Looking for a vintage lawn tractor.
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I thinking 1975 or older. I am looking at a sears suburban ss12 about 1965 and very minty, but painted the wrong color for that year.
I have a 1964 Suburban, and that thing will drag a plow.....
They don't make lawn tractors like that anymore....damm thing is a heavy beast! Has the low range gearing on it also. If the price is right, that'd be a decent tractor you are eying up...
I'd love to find an old Copar Panzer or even an old Speedex with some attachments. My cousin has two old Springfield tractors (from the early 60's), they're neat old mowers, and do OK plowing snow and such, not sure if you could use it for a bottom plow though...
They don't make lawn tractors like that anymore....damm thing is a heavy beast! Has the low range gearing on it also. If the price is right, that'd be a decent tractor you are eying up...
I'd love to find an old Copar Panzer or even an old Speedex with some attachments. My cousin has two old Springfield tractors (from the early 60's), they're neat old mowers, and do OK plowing snow and such, not sure if you could use it for a bottom plow though...
If its got the gears and 12 hp its traction and weight on the front. (so you dont flip it on top of your self) I have a scar from when I was 13 on my wrist one flip over on me and the exhaust hit. Hurt like hell but flip it back over and rode it home.
I'd consider either making a counter-weight for the front or something of the like, if you are going to drag a plow....maybe even make up some weights for the front wheels too. Also, those Suburbans came with more of a turf tire. I'd be making a set of chains for the tires if you are going to be plowing dirt, Jay.If its got the gears and 12 hp its traction and weight on the front. (so you dont flip it on top of your self) I have a scar from when I was 13 on my wrist one flip over on me and the exhaust hit. Hurt like hell but flip it back over and rode it home.
Or you could go drop some coin on a set of tiller lug tires for it! I'll be buying those for mine soon, as the tires are starting to show their age....
Pic of my old Sears Suburban........use it all the time for processing and also even on some of our tree jobs....
![[Hearth.com] Looking for a vintage lawn tractor.](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/103/103900-bcef201b6312eb253659eb01f23bff68.jpg?hash=Hu3K-sS8o2 "[Hearth.com] Looking for a vintage lawn tractor.")
Not a particularly original suggestion, but what about an old John Deere, like a 212 or 214? Deere made a ton of them, so there are enough around you can buy them cheaply, find replacement parts easily enough, and find attachments without too much trouble.
I have a 212, and love it. I have a front snow blade, 30" tiller, and a sleeve hitch with a 10" moldboard plow, disc, and cultivator attachment. I abuse the snot out of that tractor, and it keeps coming back for more. Lugged tires, wheel weights, and hydraulic lift, and it's a beast. Attached pic is pre-hydraulic lift but from last fall when I was tearing up the garden for the winter.
I have a 212, and love it. I have a front snow blade, 30" tiller, and a sleeve hitch with a 10" moldboard plow, disc, and cultivator attachment. I abuse the snot out of that tractor, and it keeps coming back for more. Lugged tires, wheel weights, and hydraulic lift, and it's a beast. Attached pic is pre-hydraulic lift but from last fall when I was tearing up the garden for the winter.
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![[Hearth.com] Looking for a vintage lawn tractor.](/talk/data/attachments/103/103905-69c1056397ad323010decc164168082c.jpg?hash=eOWoeyIMZM)
Deere 200 series are routinely found under $800 and are proven pulling machines. Even better are the 300 and 400 series units. 400s will be relatively pricey however. 318s are real popular, 3 pt hitch and loader capable, and mint examples are to be had for $2k or less.
Cub and wheel horse both made great GTs back in the day too. And of course you've already discovered the Sears tractors.
Cub and wheel horse both made great GTs back in the day too. And of course you've already discovered the Sears tractors.
Been working on a mint 212 awesome machine. So is the 214 and 216. Oh and yours is what one I would love to get ahold of. Just hard to find a nice one.
I think the deere 140 is pre 1975. Hydro trans. 3 point etc.
http://www.weekendfreedommachines.com/info/index.php
http://www.weekendfreedommachines.com/info/index.php
Pre-'75 Deere GTs are limited to the 120/140, and the 110/112.
The 200 series tractors are very similar to the 110/112's while the 120/140 morphed into the early 300 series. Biggest change was the introduction of twin cylinder engines and of course, power steering. (Both of those didn't happen until 1983 however, after the redesign of the 300 series.)
140H3's often sell for more than a good running 318. Just because of their collectibility.
IH Case units up to about 1980-81 are also good choices Simplicity units( baron is one) also with the Sunstrand hydro are also good ultimate being the powermax units also came with straight gearing, Allis Chalmers or MontgomeryWards brands same units different colors Think there might have been some Sears units also.
Oh not much I have 4,000 square foot garden, but there friends and family that always want me to do theres. My little troy built just don't go deep enough either.
Gotcha. Should be well within a good GT's capability.
The guy I used to work for had a Kubota B series (7100?) that we would turn over dirt with the bottom plow then put on the 3pt tiller and smooth it all out. This was closer to and acre though...and that took a while. It was awesome, but $.
Jay,
You gotta check this guy out. (He has many other videos too)
He's obviously got modern equipment but t'aint nuttin' you couldn't pull off with vintage iron.
Jay,
You gotta check this guy out.
http://m.youtube.com/#/user/royrector?&desktop_uri=/user/royrector
He's obviously got modern equipment but t'aint nuttin' you couldn't pull off with vintage iron.
I am going to hold the line at 12hp. Cant talk the guy out of his 212 though...Yet anyways.
Just be careful. Garden tractors have the same psychological risks that chainsaws do. You're likely to buy/sell/trade a few before you wind up with a keeper. Or two.I am going to hold the line at 12hp. Cant talk the guy out of his 212 though...Yet anyways.
Jay,
You gotta check this guy out. (He has many other videos too)
He's obviously got modern equipment but t'aint nuttin' you couldn't pull off with vintage iron.
Really looks like loam to me.....
But cool done the less...
Yes! Is it a first gen 316? (Kohler single) or the later Onan twin powered machine?
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