Wheel Horse 1986 312-8

[Michael Bullington 5]

hey guys...I hate to ask this question,,,but I would like some input on a puchase i am thinking about....Im never bought a late model and have got to have a new mower for the yard....anyway Ill found this 312-8 that is not show condition, i would just call it used not bad, but not perfect....Can you guys tell me the ballpark figure for one of these? he also has a roto tiller....for it....if this was a ole round hood I could be all over the price, but on these im lost !!

thanks for all who answer..

[MikesRJ 558]

taking eBay as a litmus test, there were two recently that were listed.

One was no reserve and went for ~$250

eBay 1

and another listed to start at $1200.00, and didn't get a single bid:

eBay 2

This one's on eBay right now and starts at $275 (though MI is a ways from TN):

eBay 3

So I'd say somewhere between $200-$1000 Honestly, who can really say more than what the owner is willing to take, and what you're willing to give. (Sorry, I couldn't resist!) Depending on condition and bought in my area of PA, $400-$750 for one in mechanically good shape (cosmetically "good" as well). Your area might be different in price. Look around Craig's List in your area of TN and see what they go for, that should give you a reasonable idea of what people are selling for, and what buyers are paying.

[tractordave3128 0]

hey i hav a 312-8 i got from my great grandpa but in a estimat e probably 500-1000 for it

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,527]

Does it come with a mower deck? What size? The tiller set up is worth almost as much as the tractor here in CT. The question on the deck and size makes a bit of a difference. Let us know- :scratchead:

[kpinnc 14,589]

I really dislike where these posts go sometimes. Not because of the question, but because some of the answers get a bit "out there" as far as prices. And with all due respect- It NEVER fails that Ebay prices are brought into question.

As has been said many times, the best price is whatever the buyer and seller are both happy, or equally unhappy with. There is no way to possibly place a watermark on something 20+ years old, in a multitude of locations, with who knows what condition. Pictures are usually better than the real thing, and nothing replaces a test drive.

Now that I've said all of that, I will break my own rule...

I paid $150 for a 1991 312-H (596 hours) with deck a few months ago. It's condition was far from great, but better than awful. Had I not decided to use it for parts, I think it would have made a decent machine.

Good luck with your purchase.

Kevin

[Michael Bullington 5]

hey guys thanks for all the imput...yes it is hard to put a price out there for a tractor you can see but thanks everyone ...believe it or not that helps

It does have a 42" deck with a working roto tiller.....I was thinking a descent roto tiller is ball park $250..

are there some decks worth more than others in these models?

I always wanted one of these, I think they are awesome looking machines...

at all the comments...( i knew it was comming.).

Im gonna go check it out tomorrow afternoon!

[lp johnny 0]

I just bought a non running '89 for 200.00 w/ snow plow and 42" deck..checked w/ local dealer...they just sold one(running) for 1000.00

[jpmcleod 4]

I just posted a response to Truckin88 regarding me getting one tomorrow. The mower is complete with the exception it needs a muffler. I am giving $200.00 for it in a round-about-way, considering I am trading approximately $200.00 in other stuff for it. It has a brand new carburator and drive belt and I figure that's a least worth $150.00 considering the cost of both. I know the carburator was over $100.00 as I saw the bill.

Anyway as it has been said, it is only worth what you are willing to pay and what the seller will settle for. I would rather pay a little more for a running machine that's complete than to buy one that you can't hear run and parts are missing and then you sink a fortune in it. There is no set price on being a proud owner.

[Michael Bullington 5]

Quote:

it is only worth what you are willing to pay and what the seller will settle for.

just say you dont really know..lol im not stupid

thanks for all the replys guys...I know yall hate these questions

[kpinnc 14,589]

I know yall hate these questions

Not at all Michael. I'm at fault myself for making you feel that way, but the truth is- How else are you gonna know? Especially if you don't already have or have had the same model.

The sad truth is that without pictures, or even first hand knowledge of a particular machine, it's just hard to put value on these things. I paid $250 for a RATTY RJ-58, but it's the only one local to me I've seen in 10 years. Felt like I had no choice really, if I was gonna get the thing. I've also seen a beautiful (if such a thing is possible ) running C-165 with snow plow, tiller, and 48SD deck go for $100 on CL 20 miles from my house. Of course, it was gone by the time I called about it.

Most of my machines cost me around $100 or less. But I'm just a cheap old fart. At the same time, I have seen a 520-H sell for $1100 that I would have GLADLY given more than that for. I just didn't have the money at the time.

I kinda dislike the "Ebay" prices being brought up, because of the mechanics of how those prices are determined. The winner wants it more than anybody else, so it's never a good starting point for determining price for the rest of us. Unfortunately, as long as someone has $1000+ to burn and time to surf the internet, those kinds of prices will remain way up there.

I hope you can get the 312 for what you are happy with. It's a good machine that will do most anything you need it to.

Good luck!

Kevin

[travisg84 1]

I paid 800 three years ago for mine and though It was a great deal for the shape it was in. That was until I got on here and saw what other folks are paying (or getting for free). It seems like horses must be a dime a dozen up north but down here in Kentucky good shape tractors are few and far between.

[Save Old Iron 1,571]

This may be of some help - just scroll to the TOP of the post.

http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?...t=0entry97805

[bustedglass 1]

In the 5 years that I have lived here in Paducah, KY., I have seen only two (2) . A super ratty looking c160 (with a transplanted 12hp. God knows what year Kohler), with a 48" deck. It did run, and cut grass. The guy wanted $800.00 for it, but said that he would let it go for $750.00 . Mighty BIG of him ...

And the 414-8 basket case that I have now. I got it and a 1 year old 15.5hp. Vert. Briggs motor that I needed for my little 211-3 . All for $200.00. Not a bad deal I thought. The Briggs motor runs like a charm, and I am now starting to look at the 414-8, to see what I need to restore it .

So like travisg84 said, good tractors here in Kentucky, are very few and far between .........

[jpmcleod 4]

Stone Henge. We are all friends here on this post and would never intentionally try to think someone is stupid. I for one have made many stupid mistakes. I watch the posts on this website that will kinda give you a clue as to what a tractor is worth. Lord knows I don'tknow. If you like the 312-8, buy it. Who cares what someone else paid for their's. Sometime we win, sometime we loose. We work all I lives and we need some return for our labor, and a $200.00 tractor is a cheap investment if you can get your family involved in restoring it. I live in Central Florida where used golf carts cost more that a good used car. I would rather have a Wheel Horse Lawn tractor any day. I paid $750.00 for a Wheel Horse C120 over 15 years ago and it still runs and looks great. I think it was a great investment. I paid $200.00 for a Bronco 14 about 6 months ago and my grandson and I have restored it. It's worth every dime I have put into it, (which are quite a few and not finished yet) but the time with my grandson is priceless. Smile, and buy the darn tractor and let us all know how it goes.