[mdog892001]

So while talking with dad under the shade tree he was talking about his mower and how it keeps on ticking. Then I thought at what point would one say goodbye and get another? How many repairs or how much money would one say ok enough?
For instance dad had a cub cadet and after the motor tossed a rod he said enough a bought a new John Deere, sure he could have just gotten another motor and spent time mounting it and adjusting the fit then would have had a old tractor with a new motor. I guess the same would go for a push mower


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[steddy]

Hmmmmm... very subjective question. Ask 10 different people, you’re likely to get 10 different answers.

To me, it depends on cost to repair vs replace. Likely i’d Replace it with an identical used one, and keep the old one for parts. I have an old Wheelhorse that’s worth $800 on a good day. If the engine grenades I’d not hesitate to put $1,000 into it due to sentimental value it has to me.

 

[Junky]

Rules to live by:

#1; Never fall in love with something that can't love you back.

 

[mdog892001]

Hahahahaha yea that’s true. I’m sure there will be different answers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[T.Cruit]

That's a tuff question. When the deck failed on my old Craftsman I got another machine just for mowing. The Craftsman is a project now "Frank". Just waiting for the right time to make more modifications.

 

[RedOctobyr]

Frank looks like a very cool project!

My tractor is just a basic, mid-90's Craftsman LT. Nothing fancy. But it's treated me well, and has seemed in pretty good condition overall.

So I replaced the tranny a few years ago when it blew, got a used one for $75. At the moment, I'm finishing repairing a rusted-through area of the mower deck. Finding a different deck would probably be a hassle, and this fix mainly cost me time, not money.

But if it had another expensive failure, that might be Time. Of course, if I was smart, I'd keep an eye out *now* for a good deal on a replacement machine, then sell this one while it was working well. But I will probably see how this repair holds up, and cross my fingers.

 

[Cnc]

I have to agree with the 10 different people 10 different answers part, but that is also based on what they have as a tractor forming their opinion IMO. I can give you two opposite answers depending on what tractor I am talking about. My 68 Massy MF 12 I will never get rid of, I have had since almost new and it has gone through 2 major refits since I have owned it and I am always prepared to do what it takes to keep it running and looking good. Same goes for a Bolens 1668 I acquired free because my friend had neither the knowledge nor the patience to fix it up once it got to a certain point of disrepair. Both are tough little GT’s and they don’t make them like that anymore at least not within my pay scale so that is the rationale to keep them and fix them. Now if I was talking about the LT that I mostly cut the grass with, it is a box store special and I tend to use and abuse it a bit. When it seriously breaks, ( motor, transaxle etc ) there is another one waiting at the store for me. I think you have to look at your or your dads situation and what the tractor really is in your mind to know the answer.

 

[mopar65pa]

Hmmmmm... very subjective question. Ask 10 different people, you’re likely to get 10 different answers.

To me, it depends on cost to repair vs replace. Likely i’d Replace it with an identical used one, and keep the old one for parts. I have an old Wheelhorse that’s worth $800 on a good day. If the engine grenades I’d not hesitate to put $1,000 into it due to sentimental value it has to me.

I'm with you on that. I have tractors "I LOVE" and would never get rid of. Like my 300 no way! My first JD after not having one for 10 years. I got it for $50 threw 2 rods and bought a 316 just for the engine to keep it running and mowing. The 140 HI I bought in a package deal with a 110. The 110 can go BUT not the 140. I grew up mowing the farm with a 140. I had one and had to sell it so now I'm not selling this one. I sold a 200 with a tiler because, well it didn't fit my "stable" of 300's. An engine can be rebuilt and the trans on the 300's last forever so I will not get rid of my babies. BUT my wife said I need to get rid of 2 once I bought the 332. not sure the 314 is going away just et. :tango_face_wink: the 110 can leave though. :tango_face_smile_bi

Rules to live by:

#1; Never fall in love with something that can't love you back.

