[AT] New Lawn Tractor

Tue Apr 28 23:16:15 PDT 2015

Dave,

I forgot to mention a purchase I made in AZ this winter. There was an ad on the Phoenix Craig's list,
in Spanish, for a 1993 JD 445 with 54" deck, 54" thatcher, and a complete Brinly Poly Vac grass
clipping collection system.  When I went to look at it,  only the 6 1/2 HP motor on the Brinley Poly
Vac would run.  The JD 445 looked a little rough, the seat was really deteriorated and the hood looked
a little missed up under the covers.  The thing that had originally caused my interest was the Brinly
Poly Vac System because when we get back from AZ in the spring my 6 acres can be a foot tall or more
and thick as hair on a dog so the first few mowings leave a lot of grass clippings, sometimes in
bunches and worst case I've had to rake up the worst by hand to get rid of it so it doesn't choke the
grass underneath.  Where it isn't really bad I just keep mowing until the clippings settle down to
ground level.  I had looked at JD's version of a separate motor collection system and it didn't look
like it could handle really wet heavy grass in the spring.  Then I became aware of the Brinly System
and from all reports it could handle the wet grass nicely. List price for a new Brinly PolyVac  System
= $1200 to $1500.  I just flat couldn't justify that much expense when I probably would only use it a
couple times each spring.  So I never purchased one. Then this ad in Craig's list appears.  

I went to look at it and the Brinly PolyVac system looked brand new but the JD 445 didn't turn me on
at all because it didn't run and I had no idea what it was going to take to bring it back to life. -
So I told the seller I was not interested because it was an all or nothing deal. All I was interested
in was the Brinly.  And I had no idea how I was ever going to get the JD 445 home to WA anyway. And I
had no need for a Garden Tractor in AZ to mow rocks. So in a fit of indifference I made a $500 offer
for everything apologizing for the low offer because the JD 445 didn't run. Well after much haggling
the seller finally relented and accepted my $500 offer. The Brinly alone was worth that to me.  Got it
all back in a shop where I could work on it in AZ. Disassembled the Brinly so that I could get it into
the bed of my truck and 5th wheel for the trip back to WA. 

The Brinly is now back here in WA and I've used it and it does exactly what I needed in the wet
Washington weather. The 6 1/2 HP blower motor will suck the chrome off if a trailer hitch ball.  It
worked so good that the first load of grass clippings got packed into the trailer so tight I had a
hell of a time unloading it. It felt like the clippings had been baled. I learned not to fill the
wagon that much on later loads. Slow learner. :-)  I am super happy with the Brinly.

Now the JD 445. The JD 445 is exactly the same as a JD 425, same engine, except the JD445 is a Fuel
Injected engine where the 425 is a Carburetor based engine. Otherwise everything is the same other
than the electronic controls and wiring.  So I thought I knew a bit about it and started trying to
figure out why it wouldn't run.  Needed a new battery. No spark, electric fuel pump not running and
didn't really have a good electrical diagram to troubleshoot with.  But noticed a few times that there
were two, what appeared to be open connectors kind of floating in the wind under the hood that I
didn't know what they were for.  They didn't mate and at first I thought they might be for options
that were not included on this particular GT.  But..... after several false leads I looked at these
two connects a little closer.  Suddenly I realized one of the connectors looked like a spade lug
automotive fuse connector. Inserted a fuse and turned on the key. WALA, the fuel pump was running.
Turned the key to start and WALA the starter turned over and the engine was instantly idling on gas
that smelled terrible. I'd like to have a picture of my face when that thing started. There was nobody
more surprised than I was. . ..  And it ran really good.  And the hydraulic transmission worked good
and the way I went for a ride.  I was one happy camper.  BTW, the fuse is not mentioned anywhere in
the Operators Manual and is well hidden in the Service Manual.  I've spent about $300 on it including
the new battery and a new instrument panel and turned it into a competitive Garden Tractor puller at
the local shows in AZ.  So it doesn't mow lawns in AZ it just pulls progressive sleds in competition
and is a Butt Buggy to putt around shows with.  It runs so good now I want it back in WA to take over
when my 425 needs an overhaul.  There are couple more things to fix on it and if that goes well, I
might just buy or rent a small trailer to haul it back to WA. IF I don't have a 5th wheel to haul
back.  Actually I probably could have it shipped back here and still come out aright.  The engine on
the JD 445 has what appears to be around 1400 hours on it, whereas my JD425 has well over 4,000 hours
on it and is showing signs of needing an overhaul in the near future.  

