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CPO Retired

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
The last time I came to this board with a problem, I was guided in the right direction right away.

I'm looking to add another rider to ease up on the hours of my 1999 16G which now has 570 hours (I bought it used in 2001 with 27 hours). It has been used to snow blow 225' driveway, mow 2 acres and till 4 different gardens.

I found on up here in NW Michigan which is a 2000 14G with the Robin engine and 1000 hours with a 50" mower deck and 2 48" Snow blowers with electric over hydro lift. Garage kept, decent looking and he asking $3000 OBO

The other one I'm looking at is located on the Eastern Shore of MD, this one is a 2000, 16G (Briggs twin) with 370 hours, also decent shape, garage kept etc. with a 48" snow blower, and 50" mower deck. The asking price for this unit is $4200 OBO.

I have no experience with the 14HP Robbins engines, was wondering if you fellas thought that is too light of a motor for snow blowing, and also the hours are almost 3 times as much as the unit in MD ( I would set the next unit up just for blowing and use my original 99 for tilling and mowing). On the other hand it is only about 40 miles from me rather than hauling a trailer to MD for the 16G.

Any and all feedback would be most welcome, I am ready to pull the trigger on this decision real soon.

Very Respectfully,

John T. Forton
CPO, USN-RET
Lake Leelanau, MI
 
#2 ·
CPO Retired said:
The last time I came to this board with a problem, I was guided in the right direction right away.

I'm looking to add another rider to ease up on the hours of my 1999 16G which now has 570 hours (I bought it used in 2001 with 27 hours). It has been used to snow blow 225' driveway, mow 2 acres and till 4 different gardens.

I found on up here in NW Michigan which is a 2000 14G with the Robin engine and 1000 hours with a 50" mower deck and 2 48" Snow blowers with electric over hydro lift. Garage kept, decent looking and he asking $3000 OBO

The other one I'm looking at is located on the Eastern Shore of MD, this one is a 2000, 16G (Briggs twin) with 370 hours, also decent shape, garage kept etc. with a 48" snow blower, and 50" mower deck. The asking price for this unit is $4200 OBO.

I have no experience with the 14HP Robbins engines, was wondering if you fellas thought that is too light of a motor for snow blowing, and also the hours are almost 3 times as much as the unit in MD ( I would set the next unit up just for blowing and use my original 99 for tilling and mowing). On the other hand it is only about 40 miles from me rather than hauling a trailer to MD for the 16G.

Any and all feedback would be most welcome, I am ready to pull the trigger on this decision real soon.

Very Respectfully,

John T. Forton
CPO, USN-RET
Lake Leelanau, MI
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John, not offering an opinion on the tractors, but if you favor the one in Maryland, there are people who will collect it for you and trailer it to you. Figure out your cost (all in) to make the trip yourself and use that as a guide when evaluating shipping quotes. I have the name of one guy and others here have experience with other guys.

You might also inquire on here about setting up a Gravely Train/shipping relay. I'd be okay doing a part of it. Say from the Eastern Shore to maybe an hour west of Baltimore. Just the cost of gas.
 
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#3 ·
Based on your descriptions, I think them both to be overpriced. That said, I'd never have any rider that was a single cylinder, esp. for snow blowing duty. I also don't like the B&S powered 16-G's very much either. Prefer the M18 powered units. If all you are going to do with it is blow snow, I wouldn't even concern myself with the engine hours (read "shop price instead"), assuming it was well maintained. So I think my advice is to be patient and wait for a nice Kohler twin to pop up. After all, the snow is not flying anytime soon.
 
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#4 ·
I consider ANY GT at 1,000 hours to be at the end of its life, if it had typical service.

There are those here that will dispute that #, but my # is based on typical service.

I expect to get a 1,000 hour machine for well under $1,000.

All the machines that are close to or over 1,000 hours are getting LOTS of service and repairs to keep them running.

JMHO
 
#5 ·
Since you all ready have a 16G then I would go with the 2000, 16G (Briggs twin) with 370 hours. You all ready know your machine and if you ever have any problems it will be easy to trouble shoot... The 370 hours is almost like getting a new machine and you know they dont make them anymore... You could probley make it last a lifetime.

You dont get much for $4200 in todays tractors and I dont like the new stuff anyway.

Your call...
 
