Who made the better ones? Are there any Cub Cadets that are diesel powered? I have seen a Ford one before and that was the only one I've ever seen. I figure with the growing popularity of zero turns I can find a diesel lawn tractor sort of cheap...hopefully. What about turbos for them?

Simplicity makes their Legacy availible with a diesel engine. 2wd or 4wd. Has a Daihatsu 3-cyl liquid cooled diesel, 27hp. Best cut as far as mowing the lawn too IMHO

http://www.simplicitymfg.com/legacy_xl.php

Thanks for the quick reply, but I should've asked specifically about older ones. I would like to have an older one to mow and pull a little bit on the side.

I'm not sure what make of engine it is, but my uncle has a Grasshopper ZTR mower with a diesel. I believe 721D is the model. You can find 455 John Deeres fairly common with a Yanmar under the hood, but $$$$ even with high hours.

Kubota & Deere are the main premium brands. Sometimes there's a good deal on an older unit, especially this time of year. I found an '86 Kubota G6200 with 1600 hours and attachments for $3K, after looking high and low. It's a garden tractor, but a little tank. Preferred this over the Deere 330 and 440 diesels mostly due to the hydro trans control: The Kubota had a foot pedal and the Deere had a hand lever. OTOH, the JDs probably lend themselves to pulling and restoration.

The newer diesel lawn tractors hold their value very well. Some are almost small compacts. Worth going that route if you can - you get a 3 point hitch. The 20-odd HP Deere 755 & 855 series are fanatastic solid machines.

I've seen Bolens and older Ford / New Holland diesels that look solid too. You'll see the full range on e-bay. Beware of grey market compacts, which may have no parts support.

Check out the gray market tractors. Yanmar is a popular model same engine as the Deere without out the cost of the Deere.

The 20-odd HP Deere 755 & 855 series are fanatastic solid machines.


YES!!!! :ro) :exactly:

by far my favorite JD tractor ever built. I loved the whole -55 series, 655, 755, 855, 955.

Perfect size compact utility, quick-tach loader, category 1 3-point hitch, 4wd, both rear and mid live selectable hydraulically actuated PTO's, Yanmar diesel, and of course a hydrostatic transmission which was a huge breakthru/new technology back in the late 1980's when they were released. Kanzaki (now called 'Tuff-Torq' to americanize it) makes some excellent hydrostatic transaxles.

Not to mention the tractors looked cool too IMO, comfy seat, nice ROPS, and the Yanmar sounded good etc...too bad they dont make 'em anymore.:(

ben

I know Bolens made some.

Hey,

MF makes some fine ones too. ( Iseki Built. ) Wondeful units.

Somebody had to bring up bolens.:( My dad had one when i was younger, learned to drive a stick because of that tractor. Really smoked when you got onto it. Should have kept it for a puller. Now look at what bolens makes. Cheap lawn mowers and pathetic weed wackers.:mad: Sorry for the rant.

I for one like kubota. I swear you cannot kill one if you tried.:cool:

I like my JD 332. Got a Johnson Loader on it and a 3 Pt hitch. And while I'd really, really like to get a 430, I am probably going to get another 332 to replace my gas powered 316 for mowing duties in the next year or so.

The older JD diesels are tough critters to find these days however....I routinely see 430s go for as much or more than much newer 455s and 332s are as rare as hens teeth....