Just curious, but is there much of a market for used lawn tractors? I
occasionally see an adv. but I don't know how to price it. I have a 6 year
old Craftsman tractor mower I got at Sears. It has a 48" cut- it was one of
the better models at the time. It's engine clock is at 195 hours and I've
been doing all the required maintenance- religiously.

I don't know if 195 hours on such a machine is considered a great deal?
How's that compare to a car- that is, is it like a car with 100,000 miles on
it?

I think I paid about $2,300 for it. I have a house sale contract in effect-
that property has a 3 acre lawn- not sure if the prospective buyer has a
mower, though I'm just asked the broker to find out. If he doesn't have one
I'm sure he'd like mine- but I'd like to get the max. price and have no
clue.

Any suggestions on would be appreciated.

Joe

"Joe" wrote in message news:9hGqi.133$9I3.37@trndny06...
Just curious, but is there much of a market for used lawn tractors? I
occasionally see an adv. but I don't know how to price it. I have a 6 year
old Craftsman tractor mower I got at Sears. It has a 48" cut- it was one
of the better models at the time. It's engine clock is at 195 hours and
I've been doing all the required maintenance- religiously.

I don't know if 195 hours on such a machine is considered a great deal?
How's that compare to a car- that is, is it like a car with 100,000 miles
on it?

I think I paid about $2,300 for it. I have a house sale contract in
effect- that property has a 3 acre lawn- not sure if the prospective buyer
has a mower, though I'm just asked the broker to find out. If he doesn't
have one I'm sure he'd like mine- but I'd like to get the max. price and
have no clue.

Any suggestions on would be appreciated.

Joe

I have a copy of a general guide somewhere - it says something to the effect
that a tractor like yours (not a JD, Wheelhorse or other premo) loses 50%
the first 2 years - but I forget the percentages after that. If I was buying
a 3 acre lawn I would either contract for the lawn care or buy a Z because
they are so much quicker. But I have found there is a buyer for
everything - in this case it would not be me.

Joe,

A few years back I was trying to figure out why the John Deere dealers LX
series lawn tractors with a 42" deck were priced at around $2,000 more than
the John Deere LT models with a 48" deck sold at Home Depot, when the
specifications, except for the engine manufacturer, were fairly similar. The
moderator for lawn mowers/tractors discussion group at the Consumer Report
site said that the Briggs and Stratton engines on the LTs are typically
tested for 250 hours while the Kawasaki is tested at around 400. In other
words, you should expect a longer life span from the LX than the LT. Also,
the LX was had a stronger deck and it was the deck that typically failed
before the engine. Made sense to me and helped to justify the higher price.

So, I'd day that there's a few good years left in your Craftsman and the new
buyer might be interested if they don't already have one. If you don't need
it where you're moving, then it's more of a liability to you to keep. You
may just want to throw it in to sweeten the deal.

John

"Joe" wrote in message news:9hGqi.133$9I3.37@trndny06...
Just curious, but is there much of a market for used lawn tractors? I
occasionally see an adv. but I don't know how to price it. I have a 6 year
old Craftsman tractor mower I got at Sears. It has a 48" cut- it was one
of the better models at the time. It's engine clock is at 195 hours and
I've been doing all the required maintenance- religiously.

I don't know if 195 hours on such a machine is considered a great deal?
How's that compare to a car- that is, is it like a car with 100,000 miles
on it?

I think I paid about $2,300 for it. I have a house sale contract in
effect- that property has a 3 acre lawn- not sure if the prospective buyer
has a mower, though I'm just asked the broker to find out. If he doesn't
have one I'm sure he'd like mine- but I'd like to get the max. price and
have no clue.

Any suggestions on would be appreciated.

Joe

on 7/28/2007 11:41 AM JB said the following:
Joe,

A few years back I was trying to figure out why the John Deere dealers LX
series lawn tractors with a 42" deck were priced at around $2,000 more than
the John Deere LT models with a 48" deck sold at Home Depot, when the
specifications, except for the engine manufacturer, were fairly similar. The
moderator for lawn mowers/tractors discussion group at the Consumer Report
site said that the Briggs and Stratton engines on the LTs are typically
tested for 250 hours while the Kawasaki is tested at around 400.


Did the engines fail at those hour limits, or was that just the time
that they cut off the testing? If the latter, there is no way to
determine the lifespan of the engines.

