Buying a GT without a deck?

Toomanytoys84

Toomanytoys84

Aaron
Member
I've been seeing a growing trend on Craigslist. I'll be going along, see a nice, say John Deere 110. Tractor is in pretty good shape. Call the guy up. He says Tractor is 400 but if you want the deck its another 200. I've seen a couple dozen tractors listed this way in the last 3 months!

How many people want to buy a GT, without a deck? If I am flipping through craigslist I have never inquired about a tractor that didn't have a deck with it, since some of these older decks are pretty tough to find.
 
I see both sides. I’ve bought and sold with and without decks.
If it’s one I’m adding to the fold it’s pretty much retired and won’t be mowing anymore. I’ve sold the decks to help fund the restoration of work on the units also.
The decks also take up a lot of space in my trailer when trying to weasel them in and in strapping them down.
It’s much easier to sell with the deck on to the non collector as they don’t look at them like we do.
 
I mow with a Kubota zero turn, when I buy a tractor I’m going to use it for tractor work, not mowing. I don’t care about originality, just functionality. I sold two Cub Cadet decks in July. The CC 1864 I use for most jobs didn’t have a deck when I bought it, I told him to keep it and take off $50.
 
I must be in the minority. I want a deck with anything I buy. Makes it easier to sell later.

I do however have a stack of cub decks from 42 to 50" that are left over from parts tractors...Guess I could buy a cub with no deck with no issue, but I don't want anymore cubs.

I've been looking at Wheel horse and simplicity pretty heavy lately. Also eye balling a beautiful 140H3
 
I don’t have any special affinity for Cubs, it’s just worked out that way lately. I got good money for the 3000 series 54” and 72” decks though, I got more for the 72 than I paid for the whole tractor. I couldn’t care less what brand a tractor is if it does what I want it to. I just sold an IH234 front loader, had an MF1855 with a loader, a Simplicity 4041 Loader, a Wizard with Bucket and back blade, a GT 5000 with a Johnny bucket, a Murray GT, a Deutz Allis 1920 Ultima, and Gilson/Wards 16. The ones that did have decks were removed so I could put on blades, buckets, etc...
 
My dad started with a john deere 110 then the cub 128, and that fueled the cub addiction for a long time leading to the restoration of too many of them, and too many parts tractors flowing through the shop(some of which are in a pile at the end of the field)

I want to branch out to something new. Found a 1973 AMF 1414 for 300 bucks that's sat for a few years. I might pull the trigger on that for something different!
 
I always want the deck I wouldn't turn one down if that was the deal offered. But I've bought plenty where the deck was missing. The real question is what on earth will the owner do with the deck and no tractor?

Personally as a "collector" or maybe rather an "accumulator" I will pick one kind of GT and try and find every original attachment to fit it and complete the package.
 
part of it to is after I bring some of these tractors back from the dead I am not looking to work and maintain them parts and pieces for some of these are either hard to find, expensive or not available so that's why they are show/hobby tractors
 
Toomanytoys84 said:
I must be in the minority. I want a deck with anything I buy. Makes it easier to sell later.

I do however have a stack of cub decks from 42 to 50" that are left over from parts tractors...Guess I could buy a cub with no deck with no issue, but I don't want anymore cubs.

I've been looking at Wheel horse and simplicity pretty heavy lately. Also eye balling a beautiful 140H3
Click to expand...

I got into the wheelhorse again, easy an affordable tractors, I like using them I prefer the rear discharge decks you can flip direction. my old man had a jd from the depot and hated it, found him a real nice 1 owner c series wheelhorse it will easily outlast the the deere, I put more time in repairing that deere than wh.
 
jabelman said:
I got into the wheelhorse again, easy an affordable tractors, I like using them I prefer the rear discharge decks you can flip direction. my old man had a jd from the depot and hated it, found him a real nice 1 owner c series wheelhorse it will easily outlast the the deere, I put more time in repairing that deere than wh.
Click to expand...

I've never owned one. I'd like a project to do a restore on. But I just haven't found "the one" yet.

The Box store deeres are pretty weak. However a buddy of mine who is notorious for just destroying a tractor has had one for several years. That darn thing has been tough! He had it down at the camp and we were clearing out big areas of Chinese knot weed. Stuff is tough. Over 6' tall. 1" diameter hollow stems. He would ram the tractor in until the hydro stalled. Let off a little. Then ram it back in. Did this for at least 2 hours. I thought it was dead. The blades were destroyed. Hood was cracked. But new blades and he mows his 2 acres on a hill with it to this day.
 
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I can't find a good one with or with out a deck for a decent price everyone thinks they're worth a grand even tho it needs a rebuild or it might have 3 of 4 Flat tires. make me mad to a point then when I do find one that is actually nice it's either to far for me to get or I just miss it by minutes.
 
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