just wondering if anyone here is familiar with a JD '400' lawn/garden tractor?
I went to pick up my new (to me) zero-turn from a dealer today, and sitting right next to it was a beautiful (and rather large) JD 400 garden tractor with a 20HP Kohler, hydrostatic drive with hi/lo range, power steering, a 60" deck, front PTO (unknown RPM), brand new looking rear 3pt. with arms and dual front hydraulic circuits on it (2 levers - 4 hydraulic ports) ... it fired right up and seemed to run/ride and mow just fine with the exception of a possibly ganky deck belt that slipped a little at first - the engine was smooth and quiet and it has an obviously upgraded seat with a suspension system and arm rests, so it's really comfy to drive
while I was excited to see a new looking 3pt. on the rear, I was equally unexcited to see that there isn't a rear PTO or any rear hydraulics on this tractor ... this leaves me wondering why on earth JD would omit something like a rear PTO or at least hydraulic lines to the rear of this tractor, especially when it's obviously designed for ground engaging implements ... what am I supposed to hang on this?
one thing I'm fairly concerned with is accessories for this - I was warned that some JD tractors will only accept one or two models of snowblowers and things like that, which would leave me with a giant, powerful lawn mower that does nothing else, which I definitely do not need
so ... I'm really hoping I can get some help from the MTF crowd on this one ... I can buy this tractor for what I think is a good price ($1000 or best offer) but I just can't do it if all I'm going to be able to use it for is mowing grass
is there a FEL made that will fit onto this 400 without having to fab up mounting brackets? ... the tractor certainly seems beefy enough to handle it, and I've seen photos of 400's with loaders on them (although I'm not sure if they are home made or not) ... Johnny Bucket makes a JBsr. for the 400 that makes use of the dual hydraulic circuits, but I would want something that lifts higher than a JB
which snow blowers will fit onto this 400 tractor? ... same with other accessories like blades and tillers and such ... will the same accessories that work on the 300 series fit and work on the 400?
what's the deal with the missing rear PTO? ... do the rear implements use a drive shaft that connects to the front system somehow? ... it has a nice factory 3pt. on it that is connected to the mower deck hydraulics, but the only thing I can see it being good for is dragging around unpowered accessories or the few that have their own engines on them
overall, is this a decent tractor? ... everything seems to work really good, and it drove and mowed really nice - but I just can't see adding a tractor that size to my stable if it's only going to be able to perform lawn mowing duty ... think it's worth $1000?
thanks for any help anyone can give - I'd like to make a decision on this within the next couple days if possible
I don't have a picture of the one I'm thinking of buying, but here's what it looks like (without the 3pt. arms)
I went to pick up my new (to me) zero-turn from a dealer today, and sitting right next to it was a beautiful (and rather large) JD 400 garden tractor with a 20HP Kohler, hydrostatic drive with hi/lo range, power steering, a 60" deck, front PTO (unknown RPM), brand new looking rear 3pt. with arms and dual front hydraulic circuits on it (2 levers - 4 hydraulic ports) ... it fired right up and seemed to run/ride and mow just fine with the exception of a possibly ganky deck belt that slipped a little at first - the engine was smooth and quiet and it has an obviously upgraded seat with a suspension system and arm rests, so it's really comfy to drive
while I was excited to see a new looking 3pt. on the rear, I was equally unexcited to see that there isn't a rear PTO or any rear hydraulics on this tractor ... this leaves me wondering why on earth JD would omit something like a rear PTO or at least hydraulic lines to the rear of this tractor, especially when it's obviously designed for ground engaging implements ... what am I supposed to hang on this?
one thing I'm fairly concerned with is accessories for this - I was warned that some JD tractors will only accept one or two models of snowblowers and things like that, which would leave me with a giant, powerful lawn mower that does nothing else, which I definitely do not need
so ... I'm really hoping I can get some help from the MTF crowd on this one ... I can buy this tractor for what I think is a good price ($1000 or best offer) but I just can't do it if all I'm going to be able to use it for is mowing grass
is there a FEL made that will fit onto this 400 without having to fab up mounting brackets? ... the tractor certainly seems beefy enough to handle it, and I've seen photos of 400's with loaders on them (although I'm not sure if they are home made or not) ... Johnny Bucket makes a JBsr. for the 400 that makes use of the dual hydraulic circuits, but I would want something that lifts higher than a JB
which snow blowers will fit onto this 400 tractor? ... same with other accessories like blades and tillers and such ... will the same accessories that work on the 300 series fit and work on the 400?
what's the deal with the missing rear PTO? ... do the rear implements use a drive shaft that connects to the front system somehow? ... it has a nice factory 3pt. on it that is connected to the mower deck hydraulics, but the only thing I can see it being good for is dragging around unpowered accessories or the few that have their own engines on them
overall, is this a decent tractor? ... everything seems to work really good, and it drove and mowed really nice - but I just can't see adding a tractor that size to my stable if it's only going to be able to perform lawn mowing duty ... think it's worth $1000?
thanks for any help anyone can give - I'd like to make a decision on this within the next couple days if possible
I don't have a picture of the one I'm thinking of buying, but here's what it looks like (without the 3pt. arms)