[dishawjp]

I bought my first garden tractor some time back in the early 1980's. It was a 1967 JD 110 in somewhat rough shape, and I believe I paid about $300 or so for it. It came with a cart, a 38" mower, and a snow blower. I used it just for mowing the lawn at my home, about two or so acres of mowing. After a year or so, I tore it down completely and rebuilt just about everything on the tractor, and today it's due for another rebuild, but all I use ot for is light duty work like towing a cart.

In the early '90's I picked up a 1976 212 in really rough shape also for about $300. It needed an engine rebuild, axle bearings and transaxle work. I did a full rebuild on it, including purchasing a new 46" mower deck. Until 2010, I used it at my home, mostly for mowing. Today, that's my "mule deere" and I mostly use it for work on my hunting camp property hauling firewood, hauling materials for building deer blinds, and whatever on the trails I've made on that 40 or so acre property. Occasionally, about three or four times a year, I put the mower deck on it to mow sections of the trails that get enough sunlight to need mowing.

In 2010 I bought a new LA 165 to replace the 212 for mowing and plowing snow at home.

Last year I fell into a deal I couldn't walk away from, a 2003 GX 345 with 52 hrs. on it for $3000. I have that set up with lug tires and chains and bought a front blade for it and use it mostly for maintaining and improving the trails on my hunting property. It has a 54" mower deck in perfect condition that I have never used.

A month or so ago a good friend of mine asked me if I wanted a 1984 210 he had because he was going to turn it in for scrap metal if I wasn't interested. He delivered it to me in the bucket of his front end loader! It took me an hour or two to get it running, and other than a very badly rotted mower deck, it's in great shape. The problems were a bad ignition switch and some minor electrical problems, and it does also need a muffler. Other than that, I've pulled and cleaned the carb, changed the transaxle oil, greased it up and replaced the two drive belts. I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to use this one for, but possibly I'll get one of those tow behind mower decks for it, but it will definitely get a new paint job and whatever other maintenance it does need this winter. But whatever I do end up doing with it, I'm not getting rid of it.

The other tractor I have is an old MTD that I gave to my daughter and she uses that to do the lawn mowing at the hunting property.

Anyway, these things do tend to accumulate over time and with a little care, they seem to last just about forever, so why would you ever get rid of one?

Jim

 

[sadixon49]

i am new around here (obviously lol), i have seen tons of lists in sigs on here of tractors people own, but for the life of me, i just don't understand owning more than 1 at a time. :thThumbsU

Do you own more than 1 pair of shoes? why, i don't get it ....

steve

 

[ehatcher]

We have a bunch of JD stuff, but only one tractor at the moment. I can't possibly justify buying another tractor; but I am going to. Not sure if I want a 455 (I want a diesel) or a 110 Round fender (a restoration would be fun) or a 210/12/14 etc (like the look of them,) etc, etc...

I have no idea why I want another tractor, other than the fact that I simply want one. I could spew some nonsense about "one for mowing, one for a loader," but in my case, those are really justifications/excuses, not reasons.

I just want another tractor and that is enough of a reason.

I have the same problem with motorcycles but the disease has progressed a little further.....


Eric

 

[catpower]

I've had 5, but no more than two at a time. I love to buy them, used them a season, and flip them. Although I love my most recent purchase, a 318, and plan to keep it for a long time. I didn't do a show quality paint job on this one. I usually end up making them so nice that I hate using them. I plan to push snow, plow and till gardens, mow, and do the other usual lawn duties with it. I also built a ripper attachment that I'm going to use to put my burried dog fence in with, and will do a deep rip in the garden with. Then I can fertilize before I plow next month!

I've had a 314, 317, 214, 400, and now the 318. Big Deere's at the farm include a 2940, 8760, 8960, 4440, 4960, a 9610 for harvest, an A, and a 60. Love that green stuff!

