and 50in deck. It has 436 hours on it and is in great condition. The dealer is asking $1795 for it and has full service records.

It's a full hydro unit with front hydraulic capability.

Evidently, the original owner scaled down their requirements and traded this unit in for something considerably smaller.

My acreage is mostly wooded, but I have probably 3 - 3+ acres of rough mowing near the road. The house sets back about 550-600ft in the woods but will have lawn around it as well. Not sure how big yet?

I'll need to blow out the "long" driveway in the winter and would like to till a garden with the tractor.

This might be an interim tractor, or I may decide to keep it even when I can afford something bigger. Is the JD 316 stout enough? It appears to fairly heavy duty.

In the past I maintained the 3+ area with an old JD 110 with a 38in cut. Needless to say it held up pretty well until the 28 year old tranny gave out. However, it took forever to cut that much field grass/weeds.

Any insight would be appreciated. Anything else I should be
looking at?

Wheelhorse
Ingersoll 4000 series (just sold my 3012 with 44" deck - Maybe the JD316 isn't much of an upgrade??)

Appreciate your help!!


Thanks,

Kevin Barrett
Lowell, MI

 

[s1120]

<font color=red>Ingersoll 4000 series (just sold my 3012 with 44" deck - Maybe the JD316 isn't much of an upgrade??)</font color=red>

Well, I think thats a bit of a wash there. The JD will have a little more power, but as you know the Ingersolls are tanks. [I am a bit bised though/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif] But The old 300 JD's are the best they made in my book.[I was looking for a 318 when I found my Ingersoll 444] If it was me, and I was in your shoes 2 years ago, I would look into a 4000 seares Ingersoll, or see if you can find a bit more money and get something with a loader now. Good luck, and have fun.

 

[kubmech]

Kevin, the 316 is a solid unit, the price seems right to me. With your size property you'll be be pushing it some, but if it's in real good shape it should last you
till you can afford to step up to a compact. The JD 300 series tractor ranks up there on my list of the best ever built (with the exception of the 317, only because the 17 hp kohler was a problem child. Later JD came out with a retro kit to install an onan 18 hp).

 

[kbarrett]

As mentioned in a previous post, there is 4016 that I've yet to see with a 48" deck, full cab, snow blower and with the same ONAN-TWIN as the JD316. I'm not sure on the hours, but they want $3995 for the package.

I think I'll check it out. Do you have the snow blower on your 444. If so, does it work well?

Thanks,

Kevin Barrett
Lowell, MI

 

[s1120]

Nope, no snow blower on mine, but I have heard from a few people that they do work well. One good thing about the Ingersolls is almost any attachment from the early 70's on will fit any year tractor. About the only different thing is the switch from left to right discharge of the mower decks when they went from the 44x to the 40xx, ant the 22x, to the 30xx tractors.

 

[TresCrows]

The JD316 sound like an excellent deal--for someone other than you---the key words is "rough mowing", Rough mowing will require something more substantial than a lawnmower intended for a lawn type surface. I have seen people mow rough ground with similar units but it is not a good sight to see, yeah you can do it but you will ruin the machine and be out the bucks that could have been used toward something else. I know I am the not PC person on TBN so why stop now. I am not sure whether you need a BX or a 4100 or a 2410 or bigger but 25 acres, rough mowing 3 plus acres (which will require a small brush hog/rotary cutter) and then a lawn area and then the inevitable recontouring and bed making and maintenence that such a large piece of property will need plus other projects--you need a real tractor, maybe a very small real tractor but a real tractor with 4WD and a ROP and seat belt and a rear PTO for a small brushhog. You will also want a 60 inch or so MMM and a boxblade and possibly a 5 or so foot rear blade. The loader will be well worth the investment. One of my nearby neighbors has spent nearly 10,000 dollars paying people with tractors to do what I have done on my property with my bitsy tractors. He is out the money, I got a tractor so next time it floods and a wash opens up, I just go get the tractor, he will have to call in a tractor for hire or come begging me (since he is now broke that is more likely). Nearly 3,000 dollars for seeding over two years and then another 3,000 for a berm and some dirt work near the patio and smoothing his ditch and then there was the big flood and the wash that cut inot his yard revealing the long gone farmers buried dump etc and then there were the beds etc--it adds up quick!!!!!
The simple answer is no, the 316 is not enough tractor to do what you want to do now or in the future and it will be seriously abused in doing so. good luck, sound like an excellent property you have!!!
J, not PC

