Compact or sub compact tractor?

[bowtechmadman]

I found your post about the Home Depot mower comment interesting. My wife just informed me that our lawn mower (John Deere GT275) was shot...she was really unhappy since as she said "it isn't that old". New belt on the power flow bagger took care of the reason it was "shot," and I also reminded her that it is kinda old since we bought it new in 1996.
Sorry to derail...I wouldn't worry about hours if they are under 1K. I have a Kubota 38hp that has nearly 2K but motor/trans./hydraulic pump/clutch were all replaced with OEM 50 hours ago. Tractor was worked but all the main components are like new...been very happy with it and paid just over 10.

 

[rancher2]

I found your post about the Home Depot mower comment interesting. My wife just informed me that our lawn mower (John Deere GT275) was shot...she was really unhappy since as she said "it isn't that old". New belt on the power flow bagger took care of the reason it was "shot," and I also reminded her that it is kinda old since we bought it new in 1996.
Sorry to derail...I wouldn't worry about hours if they are under 1K. I have a Kubota 38hp that has nearly 2K but motor/trans./hydraulic pump/clutch were all replaced with OEM 50 hours ago. Tractor was worked but all the main components are like new...been very happy with it and paid just over 10.

Just curious what had happen to the tractor that it needed that much work with that many hours? I wouldn't consider a couple K that many hours.

 

[bowtechmadman]

2nd owner had a loan on it and destroyed it by running it out of engine oil/hyd. fluid on purpose after faulting on the loan. 3rd owner purchased from dealer after they rebuilt (dealer bought it from the bank). I purchased from him w/ 50 hours on it...he was going to a skid steer for his horse stables.

 

[Mustang71]

I had to weld up the deck after 3 years and change both spindles. It's almost 5 years old now the front axle is twisted it and the transmission slips. Those home depot mowers aren't worth the 1500 dollars they cost.

 

[bowtechmadman]

Wow...I've yet to change a spindle on my JD. A few belts/batteries, couple sets of battery cables, several sets of blades along with yearly oil/filter and one steering bar re-welded. Very impressed with the Kawasaki air cooled 18hp motor, and JD's build quality then. Trying to recall what I paid new but was in the 3-4k range. My wife flipped out when I spent that much when we had just purchased our home about 6 months prior, she has since relented and admitted that I did good since it has lasted so long.

 

[sirbuildalot]

Considering most quality garden tractors, regardless of brand, cost several thousand dollars in the 70's and 80's, I cant understand why people buy as cheap as possible, spending $1,000-$1,500 for a new mower in 2018 and complain that they don't last like the old ones do.

No ****, Inflate the 6-8 grand a good mower cost in 1986 and spend that amount in 2018, if you expect similar performance.

 

[Mustang71]

I tried to explain that to my dad. I told him if I were to get a new mower it would cost me 7 to 8 thousand dollars so I might as well get a tractor for not much more. He thought i was crazy. Well i could spend 1500 every few years or have something quality that lasts for 20+ years. I got my mower that I have now when I bought this house. My old craftsman stopped cutting so I went to home depot. I learned from that mistake.

 

[Mustang71]

My thing with the hours is if I buy one with 300 hours then that's another 4 to 5 years I'll get out of it before I hit 750 hours. It might not be correct thinking and I know if its stored inside vs outside that makes a big difference. On the other end I dont want a 7 year old tractor with 100 hours on it because I want the tractor to be regularly used. It will be garage kept when I get one, since I dont have a mustang anymore, I have the space.

 

[sunfish]

Wow...I've yet to change a spindle on my JD. A few belts/batteries, couple sets of battery cables, several sets of blades along with yearly oil/filter and one steering bar re-welded. Very impressed with the Kawasaki air cooled 18hp motor, and JD's build quality then. Trying to recall what I paid new but was in the 3-4k range. My wife flipped out when I spent that much when we had just purchased our home about 6 months prior, she has since relented and admitted that I did good since it has lasted so long.

Today's JD mowers aren't the same as yours bought in 1996.

