Looking for info on garden tractors 🚜

[JD TRACTOR MAN]

I would like to know in your opinion what new make and model garden tractor is made good and can cut 2-3 acres. And I would also like to know what is a good older model tractor,doesn't matter how old that was made good and was reliable and could cut the same amount of acres. Also some names of garden tractor salvage yards that carry older tractor parts as well as sell older tractors that are rebuild. I live in north east Pennsylvania. If anyone knows of any can you please forward me there contact #. Thanks JD

 

[oldnslo]

X4** series Deere was a well reviewed machine but would be getting some age on them. I believe they where replaced with X7** series. Both has diesel engine versions.

Note: some of the Kawasaki engines had plastic cam gears that would break at around 1,000 hr mark usually with no major damage to engine. I know of two that the oil pump drive broke and that caused severe engine damage on both.

I have X540 with 54” deck and I believe it would handle 2 - 3 acres as well.

 

[Yander]

Welcome to the site!

There are a lot of very good GTs out there of all makes, sizes and ages. It would help us to know if there is a budget you are trying stay within though. My answer to your question will very greatly depending on how much $$ you are open to spending.

 

[workinonit]

By cut, do you mean cut grass? Or are you referring to cutting up the land as in disking?

 

[JD TRACTOR MAN]

Welcome to the site!

There are a lot of very good GTs out there of all makes, sizes and ages. It would help us to know if there is a budget you are trying stay within though. My answer to your question will very greatly depending on how much $$ you are open to spending.

Thanks yander to welcoming me to the site you guys have alot of knowledgeable info on here my budget is around $500.00 with some work I can repair to $1500.00 with no work needed. I like to restore old tractors my wife says I am obsessed with it.(LOL)

 

[2manyrocks]

I am inclined to say it would be difficult to find any garden tractor for that budget. There's a guy in Springfield, TN who sells old Gravely walk behinds that could probably sell you one of them plus a 30" brush deck for maybe $1,000. He used to advertise on Nashville Craigslist. There may be someone like him in your area. it will seem like it takes forever to cut 2-3 acres with a 30" deck.

The older Wheel Horse mowers might also be something to look for.

Cub Cadets made by International Harvester were tough garden tractors, but the K series engines in them are getting pretty old these days and there's no easy drop in engine replacement for them.

If you keep the 2-3 acres cut and don't let it get too grown up, you might find a used ZTR or lawn mower more easily.

 

[GeneV]

Thanks yander to welcoming me to the site you guys have alot of knowledgeable info on here my budget is around $500.00 with some work I can repair to $1500.00 with no work needed. I like to restore old tractors my wife says I am obsessed with it.(LOL)

With that budget, buying a new garden tractor is out of the question, but you could probably find an older Craftsman GT for that. Sears sux, but the Craftsman line of garden tractors were very good.

 

[JD TRACTOR MAN]

With that budget, buying a new garden tractor is out of the question, but you could probably find an older Craftsman GT for that. Sears sux, but the Craftsman line of garden tractors were very good.

I agree I have and like the older craftsman garden tractors as well as yard an and John deere. Thanks.

 

[5030]

but the K series engines in them are getting pretty old these days and there's no easy drop in engine replacement for them.

K series Kohlers will outlast you so long as you take care of them Nothing sounds nicer than a big bore K series idling. Make a beautiful sound. I know, I have one.

 

[JD TRACTOR MAN]

X4** series Deere was a well reviewed machine but would be getting some age on them. I believe they where replaced with X7** series. Both has diesel engine versions.

Note: some of the Kawasaki engines had plastic cam gears that would break at around 1,000 hr mark usually with no major damage to engine. I know of two that the oil pump drive broke and that caused severe engine damage on both.

I have X540 with 54” deck and I believe it would handle 2 - 3 acres as well.

Thanks oldnslo I'm going to check out that and a older craftsman, would also like to find an older yardman but the older yardman garden tractors around here seem to be hard to come by. Some say to buy one in my budget would be hard to do but In the past I bought several older models for around $500.00 and rebuilt them and still have them. I am talking garden tractors not larger tractors. Thanks for your advice.