Are these 300 series worth the price?

[Fordiesel69 271]

Looking at two locally.  Not on CL but from word of mouth.  And they are not really for sale, just for me they are.

 

#1: 312-8 Toro unsure of year  $200

-Unit looks good with no paint fade, it is a toro so it is in the 1990's and has the magnum M12 engine.  I believe the engine is bad.  Had no oil, and they said it shut down.  We added 1QT which brought it to half way mark.  When started it runs but spits exhaust out the carb.  The starter is REALLY loud and dry sounding.  The engine runs so bad, I cannot even tell if the piston / rod / crank is any good.  Deck is a good 42" SD, no rot but some rust, and the tractor is complete.  It was dark so I didn;t find out the year but it is complete and the condition is good overall.  I hope the engine is just in need of valve job / carb work, but I fear the worst being the dipstick showed none, and they admitted it openly.

 

#2 314-H I think it is a 1996.  $2000 obo.

-She refused 1500 offer from someone else.  Has 257 hrs.  It is literally in mint condition and the paint looks showroom fresh, but it is not a repaint.  Problem is engine had original factory oil in it.  The lady admitted that she checked it each use and topped off, but never knew it needed changed.  I changed it for her for free using 5w-30 that was in her garage.  It was a brown, black ,mud mess.  The engine runs nice, I can hear the ever so slight infamous kohler rattle, but it is slight.  It comes with a plow and deck.  The deck is like mint, but the plow is weathered from leaving in their yard.  I walked away, but the condition keeps me thinking.  It was almost like brand new.  Could I take the engine apart and flush it out and be lucky?  I have yet to see a tractor this clean. 

 

Opinions?  I have enough already but you all know how the addiction is.

[oldredrider 2,553]

Grab the 312-8. A motor rebuild cost still puts you under resale value...if that's what you want to do.

Run as fast as you can from from 314-H. With 257 hrs, the oil should have been changed 10 times already. Plus, 2 grand will buy you something WAY better and newer too.

[slammer302 2,156]

There is a like new 314h on mo cl for 800 with a snow plow

[Tankman 3,523]

312-8 would be my choice, the other? Forget it! Way over priced. 

[boovuc 1,090]

312-8 hands down for $200 bucks!

 

I know you put oil that she had handy in her 314H but you really need to put straight 30w in it or at least tell her she needs this oil in it. At only 257 hours that motor can be saved but NOT for 2 grand. Not even the 1.5 grand you offered her. And if that motor isn't a Magnum but a Command that never had an oil change, you can't run fast enough from her and her tractor! 

[Ken B 3,189]

IMHO the engine on the 314 isn't going to live a long happy life.  Most guys wouldn't pay 1500 much less 2000 for it knowing it went 257 hrs before its first oil change. For a grand it might be worth a roll of the dice but beyond that no dice... It all boils down to how much you value the condition of the rest of the tractor. If you enjoy fixing things up the 312-8 is way more bang for the buck... Minus the condition of the engine the rest of the tractor sounds pretty nice. The deck alone is worth 200.00. Someone here probably has an engine for the 312 at a reasonable price or you can take the one apart that is on it and have a look see... The 314 ain't going anywhere quick but if the word gets out on the 312 its gonna be gone in a flash..

[rexman72 210]

600 bucks for it

[psychocontractorguy 12]

Buy the 312-8. That's a good deal. With a little love, it'll run just like new.

[jdleach 525]

Ditto with the other posters, get the 312-8. I paid $400 for my 312-8, but the paint is really scratched, decals peeling, and the motor is in need of an overhaul. With a little luck, I can get through this mowing season before I tear it down. I also had to replace several small things on the tractor, plus seriously repair the hood before it fell off. The plus side was the almost minty 2007 mower deck that came with it.

The 312-8 can most likely be sold for a small profit after an overhaul or replacement, the 314 would scare hell out of me because of the engine, forget the price.

[shorts 182]

You know the deal, from following your other posts you fancy yourself as an engine guy, if you even thought that you needed forum advice on these engine issues you need to keep your cash in your pocket and run not walk away

[Fordiesel69 271]

UPDATE:

 

The 312-8 wasn;t as bad as I first thought.  Drained the varnish fuel, removed the bowel and sprayed the carb out while still on the engine.  Started it up and after it ran for a bit it runs almost perfect.  I think the intake valve was just partially stuck.  Bad news is...........it is an oil burner, and has blowby out the rubber hose.  Has the typical 1000+ hrs kohler rattle and I think some rings and a new rod will help it out.  Not interested in machining the crank just yet.   

 

Passed on the 314-H, I already have a low hour one, and it can be cleaned and painted to look better.  And in the end be a better unit as I bought it from the original who did maintain it.

[Fordiesel69 271]

Paid for the 312-8 and hope to make the drive for it this weekend.  It will be a nice project, and will clean up nice.

 

The lady with the 314-H called back and asked if I am still interested.  She said she would now consider 1500 or make an offer.  So, I have two choices, Find 100% matching toro paint, and respray my foot rests, + two side panels on my 314-H.  If the paint does not match I don;t want to do it, as my hood, fender, and decals are mint and do not need repainted. I like my 314-H, it has low hours, but it does not look mint at all.

 

Or, low ball like 1000 and hope she takes it, and wash the engine out inside.  My guess would be the rings will be coked up.  New rings + a hone + base gasket + head gasket should be less than $100.  I would be willing to bet, that even with 257 hrs of never changing the oil, that the engine would have burned enough to have makup oil added.  She did admit to checking it freqeuntly and adding when needed.  All this indeed makes me nervous, but you would have to see the condition to beleive it wasn;'t fresh off the showroom floor.  I am certain the hydro was never maintain either, but nobody usually services them anyways, and 100 hrs is little rediculous for oil changes. 

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

I would lowball the 314-H since you know the oil wasnt changed.

 

These are pretty tough engines, and like you said a hone and new rings + gaskets it will probably be running like new. At least with the constant oil adding like you said it may have been "changed" once or twice already. I think the hydro should be just fine at only 257 hrs even with no oil changes.