Lo-Boy 154 Questions

[1954Frank]

I need a small tractor to use around our small place to grade the gravel driveway, push up some brush, drag some small logs, mow, etc. I spotted a Lo-Boy 154 with a belly mower that looks interesting. Could that be a good tractor for what I want to do? Any pros and cons? Thanks.

[Eugene]

I own a 154 with creeper and 3-point. Good lawn mower. To answer your question - no.

Suggest a bigger tractor with standard PTO, hydraulics. and possibly a 3-point. For about the same money as the 154, bigger tractor.

[1954Frank]

Thanks

[outdoors4evr]

I use my 184 for these type of tasks.
While it isn't fast, it gets the job done. I don't try to move logs that are larger than 15" in diameter.

[1954Frank]

Thanks

[Eugene]

Cons, some mentiioned. PTO non-standard size and rotation direction. One way hydraulics. Small, light weight. Implements may be/are hard to find. And, my opinion, sliding the mower deck on/off is a real pain the butt.

Pros. Good mower. Easy to operate. Comfortable ride. Parts are readily available.

All I'm suggesting is that, if you are going to spend $1500/$2000 or so for a tractor, get one that you can readily find implements for.

[1954Frank]

Thanks for all responses.

[outdoors4evr]

I'll have to agree with many of Eugene's points. The mower deck is a pain to mount / dismount. Mine goes on in April and comes off in November.
Plowing, Tilling, and snow pushing get done without the mower deck. Once the deck is mounted, only a rare tiller use might happen, but it is much harder to till with the mower deck hanging below.

Yard spraying (broadleaf 2-4-D) and towing functions don't seem to be inhibited much by the mower.

Is there another tractor in this price range that can do these functions and also have an easier time with the deck removal?
Most are extremely small (lawn mower tractors) or a MUCH higher price.

[nat]

I have a 154 with the 3 point hitch and I use it to grade driveway , move stuff around with a set of homemade forks on the 3 point hitch, move trailers and general tractor stuff. To me it is much more useful as a tractor with a 3 point hitch than It is as a mower. I have lots of trees and a zero turn mower beats it's pants off as a mower, so it looks like I am opposite of everyone else

[Eugene]

A zero turn mower beats it's pants off as a mower, so it looks like I am opposite of everyone else

Zero turn's are great lawn mowers, but we are talking tractors.

Check the local auction sites for tractors. Drive the county roads looking for tractors and implements. You should be able to determine what makes of tractors are still in the area.

Example. I live in Osaage county, Missouri. In the 1950s Osage county had 4 or 5 Allis Chalmers dealers and one Ford dealer. Lots of attachments still available for both brands. Older IH and JD tractors frequently come up for auction.

You can accomplish a lot with the 154, no argument. I own a 154, a standard Cub, 3 other tractors, etc.. 77 years of age, I no longer change implements on the standard Cub and have to get wife or son to help me remove the mower deck on the 154. Just back up one of the larger tractors to the implement I want to use.

You are going to want to do something with a tractor that is above a 154's capabilities. Purchase a bigger tractor. Something that you can purchase an implement for at auction or the big box farm/ranch store.

[SONNY]

I have a 154 with 3-pt----Thats what broke the frame on it and is what MOST 154's have had done to them.
They only mow IF they have the creeper gear in them, otherwise too fast ground speed and not enough power.
For what you want/expect it to do---NO it will not work! For that same money you can get a real tractor that has standard drawbars on them and can use any equipment you need on them.