Is this used 2544 a good deal?

mmoogie · Mar 24, 2010

Hi folks,

Today I found a used 2006 model 2544 with snowblower, wheel weights and chains for $3000.00. It's been kept inside, and has 86 hours on it. It's at a local Kubota dealer where it was traded in for a tractor.

Don't see in cracks in the hood pylons. The oil drain plug has an elbow on it, but it's not clear of the frame. Started fine, no smoke. There is grease on the front axles so it seems like it's been lubed. Dealer said the guy who traded it was a fussy guy.

The snowblower looks it's been used maybe once, but it looks like the right tube with the control lever on it has be re-bent to a different position than normal...paint at the bends has been burned away.

Is this a good deal for something in this condition?

Dealer tells me a new 2544 w/blower only is 5100.00
(3799+1299).

Steve

diesel_nut · Mar 24, 2010

Sounds pretty good to me.
A new tractor(only) is like $3500.

mmoogie · Mar 24, 2010

Hi Diesel,

3500 for the 2542, 3800 for the 2544, which this is, which gets you bigger deck with 3 blades instead of two, bigger front tires and slightly bigger engine.

Comes down to is it worth 2500 bucks more for a warranty and the certainty that there has been no abuse. Plus ability to pay for over 36 months.

Any hints on telltale signs of abuse?

Steve

gcbailey · Mar 24, 2010

is that wheel weights on it too?

mmoogie · Mar 24, 2010

Yes...wheel weights and chains. The only thing that bothers me is the re-shaped control arm on the snow blower.

gcbailey · Mar 24, 2010

the reshaped arm was probably for comfort. The arm on the factory blade is sorda not the most comfortable position for getting on and off the tractor from the left side, some reason that's how I always get on/off the thing. So maybe that was the thinking.

Renster of N.H. · Mar 24, 2010

mmoogie,

The blower arm was likely altered because the factory position is dangerously low! I purchased a 2542 with a blower last spring and could not stand how the blower lift lever was positioned. I literally had to bend in half to raise the blower to it's full up position, shutting the tractor down because my butt would come off the seat! I took the advice of our good MTF friend pfrieburger and bent that sucker 16" up and 6" to the left - putting it in perfect position for proper blowing. I DID NOT put heat to it. I bolted the lever to a stout tree that I have used for many such things and used old fashioned muscle, (no heat or tools to damage the paint) to accomplish the deed. That tubing is quite stout and requires a good deal of muscle to bend, so it was paramount that I attach the lever to an immovable surface before tackling it. (My back notified me of it's displeasure the following day!). I suspect that is why the prior owner of the one you are considering used heat to make the job a bit easier, albeit not recommended.
I believe, as long as that 2544 is in very good shape and well looked after, you could be looking at a very good deal. It's practically brand new, and unless you think it was abused or you abuse it yourself, you will find that the major components won't likely need warrantee work within the 1st 3 years anyway. Things that "may" go wrong, like the hood or headlights you will have to accept as a good risk, and they are worth fixing. Many of us have had our 2500 hoods replaced, but some, like Moe have not. I don't think I would let the hood prevent you from buying that tractor if all else is fine.
By the way, I just last weekend removed my blower, weights and chains and did my summer prep, and can report to you that the 2542 and that 42" blower moved all snow, light and heavy, shallow and deep, out of my 200' paved drive like it wasn't even there, and without traction issues! There just aint nothin' like a 20 HP snowblower! Even 2 1/2' drifts that I pulled and avalanche packed off my shed roof were no match! That tractor blew right through 'em and tossed 'em OVER the shed!

I spent well over $5000 last spring for the set up that I have, and it is very similar to what you are looking at. $3000 sounds fair for a used one with only 86 hours on it.
Make him an offer that he can't refuse!

Renster

quickrch · Mar 24, 2010

offer to buy it for their asking price but ask for a 1 year warranty from them for any defects not related to abuse. Have your checkbook in hand as you make the offer...

mmoogie · Mar 24, 2010

Thanks for taking the time to help me decide this, guys.

So it sounds like a pretty good deal but now I have one other deal in the hopper to consider:

GT 2542 with blower that has only 10 hours on it. It's virtually brand new. The older fellow who bought it can't handle it, and traded for something with power steering. It has no deck now, so the dealer would add a brand new 42" two-blade deck. No weights or chains. Price $3200.00 firm. From a Cub dealer. He says no warranties on used.

vs:

GT 2544 with 86 hours, with blower with aforementioned re-shaped handle, with 44" 3-blade deck, wheel weights and chains. Price: asking 3000.00 but intimated he would take a little less, so say price is 2800 or 2900. He's not a Cub dealer, just took this machine on trade, so it's not worth even negotiating for "warranty" as far as I can see.

So it comes down to a nearly new 2542 that would be $4800 new, for $3200 or a couple of years older 2544 that would be $5100 new before factoring in the weights and chains (what are they worth?) for $2800-2900.

Is it worth 300 dollars more for a lesser tractor with no weights or chains but with 75 fewer hours on it?

The difference between the 2542 and the 2544 are 15-inch vs. 16 front wheel, two-blade vs. 3-blade mower, and more horsepower on the engine.

I'm leaning towards the 3-blade deck for smoother cut, but am I wrong there? The dealer with the 2542 says the the 2-blade deck is more bomb-proof. But I've read a couple of threads here complaining about the quality of cut with the two-blade deck. Oh, the 44-inch 3-blade deck is heavier gauge steel. 11 ga. vs. 13 ga.

