Lawn tractor. Can I ask here?

[shovelmike]

What a deal.

 

[MoPops]

I bought a JD345 a year or two back. Some rich guy advertised it for $150.00. Not sure why he would sell it that cheap. I did not argue, just handed that nice fella the money and got out of dodge. I pull a 60 swisher behind it. Really cuts down on mowing time and the pull behind is great for getting under trees and such. Might be an option for mowing around your pond and keeping your mower farther from the ponds edge.
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Wow! I wish I could have found a deal like yours. $150! The pull behind mower looks great. I will be mowing around the pond this morning. First time with the new to me JD x540. I will see how it does.
I mowed all around the barn and house yesterday. I think it cut the mowing time by 2/3s vs my old Craftsman. So far, I am really happy with it. It takes a while to get used to its overall size and larger cutting deck. But power steering and a very tight turning radius are nice.

 

[beenthere]

In addition to the number of hours you may run into parts availability issues. I have a 2010 Craftsman Garden tractor with a leaky transaxle. Finding a part number is no problem but the part no longer exists - anywhere!! So I can either part it out or dig into the transaxle hoping to find a usable seal. I'm mechanical - I'll fix it. Can you get parts for the Deere? You can get some fairly decent stuff new for the money he's asking. Figure how big a property you need to mow. Many lawn tractor sites will recommend a size tractor suitable for that size property.

John Deere mower products are a world apart from Craftsman.. you won't have a parts problem with the Deere.
The reason Deere products hold their value (easy to look at used prices and Craftsman don't hold value at all) but buying used you are at some risk not knowing what may happen, or that it will run forever.
My diesel 455 has been running for 10 years without an issue, and had 500 hours on it when bought in 2010.

 

[radios1]

I bought a JD345 a year or two back. Some rich guy advertised it for $150.00. Not sure why he would sell it that cheap. I did not argue, just handed that nice fella the money and got out of dodge. I pull a 60 swisher behind it. Really cuts down on mowing time and the pull behind is great for getting under trees and such. Might be an option for mowing around your pond and keeping your mower farther from the ponds edge.
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yeah, it makes sense, I've seen a number of posts where a large tractor was given away for free, too:shocked: sometimes you just luck out!..

 

[fried1765]

Not hot, he bought it new. I have the paperwork. Also, he lived in a very expensive home. Some folks just want to get rid of stuff and are not looking for top dollar.

That just does not pass the smell test with me!

 

[TimberHole]

That just does not pass the smell test with me!

Here is the ad. Does this pass your smell test? The guy lives in about a half a million dollar home which is a few blocks from the low rent district where I live. You think he is fencing hot property out of his own garage? He also gave me some original paperwork with it so if he is a thief he is a thief that provides excellent documentation! He also seemed well educated and well spoken for a crook!

 

[two_bit_score]

Here is the ad. Does this pass your smell test? The guy lives in about a half a million dollar home which is a few blocks from the low rent district where I live. You think he is fencing hot property out of his own garage? He also gave me some original paperwork with it so if he is a thief he is a thief that provides excellent documentation! He also seemed well educated and well spoken for a crook!

Some people just can't stand it that somebody else got a good deal. Enjoy your tractor and ignore the mistfits carping about it. Congratulations!

 

[Beltman60]

Good deals are out there everyday if you look hard enough for them.

Years ago a bought a Bobcat front mounted 72" diesel mower for $500.00 from a guy who lived out in the boonies that a friend told me about.
Now when I say boonies I'm talking about Deliverance out back type place. I wasn't too keen in pulling down his driveway. (washed out dirt driveway)
Anyway He knocked $200.00 off it for my can of dip and told me no one else has ever acquired about it so make it gone.

Get it home and fix a few small things wrong with it and use it about a half of year and decide that the 72" deck is a bit much so go to sell it.
Thought I would make a bit of money on it and priced it at $850.00. I couldn't get one person to come out in over a month of trying to sell it.
I go online to see what the things our going for on the interweb and they seem high to me at $2800. - $4000.
It's getting to the end of the season and I don't want this mammoth thing taking up the barn space but decided to relist it at $2800.
In 4 days I had 8 people interested in it wanting to come from over 4 hours away.
Sold to a local guy for $2500. and he paid me $150. to drop the big SOB off at his house about 15 miles away.

So what I'm trying to say is deals are out there if you look for them, and if you're trying to sell something make sure you price it right or people think something is wrong with it and won't even bother looking at it.

 

[TimberHole]

Good deals are out there everyday if you look hard enough for them.

Years ago a bought a Bobcat front mounted 72" diesel mower for $500.00 from a guy who lived out in the boonies that a friend told me about.
Now when I say boonies I'm talking about Deliverance out back type place. I wasn't too keen in pulling down his driveway. (washed out dirt driveway)
Anyway He knocked $200.00 off it for my can of dip and told me no one else has ever acquired about it so make it gone.

Get it home and fix a few small things wrong with it and use it about a half of year and decide that the 72" deck is a bit much so go to sell it.
Thought I would make a bit of money on it and priced it at $850.00. I couldn't get one person to come out in over a month of trying to sell it.
I go online to see what the things our going for on the interweb and they seem high to me at $2800. - $4000.
It's getting to the end of the season and I don't want this mammoth thing taking up the barn space but decided to relist it at $2800.
In 4 days I had 8 people interested in it wanting to come from over 4 hours away.
Sold to a local guy for $2500. and he paid me $150. to drop the big SOB off at his house about 15 miles away.

So what I'm trying to say is deals are out there if you look for them, and if you're trying to sell something make sure you price it right or people think something is wrong with it and won't even bother looking at it.

My dad and I both spent decades in sales. When one of us has something advertised and it has not sold our standard joke is “need to raise the price”! It is true that the asking price makes a statement about the merchandise.

I have found 2 mowers on that site. The 345 mentioned and a really nice rear engine snapper. The Snapper did not run and they just wanted it out of the garage. Took it home and had it running in 20 minutes. I still mow with it. Have a zero turn I bought for 200. Put a new engine on it for 350. Mower had 42 hours total time. Bargains are everywhere if you look.