 

[pennwalk]

How about a small Yanmar compact tractor or one of the other grays? The small diesels are real workhorses and last a long time. A compact might be more versatile than a L&G tractor. Of course 4WD is a real temptation and it drives the price up. Unless you get the tractor from someone who is selling their whole package you will want to add implements but you can do that as the budget allows.

Chris

 

[kbarrett]

TresCrows,

I'm inclined to agree with you. Just trying to sort out my options. It was interestng when I went back to the JD dealer and inquired about the tractor again, but this time spoke to the mechanic that worked on it since new.

1. He said that it was an 18hp unit (electronic ignition), said that all ONAN TWINS with EI were 18s. O.K... 18 would not
be a bad thing

2. He didn't know that it had an hour meter on it. I had to remind him that it did. That was a major strike against this
guy - - seems that's not asking to much of a mechanic to
know this

3. Said that he thought the tractor would probably go for something like $2500 versus the $1795 quoted over the phone. He mentioned that sales guy might have gotten his tractors mixed up. Hmmmmm..... sounds like the mechanic
has breathed too many fumes as well. I'll verify the info
when the sales guy is back next week. But my enthusiasm
for this particur deal is waning.

$2500 for a 1985 JD-316 with 50" mower add another $900
for a good used blower and we're at $3400.

My father said over and over again while I was growing up (and to this day) not to fall in love with any particular deal. Where there is one, there are many more to choose from.

I'm starting to question this deal... So, I worked up my courage and called the local Kubota dealer for fun and to scope things out a bit.

He said that the BX-2200 with FEL and 60"MMM package was going something like $13,500.00 this seems pretty high compared to what others are seeing elsewhere. Also, a dealer south of town quoted the same. Sounds like high retail to me.

Anyway, he confessed that the tractor would probably go for less once we started wheeling and dealing. We discussed briefly the B-7500 to BX-Comparo. He said that the tractors were similarly powered, but that the B-7500 would have better ground clearance, slightly bigger tractor, and might better suited to larger implements.

I told him that I've heard that the BX-2200 may be better suited to mowing (i.e. more maneuverable etc.). He didn't feel that it would be much different than the BX.

It seems tempting to put 3K down on the deal and finance the rest, but I'm trying to finance less these days and pay cash. I'm concerned with getting upside down in a loan etc. The dealer said that these little tractors hold their value much better than cars and that there is a ready market out there for nice sub-compacts and compacts.

Any knowledge on the depreciation of little Kubotas?

 

[kbarrett]

Pennwalk,

I'm pretty new to the compact tractor scene and have noted quite a bit of enthusiasm on the YANMAR forum. Not sure where to look around here (western Michigan) to get a better look at these.

2WD wouldn't be out of the question, but 4WD (or as some say on TBN "FWD") might be preferred.

What can one obtain a good clean YANMAR in the 18-24HP range for?

 

[kbarrett]

"sound like an excellent property you have!!!"

Thanks, it took me about eight years to pay it off. As you can see from the attachment, it's long and skinny. I've outlined an approximate property line in yellow. The blue rectangle represents an attempt to show where my new house is located.

The open area at the top is where I've maintained the field/grass with an old JD 110 with a 38in deck. What a pain. However, the JD 110 performed the task until it's 28 year old tranny died.

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>Any knowledge on the depreciation of little Kubotas?</font color=blue>

Not much, but I can tell you that in June '95, I paid $8,400 for a new B7100 and $2,450 for the B1630C FEL that came with it for a total of $10,850. In August '99, the dealer wrote me a check for $8,000 for it with something over 400 hours on it, when we had already agreed on a price of $15,500 for me to buy a new B2710 with the LA401 loader.

