Need Lawn Tractor Recommendation

[rebmo]

So, I stepped down/up?? I found a JD 96ish GT262 in great shape for a little less than 1k with a 17hp kawa and a 48" deck. I rode around on it in the sellers 5 acre yard for some time and up and down some hills just a bit steeper than the ones I'll be cutting at our new home on the side of the house (exposed basement). This GT was owned by a retired school teacher and he used it for a few years. His son bought him a Dixie Chopper ZT and he uses that now. So instead of 4k on a 3200, im at 1K,but an older garden tractor, but a good one.

Then I found a 1978 Allis Chalmers 718 tractor with a fully rebuilt 16hp Kohler motor on it and a hardly used chasis. These originally came with the 18hp troublesome Kohler motor, and that's what blew early on with this one (dropped a valve and then sat).The chasis is in better shape than most 5 year old LT/GTs I was looking at. All metal and a LSD, fully infinite hydrostatic tranny, full roller deck, and runs/drives real tight. The motor was cold to the touch and fired right up. I rode it around for quite some time and it did a great cutting job on the owners thick lawn, and had power to spare.

So the JD runs around 7mph, and the AC around 5mph, but I figure my wife on one and my son on the other, our 1.1 acres should get cut in about .5 hours.

Back to reality. Since I'm not really sure what I need, I didn't spend $4k yet. I hope with the redundancy and not a really big lot, I can get the job done for a while rotating these 2 GTs. Eventually I will probably go to something newer, but who knows. I have decent mechanical skills and access to a toolroom so I should be able to keep these GTs running for a while. I'd like to find a snow blower attachement and tiller if any show up for a decent price in decent shape, and that will really help.

Thanks for all the thoughts, sorry if I took a turn in a different direction but it should work fine for the short haul.

Reb

 

[Wolfy]

Reb, A-Cs were built by Simplicity. Only real difference was tinwork and paint. Built like tanks. My A-C was made in 1968. Wouldn't trade it for a 2008. The Simplicity dealer support is premium. You really can't go wrong. Make sure you keep the hydrostatic fluid filled, and change it once in a while. It will last forever.

 

[Don87]

So for now here is what I ended up doing. I found a JD GT262 in great shape on CL for a littl over 1K$ and got it for $1K. I was able to try it out on steep slopes at the sellers home and it did great. I figure I will start with this GT and see how it works before sinking over 4K in a LT/GT that may not do the job as needed.

Thanks for the advice and info, I'll keep ya posted on how it works out.

Reb

Please do

 

[rebmo]

Thanks Wolfy,

Do you know if this snowblower attachement will fit my 718? I think so but not sure. I don't have the manual yet, the owner has and is digging for it.

He may sell it separate.

Simplicity Riding Mower

TIA for any advice on the blower,

Reb

 

[Wolfy]

Yes, that blower should fit. The holes in which the blower subframe pin to are the same holes the mower hangs from. However....bear with me here...I also have a 3410 and a 3414. They look exactly like the 3415 in your picture. (again, excellent tractors) They have a blower just like that. No matter what I do, I can't use it much. The belts constantly stretch, overheat, and rip off. I really hope it is just my blower, and not Simplicity blowers in general. I can tell you they push snow plows well. But, one minor drawback to a great brand.

 

[jenkinsph]

Rebmo,
Sounds like you did alright.:thumbsup: Nothing wrong with used equipment, when you think about it it is all used when you get it home.

 

[Don87]

Rebmo,
Sounds like you did alright.:thumbsup: Nothing wrong with used equipment, when you think about it it is all used when you get it home.

Thanks buddy...............Now I have 18,000 dollars worth of used equipment. You just busted my bubble.:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[rebmo]

Well fellow tractorites, your advice was sound.

The JD262 worked flawless for the balance of this summer and climbed the steep inclines on either side of my exposed basement ranch. It was a little scary at first but after carefully navigating the slope, I only went up and backed down on dry lawn only. The JD 262 is a smooth rider and is comfortable for the 50 minute 1 acre lawn mowing adventure I have each week. My neighbors let it go 2 weeks, but I like to keep it looking nice and hit it every week except 1 where it was super dry and almost no growth. The JD 262 is set to side discharge and not mulch so weekly runs are needed to keep the clipping discharge to a minimum size. I have some areas back by the channel that runs from the lake that are peat laden and really produce some thick heavy fast growing grass. The JD throws quite a load out going through those areas. So the JD starts right up, runs strong, and really flies at full speed. Great recommendation and fine machine for 1K.

Now the 78 Allis Chalmers 718. Truly a gem. I'ts not as comfortable as the JD but close. But there is something about riding an all metal machine, and the sound of the 16hp (not original) Kohler that makes it a pleasure. I do have a bit of trouble keeping it at full throttle to get through the thick grass and chop it good, so I push the throttle lever with my knee. Over winter I'll have to look at that and see if I can get it to hold the full throttle position. It tends to drift back from full to about 80% which is just a tad shy of where it needs to be to go through the thick grass. This machine puts a nice pattern on the grass. I haven't messed with angle cut yet but I'll try in spring when the grass is growing full tilt.

So far so good. Only put gas in both of them. Im sure the creature comforts are nicer on the late models, but for 2k and 2 machines ensuring a backup, I'm really happy I went this way.

I have the AC run out of gas for the winter and the batter will come out tomorrow. The JD is next.

Thanks again for all the advice, hope to be able to help others with your great advice.

Reb

 

[Don87]

Glad to hear that it all worked out for you.

 

[rebmo]

Update on the Garden Tractors:
92 JD GT-262 Solid tractor now. Fixing the crankcase oil leak went a long way as far as belt performance under the tractor. I used all JD OEM belts and that made a huge difference. Well worth the $$. This season I replaced the 2 front tires with some turf tires and that went pretty good with a couple tire spoons. Changed the oil and it's been running strong and going through the thick spring bluegrass without issue.

I've been working on the 78 Allis Chalmers 718 GT and that is one tough machine. I kept burning the belts (deck and drive belt) on that machine. I started with an OEM drive belt, and still the deck stalled. I then pulled the deck off, removed the covers and replaced the OEM Belt on the deck. I greased the Blade spindles and they were all free turning. The problem turned out to be the idler pulley. It was as close to frozen as could be. Once the cutting began the deck belt (cheapo thin black one from PO) started smoking on the idler. I oiled the idler bearing and freed it up and it spins like new. I packed some grease on top of it and will monitor as the cutting season goes on. The AC is a real pleasure to use and it's great having 2 backups now.

I like having tractors I can fix and don't have to throw out after a few years. I contemplated a snow blower and leaf/grass collector but have backed off on that. My drive is easily handled with a 4 stroke Toro paddle blower which does a great job. For leaf and grass collection I picked up a Agri-fab 42" tow behind sweeper. A little tricky to assemble but once assembled correctly it does a great job. It seems to work best levelled out and running at near top speed. The higher speed seems to work best. At lower speed it just doesn't throw the debris hard enough. My neighbor has one too which I tried first and it worked good. I did notice he has it assembled wrong and the hopper is tilting back towards the sweeper brushes which does not work as efficiently and limits capacity since the debris backs up against the brushes quickly as the hopper fills.

So thanks to everyone here for the tractor tips. I'm looking for a deflector chute for the A/C 718 48" deck if anyone has a lead on those.

Reb