John Deere riding mowers/lawn tractors

In the market for a cheap(budget is currently strapped and need something cheap) and have been looking for something used. Can seem to find anything other than Deere's that's not complete junk used. Here's what I've came across but I've never owned anything other than cheap MTD/AYP mowers so some help would be great..

JD LX176, repowered at some point with an 18 1/2 hp Briggs vangaurd(I think it was vangaurd, guy wasn't %100 sure) v-twin. 38 inch deck, looks good other they they had to remove the hood hinges and make some cuts to hood so that it'd fit over the bigger briggs motor, asking $425 and is an hour and half away.

JD 265, all original, garage kept, no mention of hours(don't know if it has an hour meter or not, just read the ad on this one), suppose to have been the wifes mower, just bought a new one. Suppose to have the 17hp kaw and a 46 inch deck. Looks nice, asking $1100 and is 2 hours away.

JD 245, all original, suppose to run and mow great, 14hp kaw and 48inch deck. Only thing wrong is the key is broke off in the ignition but it still starts with a key, looks good, asking $795 and is about 3 hours away.

JD GT242, all original, 14 hp kaw, 38 inch deck, looks good, nice tires, asking $800, about 2 hours away.

JD 316, all original, fair to good shape, 1335 hours, Onan p218g(18hp), 50 inch deck, $900, about 3 hours away.

JD 212, looks to be all original, 12 hp Kohler, 46 inch deck I think, looks good, duy didn't mention the variator, but said the mower worked good, asking $389, and is about 2 and half hours away.

I've got to mow around an acre an half, lots of hills and unlevel ground, and lots of obsticales. Whats the best buy and why? I have seen a couple of Craftsman GT 5000 mowers, that look good, in the $500 to $900 range, but kinda figured the JD's were a better buy at that price. Sorry for the long post and thanks.
 
I buy lawnmowers that age for parts or to resell.
One thing I would do is lay it on its side. Check the underneath of the deck. A lot of the decks that age are getting pretty thin if not maintained.
Most of the time it is a 2 man job. The jd316 weighs 700 lbs. It would be my choice at about $600. If the Onan engine does not smoke, it should be good for quite a few years.
Sold quite a few 316s with a snow blade to push the TMR(cow feed) back from the alley to the cow.
The help beats them pretty badly. Never had a hyro or transmission apart.
The Onan engine parts from Deere are extremely expensive. I buy most of my parts on the Internet, ebay, or our local Cummins dealer. Have kept 6 John Deeres going for years with less in parts than any cheaper engine. Plus, I have 2 backups for spares that are rarely used.
The 318 has power steering which is a nice feature.
 
I'd stay away from the lx176 because of the repower.
I'd go look at the JD245 & 265 one may be gear drive and other hydro ? I forget all these Deere models.

That GT242 may be one of those newer models made to sell in box stores and if so I'd not want it.
The 212 and 316 are far outdated.

Get something with a foot hydro and a Kawasaki engine.
Check around for a JD model F710 or F725 in your area. I have a F725 and it is really a good machine. They are old but HEAVY DUTY. Darn near zero turn. Only thing is on the older models the engines had plastic cam gears. If it has not been updated to the steel gear it will need to be at some point.
 
the JD 316 and JD 318 are some of the finest mowers ever made. But also made from 1984 to 1992. I had one at the farm until the engine died and was not re-buildable. Around here they can bring over $2000. Much more rugged (and faster) than a new $2000 mower.
I am currently using a JD L130 (48 inch mower) with about 460 hours at the farm. It has held up very well considering the rough ground. It was $2000 when new. Just recently had to replace some of the steering parts as the front wheels were "toe-out" which made steering difficult.
 

If all you need is something that will cut the grass, cost very little, and probably last a lifetime with minimal maintenance, look for a Snapper rear engine rider. I've got one that was probably built sometime in the '60s. Needed a part for it just the other day, and the local dealer had it on the shelf. That part cost me a whole $12. I haven't spent that much money on the ol' gal in over 10 years. It just keeps on mowin'.
 
The 265 would be the best in my mind as long as it checks out when you go look at it. The 316 and 318 are fine machines but have the obsolete Onan engines plus those engines are thirsty when compared to the Kawasaki's unless the 316 or 318 has been repowered with a Honda which a lot were. If you are thinking attachments down the road then the 316 and 318 will prove very valuable.
 
except for jd the others are junk new, never mind used, i have a jd 260 with the kaw engine and 46 inch deck, bought it in 1994, since then its needed 1 belt, and 2 batterys plus the normal yearly oil changes, plug air filter ect, thats it,the unit is like new, a neighbor has been thru 3 mtd, crapsfman ect junkers in that time,he gets about 2 years to 5 years out of them and their just scrap, off lawn i use a farmall cub, the full size one, mows great once i get in the taller rougher stuff, the brush hog gets used once you graduate up to something like that 265, you'll wonder what you were thinking when you bought the other ones
 
I have an older Craftsman 17 hp. Briggs and Stratton, 42 inch deck that my boss' brother gave me. Got a battery and cleaned the carb around four years ago. Just put gas in and go. Cuts anything. I use it on probably two acres around the farm yard. Not a Craftsman fan anymore but it is a good machine.
 
