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Recommendation On My First Deere

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#23 ·
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Discussion starter · #24 · (Edited)
teamsawbelly said:
If you don't own a truck, go rent one now. The pair is the way I'd go.:greendr:
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Yeah I was thinking that too; trouble is I don't have the time to get over there. It's actually the closest one to me too! I left a message for the guy regardless. We'll see what happens. Anyone want to go pick them up and deliver them to me or maybe go take a peek at them and let me know if they're any good? :praying:
 
Discussion starter · #26 ·
In the meantime, my in-laws' neighbor has a 210 with a bagger that he's looking to get $650 for. Might as well take a look at it since I'll be up there visiting tomorrow. Any insight on a 210/200 series in general? It's supposedly from 1984 if that makes a difference. I've left a message for several of the ads I mentioned without a call back yet, by the way.
 
#27 ·
pintopkp said:
In the meantime, my in-laws' neighbor has a 210 with a bagger that he's looking to get $650 for. Might as well take a look at it since I'll be up there visiting tomorrow. Any insight on a 210/200 series in general? It's supposedly from 1984 if that makes a difference. I've left a message for several of the ads I mentioned without a call back yet, by the way.
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The 200 series are actual "garden" tractors, in that they have heavier, ground-engaging transmissions and can therefore take implements like tillers and plows and dirt blades... However, they don't tend to have hydraulics, like the bigger 300 series tractors.... So, they're kinda an interim step between the 160-185 series and the 300-series. If all you want to do is lawn work and snow clearing and some light hauling, I'd say look at that 160/170 pair, esp. since there's a bagger included... Its a real nice touch... And ditto on what other folks have said about the NICE job the 160-185 series does of grass cutting...With good sharp blades and a well-tuned deck, you get an awesome cut. The number one advantage the 160 has over a 200-series is a MUCH tighter turning radius... I never fail to be impressed with how nimble my little 160 is.... However, it will never pull a 2 bottom plow or run a rototiller...
 
#28 ·
Dont RUSH... if you take your time you'll see machines pop up EVERY DAY on CL!
 
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#30 ·
$600 for the pair ?????? !!! His and hers
 
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Discussion starter · #31 ·
creekhed1 said:
Dont RUSH... if you take your time you'll see machines pop up EVERY DAY on CL!
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Very true. I see more and more every time I check. I've never driven ANY JD so I figure I might as well start tomorrow. I'll be able to see how the 200 feels and then hopefully (if any of the others call me back) drive an STX, 160, 170, etc as I shop around.
 
Discussion starter · #32 ·
For sake of argument, if I do decide to take the 210, will its bagger fit on the 100 series tractors like the 160, 170, etc? If I can get it for a decent price in decent shape, I might as well buy it for a yard duty spare and also grab a 160 or 170 as well for mowing. Can't have too many tractors, right?
 
#33 ·
The hopper, chute and bags will fit on the 100 series, and vice versa (those bits are interchangeable between the model lines)... What you WILL need for whichever one you want to mow with is the specific post and mounting bracket... Here's the post and bracket for the pre-1990 200 series:

Image


versus the post and bracket for the 160-185

Image
 
#35 ·
I have some experience with 200 series, my grandpa has a 212 that he plows snow with. My impression of it in the 2 years he's had it:
-bad turning radius
-nice speed selection
-seat doesnt go back far enough
-12hp Kohler SUCKS the gas down (worse than my Onans)
-lacking in grunt and pulling power

Also, it lost spark at one point, and Ill just say that the layout of those machines makes electrical work a PITA. You need to remove the side panels to do anything, and even then you are slightly limited by the design.

Deere owners: every brand has flaws, and Im not trying to bash, simply state my opinion.

:fing32: good luck Nick
 
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Discussion starter · #36 ·
Hugh-SS/16 said:
I have some experience with 200 series, my grandpa has a 212 that he plows snow with. My impression of it in the 2 years he's had it:
-bad turning radius
-nice speed selection
-seat doesnt go back far enough
-12hp Kohler SUCKS the gas down (worse than my Onans)
-lacking in grunt and pulling power

Also, it lost spark at one point, and Ill just say that the layout of those machines makes electrical work a PITA. You need to remove the side panels to do anything, and even then you are slightly limited by the design.

Deere owners: every brand has flaws, and Im not trying to bash, simply state my opinion.

:fing32: good luck Nick
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Thanks, Hugh. That's what I hear in general especially about turning radius. That's why a lot of the guys were recommending the 160 to 180. If I can muster it though, I might grab this one and a smaller one. My son is very into tractors right now which makes me want to increase my fleet again. So, we'll see. By the way, he's obsessed with your tractor tug of war video as well as Lynol's farm show video and Super 12 video. You have one big 23 month old fan on YouTube!
 
Discussion starter · #37 ·
210 was nice, but true what everyone has said; probably not right for what I need. I'm going to pass. Going to look at a 160 in nice shape tomorrow with a bagger. Lot closer to me as well than the 210. Anything special to look for with the 160? What's the difference between a 160 and the STX? The engine? They look pretty comparable to my untrained eye.
 
#38 ·
Looks like the STX has the Kohler 12.5, and its gonna be between 5-9 years newer than the 160... 160's got a 12.5 Kawasaki, which I'm told is an incredibly bulletproof engine (mine always has been, so far)... They've BOTH got a Peerless transaxle (801 in the 160, 920 in the STX), you'll want to make sure you do some shifting through all the gears, see if the clutch lets up smoothly with no shuddering or stuttering... Its a good transaxle in the 160, but is not a really heavy duty one... So they can be damaged by heavy usage (hauling heavy stuff, whamming into curbs or snow piles when pushing snow, all the stuff I've done to mine). The Kawi is a great engine, but the Mikuni carb on it is hard to come by....

Other than that, ya, they are pretty close.... Anything else come with the 160? If you get your hands on the rear-mountable weights, those are made of gold! Or at least Unobtainium....
 
Discussion starter · #39 ·
Well I just came back from looking at a 160. What a great little tractor! You guys weren't kidding about it; nimble as all get out and cuts very nice. The Kawi engine sounds and feels nice and smooth too. The seller wants to hold onto it until the first/second week of November in case his 170 fails, so, in another couple of weeks, I'll have my first JD. I'll throw some pictures up when I pick it up. Thanks again all. :thanku:
 
#40 ·
I sold my LX178 on eBay for $1,500. She ran like a top right to the day I sold it. Save a lithe more and you could be on a new D100
 
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Flintlock1776
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