Here's just a few random shots. The in cab shot was from the 8760. The view from the drivers seat of the 60 was while binding wheat the old fashioned way

 

[metalmama1]

The new tractors are nicer and cleaner, but just don't have that same long-lasting quality of the old ones. Personally, I don't like the new ones because they use cheaper materials to compete with brands like Craftsman and Husqvarna.

this is what i was thinking... our tractor came with a plastic hood. first pothole in the yard the kid hit, the thing cracked. can't remember how much we paid the jd dealer for that tractor, but i'm positive it was enough that it should have come with a sturdier hood mebbe :dunno:

I believe that JD will sell you a new snowblower and an adapter kit to fit your tractor. Also available are Berco aftermarket snowblowers that would fit your tractor.

that's cool! i looked at their website & i thought since they didn't list any attachments for anything but 2 models, that they didn't make any more!

In some cases I think the tractor collecting is akin to some ladies and thier obsession with collecting clothes or way too many shoes! :dunno:

hmmm... one of those collections /hobbies actually seems useful, though

:thanku: for starting this thread MM!! It's been a good read:fing32:

it's been fascinating!!

Do you own more than 1 pair of shoes? why, i don't get it ....

steve

2 pairs of tennis shoes, cuz i haven't thrown 1 away yet

I found in one of your threads that you have a GT235 or GT245. Both are very good GT's and adding one to your inventory with a snowblower, chains, wheel weights would get you the ability to do that long driveway. Of course when dealing with Indidana winters and long driveways maybe bigger is better. If you were going to "upgrade" and not want to pay too much a JD 318 would be a good choice, hydraulic lift, power steering and there are a couple of snowblowers available (single stage and two stage) that will tame the snowdrifts pretty quick! If you're looking for new and can handle it fiscally the X7xx series are the current top of the line in Garden Tractors.

thanx, i'll look into both! a plastic hood on the x7 will be the deal breaker lol

I love to buy them, used them a season, and flip them.

this is a fun idea! like getting a new tractor every season!

thanx all!! as always, tremendously informative & interesting!

 

[Ericjr16]

I have become quite the collector over the last four months! I have THREE more tractors coming in the next week or so?!? HELP!!

 

[MichaelTJD60]

I've had 5, but no more than two at a time. I love to buy them, used them a season, and flip them. Although I love my most recent purchase, a 318, and plan to keep it for a long time. I didn't do a show quality paint job on this one. I usually end up making them so nice that I hate using them. I plan to push snow, plow and till gardens, mow, and do the other usual lawn duties with it. I also built a ripper attachment that I'm going to use to put my burried dog fence in with, and will do a deep rip in the garden with. Then I can fertilize before I plow next month!

I've had a 314, 317, 214, 400, and now the 318. Big Deere's at the farm include a 2940, 8760, 8960, 4440, 4960, a 9610 for harvest, an A, and a 60. Love that green stuff!

Here's just a few random shots. The in cab shot was from the 8760. The view from the drivers seat of the 60 was while binding wheat the old fashioned way

Great collection of Deeres! You've got some of the best models out there. Love them ol' Johnny Poppers! I have a 60 myself, but it doesn't run.

 

[Kbeitz]

How many JD's do I have right now ??? None...
In my life time I've had 100's of tractors..
None of the JD's impressed me enough to stay.
I would take a good Sears over a JD.
I guess it's just what you have luck with....

 

[MichaelTJD60]

this is what i was thinking... our tractor came with a plastic hood. first pothole in the yard the kid hit, the thing cracked. can't remember how much we paid the jd dealer for that tractor, but i'm positive it was enough that it should have come with a sturdier hood mebbe :dunno:

My LA150 is a bit of a weak tractor, but I put it through a lot of tough work, like offroading and mowing brush. Luckily, mine has a bumper on the front and I've hit trees and fences so many times (no power steering!!!) that the thing would've been wrecked without the bumper. I've had it since 2007 and just this past week, I was driving it under a downed tree, and put these huge scratches in the hood... :banghead3

 

[pcloadletter]

Currently own two, the smaller one is for sale.

 

[nhgreenguy]

Why? Because we can. I'm down to two because I gave my 214 away to my daughter moving to Oregon, need to replace that with a round fender w/haudraulic lift and a plow.

My 445 is delegated to loader duties and the 318 mows and blows snow. For those in snow country, nothing is better than both a snow thrower and a loader.