What about the extra horsepower in the engine? I'm confused about the difference in the engines. The cub literature says the 2542 is 20 HP and the 2544 is 22 HP. The used 2544 engine has a sticker on it that says Command 21. Have they changed the engine since 2006? Dealer says no, they've always been 21 HP. So why does the sticker say "Command 21" while the literature says 22 HP?

I can't imagine the 1" extra front wheel size matters in the slightest.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

Steve

diesel_nut · Mar 24, 2010

I guess that is your call. Pretty equal deal. 86 hours isn't much. Maybe 2 year's use. I used mine just for grass cutting and put about 42 hours on it in one year. If you use it during the winter that is about a year I guess.
Both seem like good deals to me.

Renster of N.H. · Mar 24, 2010

mmoog,

You poor sap! Not one but two great deals on 2 great GT's within arm's reach (monetarily speaking). NOW you've got a decision to make!

Let's take the points of your last post one at a time in the order you wrote them, and see if I can't lend some insight.

10 hour old (Brand new!) 2542 with a new 2 blade deck, for $3200. Darn good. Incidentally, in case you are wondering, you can't put a larger deck on it unless you putt 16" tires on the front - so, the 42" deck is it. The Cub wheel weights will run you another $140 ish. Chains and suitcases - I can't remember, but one thing is for sure, you can pick all of those items up much cheaper elsewhere. I have learned that right here at MTF and verified it myself. I bought everything with my 2542 and paid more than I should have. So, no weights or chains with your package is still a good deal. You have all summer to pick those up. Incidentally, John Deere suitcases fit the Cub bracket perfectly and are cheaper. Oh yeah - you'll need a weight bracket too. Another item that you can grab later but that will likely have to come from Cub. The 2542 is NOT necessarily a lesser tractor than the 2544. Smaller front wheels to accomodate the curve of the 42" deck. No biggie. 1 less HP - you'll never miss it (if we were talking another 5 HP or so, maybe - but thats a maybe). Both have the Kohler Command commercial V twin - a long term power plant! No, I don't agree with the dealer who told you that the 2 blade deck is more "bomb proof". Sounds like sales lingo to me. The 44" 3 blade deck is a very good deck with heavier gauge steel and deeper design. Fellas here report that they cut VERY well. My 42" deck cuts to my satisfaction, has only 2 blades to sharpen and replace, and is lighter to handle than the 44". I expect that I will never drive anything through the side of it.
I don't know if the 1" difference in wheel size matters because I can't compare them and don't feel a need to.
Now, understand that I went to my Cub dealer last spring with every intention of buying a 2544, hands down! But, there on his showroom floor sat a brand new last years left over 2542 for ALOT less than the current year 2544 I went in to buy, and he was motivated to move it out! I compared apples to slightly different apples, and decided to save myself more than a few bucks and bought the 2542 with all the fixins' I was going to get with the 2544.

You've got a decision to make mmoog. Neither will be the wrong one in your case!

Renster

pfreiburger · Mar 25, 2010

Welcome!

The guys above gave some good points to consider, but it really comes down to what deck you like better. I can’t comment on the 42” deck as I have no experience with it, but I believe the 44” is a lot like my 50” which I am very satisfied with.

The front wheel size is probably not a big deal unless you wanted to put a wider deck on at some point (there is a 54” also). Heating the blower lift arm was not a great idea – like Ren said there are better ways to deal with that – being heated that much probably means failure in the future and unfortunately a new one is $126.

I would not be concerned too much about the 20 HP vs. 21 HP question. The older 3000 series tractors had 20 HP or less and I have never heard anyone complain about a lack of power. In that tractor 20 is all you would ever need.

Considering that you are getting an almost new and expensive blower with both tractors, you can’t go wrong with either.

slkpk · Mar 25, 2010

On a tractor with only 10 hours on it wouldn't it have the rest of the original warranty left on it? I thought the warranty was transferable on the CC? slkpk

Paranoid · Mar 25, 2010

You can get 0% financing for 36 or 48 months from CC dealer on a new one.

diesel_nut · Mar 25, 2010

My advice:
Don't wait too long or one or BOTH will be gone

mmoogie · Mar 25, 2010

Done deal. Got the 2544 for 2750.00 with a 30-day warranty.

I'm happy! I'll give it a good going over this weekend.

Thanks for all the help! I'm sure I'll be back here often...

Steve

slkpk · Mar 25, 2010

mmoogie said:
Done deal. Got the 2544 for 2750.00 with a 30-day warranty.

I'm happy! I'll give it a good going over this weekend.

Thanks for all the help! I'm sure I'll be back here often...

Steve

:goodl: with it and enjoy it. slkpk

Renster of N.H. · Mar 25, 2010

OUTSTANDING!!!

Now you have everything that you're going to need. Keep an eye on the areas on the blower lift tube that were heated in case they start to crack over time, and I wouldn't heat them again should it not be bent to your satisfaction. You'll have to live with it i fear. Nor would I dare try and bend it cold now - that'll crack it for sure. Treat the heated spots with a good degreaser and stiff brush. Then paint 'em up nice. Hopefully you'll have no issues there.

Thanx for the pics and come back and give us a report. The good, the bad, and the ugly. We want it all!

Now yer gonna have some fun!

Renster

JMoe · Mar 25, 2010

You did good. Like said, all new would have been well over $5K out the door. You've basically got all new! A little touch up paint and that custom work on the blower arm won't bug you any longer.

Joel

gcbailey · Mar 25, 2010

congrats!!! It's a beast when you need it.

Is this used 2544 a good deal?

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