Used 725 72" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

[jpierce]

Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

A neighbor has a used Grasshopper 725 - It is a 2001 model with 200 hours on it. 72" Cut They have it for $6250.

Is that a good price and what should I look at to assess??

It started right up and didn't move with the handles together. Deck is a little beat up but can't really tell if it is that big of a deal...

Just need some tricks to look at for a newbie...

 

[bczoom]

Re: Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

jpierce,

Seems pretty reasonable but a couple more pieces of info would help.

As I understand (at least in the newer models), there are (2) 725 models. the 725 has the 3 cyl. diesel and the 725K has a Kohler. What engine does this one have?

Did the neighbor use this for his own lawn or was it used in a business? 200 hours in 4 years is a lot of mowing for residential use. If for a business, were there operators besides the owner? (some have a tendency to beat on equipment). Are there any service or repair records available?

Brian

 

[jpierce]

Re: Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

Here is the original ad - He bought it used 1 year ago and no records that I know of...

2001- 725 grasshopper zero turn radius lawnmower
25 hp kubota water cooled engine 72" mower deck
commerical grade lawn mower good condition
$6250.00 obo.

 

[bczoom]

Re: Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

Since it has the diesel engine and only has 200 hours (if the meter is correct), I would still say it's probably a reasonable price. Aren't they around $10K new?

Being the neighbor, have you talked to him about how the machine has run and if he's had any issues with it?

Hate to keep going back to the hour issue but 200 hours just seems like an odd # to me. It's a lot for residential, too little for commercial. I'd like to let others chime in on what all to look for to see if the machine in general is OK and if there's any "tell tale" things to check to confirm what the hour meter is saying. I mow a little over 3 acres with a 60" deck and plenty of obstacles to slow me down and I still only put about 25 hours on it per year (although Kansas may have a longer mowing season than N. of Pittsburgh).

Brian

EDIT - Just thought of something. How big is your neighbors yard? Does he know how many hours he put on it last year?

 

[jpierce]

Re: Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

I believe he has about 5 acres but not sure how much he mows with it. He also is the second owner so not sure on the details before he bought it.

We can mow from April to September here in Kansas

 

[jpierce]

Re: Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

Thinking about it more 200/4 seasons would be about 50 hours per year. I think I would be doing that currently if I mowed with it...

 

[Molerj]

Re: Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

Just for reference, I mow about 8 acres & put about 60 hrs. a year on my JD 955 with 72"deck. I don't mow the biggest part every week & I would think the ZTR is a bit faster. So the 50 hr/yr. isn't excessive. I think that machine being it has a diesel engine was over 10K when new. Also, he probably will come down from his asking price. Maybe the fellows at lawnsite.com can be of more help with the value of it.

 

[Charlie_in_TX]

Re: Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

Sounds good to me.

As far as the hours. A commercial unit would have a ton more hours than that. At least down here. Consider this, 8hrs a day 5 days a week, 4hrs a day with the unit running for 20 hrs a week, in a 9 month growing season thats 780 hrs a year.

I would also guess that to be a 2000 hour unit (2000 hrs without rebuild). It should be just broke in.

 

[machinery]

Re: Used 725 72\" Grasshopper - Price?? What to check?

I wanted to let you know something I discovered. People change hour meters, it is a cheap way of increasing the selling price.

Dan B