 

[Mustang71]

Even my green craftsman was built a lot better. The deck had been welded to many times to fix but the rest of it was still great and it didnt have a plastic transmission rear end like my ariens does. MTD builds them cheap now and owns all the box store models.

 

[bowtechmadman]

Fortunately, not looking for a new one anytime soon. I picked another of the same model up cheap for parts and plan on keeping this one going for a few more years. We reduced how much we mow by about half with the addition of a pool and some "natural" landscaping.

 

[sirbuildalot]

I wouldn't expect much from any mower purchased at Home Depot. I know someone who recently bought a new Simplicity Broadmoor and with the bagger it was $4,500. That's a lower end machine. Step up to a Conquest, or a Prestige and your talking more like $7,000-$9,000. A Legacy is going to be at least $11,000-$12,000. That's without a loader.

Point is quality costs money. The reason so many brands got bought out by companies like MTD, is that the average person cares about the initial cost more than anything else. They cater to these people. Just like all the stores that sell cheap crap like Harbor Freight. They don't look at life expectancy or features. Then the same people complain when it breaks down in a year or two.

Unless people start caring about quality and are willing to pay for it, things aren't going to change. You can have quality or cost. Can't have both.

Sad but true.

 

[DSW]

Little Kubota diesel, well maintained, heck just not abused or ran dry, would go 3000 hours and probably still putt putt like new.

 

[twigor]

I Just purchased a new Kubota BX1880 with mower and FEL and other upgrade options for $12800. Kubota is currently offering 0 financing for up to 84 months as well. I received many prices from dealers that were significantly higher. Watch to make sure the dealers are including all the incentives that are listed on the Kubota site (free mower with tractor, multiple implement incentive, etc) I found most dealers charge what the local market will bear and were not referencing or including factory incentives in their pricing work up. Not sure how they get away with it but they obviously do. Anxious to take delivery and put the sub compact to work at a new 3 acre build site.

 

[CaseyForrest]

Kubota just dropped 0%.....

 

[Mustang71]

I Just purchased a new Kubota BX1880 with mower and FEL and other upgrade options for $12800. Kubota is currently offering 0 financing for up to 84 months as well. I received many prices from dealers that were significantly higher. Watch to make sure the dealers are including all the incentives that are listed on the Kubota site (free mower with tractor, multiple implement incentive, etc) I found most dealers charge what the local market will bear and were not referencing or including factory incentives in their pricing work up. Not sure how they get away with it but they obviously do. Anxious to take delivery and put the sub compact to work at a new 3 acre build site.

Why did you buy the 1880 over the 2380 or 2680? It seemed like that was the model they were pushing this year. The dealer told me that the 2nd quarter of the year is the best time to buy. It seemed like a bx2680 and b2601 were pretty close in price. They told me there were incentives but it didnt seem like they did much for the price.

 

[twigor]

Why did you buy the 1880 over the 2380 or 2680? It seemed like that was the model they were pushing this year. The dealer told me that the 2nd quarter of the year is the best time to buy. It seemed like a bx2680 and b2601 were pretty close in price. They told me there were incentives but it didnt seem like they did much for the price.

I felt the 18hp would be adequate for my particular situation. Mostly mowing and light landscape work. The dealer included the larger industrial R4 tires so it really is the same tractor as the 2680 with the smaller diesel. I spoke to a couple 1870 owners who were pleased with the power. That said I would spend the extra $1200 for the BX 2680 if I had any perceived need for a more demanding work environment.

 

[Mustang71]

For loader work and maybe the 54 inch mower that would be good. I think the 60 inch is probably better with a bit more power.

 

[Ryan'smilling]

For loader work and maybe the 54 inch mower that would be good. I think the 60 inch is probably better with a bit more power.

It's hydrostatic right? You can always just go slower if you're short on power. Personally I'd rather have a bigger mower and a slower ground speed.

 

[Justsaws]

There is a 4-5 “horsepower” difference in pto capability between the 1880 and the 2380, If the rear pto is going to be used, that is a big difference. The 2380 with a 54” deck and bagger will slow will drop 500 to 1000 rpm on the steepest part of the hills I mow. Flat ground or small inclines no issues, start climbing and It is noticeable fast.