In other
words, you should expect a longer life span from the LX than the LT. Also,
the LX was had a stronger deck and it was the deck that typically failed
before the engine. Made sense to me and helped to justify the higher price.

So, I'd day that there's a few good years left in your Craftsman and the new
buyer might be interested if they don't already have one. If you don't need
it where you're moving, then it's more of a liability to you to keep. You
may just want to throw it in to sweeten the deal.

John

"Joe" wrote in message news:9hGqi.133$9I3.37@trndny06...

Just curious, but is there much of a market for used lawn tractors? I
occasionally see an adv. but I don't know how to price it. I have a 6 year
old Craftsman tractor mower I got at Sears. It has a 48" cut- it was one
of the better models at the time. It's engine clock is at 195 hours and
I've been doing all the required maintenance- religiously.

I don't know if 195 hours on such a machine is considered a great deal?
How's that compare to a car- that is, is it like a car with 100,000 miles
on it?

I think I paid about $2,300 for it. I have a house sale contract in
effect- that property has a 3 acre lawn- not sure if the prospective buyer
has a mower, though I'm just asked the broker to find out. If he doesn't
have one I'm sure he'd like mine- but I'd like to get the max. price and
have no clue.

Any suggestions on would be appreciated.

Joe






--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

I've seen those John Deere mowers at Home Depot and they look like junk-
compared to my Sears Craftsman which has been a fine mower. It has a very
heavy duty deck- which "floats" on 4 wheels- those JD at HD have flimsy
looking decks by comparison.

My engine is---- can't remember- but it's a German brand which supposedly is
a very good engine.

I realize machines depreciate quickly- so I don't want more than it's worth-
it's just that I have no sense of the market.

Joe


"JB" wrote in message
ink.net...
Joe,

A few years back I was trying to figure out why the John Deere dealers LX
series lawn tractors with a 42" deck were priced at around $2,000 more
than the John Deere LT models with a 48" deck sold at Home Depot, when the
specifications, except for the engine manufacturer, were fairly similar.
The moderator for lawn mowers/tractors discussion group at the Consumer
Report site said that the Briggs and Stratton engines on the LTs are
typically tested for 250 hours while the Kawasaki is tested at around 400.
In other words, you should expect a longer life span from the LX than the
LT. Also, the LX was had a stronger deck and it was the deck that
typically failed before the engine. Made sense to me and helped to justify
the higher price.

So, I'd day that there's a few good years left in your Craftsman and the
new buyer might be interested if they don't already have one. If you don't
need it where you're moving, then it's more of a liability to you to keep.
You may just want to throw it in to sweeten the deal.

John

"Joe" wrote in message news:9hGqi.133$9I3.37@trndny06...
Just curious, but is there much of a market for used lawn tractors? I
occasionally see an adv. but I don't know how to price it. I have a 6
year old Craftsman tractor mower I got at Sears. It has a 48" cut- it was
one of the better models at the time. It's engine clock is at 195 hours
and I've been doing all the required maintenance- religiously.

I don't know if 195 hours on such a machine is considered a great deal?
How's that compare to a car- that is, is it like a car with 100,000 miles
on it?

I think I paid about $2,300 for it. I have a house sale contract in
effect- that property has a 3 acre lawn- not sure if the prospective
buyer has a mower, though I'm just asked the broker to find out. If he
doesn't have one I'm sure he'd like mine- but I'd like to get the max.
price and have no clue.

Any suggestions on would be appreciated.

Joe

snip
I think I paid about $2,300 for it. I have a house sale contract in
effect- that property has a 3 acre lawn- not sure if the prospective
buyer has a mower, though I'm just asked the broker to find out. If he
doesn't have one I'm sure he'd like mine- but I'd like to get the max.
price and have no clue.

Any suggestions on would be appreciated.

Joe


$750 would be a fair price.

OK, thanks- that's what I needed- somebody to give me a number- interesting
that I told my real estate broker to tell the buyer $800. If he wants it,
he'll probably come back with a lower offer- I might settle for $700 but not
much lower. It's a good machine in good condition- and, I can throw in a
nice, large cart with it too.

"valvejob" wrote in message
...
snip
I think I paid about $2,300 for it. I have a house sale contract in
effect- that property has a 3 acre lawn- not sure if the prospective
buyer has a mower, though I'm just asked the broker to find out. If he
doesn't have one I'm sure he'd like mine- but I'd like to get the max.
price and have no clue.

Any suggestions on would be appreciated.

Joe


$750 would be a fair price.