For the ground you want to mow none of the ones you listed will suit you for long.A Simplicity Sunstar would be a good choice as would a John Deere 420 or better yet a 430 diesel.The Sunstar is very similar to the JD 420 and is usually about 1/2 the price.
 
You could also add a JD 317 to the list, most have been repowered with the series II Kolher engines. Running ones are $500, restored seem to go $1200 on craigslist.
 
Casey for the kind of money you are talking you can find a KUBOTA hydro that is not 20+ years old. What part of KY are you in.? Deer is certainly not the only company that ever made a good mower.
 
Hi we got a 316 with a kohler motor brought it from the last farm owner, He drove everything like a race car, and crashed a few times, we rebuilt the motor once changed the blades and it uses a drive belt once a year. it"s not the prettiest mower in the world. But last time dad inquired about replacing it. The JD salesman said. 12,000 bucks to replace with something the same new. and just spend $3000 rebuilding the 316, and you"d still have a good mower. if the shops empty this winter I"m gonna do the rebuild and restore it my self.
think the mower at work was an lx 165 water cooled it was a piece of crap, the frame twisted on hills, and I never did like the feeling of the seat going left as the steering wheel moved right, as that frame moved. It cost twice the 316 used and was junk even 20 years newer.
The big box store deere is junk to our friend next door has one and the deere dealership just laugh at her when she goes for parts, they want nothing to do with it, so it"s my problem to fix it.
out of your list the 316 might be the best option if it"s any good, and you can"t find something better suited.
 
i have a 2001 john deere 335 with p/s and hydraulic lift for the deck it has not given me any problems other than normal maintenance
 
2 years ago I purchased a 15 year old GT275, 48 inch deck, 17 hp kaw, hydrostatic and 30 inch tiller. I bought it mainly for the tiller. It came with new battery, all new belts, new tiller tines, new rear tractor type tires.

At the time, I thought I paid too much for it. But buying a tractor that is big enough and goes slow enough for a tiller was many times more.
 
(quoted from post at 15:03:15 07/29/14) In the market for a cheap(budget is currently strapped and need something cheap) and have been looking for something used. Can seem to find anything other than Deere's that's not complete junk used.

A tractor that uses five bolts to hold the rear wheels on has a heavy duty transmission.
A machine that drives and holds the rear wheels with a keyway and C'clip are light duty machines.
Some folk prefer horizontal shaft engines over vertical shaft engines.
 
The JD LX176 is too high of price for a repowered one. Also a 38" deck is too small for an acre plus yard.

JD 265 is a real good mower with a 17 hp Single cylinder Kawasaki motor. It is hydrostatic drive with the control on the fender. It also has automotive type of steering. Meaning a cast steering gearbox. They steer easy and turn fairly short. The mower deck is manual lift. It could have the older style 46 inch deck but it more than likely would have the later 48 inch deck. That is a much better deck. IF it has grease fitting in the top of the blade spindles then it is the later style deck. The $1100 would be the market IF it has the later style deck. If it has the older deck then $750-800.

JD 245. It is the same frame and drive line as the JD 265 but with a smaller motor. The 48" deck is a load in heavy grass. The $795 is right in the ball park on price.

GT242 is a 14 HP Kawasaki single cylinder motor. Gear drive. but it has the garden tractor frame/transmission. Once again the 38" deck is too small. Price is in line if it has a good hood. It has the LX series hood and they had plastic mounted hood hinges. They broke the whole corner of the hood out if your rough with them. $800 is a little high on price should be in that $600-750 range.

JD 316. This would be the later 316 as it has the Onan motor on it. It is 16 HP not 18. Unless someone changed the motor for a 318 motor. It would not have had an oil filter from the factory. The P218G motor was used on both the 316 and 318 but only the 318 had an oil filter. The price is in line IF the motor is good. Just about ALL Onan motors use some oil. Meaning if you mow an acre plus yard it might use a half a pint when new.

The JD 212 is an old reliable mower but it takes an acre to turn them around on they DO not turn very sharp. If you have many obstacles to mow around you will not like it. They are cheap as gear drive and not turning short kills them on price. The $380-400 is about right if it runs OK.

The Craftsman mower are not even in the same league with the JD mower you have listed. They will not hold yup for long on an acre plus hilly yard. The decks are REAL thin from the factory so really check it out for cracks and rust through.

Of the ones you listed I would rank the JD265 first because of the Kawasaki motor and better steering. Then the 316 because of the rugged frame/driveline. The Onan motor is a down grade anymore. Parts are sky high. I am building a JD 318 Onan right now. The overhaul casket set was $175. Cummins $261. None on line any cheaper with freight. So parts are stupid on Onan anymore.
 

I had found a New Big Bore Onan Short-Block (for a small Bob-Cat) and replaced the original Onan in my Bolens mower with it.
I had to use the other Crank (or machine the Bob-Cat crank output end down), but all the original sheet-metal swapped over to the new Block.
Of-course, I had to open the Ports and install Dual exhausts on it (Dual 11 HP round mufflers).
Sounds like a little Merlin running..!!

The 16 HO Onans can all be Bored to the dimensions of the Big Bore Onan (+.250" I believe).
If I were going to the expense of rebuilding one of these, I would definitely go with the Big Bore..
 

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