Buying tips for loboy

[joemcc]

I sold a mower today and want to buy a loboy to replace it and figured this would be the best place for some advice. I am finding prices on craigslist here in NC to be between $1,500 and $2,850. This will be a mower, but I would like to have the 3 point hitch as well. I'm trying to find out the major differences between the 154,184 and 185 models, what I should look for and expect to pay. Any advice is appreciated.

[gitractorman]

Personally, I'd look for a 184. There were several benefits to the 184, including 18-hp, and electric pto clutch, along with it being the newest of them all. The 185 would be my second choice, again getting the 18-hp engine, but you loose the electric PTO clutch, going back to a manual PTO clutch. The 154 would be my last choice (even though I've owned about 6 of them). There, you're going down to 15-hp, and it's the oldest of the three. The 154s always seem just a little under powered to me, especially when running the 59" mower deck. Regardless, all three are good machines, those are just my preferences. From a numbers standpoint there were around 29,000 154s built, only around 6,300 185s built, then around 8,500 184s built, so the 185 is definitely the rarest, but the 29,000 is why you see so many 154s. The 154 was built from 1968 to 1974. The 185 was only built in 1975 and 1976. The 184 was the last and was built from 1977 to 1980. All of them have the same hydraulic systems, same gear drive transmissions, and same engine, just that the 185 and 184 tractors were boosted up in RPMs to increase the horsepower. They also had Zenith carburetors, so a little more fuel flow to go along with the higher RPMs.

I think what you've seen for prices is just about right. You'll pay more for the 3-point hitch, and even more for a creeper drive, but depending on what you want to do they can both be really nice to have. Keep in mind that you will not find any PTO driven 3-point attachments for any of them, but the hitch is nice for a blade or plow or disks.

[Eugene]

I have a 154 with creeper, 3-point, and auxilliary hydraulic outlets.

Not sure why the tractor has a 3-point. No equipment available locally. Creeper gear is really nice. Other day mowed in creeper low, transmission in 3rd (actually a bit slower than standard 1st gear), tough tall damp grass.

My opinion, numbered low-boys are great mower tractors. But, for a more utilitarian tractor, a standard cub will do the same mowing and a lot more implements are available.

Edit: Top price in central Missouri is around $3500- for a really nice tractor with front end loader.

[seahaul]

joemcc,
Sent you a PM. I'm located near Kinston, NC and can give you more information.
Charlie