I don't recommend buying a JD 425 or JD 445 only because they were made in the 90's and finding one
that isn't worn out by now would be very difficult.  But if you found one with less than 1000 known
hours I would jump all over it like stink on Manure.  They probably can be purchased now for less than
$3,000.  

PS:  Here is a web site about the Brinly PolyVac system I bought:

http://www.brinly.com/LVS-33BH-lawn-vacuum.html

Dean VP
Snohomish, WA 98290

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent
virtue is the equal sharing of misery."  . Sir Winston Churchill

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of
Dean VP
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 6:20 PM
To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group'
Subject: Re: [AT] New Lawn Tractor

Dave,

I have learned a few things about Antique tractors and Garden Tractors since 1998 when I started
collecting antique tractors and also purchased rural property that required about 6 acres to mow
often in wet conditions.  
Rule # 1:

1.) Don't expect to use 50 plus year old tractors to do daily work and also expect them to be reliable
when doing heavy work.

Rule # 2:

2.) Buy the best heavy duty High Quality  Garden Tractor you can afford.   Buy a slightly used HD one
rather than a new light duty store brand. 

Rule # 3:

3.) Do not try to get one universal machine to do both a high quality Job of mowing and also do a good
job as a real tractor for the heavier stuff.  Too clumsy for mowing and too light for the occasional
heavy stuff.

Therefore I own a JD 425 Garden Tractor than now has over 4,000 hours on it and the engine is starting
to show symptoms that an overhaul is going to be needed but otherwise has been trouble free. .  I also
own a JD 750 Compact Tractor that can handle the light end of three point tractor implements.  I also
own multiple antique tractors some with three point hitches and one with a HD loader.  I went through
some lower performance lower quality Garden tractors in just 5 years. They just couldn't handle the
job.  The JD 425 has paid its dues very reliably.  I suspect a JD 425 sold new for close to $10,000 in
the early 90's. I paid $4.000 for it used. I would buy another low hour one in a heartbeat.  For real
work the antique tractors are used but not many times a year.  The JD 750 would be the first I would
sell  if I had to make the choice and it has a loader, blade, rototiller and rear bucket for
attachments.  It is too clumsy for mowing and too light duty to do really heavy work. The antique
tractors can be made to do real work when needed but I don't depend on that very often. 

Now if I was in your situation,  I'd go look for a top of the line USED brand name low hour HD Garden
tractor for your mowing tasks. Not $14,000, not $10,000 but something used closer to $5,000. Something
in really good shape but older but was the top of the line a few years ago. Then see if your other
needs can be satisfied with an appropriate antique tractor. As I mentioned earlier, I'd buy another
good JD 425 in a heartbeat but they are really getting older and finding a low hour one would be
really difficult. And for sure Not a 425 AWS because they were notoriously less reliable  due to all
the extra stuff to provide the All Wheel Steer capability.  They just didn't last as long as the
Non-AWS versions.  I'd even consider a High Quality top of the line Zero Turn mower IF your lawn is
flat. Do not even consider them if you have some steep slopes and wet mowing conditions. Just my $0.02
worth and probably worth about what you paid for it. 

Dean VP
Snohomish, WA 98290

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent
virtue is the equal sharing of misery."  . Sir Winston Churchill

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of
David Rotigel
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 4:45 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group; The SEL email discussion list; slick at toltbbs.com
Subject: Re: [AT] New Lawn Tractor

I appreciate all of the advice all of you have offered! I took a look at what Kubota had to offer
today. The BX25D looks like it would do what I need to do--but $14,522.00 out the door still looks
like a good "chunk of change" to me!
	Dave
PS, Of course, my first "real job" was in a gas station at 37.5 cents an hour. I guess that times have
changed a bit!
PPS, Tomorrow I will look at another Kubota dealership and see if they are a bit more hungry.
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