Need a non wheel horse brand camp tractor.

[Fordiesel69 263]

I cut 2 acres at camp that is almost always overgrown.  Prefer a hydro but would take anything.  Here is my requirement, I need something cheap and easy to work on, in which I can always buy cheap deck rebuild parts.  I will never wear out a tractor chassis but rather my decks get beat up.  

 

My 300 and 400 series are all in use which have functioning decks.  I do have a bunch that do not have decks, and too many of them need complete welding and rebuilds to make them reliable to cut grass with.   What ended up happening is I got on a buying spree and was buying complete tractors just to get working mower decks. and now have too many tractors and not enough decks.  Nor do I have time or skills to do welding a fab work.  

 

 

[Skwerl58 704]

If you have extra Wheel Horse tractors why not just find a good deck for one and you are set to go. You would possibly then just need to keep spare bearings and blades for the Horses.

[Fordiesel69 263]

I dont want to waste a good one to sit in the dirt floor shed for something that gets used 5 times a year and gets beat.  

[oliver2-44 9,756]

Someone on here repurposed a Zero turn heavy duty 1/4" steel deck into a WH deck.  It took some welding, but would last quite a while. if its will last, it might be worth paying some one to do the welding.

P.S.  Put some plastic down on that shed floor and lay a sheet or two of Hardie siding on the dirt shed floor.

[Ed Kennell 38,181]

45 minutes ago, Fordiesel69 said:

I dont want to waste a good one to sit in the dirt floor shed for something that gets used 5 times a year and gets beat.  

Might be better for a tractor to work it 5 X a year rather than not working it at all.

[Achto 27,587]

1 hour ago, Fordiesel69 said:

I cut 2 acres at camp that is almost always overgrown. 

 

 How much are you looking to spend? Might be better off with a compact or small farm tractor & a Brush Hog.  

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

An 80s to early 90s MTD made lawn tractor would be a solid option.  MTD made these for all the makers about so widely interchangeable parts between makers and compatible decks, etc.  Most of these had the cast iron Briggs engines that are good engines.  Would recommend getting one with that kind of engine.  Parts are still readily available for them.  You can get these older mowers pretty cheap depending on condition.  But they sold a lot of them so they aren't hard to find and should be a reliable mower duty rig without sacrificing one of your WH decks.  

 

I like what @oliver2-44 said about laying down some plastic to park over.  Even just a cheap painters plastic tarp would go a long way in preventing deck rot.  Also draining the carb of gas after you put it away would help too.

[Pullstart 62,902]

Are you looking for suggestions, or is this a wanted ad?  It might be best in the classifieds…

[Bill D 1,922]

3 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Someone on here repurposed a Zero turn heavy duty 1/4" steel deck into a WH deck.  It took some welding, but would last quite a while. if its will last, it might be worth paying some one to do the welding.

P.S.  Put some plastic down on that shed floor and lay a sheet or two of Hardie siding on the dirt shed floor.

@kpinnc repurposed a deck from an Exmark Metro and I repurposed an deck from a Bobcat walk behind. I'd be willing to sell mine if you're interested.  I've sent you a PM

Edited September 28, 2023 by Bill D

[Fordiesel69 263]

I never thought of using a zero turn deck.  That is interesting.

 

 

[kpinnc 12,065]

Mine works great. Adapting the deck hanger was a challenge, but worth it. And it's almost as heavy as the WH 60-inch deck, so installing and removing it can be a chore. 

 

Needless to say, the best part is that it never blows clippings into the flywheel side of my 520-H, even though it blows the clippings everywhere on the discharge side. 

 

 

[Bill D 1,922]

5 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Mine works great. Adapting the deck hanger was a challenge, but worth it. And it's almost as heavy as the WH 60-inch deck, so installing and removing it can be a chore. 

 

Needless to say, the best part is that it never blows clippings into the flywheel side of my 520-H, even though it blows the clippings everywhere on the discharge side. 

 

 

I still need to put some additional baffles in mine.  I get a lot of clippings out the left side.

[kpinnc 12,065]

3 hours ago, Bill D said:

still need to put some additional baffles in mine.  I get a lot of clippings out the left side.

 

You might want to try some high lift blades to try. Just a thought, before you add baffling. 

[Bill D 1,922]

9 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

You might want to try some high lift blades to try. Just a thought, before you add baffling. 

It's got high lift blades on it already.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Bill D

[kpinnc 12,065]

1 hour ago, Bill D said:

10 hours ago, kpinnc said:

add baffling. 

It's got high lift blades on it already.

 

I should have seen that. They are clearly visible. Sorry Bill.

 

[Bill D 1,922]

2 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

I should have seen that. They are clearly visible. Sorry Bill.

 

No apologies necessary.