[Lewie]

I just bought an '04 CC 3204 last night with 119 hours and the 44" deck for $1485 raying: An older gentleman owned it, rarely used it, and looks really good in the pix. No, I haven't seen it in person!!! AHHHH!!!! That's the bad part and not typical for me but I've been going insane the last few weeks looking so I pulled the trigger on what I thought was a good deal on ebay. After talking with the seller, I feel a lot better!!

I'm moving to a house with an acre lot, big driveway, and several older (50-100 yr. old +) trees. I need the snow plow and a cart.

I wanted a good tractor since I have a couple sons who will probably go around the neighborhood looking for lawn mowing and snow plowing jobs eventually.

Does this sound like a decent plan....hopefully???

 

[Dirty Bernie]

I have no knowledge of that machine but it looks very clean for its age! :trink39:

i'm sure somebody will be able to help you out.

 

[slkpk]

You done real good for the price. Looks to be in great shape and with only 119 hours it's just starting to get broke in. slkpk

 

[Gary in NJ]

Welcome to the forums. You did great. That's a lot of machine you have there for an acre lot. Post a run-report when you get it home.

 

[thunderbirl]

You did great! (And you'll now be spoiled when it comes to mowing your lawn with anything else!)

At that price, I'd have bought it, swapped over my attachments and resold mine with its attachements!

 

[Lewie]

Ya, I'm thinking it could be a bit much for an acre but I wouldn't doubt that it'll be mowing 2-4 acres a week within a couple years if my boys talk a few neighbors into mowing their lawn. Snow plowing too! Gotta teach those boys work ehtic :thThumbsU

I started out a couple weeks ago thinking I'd just find a 42" blade for my 20 yr. old Cub 1320...then I quickly realized I'd probably fry the tranny the 1st time out and it be a complete waste of money!! So, that's for sale now.

Then, I went to the dealer with a budget of about $2000 and almost bought a new LT 1500 series. Not a bad option. I was still worried whether it could handle a decent amount of snow plowing, a possible few acres of mowing, and heavy cart duty.

I saw the prices of new 2000-3000 series :thSick: so I started looking for low hours used tractors, and even most of the used prices seemed expensive to me! SO...the ebay deal came along with this 3204 and I was surprised it sold for within $15 of my highest offer!

In the end, I like the fact I was able to buy a heavy duty peice of equipment for about 1/4 of the cost of new. Better to have too much than too little?

 

[JMoe]

You bought it sight-unseen? :fing20: Naww.. just bustin' on ya. For the $ and the hours, I'm sure you did well. That HD 44" deck looks very clean and it doesn't *appear* to have any touch-up paint on it. That rear hitch-plate does look to have touch up paint towards the bottom, but it's tough to know for sure. I'm a believer in; If it's all original and pretty much blemish free, it was a cared for machine. A quick glance at the deck for bends/breakage or torn up gauge wheels can indicate it saw some rough service as well. Nice machine!

Joel

 

[Lewie]

You bought it sight-unseen? :fing20: Naww.. just bustin' on ya. For the $ and the hours, I'm sure you did well. That HD 44" deck looks very clean and it doesn't *appear* to have any touch-up paint on it. That rear hitch-plate does look to have touch up paint towards the bottom, but it's tough to know for sure. I'm a believer in; If it's all original and pretty much blemish free, it was a cared for machine. A quick glance at the deck for bends/breakage or torn up gauge wheels can indicate it saw some rough service as well. Nice machine!

Joel

Haha! Thanks. Yes...very uncharacteristic for me, believe me. But at that point I was getting dizzy from looking so much! It's funny...I was just going about my business Friday night when I heard my droid buzz. I checked to see what it was and it was an ebay alert that an auction was ending in 15 minutes...and it was this one. I checked it out the best I could one more time and threw in what I thought would be a cheap bid on a low hour 3000 series. Didn't actually think I'd get it.

 

[DMAC]

Lewie
We have the same machine here including the deck, you did more than ok in fact I hate you. :thThumbsU
The deck is built like a commercial unit with eleven grease fittings, easy on and off and an excellent cut.
We have modified our tractor and are very happy with its abilities. :fing32:
Feel free to ask any questions. Good luck. :trink39:
DMAC

 

[Lewie]

Lewie
We have the same machine here including the deck, you did more than ok in fact I hate you. :thThumbsU
The deck is built like a commercial unit with eleven grease fittings, easy on and off and an excellent cut.
We have modified our tractor and are very happy with its abilities. :fing32:
Feel free to ask any questions. Good luck. :trink39:
DMAC

It's sounding better & better! Might take you up on some advice sometime...:thanku:

I found this forum a week or 2 ago and have read 200-300 pages since...whew.. THANK YOU for a huge source of information and advice!!! It really influenced my decision making process and I'm sure it will have saved me a lot of aggrivation and money in the long run :fing32:

 

[aagitch]

That's a sweet machine. I'd rather have that over my super diesel.

 

[Gary in NJ]

Ya, I'm thinking it could be a bit much for an acre but I wouldn't doubt that it'll be mowing 2-4 acres a week within a couple years if my boys talk a few neighbors into mowing their lawn. Snow plowing too!

It's not too much for an acre, just that a smaller machine would be fine for an acre. However, you would have paid more money for a new 1000 series and that isn't half the tractor you now have.

