Tractor size questions... 520 is too big!

[Jeff1981 18]

Well, did most of my mowing today, and discovered to my surprise that while a 48” deck on my 520-8 is sure nice, it’s too big. I can’t get down my woods path to the lower part of the property. (It’s a long path and I’m renting so a bulldozer isn’t an option)

 

so i guess I’m needing to go down to a 42” deck- and I’ve altered my trade ad to reflect that- but now my questions are regarding what size tractor I need? I want to run a 42” mower deck well, push a snowplow, and tow a garden cart around for mulching and such. 

 

What models might fit fit the bill well and be common enough that they’d make a good working tractor? I’d like to be on the older side...

 

guess should have measured before getting all excited about a bigger tractor! And yes, should have tried it out more before posting my questions. Thanks again to all you experts for your advice!

[Achto 29,346]

I would think that any thing with a 12 to 16hp engine would do the trick just fine.

[JCM 10,170]

If you can find a nice 312-8 or a 312-H you would have a low maintenance Heavy duty tractor for what type of work you have in mind. Just my opinion.

[JAinVA 4,636]

I have  a 42" deck to mow around the garden.The416 -8 is overkill. Ten to 12 horse is all I need for that but it is what runs,and a 48" is to big.The 416H Onan has a 48" to mow the rest.First time in 3 years it has had a deck mounted.I think that is one reason I have so many WH machines.It is easy to change attachments(tiller not withstanding) but easier to just get on a horse set up for the job.

[Jeff1981 18]

I’d not even considered a 300 series- somehow I’d got it in my head they were just lawn tractors.  Is a 310 or 12 a true garden tractor on the level of a c series for example?

[Achto 29,346]

300 series is definitely a GT, even though they only put 6" on the front of most of them.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,362]

I have a 310-8  with a 42 in RD deck and I plan on moving that deck to a 12 hp , I think it would do a better job. I have a 36 in Rd deck which is the right size , 8 or 10 hp moves it just find. 

 A 310 will handle most ground attachments . Not sure about a tiller , I think it is too small hp for a snow blower. JMO

[wallfish 18,039]

Sell the 48 and just put a 42" deck on the 520

If you don't have that much yard to mow, you can always go classic with mid to late 1960s tractor. Look cool while you're mow'n as long as you're not drinking out of a straw while riding it. My mower is 1965 and those tractors will easily push snow and drag a cart.

[Jeff1981 18]

4 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Sell the 48 and just put a 42" deck on the 520

If you don't have that much yard to mow, you can always go classic with mid to late 1960s tractor. Look cool while you're mow'n as long as you're not drinking out of a straw while riding it. My mower is 1965 and those tractors will easily push snow and drag a cart.

The 20hp Onan is pretty thirsty, so I’d rather trade it for something smaller if I don’t need the power. I do have a lot to mow, but all these are a step up from the cub cadet 71 I was using, and that tractor did great here. Only 7hp too. I just prefer the wheel horses, more comfortable to ride.

[ebinmaine 72,343]

How "too big" is it?

Tractor too wide?

Mower too wide?

 

Something else?

 

[Jeff1981 18]

44 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

How "too big" is it?

Tractor too wide?

Mower too wide?

 

Something else?

 

The deck is just a little to wide for my woods path, and I just don’t feel I need all the horsepower of the Onan, which burns a ton of gas. I’d also like a simpler machine- I’m familiar with Kohler and Briggs engines, but this Onan is something else entirely. If anything ever goes wrong I’d rather have something familiar that I can work on myself. 

[ebinmaine 72,343]

Understandable.

I'm a fan of the same engines.

Perhaps a swap for a C-160 with a 42" would be the best overall.

 

[Herder 2,355]

You may find it easier to downsize the size of your attachments.  20 HP will run anything you put on it.  Deck sizes very from 36" to 60" and the 520 you have will run all of them.  If you downsize your tractor you will begin to limit what you can put on it and run.  The 520 is and was designed to run a multitude of attachments and they are still available.  I am not trying to convince you to keep your 520 if it's not meeting your needs 'BUT' what you have is a rare bird.  A 520-8 is very hard to find, a 520-H is much easer to obtain.  A C-series or a 3-series with 10HP or more will run most attachments and fit into most areas very well.  Good luck.

[clueless 3,219]

A nice 314-8, 312-8 or a 310-8 will do what you need done. No real difference in the size of the 300 tractors and your 520, other than the tires, engine and deck. 312-8 are easy to find, especially in the land of plenty where you live. I prefer the kohler magnum over the kohler K.

[peter lena 9,231]

how much of a problem would it be just plow blade your path a little wider on each side? maybe you are making too much out of the clearance issue ? if you can,t do it , you could probably find someone in your area with a bigger machine , that would easily clean up your issue. i recently swapped some old aluminum diamond plate , for some excavator work , worked out well for the both of us , pete  

[squonk 43,701]

Weren't you talking about mowing 4.5 acres every week or am I thinking of someone else?  Stick with the big deck and widen the woods path.

[Jeff1981 18]

1 minute ago, squonk said:

Weren't you talking about mowing 4.5 acres every week or am I thinking of someone else?  Stick with the big deck and widen the woods path.

Yup, that’s me. I just rent this place, otherwise I’d widen the path- landlord likes it as it is, grrrrr. 

 

Now you all have me wondering if I should just have a big tractor and a small tractor, lol. 

[Jeff1981 18]

8 minutes ago, peter lena said:

how much of a problem would it be just plow blade your path a little wider on each side? maybe you are making too much out of the clearance issue ? if you can,t do it , you could probably find someone in your area with a bigger machine , that would easily clean up your issue. i recently swapped some old aluminum diamond plate , for some excavator work , worked out well for the both of us , pete  

I wish! Landlord says no- it’s been this way for 50 years!

[littleredrider 409]

You are NOT gonna wanna mow with anything else than a 60" deck with that much acreage. Smaller horses are easy to come by, I see em all the time and not a whole lot of money. I've had my 520-8 for bout 2 1/2 years, and haven't had any issues. I must have gotten bad gas or maybe water, cause it's running lil rough. But that's not the machines fault. These may have more safety BS on them, and not as "simple" as a Kohler or Briggs, but with this site and even the internet, you can fix what ever issue that comes up. If you want to do plowing and snow blowing there isn't a better machine than a 520!!!