Need a Beater Tractor

[pka45]

Hi all,

I知 learning this world but am still new and could use an education. I知 looking for a lawn tractor to be pretty rough on, mowing weedy fields, trails, and maybe even some brush. I know enough to look for an older machine rather than one from Lowe痴! I知 searching the used market and have found a few I壇 like some thoughts on.

The first is a Craftsman GT6000 older model with 18 hp Kohler. Good running condition, asking $850. The next are a few different Wheel Horses, a C125 or a 314, both well maintained. Asking $800 for either.

I know this is limited information, and I haven稚 gone to see either one. What should I look for, and what are your thoughts on those?

Thanks,

Pete

 

[RickB]

Can’t beat an old Wheel Horse.

 

[pka45]

Thanks for he input.

Wow, sorry about the apostrophes!

 

[mark02tj]

I would agree on the older Wheel Horses. You want a "C" or "D" series - one with a horizontal shaft Kohler. Great engines and the tractor itself is easier to maintain than a "B" series with a vertical shaft Briggs.

Stay away from the sheet metal Craftsman. Sears used to bid out their tractor manufacturing to the lowest bidder. MTD and Roper were two of their manufacturers way back when. Even when I was a small engine mechanic back in the 80's, Craftsman tractors were hard to get parts for (belts, pulleys, etc.)

IMHO, for mowing trails, brush, etc., take a look at a Gravely walk behind with a 30" brush hog deck. Those things are monsters!! They will work you, but you can definitely work one of them! Again, you're going to want one with a Kohler in it, not an older model with the Gravely engine. (The Gravely engine is great, but it does require some mechanical knowledge to keep it going.) My 10hp Gravely with the 30" deck will take down 2" saplings without a problem. It will even do a decent job on the lawn. Check out Youtube for some Gravely brush mowing videos.

I'm not big into Facebook, but there are a few Gravely groups on there and folks are buying and selling stuff all the time. I'm sure you could find something in your area.

 

[Thomas]

Yep Wheel Horse Bolens Power King etc. check out Craiglist also auctions.

 

[pka45]

Thanks all.

What years did the Bolens start going downhill?

 

[ChuckT]

Get a grey market Yanmar or similar with 3 point.
A brush deck is cheap enough and if your "lawn" is big enough you can add an estate deck (3 blades) and for your trails you may want a disc.

 

[TractorGuy]

What ever you buy don't get any of the hydro units. Stick with a gear drive in the lawn and garden tractor range machines. I don't know anything about the Wheel Horse but I see a 314-8 gear and a 314-H Hydro listed on tractor data. Someone else may have experience with the hydro of that era and say it's okay. The gear drive would be a safe bet. If it's working now it'll probably be working years from now.

 

[TractorGuy]

Stay away from the sheet metal Craftsman. Sears used to bid out their tractor manufacturing to the lowest bidder. MTD and Roper were two of their manufacturers way back when. Even when I was a small engine mechanic back in the 80's, Craftsman tractors were hard to get parts for (belts, pulleys, etc.)

I've never been a small engine mechanic but I have had a couple of sheet metal Craftsmans. NEVER had ANY problem getting parts but needed very few. Most of the older ones were made by American Yard Products to Sears specs. Give me a good ol sheet metal Craftsman with a gear trans and briggs engine any day of the week if it's in decent shape. The problem with most of those is the light gauge decks are long gone. I think Husqvarna acquired AYP.