Buying Advice Small garden tractor advice

[mikefrommichigan]

Thanks all for the input. I am happy to own an older machine, so I will start researching the ideas.

As it happens I have a 1992 snapper with the Kohler magnum M18 engine, that has been under a tarp for several years. I guess I should educate myself about tractors and try to get this one working. It became more and more difficult to start and in the end I had to squirt starter fluid into the intake to get it started. The mower deck also stopped engaging and so in the end my dear other half did not want to deal with this.

 

[whizdbiz2]

First decide if you need a garden tractor or a lawn tractor, if you are just mowing grass a lawn tractor will do the job. Try local on-site auctions or on-line ones. If your area is like ours you can pick up a pretty decent mower for $400 to $800. I've seen lots of Craftsman and smaller JDs and Cubs go in this range on the on line auctions I look at. I picked up a big Husqvarna 54" lawn tractor (they call it a light garden tractor, but it's just a grass mower) with a front blade and sun shade for $800 at a local consignment auction. I don't really trust stuff at these consignment types too much, but this thing was in pristine condition and had good tires, new mowing blades, seat cover, newish battery and a full tank of gas. It has just under 500 hrs. on the engine and a two cylinder Kohler Courage (stay away from the single cylinder Courage). It' been flawless so far.

I also got a steal at an on-line auction, a homeowner was selling out stuff as they were moving to a smaller house. It is a JD GT275, 48" deck, that I got for $350. I know if works because the guy mowed the grass with it the day I picked it up. It needs service (oil and filters at both ends and bushings in the front axle, needs four @ $7 ea.) but has a true garden tractor hydrostatic transmission, unlike the Husqvarna that has the standard K46 Tuff Torque low end hydro. Check out tractorhouse dot com for the specs on something you are thinking about.

You also must be pretty hard on mowers for some reason, I mow mostly flat land but my cheap big-box store MTD lasted me 11 years as the only mower on about 1 1/2 acres and still am using it as a backup mower and for doing small areas to this day (bought it new in 2002 at TSC). It has a B&S twin that had one issue with the valve guide on one exhaust valve that I could fix myself, and I broke a deck mount (easily welded with my 110 volt TIG). The previous MTD I had lasted 10 years. I either got lucky or folks are abusing their mowers.

 

[buickanddeere]

What ever you do avoid a lawn tractor with the light duty K46 transaxle.
There are acceptable tractors with a medium duty transmission .
A Heavy Duty ground engagement transmission uses five bolts to hold the rear wheels on.

 

[bcp]

Rear wheels bolted on like car wheels = good

Front wheels bolted on like car wheels, too = very good



Bruce

 

[TheMan419]

I have a craftsman that I bought some 10 years ago. Used it to mow like 1.2 acres or so once a week for the spring summer and fall. Nothing but regular oil changes and new batteries. Of course the blades have been sharpened and changed over the years. Still on the original tires. Just last year had to weld a fitting on the front axle.

So it seems that you are tough on them?