Lawn Tractor

[SSage]

Man 180 hours is not that much. My MTD built crap did better than that and it set outside, three spindles in 12 years of heavy use. Had to lift the mower up to grease the deck. The bearings had water in them each time they failed, sat outside too much. My MTD Cub Cadet deck help up fine, but it was stored inside. I hate working on mowers, so I have no regrets avoiding the box store quality anything. My JD is very easy to service, grease goes in from the top etc. I bet that X series deck will go longer, its so expensive it makes you want to grease it more.

 

[Got HO?]

Yep. Greased them annually too. Found out the bearings are made in Taiwan or China, even the ones purchased from the JD dealer.

 

[jclark5810]

That's the one thing that really sold me on the X, the maintenance is very simple. The first time I ever took the deck off was about 15 min, now i'm sure I could do it in 3 min. The spindles and lube points are easily accessible as well as the oil filter and other service items. I don't think I can service the trans/axles, that's my only gripe. That and the seat is cracked already at 130 hours and stored indoors.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I just picked up a nice old JD 112. Got it for $600. Brought it home and mowed the lawn with it. I'd be willing to bet it has the original spindles in it. They certainly don't build them like they used to.

This one will get cleaned up and sold. Pics shortly

 

[SSage]

I grease mine every 15 hours or so now. The JD X360 is the first one that I remember having that greases from the top, so it gets done easily. I think my last GTX1054 Cub had the zerts underneath too, but I could be wrong its been awhile.

With the lower end of the X series JD's you have the X310 and the X360 with the easily serviced transaxle with the filter. I really wanted a X540 or better, but that is very costly IMO. At that point your getting too close to Kubota B series land.

 

[SSage]

Nothing is built like the old days, our old Snapper Comet still had a good trans. It was on its second deck, the engine was worn out though. I guess it was an early 80's version. Gave it to a friend to keep his going, he needed some parts. It was too small for our ues or I would have repowerd it.

 

[SSage]

That's the one thing that really sold me on the X, the maintenance is very simple. The first time I ever took the deck off was about 15 min, now i'm sure I could do it in 3 min. The spindles and lube points are easily accessible as well as the oil filter and other service items. I don't think I can service the trans/axles, that's my only gripe. That and the seat is cracked already at 130 hours and stored indoors.

I wonder if the seat falls in the 4 year waranty?

 

[jclark5810]

I wonder if the seat falls in the 4 year waranty?

I'm not sure about that, I doubt the warranty is transferable. From what I've seen, they all are cracked? It doesn't affect anything, just looks bad. I'm one of those that polishes there lawn tractor so it bugs me a bit:-laf

 

[Yo Hoot]

I made sure before I bought our JD345 13 years ago that it had a drain plug, an oil fill location with a real dipstick, and filters (2) on the transmission and like our two formerly owned I-H Cub Cadets with hydrostatic transmissions. I drain the oil and replace the filters annually with the JD fluid and filters whether it needs it or not.

Yep, I'd love to have a diesel powered X-series, but it's over my budget.

Bill

Show me a Deere built like this in the 17hp class.

My Ariens has a filler plug sticking out the rear. It is the fill for the entire system. Manual says use a good 30w detergent oil.
I would NEVER buy a fluid such as oil from a brand dealership. It is nothing but rebranded oil at a premium price.

Here's a few better pics of my 1986 Ariens GT17. PTO front and rear with separate clutches.
Notice the 3-point hitch in the rear and hyd lift up front.
The hydraulics are shaft driven direct drive.

You can see the filler plug under the rear PTO pulley.

You can also see the grease fittings for the mower spindles right there on top.

Cost me $400.

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The driveshaft that runs the mower. . There is only one simple belt on this machine. It's under the cover on the mower deck to drive the outer spindles.

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Front PTO

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Like I said, they don't build this size GT like they used to.

Parts? Now that's the problem! Ariens no longer builds these beasts. They are now made by Husky.

BTW this is the same tractor as the previously shown Gravely of the same vintage. Ariens made them for Gravely at the time.

I hear Poulan makes Husqvarna stuff. At least the chain saws and weedwackers. (Husky owns Poulan)



MTD's brands

Bolens
Columbia
Craftsman
Cub Cadet
Cub Cadet Commercial
Cub Cadet Yanmar (joint with Yanmar)
Farm King
GardenWay
Gold Series
Gutbrod-Kehrer
Lawnflite
Mastercut
Mow Master
Novotrac
Rasentrac
Remington
Ryobi (sold at Costco))
Troy-Bilt
Ventzki
White Outdoor
Yard Machines
Yard-Man
YardWorks

 

[rscurtis]

I'm going to have to correct one of your statements. This is totally unrelated to the Gravely G series. That was a Gravely built machine with a rear engine and an 8-speed gear transmission. Ariens did rebrand the unit you have for Gravely, I believe it was called a GT18H. As you said, nothing of this quality is made today. Fortunately, parts for the G series Gravely are readily available, albeit expensive.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I didn't realize it was the rear engine style. They hide the motor pretty good!

Found this pic... . what a beast! Who needs wheel weights? :-laf

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[Yo Hoot]

Here's the JD I just picked up. It's a 1971 112 in real nice running condition. Like I said I cut the grass with it as soon as I brought it home. I'll clean it up and sell it.
Darn thing is 41 years old! Think today's garden tractors will be around 40 years from now?

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[BIGNASTY]

YO HOOT
Is this like a hobby with you or are you in the business part of the deal

 

[Yo Hoot]

Nasty,

Here in PA there a loads of garden tractors. Lot's of older vintage ones. It's just a side interest. I don't tear them down or anything. I just look for decent deals, do some research, clean them up and resell.

Mean time I got two properties that need cut so I pick and choose ones I want for myself. I usually resell the more profitable ones... the old ones that I don't want to use because they are vintage.

Bottom line... if you do the math, I'm making money and keeping the grass cut. Why buy new when there are so many great older machines out there that are to be had for cheap and last a lifetime?

Friend up the street gave me two lawn mowers last week. They were covered in leaves. He said they were a little gummed up but fine.
One had the float stuck. Both needed a new air cleaner. Pressure washer cleaned them up. Both are now running great. One is self propelled.

I took one over to the other property. The other gets sold.

Mike

 

[rscurtis]

I do almost the same thing, whenever I go back to LI, I visit one of the places I used to work and go through the "junk" pile. Many items just have one small problem. $200 usually gets me a whole truck load. The best was a new Honda EB5000 generator that had shorted slip rings when brand new. I fix what's required and sell them on ebay or CL.