312-h -- Please help me decide!

[MaxTrax 0]

Hi, all! Thanks for having me. This forum is a fabulous resource (but you knew that).
I am considering the purchase of a 312-h. I'll give as comprehensive a description as I can.

First, the tractor has clearly spent most of its life indoors.  The paint appears original, and is in excellent condition all around.  There are some scratches, and one hood latch I broken, but otherwise the tractor is in great cosmetic shape.  The tires have more than 50% of their tread remaining and look great. They are evenly worn, no checking or cracking. Current owner (I believe he is the second owner) has not replaced them, they are quite likely original.

On the dash, the hour meter and ammeter don't work. Shows 300+ hours, likely really 450-600 hours. The hour meter worked until the past couple of years.  The lights are intact but inoperable.  The ignition switch turns the ignition on, but the current owner installed a push button for the starter. The parking brake lever is broken off; just a bit of it extends above the dash sheet metal. Current owner says he never attempted to use it.  The dash lights come on at first startup. The seat cutoff has been bypassed.  Sounds like the current owner had an issue with no starter action, and he bypassed things one by one trying to get it to function. The battery is new.

The foot brake seems to work as it should.

The original Kohler engine starts easily with the slightest puff of smoke on startup (for a fraction of a second). Otherwise no smoke, sounds good, no missing, idles well, nice and smooth through the rpm range. After shutting the engine down ( from an elevated rpm) and then restarting within a few seconds, she did backfire (wasn't done intentionally, but worth noting).

The hydrostatic tranny seems to work okay. Move the lever forward, goes forward. Jockey it over and move it backward, it goes backward. Stops pretty abruptly if you bring the lever to neutral; perhaps I moved the lever too quickly.

We had the deck mounted. Move the lever, and the deck traveled up and down firmly and quickly. And quietly.

The PTO lever similarly engaged and disengaged the blades firmly, quietly, and without noise or slippage. 

The paint on both the tractor and the mowing deck appears original and is in great shape. The deck seems to have had minimal use.
 
There is a single-stage snowblower included. It is in excellent shape, even the paint is nice. All belts are there. The current owner says it is just a few years old, he bought it new (locally), and paid nearly $1500 for it.

There is also a snow /dozer plow, in good shape, too. 

He has tire chains as well.

The current owner uses it primarily to clear snow from his long driveway. His yard is too small to use a tractor (he uses a push mower).

So....my question is...is this all a decent deal for $1250? It's at the top of my budget.

I would use the tractor primarily for mowing my (~1acre) yard, and probably for snow blowing as well (substantial driveway, 3 cars wide). Maybe use it for a cart as well. I'd love a tiller for the garden, but could probably live without.

I'm reasonably handy, but NOT a mechanic. I'll change my own oil and I would likely troubleshoot and repair the electrical issues myself.

I welcome any input.  Thanks for reading! (I don't have photos, but sure wish I did).

 

[slammer302 2,156]

Were are you located?  

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,150]

Hi,

I am considering the purchase of a 312-h.

So....my question is...is this all a decent deal for $1250? It's at the top of my budget.

I welcome any input.  

 

Way over priced! If all the 'issues" you mentioned did not exist it would still be over priced in my opinion.
Keep looking and browse the classifieds right here on Redsquare!


Mike.............

[953 nut 59,995]

               I have a '87 312 with about 800 hours on it that has had many of the issues you have described and then some over the years. All things considered I consider it to be worth about $500 as is. Considering the snow plow, snow blower, chains and the upkeep that this has had it may be at the high end of the range. One thing that gives it value is that you don't have to travel a long way to get it.

I suspect there is some room for negotiation and there is no way you could get that package at the big box stores for twice the price and the  will outlast the new junk. Go back with a final price in mind and cash in hand.

Good luck and .

[JAinVA 4,636]

I would agree with those opinions expressed.To much for the issues described.These machines are terrific but the model you are looking at isn't rare.There's lots of them out there.Be patient and keep looking.Luck,JAinVA

[Ed Kennell 41,974]

I would place a working 312H  w/deck in the 4-700$ range based on condition.    Single stage blower  $200 and dozer blade $150.  
Based only on your assessment  of condition,  I would place this package in the 7-850$ range.       Can't hurt anything but feelings by making an offer.

BTW Max...... keep us posted and 

 

[boovuc 1,090]

I would also get the serial number from the "newer" snowblower. Is it a Tall Chute or a stubby chute blower? The tall chute is very high off the base. The stubby chute is only a foot or foot and a half high from the top of the blower unit. I have heard many folks "advertise: a newer blower attachment that was far from new.
If the blower is in pristine condition and the serial number proves it is a 1990's blower, I wouldn't top 900 dollars for the package. Folks who "rig" the starter because they didn't want to buy a very inexpensive solenoid or switch scare me on what else they didn't want to do or felt they didn't need to do! Doesn't matter if it's a Wheel horse or a Murray!