Hope to join the 400 club, have ?s

rpage83 · Mar 8, 2012

I received a call back from a potential seller on a 400 with attachments. He is looking for 1,000 bucks, which I think I can swing. It has a tiller, rear PTO, 3 point, 54" four way and a set of wheel weights. He told me that the engine had been rebuilt after throwing a rod.

My questions are:
What should I be looking for, as far as hidden issues? Hydraulics, engine knocks, fluid leaks.
Is there a specific issue that comes up with the tiller/PTO setup? Gear box?

Lastly, and the most important of all...
How do I convince my wife I need it????

raying:

raying:
I have a 317 but im wanting to add 3 spool, power steering and get ride of the bad KT-17.

Thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Willing to liquidate some assets (decoys, guns, some other JD stuff I have) All in the name of love

bmurph44 · Mar 8, 2012

That tiller alone is worth the asking price.

locopny · Mar 8, 2012

rpage83 said:
I received a call back from a potential seller on a 400 with attachments. He is looking for 1,000 bucks, which I think I can swing. It has a tiller, rear PTO, 3 point, 54" four way and a set of wheel weights. He told me that the engine had been rebuilt after throwing a rod.

My questions are:
What should I be looking for, as far as hidden issues? Hydraulics, engine knocks, fluid leaks.
Is there a specific issue that comes up with the tiller/PTO setup? Gear box?

Lastly, and the most important of all...
How do I convince my wife I need it????raying:raying:
I have a 317 but im wanting to add 3 spool, power steering and get ride of the bad KT-17.

Thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Willing to liquidate some assets (decoys, guns, some other JD stuff I have) All in the name of love

its worth the price in parts alone.
As I just learned....keep the fluid clean.

I love my 400....super handy.

rpage83 · Mar 8, 2012

Yes the tiller is worth it alone, but as far as why im wanting to buy it.... Here in Utah, the market for the deeres is slim to none. My buddy found a killer deal on a 420 for 800 bucks, and since then I have been wanting to get a larger tractor.

We are buying a home in june and we are going to be doing a lot of landscaping, getting ride of the bad grass (40 year old stuff). The tiller I have on the 317 is just not tough enough to get in the ground and tear it all up. This one appears to be stout and handle the work. We will be doing some grading as well, plus I need a project tractor for this winter.

All in all, Im hoping this will be my last and only tractor. Id like to build a FEL for it as well.

home-boy · Mar 8, 2012

Get it!

attorney_barnabas_collins · Mar 8, 2012

It would be on my trailer.

69project · Mar 8, 2012

I paid $800 just for the tiller and another $250 for the rear PTO that needed a drive shaft made. That is a whale of deal no matter where you live for all of that. The 35 tiller should do the job for you. I have no complaints with mine. They are heavy pieces so make sure you have a decent trailer when you go get it.

You will want to leave the plow on the front or get some front weights when use the tiller otherwise your front end will tend to bounce a bit. 400's are good stout tractors. The only real issues are the motors, the Kohlers are good but tend to die early from oiling issues, and finding attachments. You appeared to have solved the attachment issue. The JD 20 loader is what fits on a 400 and they show for sale every now and again. Have fun with this.

Robert Webb · Mar 8, 2012

Get you a set of weights and a weight bracket like I got and you wont need the blade on the front.......lol

That one has been repowered with a Kohler Magnum 20 and will pull just about anything that I have hooked to it. I pulled about a 20' log that was laying in a field that I was cleaning up......it was about 18" in diameter. And that bottom plow..........I can sink that thing about 8" deep and run with it at full throttle unless the dirt gets real compacted. I LOVE that thing.......it is a BEAST!

Cat385B · Mar 9, 2012

I'd buy that for a thousand bucks, and I'm cheap. And poor.

Leinie · Mar 9, 2012

It's lucky for you Utah is big place or I'd be on the way to find it and scoop it up.

locopny · Mar 9, 2012

Leinie said:
It's lucky for you Utah is big place or I'd be on the way to find it and scoop it up.

thats what I was thinking.....its not too far. I went to CA for one...and it didnt run!

Its a really reasonable price for an upgrade to a bigger tractor.
If you don't want it, PM me the contact info

rpage83 · Nov 17, 2017

Bring this back from the dead. I did a repower on this 400, posted on another site but figured it would fit here too.
Sad thing its long gone, but I learned so much from the project
Jd 400 Mitsubishi L3E Diesel Repower - Diesel Garden Tractors, Repower and Conversion Forum - GTtalk

rfuerst317 · Nov 17, 2017

The seller said the engine has been rebuilt but is it running now ? While I agree for 1K it's a bargain but make sure or at least be prepared for an engine rebuild . Based on the flat tire and the grass/weed growth around the tractor it hasn't run in a while.

I am always wary of comments like recently rebuilt ( with no records ) or ran great when parked . But for the price I don't think you can lose on this one other than waiting too long to purchase !

Merc1973 · Nov 17, 2017

rpage83 said:
Bring this back from the dead. I did a repower on this 400, posted on another site but figured it would fit here too.
Sad thing its long gone, but I learned so much from the project
Jd 400 Mitsubishi L3E Diesel Repower - Diesel Garden Tractors, Repower and Conversion Forum - GTtalk

Thanks for posting the link with photos! Great job! Who ever owns it now will enjoy it...

Hope to join the 400 club, have ?s

rpage83

bmurph44

locopny

rpage83

home-boy

attorney_barnabas_collins

69project

Robert Webb

Cat385B

Leinie

locopny

rpage83

rfuerst317

Merc1973

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