New here...? on a 3184

[ford550]

Hello, my name is Shawn. Been looking and searching on here for a while now. Have a chance to buy a what seems to be well used 3184 with mower, tiller and bagger. Its an 03' with 300 hrs or so. Have lots of tilling planned and then mowing the grass after I get done with that! Any and all info you could provide would be awesome. Look forward to hearing for you!

 

[highboy1975]

what are they selling it for? i know the tiller attachment can be pretty darn expensive. i have a 3185 and i think its fantastic. the only drawback ive found is the prohibitive cost of adding accessories to them. if your getting a good price on the setup, then id jump on it. the only thing i can say about mine are that there are a few times where a dif lock would be really nice. other than that, its a wonderful machine. comfortable, powerful, good cut size, reliable, and easy to get what few parts ive needed for it.

 

[ford550]

Asking 3k o.b.o In the pics looks well used, with fair amount of paint chipping. Tiller looks to be in very good shape. Was hoping for a lil wider mower, but 46 I guess isn't all that bad. Whatcha think for that price?

 

[highboy1975]

its not bad if it doesnt need anything other than some paint touchup. that tiller setup runs around 2500 on its own. honestly, you can find an old ih cub cadet with a tiller for alot less, but, youll end up having to inevitably replacing things. as much as i think mines fantastic for cutting grass, thats probably all ill use it for. if i could have a do-over, id be looking for an x82 platform with attachments. im thinking 2500 would probably be a good price for that 3184. if you want to do more than till and cut with it, like a plow, id skip it. 3000 for it isnt terrible either. the tractor alone is probably worth 1200 as described. and i dont know about the tiller. like i said, if you want to do more than till and cut grass, skip it and get an x82. you'll have over 1000 in a used plow setup with good prices (hitch, blade, hydraulics). i would be after a 782 myself. if all you want to do is till and cut grass, go for it.

 

[ford550]

Yeah, only will need it to till now, then I'll plant the grass and be mowing 2+ acres. Have a 3 acre area I just cleared for the wifes horses (ford 550 bh) worked well for that. I forgot to mention there is a snow plow included with and electric winch (non CC, the tiller, mower and bagger are original CC). I honestly have no use for the plow, have a older case (50's) tractor and a good plow truck. Besides no diff lock so hard to believe it will push that well. It also has two suitcase weights with it, will I really miss or need the diff lock for tilling?

 

[highboy1975]

i dont know about the dif lock for tilling, i cant see it being a big issue. i only wish i had it for a few pretty good hills, which im hoping i took care of by adding wheel weights. im not seeing the dif lock being huge for tilling. guys have done it for years without. if the snowplow isnt an issue, id snap it up. you might even be able to sell the 48" deck and buy a used 54 without taking too much of a hurting. i LOVE cutting with my 3185. the power steering makes going around trees a breeze. you arent going to get a better grass cutter. im trying to find a used plow setup for mine, but its slow in the making. sounds like 3k for a 3185, bagger, weights, bracket, 3ph, and tiller, and a winch, and plow, thats a good deal. id definately be looking at that very hard. throw 2500 cash at them and see what they do though. even if the 3k is firm, id still take that. these are nice tractors for the money. depending on how hard on it the p.o. was, you wont regret it.

 

[ford550]

Thanks, 2500 was what I was sorta thinking. Most older posts and stuff that I have found have only a few negatives about it. Mainly leaks etc. Anybody use a tiller like this in rocky ground. I have alot of the rocks picked up/out. Made a screed, scaled about an acre of top soil 12" down with the 550 and sifted it. But in spreading it back with the backhoe and over the winter it is pretty hard thus thinking on the tiller....

 

[Carl_NH]

Ford550

Sounds similar to my situation 15 yrs ago, as i have a Cub 1811 1990 (hydro, with hyd lift 18HP) vintage - similar to the 782 and I had a tiller and rocky soil (ledge). I didnt have a BH at the time so did a lot of tilling and then rock removal afterwards with a wheelbarrow, to establish a lawn.

I had an older tiller from a another cub was attached to on the rear transaxle (aluminum) and this eventually caused problems - the tiller use in rouigh ground caused the bolts to loosen and strip out. So I got rid of the tiller and sealed the rear case and added the proper rear hitch plate attaching to the frame rails. I have a Kubota BH now that does all the lifting and grading - still pick stones by hand tho :-(

If the 3185 tiller attaches to the frame rails and not the transmission case then you are all set and have nothng to worry about. It also sounds like you have most of the large rocks or buried obstructions resolved with your BH, so I would think this is a good investment with attachments.

I would probably till about 3-4" deep, then build a drag rake out of a 6' piece of chain link fence and some pipe and maybe load on a railroad tie then drag to level out the area. This will minimize the raking and pick up the small stones etc.

 

[ford550]

Thanks Carl. Yes, the main thing I need is the tiller. Have most of rocks picked either thru the screen or by hand. Also have a "rock rake" on a 50's case tractor, but I think the tiller would be very useful in getting seed bed reading....and the mower I have now is cough cough a murray 42" it is a hyrdo, but it is a murray....here are a few pics of the tractor I am looking at and the tiller....

 

[highboy1975]

im gona say go for it. ive heard that the tiller for these is wonderful and i know the tractor is a good one. you can always paint that grill or get a replacement.