#6 ·
I own both Kohler Magnums and Subaru engines. They both have there pluses and minuses. While the Subaru is an OHV engine that uses less fuel with more refinement, the Magnum is a tried and true engine that's a very robust workhorse. The thing I worry about with the modern engines is that they all use aluminum blocks/heads, which is much more susceptible to damage from high heat. Not to mention adding the OHV bit to the mix can causes all other sorts of issues. If it were me I would lean more toward the proven design of a Kohler KT/M or Onan engine, I just feel like than can take more abuse or laxness in maintenance. There's also a reason why there are still A LOT of them, 30-40 years or older, still being used regularly.

That said, both of those tractors are over priced IMO. The single 14-G with over 1k hours is worth about $1500 at the max. Singles aren't as desirable as the twins and once you start getting over 1k hours the value really starts to drop. The 16-G is nice, but you can find just as nice of a machine for a 1/4 of the price.


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#7 ·
PA RedRider said:
Based on your descriptions, I think them both to be overpriced. That said, I'd never have any rider that was a single cylinder, esp. for snow blowing duty. I also don't like the B&S powered 16-G's very much either. Prefer the M18 powered units. If all you are going to do with it is blow snow, I wouldn't even concern myself with the engine hours (read "shop price instead"), assuming it was well maintained. So I think my advice is to be patient and wait for a nice Kohler twin to pop up. After all, the snow is not flying anytime soon.
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Hard to say really about the Briggs twins. Too new, but not really a lot of known problems. I've not seen a lot of negative here at the boards or the yahoo group.

But I agree. I'd be hunting a Twin Kohler.

WH401 said:
I own both Kohler Magnums and Subaru engines. They both have there pluses and minuses. While the Subaru is an OHV engine that uses less fuel with more refinement, the Magnum is a tried and true engine that's a very robust workhorse. The thing I worry about with the modern engines is that they all use aluminum blocks/heads, which is much more susceptible to damage from high heat. Not to mention adding the OHV bit to the mix can causes all other sorts of issues. If it were me I would lean more toward the proven design of a Kohler KT/M or Onan engine, I just feel like than can take more abuse or laxness in maintenance. There's also a reason why there are still A LOT of them, 30-40 years or older, still being used regularly.

That said, both of those tractors are over priced IMO. The single 14-G with over 1k hours is worth about $1500 at the max. Singles aren't as desirable as the twins and once you start getting over 1k hours the value really starts to drop. The 16-G is nice, but you can find just as nice of a machine for a 1/4 of the price.


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Click to expand...

I agree on the prices. Personally I'd never pay over a grand for a single cylinder tractor.

Should be able to find a nice 16-G for $1,500. Jmo..
 
#8 ·
CADplans said:
I consider ANY GT at 1,000 hours to be at the end of its life, if it had typical service.

There are those here that will dispute that #, but my # is based on typical service.

I expect to get a 1,000 hour machine for well under $1,000.

All the machines that are close to or over 1,000 hours are getting LOTS of service and repairs to keep them running.

JMHO
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That's an interesting view. I will not dispute or agree, but I hope I prove you wrong in the next 18 years.

My 16-G, now known as the 18-GLX, has 650 hours on it now. While the many "upgrades" have cost whatever they have cost, "repairs" still remain very minimal after 18 years of service. We will see, but at 650 hours it still runs like new.

As for the OP's question, I agree with Red Rider and others, I would not have a single cylinder GRAVELY rider, especially for snow work. And I like any of the old flat head twins, Kohler or Onan, they have more torque than these new OHV engines.

But I don't know anything, I only have one tractor - it seems to be so good that is all I have need of?

As for the prices, I'm going to stay out of that part of the conversation.......other than to say that to me, clean, shiny and well cared for IS worth something - arbitrary values based on age or hours don't hold up in my view. A better cared for tractor is worth more - the question is how much more to who?

Sheldon
 
#9 ·
The prices are a tad high but a well-kept, low hours Gravely is worth a premium to me, regardless of the engine.

For me, hydraulics are a must and I would also "desire" a twin instead of a single, but it is pretty straightforward to put a different motor on a Gravely.

The Magnums are simple, brawny, and terribly inefficient. I would eventually like to put a modern engine on both my riders but that is a couple grand outlay, each.
 
