JD 400 Impulse buy

[97widerider]

Call me crazy but I just purchased a JD 400 in good shape that runs really good. Here is what makes me crazy. I know NOTHING about these tractors. A farmer had is for sale on the side of his property and it looked nice. I used it to cut part of his yard and everything worked great. Beautiful cut. No smoking or sputtering. The think went like 8 - 10 mph.

Here is all I know about it: It was made in the mid eighties, has a twenty something horsepower Kohler engine that is a new replacement engine with only a few years on it. The owner took it to a local lawn mower dealer here who does repairs on all brands. He kind of has a reputation for embelishing what really needs to be done and talked the man into a new engine. When he went back for the old one a few days later, he found out from someone else it just had a bad coil. It has two speeds to the rear axle. It is hydrostatic and has hydrolic 60" deck. The deck was purchased two years ago and looks it. I paid $2600 for it. He wouldn't budge of that.

Someone tell me please what did I buy here.? Did I at least get a fair deal? I plan on using this to cut 2.5 acres. Thanks.

 

[TimS]

Nice tractor, and a decent price for one that's in excellent shape, as you say this one is. It should do very nicely for your 2.5 acres. The only downside to the 400 is that it's kind of an orphan in the Deere line, so attachments made for it will not fit the 420/430, and vice versa. That makes attachments hard to find and expensive - but if you're just going to use it as a mower, you should be pretty happy with it.

Get yourself over to weekendfreedommachines.com if you want more info.

Tim

 

[97widerider]

Thanks for your reply TimS. Does this mean parts for it are no longer available or hard to find? As far as attachemnts go, I only plan on using ground engaging attachments like an aerator or dethatcher. Another question: Are the Kohler engines used in older model Deere's different than ones used today in riding mowers? Don't the JD garden tractors today use Kawasaki engines?

 

[TimS]

Thanks for your reply TimS. Does this mean parts for it are no longer available or hard to find? As far as attachemnts go, I only plan on using ground engaging attachments like an aerator or dethatcher. Another question: Are the Kohler engines used in older model Deere's different than ones used today in riding mowers? Don't the JD garden tractors today use Kawasaki engines?

I meant that very few attachments come on the market for 400s, because there weren't very many 400s made, and the attachments for other, newer Deere garden tractors are not compatible. But again, that may not be an issue for you unless you need a tiller or loader or something. Towable attachments such as you mention are no problem.

The older Kohlers are completely different than the current Deere's, which (I think) are either Kawasakis or Yanmars.

But again, go over to weekendfreedommachines and you'll get all the info you need.

Tim