 

[pennwalk]

Compact tractors are incredibly useful. They are a ton of fun too. The new tractors from the big three are amazing. But for some of us they are just too expensive. That's where Yanmar and the other grays come in. They are much cheaper than the comparable used tractor from the big three. I was at the JD dealer friday. They had a beat JD 650 4WD with over 7000 hours for $3,300 There were puddles of fluid under this unit. You might get a comparable gray in good working order for $1000 less with maybe 800 hours on the clock. I haven't really checked into it but I was thinking you might get a small Yanmar 2WD for $2k or maybe a little less if you shopper hard. Also remember that 18 hp in a gas L&G tractor is completely different than 18 hp in a diesel compact. I have a 14 pto hp Yanmar and I run a 4' bushhog. I can cut down and chop up anything the tractor can run over. I can probably run the tractor over 8 hours on a 4 gal tank of fuel. I know I have seen Yanmar dealers in Michigan but I can't remember where. You might want to ask in the Yanmar forum. There is a dealer list thread and I know there is a good guy over in Dixon Ill.

Chris

 

[TresCrows]

I certainly have nothing against grey market tractors, my concern in this case would be resale and parts and service and warranty.
Yes, it has come to my knowledge that tractors such as the Kubotas and JD offerings and the NH (the big three I suppose) hold their value. Yes, there will be a depreciation the moment you haul it away but you get a warranty also. No, Kubotas and other compact utility tractors do not depriciate in the same manner an automobile does. For one thing car styles change and this matters to many folks, it does to me but I could really care less if the newest Kubota comes out with tail fins or the latest JD has a digital tachometer, who cares and therefore there is no styling driven depreciation. Lot of other things impact this also but again, no it appears reasonable to say that tractors do not loose their values as quickly and completely as do autos.
Yeah, despite what my TBN 7500 friends might think, I believe you may well should opt for the B7500. I will tell you this despite what the dealer thinks, it will not mow nearly as well or be as user friendly to operate but then you get some real advantages also like more clearence, a wider span on the 3-point, a torquier engine and the ability to use the R4 tires which will be great in your wooded area. Nothing worth while is ever easy or cheap.
J

 

[pennwalk]

I am not an expert but all these small diesel compacts are going to last so long that they may well out live any one owner. Especially if reasonably well cared for. A small tractor that is desirable now is very likely to be desirable when you want to sell it. Think about a ford 8N. They have an astonishing resale value. There are variables but some people have been able to buy a gray and resell it later for what they payed. I guess where you save is in assuming a little more risk. We are all pretty sure that JD will be there when you need them with qualified mechanics and parts. For me it comes down to budget. For just a little more that the 316 you might find a gray compact but any kind of a big 3 compact is going to be a lot more.

Chris

 

[JDIOWA]

Kevin,

Nice aerial. Looks like you have a little work cut out for you if you want that second access road to run to your back door.

CFB

 

[kbarrett]

Property goes right up to I-96 to the south. I-96 is a main East West interstate in lower michigan. I thought it would be pretty cool to have my own exit ramp off of the interstate.

This Exit
Kev's Place!
(Kaution, Kids, Kanine, and Kev on his Kubota)

Well, the Kubota part is still a dream at this point!

 

[kbarrett]

Dealer also mentioned that this particular ONAN-TWIN has electronic ignition. He said that all ONAN-TWINS (with electronic ignition) in the JD 316 are 18HP.

Anyone verify this?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The mechanic was correct about the 316 having a 18 hp Onan. Essentially the JD316 was the same as the 318, but without power steering and having only one spool of hydraulics. That is if this particular 316 was a 1984 to 1992 316. JD did produce a 316 in 1978 for one year only, that came with a Kohler engine.

 

[kbarrett]

Thanks TREED!

It is from the mid eighties. It's still in the hunt too.
$1800.00 is pretty reasonable. However, I'm still looking.

 

[kbarrett]

Wouldn't you know it. They get the get the 316 all prepped and prettied up and all of sudden the price grew from $1795 to $2200. The hours aren't bad, and it is an 18HP Onan (electronic ignition) just seems to be getting a little steep for the age ( I could be wrong though).

If it were a JD318 that might be a different story. What are your thoughts. Good deal, or just use the money towards something a little more in line with my needs? (i.e. bigger tractor).