L305dt

[Justacityguy]

First post.. Total nooobie. I'm looking for a tractor to clear some brush, help move cut timber off field edges, mow alfalfa, and mow around the farm..

I'm looking at a L305DT for $6,200. It seems high for a 198- something tractor. He's including a brush hog, finish mower, and a box blade, but it does not have a loader, which I will need.
How does this price sound? It appears in "ok" shape, everything works..
How hard will it be to find a loader? And approx what will it cost me? (I'm thinking about $1,000)
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
Jeff

 

[skeets]

First off Welcome to the orange,, Now in MHO were it me I would be looking for something a tad newer not that that's a bad little beast, just that parts get a little tuff to find sometimes for older models though many will interchange with newer ones. And a FEL is going to cost you a bunch no matter how you look at it, so he wants 6200 and add maybe another 3, to 5k for the FEL so you have almost 10 in it. This was made between 1981 and 86,, If you look around you can find more deals out there and I would look for one with the things you will need to start. Do a google search on the old gal and you will come up with good and bad things about it, and I am assuming that this one is 2 WD and gear. So take that's something else to think about clutches can be a PIA along with gears,, none of which are cheap. That's why I would look for something newer, unless your a real gear head and can do all the work your self, However I will add there are guys in here that take them apart and put them together better than new,,, again that's just MHO

 

[Justacityguy]

Thanks for the info. I was going back and forth on if I needed the loader or not, and decided I do need it. So, I'm looking elsewhere.
I've pm'd a few guys here from the classifieds, seeing if there's anything else available.
I was at the dealer up in Bowling Green Missouri yesterday, the new ones are pretty expensive, but I'm not a gearhead, and new gives you a bit more peace of mind..
They have $1,000 off right now on a new one with a loader (L3800, with Hydrostatic Drive and 4WD) hmmmm...
My wife's eyes popped out of her head though when I told her the price. Ha!
I'll keep looking. May end up with new though.. The way it's looking.
I'd like to get it fairly soon.
Thanks again!
Jeff

 

[gpreuss]

I think you are heading in the right direction. Don't be afraid of Ebay or Craigslist - you can often find a newer machine at a considerable savings. Or, an older machine like the L305 with a loader and mower for about the same $$.

 

[Justacityguy]

I think you are heading in the right direction. Don't be afraid of Ebay or Craigslist - you can often find a newer machine at a considerable savings. Or, an older machine like the L305 with a loader and mower for about the same $$.

Thanks,
They are out there.. First problem is actually knowing what I'm looking at..
Second, is being patient. Not my strongest attribute.
Been doing a lot of looking and reading. I've narrowed it down to Orange, for the most part. That's progress.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Stay in the L3200, L3400, L3600, L3800 and you'll be much happier down the line, they are new enough to get all the parts and new enough not to need a lot of work.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

www.tractorhouse.com will give you hours of drooling pleasure...