Another Wheelhorse or New Deck?

[leeave96 490]

I've got a line on a nearly new 42 inch deck and another line on a 414-8 tractor. What I really would like is another deck on the shelf as with my yard, part of it is somewhat wet to some extent and no matter the effort to keep the underside clean and dry, it ain't going to happen. Sooo - rusty decks are a given. This makes the weak link in my fleet the mowing decks, hence the desire for extra decks on standby.

The deal is, I can get a really nice deck or another tractor with deck for about the same price. Tractor is high hours and the deck is OK, but well used.

I'm thinking, forget the tractor and get a nice deck.

What say you?

Thanks,

Bill

[Hydro 131]

I would go for the better deck.  I've had decks ranging from like new to well rusted.  They can be repaired but I can't (others can) restore a  deck as easily as I can repair or replace parts on a tractor.  I think the tractors will live on for a long time but the decks will eventually disappear.

[can whlvr 994]

depends if you need another tractor or not,it sounds as you should be leaning towards the new deck,i own 2 414,s they are nice tractors and very capable,how used is the deck and how many hours ,maybe buy both,the new deck and tractor with deck,hahaha,i agree with the weak point on the decks,they are very good but after 25 - 30 years of use they are bound to wear out,i have a few good decks on hand so i wont be in trouble down the road

[Martin 2,133]

i would get the tractor/deck if given the choice. fix the deck. and you have a tired tractor to breathe new life into as well.......

[squonk 43,911]

Considering good deals on 's in my neck of the woods have dried up like last years drought, I would get the tractor if room allows.

[Forest Road 594]

I've never had a problem finding a good tractor. Attachments are another story. I'd get the deck.

[welderman85 53]

You can never have enough horses I would get the tractor

[546cowboy 302]

The last nice 42" deck I bought cost $175 and needed new wheels for another $50 so I have $225 in it. Now I don't know how much that 414 would cost you and then you have to consider the costs of repairs to it and the deck. I know from experience how hard it is to pass up a deal on a tractor ( even when you already have 10+ ) but it all comes down to the deal and storage space.

[wheeledhorseman 579]

I look at it this way....you can have the best cordless drill in the world but it's pretty much useless without a decent set of drill bits so to my mind if you've got serious grass cutting to do then you need a decent tractor and deck.

 

I'm committed to my stable of horses (who isn't) so when Toro announced that they were ceasing to manufacture Wheel Horse products there was some serious thinking to do.

 

I purchased a NOS deck that a dealer was advertising, with shipping it cost me half what a new deck from Toro would have cost had they still been available. Kicked myself afterwards as there were two available and I only got one.

 

During the last year I've also kept a lookout for decks at a good price with or without tractor even decks with holes in them. One cheap deck previously welded up but rusting through again yielded up three almost perfect spindles, pulleys, and some other parts to refurb another with a good shell but poor bearings. I'm in the process of restoring two decks at present (complete tear down and repaint).

 

Buying a tractor and deck - yeah been there as well. Both looked pretty poor but the deck had only really rusted on the top where it had been left outside with water standing on it, the underside was near perfect. Decided to keep the tractor as well - best of both worlds!

 

It's a complex issue but here in the UK tractors to restore way outnumber cutting decks to go with them so I've made building up a good set of decks a priority. I guess it's different if you're simply collecting tractors.

 

Andy

 

 

[squonk 43,911]

I've never had a problem finding a good tractor. Attachments are another story. I'd get the deck.

I've looked at CL for your area. Lots of WH stuff. My area, not so much.