 

[rodh]

If you ever had something old that work great you have no reason to get rid of it other than you wanted new and than found out the old did a better job. A old muscle car the era I grew up on the tire smell, engine rumbling easy fixing and fun to tinker on. Do I stop at one two three or just enough that I can afford insurance for ? If you cant lift the wheels off the ground its not a muscle car. we collect and repair and tinker as many as we can and I have 5 in my pole barn and maybe tomorrow I'll be getting another one a 65 or 67 round fender. We can sit around and watch TV or spend time in the bar or spend money getting out of jail and some people just haven't the ability to see the beauty in a round fender John Deere. Stand next to one look at it, feel it, hear it start and run. I wont say everybody should have one but everyone needs something to tinker with.

 

[GR8racingfool]

I have 4 as well. See sig. My new one to the line up is an old 110 RF.

650 is currently at a guys shop having a power steering kit made for it, later I will buy a FEL (front end loader) for it. I use it for big jobs, mowing large areas with the bush hog, moving sand/driveway work with the box blade, leveling the yard after its been tilled etc.

My 300 is my main work horse, mows the lawn, pulls the yard cart and lawn sweeper. Drop the deck off, and attach the front blade, add the rear weight bracket and we'll move some snow or do some driveway work or even dirt work in the yard.

The 14SB push mower I use in areas of the yard the 300 can't fit when I mow. I also like to go around the yard and obstacles with the 14SB so I don't have to get too close to things with the 300. When I moved out and bought my home, its a .5 acre lot, and I bought the 14SB used for $70.00 and mowed with that and only that for several years before I bought the 300 to mow with.

My 110 round fender I bought cause its a bad *** looking tractor. Haven't done anything with it since I brought it home. Dont know if it will get restored, or repowered and turned into a puller. I do know, i am adding some bad *** fat AG/bar tires for the rears. That looks so kick *** poking out them fenders. I just bought it to buy it, and enjoy it when I get it running. I'll probably just pull the yard cart or lawn sweeper around with it when its done. I don't plan on mowing with it.

~F~

 

[KHodges]

I currently have three, and they're all working machines, no show toys. The GT235 stays at my Mom's and gets the least use. It's an '02 only has 450 hrs, gets used once a week during summer to mow 1/2 acre, pretty much stays parked during winter.

The 214 is used as a wagon tow, mostly so I don't have to pull the tiller or MC519 off the X748. It will eventually get a frame-off resto and engine rebuild.

The X748SE mows up to 6 acres weekly or more often, plus doing all the garden plowing and tilling, plus getting leaves up in the fall and winter, plus plowing snow, whenever we get enough that it's needed. It's an '08, and I just turned 715 hrs yesterday.

I used to have a '65 110, back before I knew how collectable they were, and a '70 110. Wish I still had them both, along with the ones I have now.

 

[UrbanTractor]

do you own more than 1 john deere?

Not yet.

Okay, now I do! Here's the latest:

 

[think-mac]

Awesome tractor UrbanTractor!

Did you do the restoration yourself?

 

[rodh]

I just bought another .. 73 John Deere 110 square fender with 2 snow throwers and a 3 blade mow deck. runs great . I'm hoping the other snow thrower will fit on my 111..I Think I need to stop for now we'll see tomorrow ..

 

[beabruin]

Is this too many ?? ( the family JD'S) Not if you can care for them.
If it makes you feel better one is missing from the family portrait.
All have a trailer to go with them.
Fourth over is Rusty :howdy:

:trink39: Rusty

 

[beabruin]

If you have to ask . . . .

I have three. That reminds me I need to update my sig. The LX176 (Junior) is the daily worker for mowing & yard mule duties. I also push the snow around with the 42" blade except for last winter.

The 318 (Senior) belonged to my brother-in-law's dad who past away 3-ys ago. Senior will be restored or at least refreshed to working status and will do snowblower duty until I can find a rear tiller or perhaps a front end loader.

The newest to the herd is a 170 that will only work summers at my mom's lake front summer cottage.

I'm still looking for a RF 110 or 112H as well as something with a front end loader.

I also have a model 80 cart that hopefully one day will get restored to occasional use status.

 

[UrbanTractor]

Awesome tractor UrbanTractor!

Did you do the restoration yourself?

Thanks!

No, I don't have anywhere to undertake a project like that. I searched for quite a while until I found one that had been completely restored by a very knowledgeable owner. I hope it will last another 40 years!