Regarding plowing, the 3204 doesn't have a locking differential, so if your driveway has a steep slope, you'll be plowing down the slope and driving back up for another run. If it's flat, you'll have no problems at all.

 

[JMoe]

Regarding plowing, the 3204 doesn't have a locking differential, so if your driveway has a steep slope, you'll be plowing down the slope and driving back up for another run. If it's flat, you'll have no problems at all.

Better for Lewie. That diff lock is the only major 3K series issue I've read of a few times over the years (repeated failure item).

Joel

 

[Gary in NJ]

The failures I've seen this year on this forum may have been latent manufacturing defects. I'm hoping that my replacement axle is better built then those made ten years ago.

No doubt, they do fail, and fail big. My failure cost me $275 to repair myself. It would have cost $1,500 or more to have it repaired by a dealer.

I now try to limit my use of the DL. But when its needed its needed and a great tool/feature to have. One needs to be diligent about its engagement (only at rest) and understand that it remains engaged until the tractor comes to a full stop.

 

[DMAC]

Regarding plowing, the 3204 doesn't have a locking differential, so if your driveway has a steep slope, you'll be plowing down the slope and driving back up for another run. If it's flat, you'll have no problems at all.

No...up/down the slope with any implement on the tractor it has worked.
I dont have the locking differential, the pictures I have posted show I'm better off with out the locking differential, frequent use, showing completed jobs.
DMAC

 

[Lewie]

The driveway is sloped but not steep. With a tractor weight of 950 lbs. will I need weights on the back? Plus, I weigh in over 2 bills :trink40: And just head down to the dealer for the 54" blade too? That's what I'm assuming....

 

[ericdube]

Freakin' awesome deal, but I still hate you! If you ever feel the need to part with that GT3204, I might be willing to take if off your hands!

Seriously, great find and I wish you the best with it!

 

[Ernest]

I just bought an '04 CC 3204 last night with 119 hours and the 44" deck for $1485 raying: An older gentleman owned it, rarely used it, and looks really good in the pix. No, I haven't seen it in person!!! AHHHH!!!! That's the bad part and not typical for me but I've been going insane the last few weeks looking so I pulled the trigger on what I thought was a good deal on ebay. After talking with the seller, I feel a lot better!!

I'm moving to a house with an acre lot, big driveway, and several older (50-100 yr. old +) trees. I need the snow plow and a cart.

I wanted a good tractor since I have a couple sons who will probably go around the neighborhood looking for lawn mowing and snow plowing jobs eventually.

Does this sound like a decent plan....hopefully???

You did not do too bad. I sold my 3204 this spring for $1,500 under 500 hours. Hope you realize you will spend about what you paid for the tractor again on a snow plow, front hitch and extra hydraulic valve! That is one of the reasons I got rid of mine! Unless your lucky on craigslist, ebay, or the local paper!

As for the differential lock? One less thing to go wrong! I just got my first tractor with it on, ya its nice but I did fine without it for many years! Biggest thing to remember is weight! If the tractor is weighted correctly the 3204 will push as good as a locking differential would. I never had any snow equip for mine but some of the hills I mowed were steep and slippy. My 250 pound person and 2-75 pound cub cadet wheel weights on it. Never a problem! Same set up for the older cubs with aluminum rear ends which I did have a plow on. Something has gotta give, if not its gonna break!

 

[Lewie]

You did not do too bad. I sold my 3204 this spring for $1,500 under 500 hours. Hope you realize you will spend about what you paid for the tractor again on a snow plow, front hitch and extra hydraulic valve! That is one of the reasons I got rid of mine! Unless your lucky on craigslist, ebay, or the local paper!

Do I need the hitch & extra hydraulic valve to run the plow? I was figuring on $1000 or so for the blade and some weights. Didn't really know about the rest.

I don't have a use for a front hitch around the house. If I did, I have a '77 Ford Bronco in the garage for that!

 

[Ernest]

Do I need the hitch & extra hydraulic valve to run the plow? I was figuring on $1000 or so for the blade and some weights. Didn't really know about the rest.

I don't have a use for a front hitch around the house. If I did, I have a '77 Ford Bronco in the garage for that!

Welcome to cub cadet! I was just floored by this also. Since the older cub attachments were simple and reasonably priced! Then these tractors you gotta add this and that and then some plus sell your first born!

Series 3000


171 190- 171- 100 Manual Angle Adj. Series 3000 6 lbs $129

288 190- 288- 100 Hyd. Ft. Angle Kit Series 3000 (add. labor charges recommended) 21 lbs $419

352 190- 352- 100 54" Front Blade Series 30007,8 110 lbs $579

353 190- 353- 100 45" Snowthrower Series 3000
8 215 lbs $1,349

390 190- 390- 100 Suitcase Weights 2 @ 42 lbs ea. 84 lbs $139

412 190- 412- 100 Rear Wheel Wts. Series 3000 (2 @ 75 lb ea) 152 lbs $119

413 190- 413- 100 Frt/Rear Weight Brkt. Series 3000 15 lbs $139

414 190- 414- 100 Hyd. Ft. Hitch (w/o Valve) GT 3100/3200 & 3000 (prior 2005)8 94 lbs $769

415 190- 415- 100 Valve for 414 GT 3100/3200 & 3000 (prior 2005)8 8 lbs $279

964 OEM- 190- 964 Tire Chains (23" X 9.5" / 23" x 10.5") GT 3100 10 lbs $119

:sorry1:

$1756 with just the manual angle!