Oh they love me. They keep on going and take care of things I couldn't do by hand at my age. So they love me. :tango_face_wink:

 

[rayjay]

If I had to buy new all I would have is some big box store unit. Since I am patient and have lots of tools and skills I get to enjoy a unit that somebody paid $7000 for. My back up mower only cost somebody $4200 or so. All this for less than a 1/4 acre of actual grass Life is Good !!

 

[mdog892001]

I too have a tractor that I don’t want to get rid of. Has been refitted ones and now is better than ever. I think dads case was more tired of having to work on the thing so he got a nice shiny new one that hopefully will last before a while before repairs set in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mopar65pa]

If I had to buy new all I would have is some big box store unit. Since I am patient and have lots of tools and skills I get to enjoy a unit that somebody paid $7000 for. My back up mower only cost somebody $4200 or so. All this for less than a 1/4 acre of actual grass Life is Good !!

Your "back-up mower" $4200 :tango_face_surprise What did you pay for it? :tango_face_wink: I do not want to spend that on a "go to" mower let alone a "back-up" mower. I have less than $4K in all the stuff I have around here and I can do about anything. Tiller, plow, snowblower, Brinley stuff, plow, disc, harrow. All I need is a FEL for one of my tractors and I'm happy! :tango_face_smile_bi

 

[blrmkr744]

Sometimes it's time for a change.
At other times it's best to go with what works - even if you have to fix it.
The only thing that matters, as long as you are paying for it, it has to make sense to you!

 

[plumberroy]

I have a troybuilt rider that I wouldn't put much money into. I bought it used from the neighbor for $250 I have a Grillo walking tractor that I plan on my grandchildren having. I was just given a gravely professional 12 walking tractor that I am working on finding a mower deck for that is the same . I have just under 1/2 acre I bought the Grillo for taking care of the place I have a mower deck and tiller for it I bought the rider mainly to help out the neighbor . I have a soft spot for gravely two wheel tractors a friend knew this and passed a like new tractor he acquired on to me

 

[Kbeitz]

That depends on how old you are....
This old man bought garden tractors that will out last me.
Nothing you buy today will last like the stuff from the 50-60's...

 

[TUDOR]

Let the tractor earn its keep. I plow snow with my SCUT for few people in the winter ($10-20 per driveway) and mow a few lawns ($5-15) in the summer with my LT. All of my paying customers are either widows or well past 65 years old. The funds generated have paid for fuel, fluids, filters, tires, and other repairs for the past 13 years, including for the SCUT's rollover damage. The cookies and cupcakes that occasionally show up at my door are mine.

The SCUT cost C$20K and the LT C$2K when new and I haven't spent one cent out of pocket for any fuel, maintenance, or repairs. It all comes out of the tractor envelope. The bonus is that I also plow my own driveway and the driveway at my rental, as well as mow the two lawns, for zero cost. At $20 for each snow event and $15 for each mowing at each house, I've saved over $9300 towards the original purchase price. If you go by the commercial pricing, I've saved that much over the original purchase price of the two tractors.

At what point do I get rid of them? I'm coming up on 73. My kids will inherit them unless the engine and transmission goes at the same time on either.

 

[Steve Urquell]

Does it do what you need it to do when its running, do you enjoy using it, and do the parts cost so much that a minor repair costs more than the machine is worth?

Answer those and you'll know what to do.

 

[mikeinri]

My truck is a 2004 Explorer with over 280,000 miles. Rebuilt engine and tranny a few years ago. I've owned it for about 11 years.

My RV is 1993 with around 80,000 miles. I've put two roofs on it, and replaced the fridge twice. I've owned it for about 15 years.

Needless to say, I think you know my vote...

Mike

 

[nick4030]

I dont generally replace them, I buy more. They do too love me back!

 

[Ingersoll444]

Normaly it comes down to cost/ease of repairs. normaly you have a lot of little issues you either fix, or just deal with... but something big goes, like a engine, or trans.. and you got a lot of little issues also.. ya it just might be time.