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#11 ·
#13 ·
#16 ·
Mikey4 said:
John, I just came across this 18G in Charlottesville, VA. Far less expensive and looks like a nice, well cared for tractor.

http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/grd/4436521170.html
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I talked to the seller last week when he initially had it listed with no picture. He had originally listed it for $1200, but after talking with his mechanic, who was amazed at the condition and thought he could get $1500 for it, he then decided to raise the price. He said he had one gentleman call when it was listed for $1200 and offered him $1000 only to use it as a parts tractor. The seller was kind of insulted by that, and I could see why, to make parts out of such a fair condition tractor for $1000 is a bit ridiculous IMO. The seller said last time he checked the hour meter it had around 1270 on it, so it may be more or less. Overall though it looks to be a nice machine, but still probably on the high side at $1500. Probably more in the $1200 - $1300 range.

Rick
 
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#17 ·
See I don't get that at all.

1- why would someone feel the need to tell the seller the intention is to use it as a parts tractor?

On the other hand, why does the seller care about what someone does with it?

I agree on the price if you can see "key" hours upon looking at it..
If this machine does in fact have 1270 hours on it $1k is a big offer imo.
 
#18 ·
OK, I'm going to take another stab at this "value" thing. First I guess I don't buy the idea that these things are "worn out" at 1000 hours - unless it has been neglected.

There are a number of you who suggest that nearly every used GRAVELY riding tractor is only worth $1000 or $1500 - why is that?

In 1996 I paid $8165 for my 16-G, 50" deck, 48" snow dozer and nice Ohio Steel cart. A year latter I bought the three can bagger/vacuum at a cost of $1750. And just three years ago I spent $1400 adding steering brakes to the tractor.

And yes I have spent a fair amount of money on all my "improvements" because I can, and I want to, and because many of them really have made the tractor a more effective tool for my needs.

Now, 18 years later, with 650 hours on the clock, it still looks like this and runs perfectly:

[URL=http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/carrollhome/media/a7fdcc3e-8b4f-4d39-88f3-e17d821d2c15_zps37de4ba7.jpg.html][/URL]

The average annual repair costs average out to about $175 a year. The biggest single repair it has needed so far is my recent spindle rebuild on the deck.

The engine and transmission have only needed normal wear items, a few clutch linings, a fuel pump. Still running great on the original carb - never been rebuilt, still starting on the first hit with the original starter.

In my view, with normal care, this tractor should last another 18 years and 650 more hours - at least. Yes it might need a carb overhaul, or a starter, or even a PTO clutch somewhere in that future, but averaged out over its service life, and assuming those replacement items would again last as long as they did the first time, that would still be way cheaper than a new tractor of similar quality or expected service life.

So you are saying my tractor is only worth 15% of its purchase price yet it likely is only 50% through it useful service life in hours and/or years? How does that math work? OK I would expect a value of 35% of it purchase price at 50% service life - that would be $3500. Interestingly that is a value similar to many of the tractors being discussed here.

Most of the tractors talked about in this thread seem to be garage kept, well cared for cream puffs like mine, not junk some joker left out in the rain for 10 years.

If I had the desire or need for another tractor, I would pay $3500, or there about, for a tractor as well cared for as mine, and be happy to get it.

But, what do I know, I only own one of these things, and I was silly enough to buy it new.

Sheldon
 
#19 ·
ATLANTICCENTRAL said:
OK, I'm going to take another stab at this "value" thing. First I guess I don't buy the idea that these things are "worn out" at 1000 hours - unless it has been neglected.

Sheldon
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I, personally, have seen zero other machines that hold a candle to your machine.

I have done extensive service to the machines I have owned, and have watched them wear out.

In twenty years, I was able to wear out two K321 Kohler engines, each receiving 10 hour oil changes.

Neither engine went to 1000 hours.

I do push my machines, and expect them to work hard. The 24G has never mowed in low range, and only occasionally in H-1, it runs in H-2 even cutting off 8+ inches of neglected grass. (I did that this evening :hide:)

My neighbor tried the 24G, and wanted to mow in h-3,,, :swow:,,THAT did not happen.

If I did not wear them out, what excuse would I have to get the next machine? :dunno:
 
#20 · (Edited)
There are a number of you who suggest that nearly every used GRAVELY riding tractor is only worth $1000 or $1500 - why is that?
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It's simple. It's because they can be bought for that, or cheaper.

There was guy here local selling a manual lift 14G I stopped in to look at it. We chatted for a bit, eventually he told me what he was asking- $2500. He then was really curious what I would be willing to give for it. At first I didn't want to tell him but he seemed like he could handle it. I said $700 Max.
The tractor has been for sale 3 years this summer.
 
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PA RedRider
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