What Used Lawn Tractor to Buy? Older Diesel or Newer Gas?

[spitter]

If you are worried about scalping your lawn you should be looking at the simplicity legacy decks they are far supperior to any other tractor . They come with either gas or diesel .I have a 2 wd kawaski 22hp same engine jd runs .If i'm in a pinch and i need parts that day i go to the local jd dealer and he tries to match parts but i have noticed when they come from jd alot are plastic and from simplicity they are brass or steel. I bought mine i had a deposite on a jd and was I thought it was the best then a landscraper friend of mine said to check out the simplicity same engine shaft drive mower deck frame was heaver gauge steel and so was deck.Tractor weighted 300# more than the same jd model and it was about 1000$ less.:cool2:I have 2500 hrs on mine plow snow and pull a 3 ton trailer with it never let me down .:drink:

 

[barkerwc4362]

I have two diesels, one is a John Deere 332 with a 16 hp Yanamar and hydrostatic transmission the other is a CaseIH 244 with a 21 hp Mitsubishi and gear drive. Both were purchased knowing they needed work. I have a Husqvarna gas rider for lawn mowing duties. The 332 was bought to do gardening work. It now has a limited cat1 3pt and 2000 rpm pto. I have a plow, disk, cultivator, planters, rear mounted spreader, 4' rear blade, harrow, 4' tiller, and 5' grooming mower for it, all 3pt, except for the harrow. The 244 was bought for it's KMW 95 loader. It was cheaper to buy the 244 than buy a loader for the 332. Plus the 244, being a CUT, has a much greater loader capacity than the 332. I now have a plow, disk, and 2 row planter for the 244 and looking for a bush hog. The 332 is much easier to use in the garden and confined places. Moving trailers is easier with the 332 because you are closer to the object. I plan on using the 244 a lot preparing food plots. The only time the 244 goes in the garden is to move and spread the large compost pile. It makes what was an all day job now last about 1 1/2 hours. The 332 with fluid in the rears and rear wheel weights weighs about 1100 lbs. The 244, also with fluid in the rears, with loader weighs an estimated 2600 - 2700 lbs. I have had virtually no problems from the 20 hp Kolher in the Husqvarna, but I expect the two diesels to last virtually forever with proper care.

Bill

 

[bigtiller]

[QUOTE
What advice/experience can you provide? What would you recommend for how I will use the tractor and for not living where the tractor is located?

Thanks Much, I appreciate the help![/QUOTE]

Given your parameters, I would go with the X540 for the low hours and cost. It can mow just as well as the others.

 

[bigtiller]

[QUOTE
What advice/experience can you provide? What would you recommend for how I will use the tractor and for not living where the tractor is located?

Thanks Much, I appreciate the help![/QUOTE]

Given your parameters, I would go with the X540 for the low hours and cost. It can mow just as well as the others.

 

[beenthere]

If you are worried about scalping your lawn you should be looking at the simplicity legacy decks they are far supperior to any other tractor . They come with either gas or diesel .I have a 2 wd kawaski 22hp same engine jd runs .If i'm in a pinch and i need parts that day i go to the local jd dealer and he tries to match parts but i have noticed when they come from jd alot are plastic and from simplicity they are brass or steel. I bought mine i had a deposite on a jd and was I thought it was the best then a landscraper friend of mine said to check out the simplicity same engine shaft drive mower deck frame was heaver gauge steel and so was deck.Tractor weighted 300# more than the same jd model and it was about 1000$ less.:cool2:I have 2500 hrs on mine plow snow and pull a 3 ton trailer with it never let me down .:drink:

You have a much different experience with Simplicity than I and several neighbors. There is a reason for their price tag, and for their low used value. But some get them and don't mind their experience. But the rollers on the mower deck are a plus... easy to add one anti-scalp roller to the Deere decks too, as I did.