New here! 318 price question

[pflumph]

Hi!
I'm new here - I've been researching a new garden tractor lately. I have been using a Sabre for years, and it still runs well. However, I want a tractor that does more.

I want to stay in the $1000-$1500 range, and that limits my options quite a bit (Though I will sell the Sabre for maybe $400). I also have a relatively small yard at about 1/2 acre. We just bought this house, and I could use something that can help with the landscaping, so I was thinking a tiller and a blade (Loosen and push kind of operation).

There are a few 318's and 2 316's available here locally, but none of them are really shining examples.

My options are:
316 with the Kohler - Seller says it runs fine, and is in decent shape - $1100
48" deck
Wheel weights

318 - Seller says it runs and operates fine, but burns and smokes oil - About a quart every 5 hours running the snow blower - $1500
50" deck (New spindles last year)
Single action blade
Snow blower (Appears to be shaft driven?)
Chains
Wheel weights


318 - Looks brand new, but no idea on anything else. - This is at an auction this Saturday, but I'm thinking $1k ish
Unknown deck
Hard cab
Chains
Wheel weights
***Selling a dual-action blade separately - Was mounted on this mower

316 - Same story here - Looks brand new, but no idea on the engine or anything else. At the same auction
Unknown deck
***Has what looks like a manual operated tiller on the back, selling separately

If I get either auction machine, I would try to buy the blade and tiller also, though auctions are unpredictable.

I'm pretty handy, and don't mind rebuilding an engine, or painting a crappy looking machine. I'm not really interested in a full restoration, but I can turn a wrench.

What do you guys think?

 

[Dapolksjj]

Hi! I'm new here - I've been researching a new garden tractor lately. I have been using a Sabre for years, and it still runs well. However, I want a tractor that does more. I want to stay in the $1000-$1500 range, and that limits my options quite a bit (Though I will sell the Sabre for maybe $400). I also have a relatively small yard at about 1/2 acre. We just bought this house, and I could use something that can help with the landscaping, so I was thinking a tiller and a blade (Loosen and push kind of operation). There are a few 318's and 2 316's available here locally, but none of them are really shining examples. My options are: 316 with the Kohler - Seller says it runs fine, and is in decent shape - $1100 48" deck Wheel weights 318 - Seller says it runs and operates fine, but burns and smokes oil - About a quart every 5 hours running the snow blower - $1500 50" deck (New spindles last year) Single action blade Snow blower (Appears to be shaft driven?) Chains Wheel weights 318 - Looks brand new, but no idea on anything else. - This is at an auction this Saturday, but I'm thinking $1k ish Unknown deck Hard cab Chains Wheel weights ***Selling a dual-action blade separately - Was mounted on this mower 316 - Same story here - Looks brand new, but no idea on the engine or anything else. At the same auction Unknown deck ***Has what looks like a manual operated tiller on the back, selling separately If I get either auction machine, I would try to buy the blade and tiller also, though auctions are unpredictable. I'm pretty handy, and don't mind rebuilding an engine, or painting a crappy looking machine. I'm not really interested in a full restoration, but I can turn a wrench. What do you guys think?

. I think you are looking at twenty year or older equipment!!

 

[Yellowfever440]

Some parts can be harder to find on those 2 models and mainly engine stuff. That's why a lot of people end up re powering them with Honda motors. Both are great machines I would go for a 318 for the horsepower for tilling. The blade will be a little tricky to operate with the hand hydro. If John deere mowers are popular in your area the 2 auction machines will go high so you may want to settle for the 318 and rebuild the motor. It's not worth more than 1000 bucks probably.

 

[Yellowfever440]

The 50 inch deck is a good deck and the snowblower is belt driven off the same pulley the mower deck operates. If you have to move snow that single stage blower will be handy. If it's the 2 stage blower you will like it even more.

 

[pflumph]

Thanks for the info guys! I know it's an old machine, but everything I read seems to say it's one of the best tractors ever made. And I can't touch anything else in the $1k range that can run hydraulic attachments, let alone a 3ph.

I'm going to the auction today, so we'll see how it goes.

It's a bummer that the tiller is on the 316, and is being sold separately. I have to assume they will leave the PTO on the 316, and not sell it with the tiller.
It might suck a bit since I'm after the 318 with a blade and tiller.

Just curious, what are the pieces worth?
318 hard side cab
318/16 PTO
Model 54 dual spool blade
Model 33 tiller

Maybe I'll buy both if they go cheap enough, swap around parts and sell off what I don't need.

Thanks!

 

[Yellowfever440]

I have seen ptos for 750 or so, cabs I haven't seen much but they are probably worth 500 to 1000 to the right person. Tiller they can be 450 all the way to 1000. The blade is in the 700 range as well. Yet again that group of people is be comely more limited and the shape of the stuff is something to look at as well.

 

[pflumph]

Wow
So the auction was a bust.

The 318 went for $2300
The 316 went for $1500
The blade went for $450
The tiller went for $580

Guess I'll be calling the guy with the blower! :thumbsup:

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[RetiredCarGuy]

There will be more in the market. Whatever machine you eventually own, you will enjoy. Just choose wisely.

 

[kansas john deere]

318 - Seller says it runs and operates fine, but burns and smokes oil - About a quart every 5 hours running the snow blower - $1500
50" deck (New spindles last year)
Single action blade
Snow blower (Appears to be shaft driven?)
Chains
Wheel weights

So this guy is only asking $1500 for all of this? That is a great price in my opinion.
I have a 1988 jd318 with a 50in deck,54in blade, wheel weights, AG Tires, tire chains, and I would not sell just the tractor for 1500.00 let alone with what he has for his. Around here the prices for this stuff is high.
wheel weight- 150 to 200
54 in single action blade- 350 to 400
chains-50 to 75
50in deck- 300 to 400
So just the equipment around here is going to run close to a grand to buy and he is asking 1500 for it all. That's a steal in itself.
Now a 48 in. mechanical tiller will run you 500 to 600
Rear PTO will set you back another 700 to 900
3pt hitch 350
You could find a hyd 42 in tiller for around 500 to 600 that would work for it
Then people say the Onan are hard to find parts for I have not run into that problem at all for me. If I need something I go to owanparts.com and buy it.
They also say parts are real expensive but have you priced parts for any motor lately????
Just my opinion your milage may vary........................KJD