Posted: 6/13/2017 3:00:28 PM EDT
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I have seen a tiny Ford 1100 for sale locally to me (13hp, 2 cylinder diesel, 4wd, made from 1978-1983), about 700 hours on the engine and in excellent shape (has a 4' finish mower that runs off the PTO).
I only have 7 acres, and of that I mow about 1.5 acres. I am beyond frustrated with my existing basket of deplorable ride-on gas mowers. They spend more time on the injury list than they do in the goddamn game, and ethanol gas is mostly to blame. I am ready to torch the lot. It is time for a new mower before I go ballistic and stroke out, so do I stick with gas or punt and go for a wee diesel? I have to admit the little Ford is f'ing adorable. 
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Yes go with a diesel compact tractor of some sort - lots of good ones, but they are not cheap.
They typically sip the diesel too so fuel use is less than your typical gas unit. Also get one with hydraulics and accessories available you will be surprised how much use for a front bucket you will have. |
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Yes go with a diesel compact tractor of some sort - lots of good ones, but they are not cheap. They typically sip the diesel too so fuel use is less than your typical gas unit. Also get one with hydraulics and accessories available you will be surprised how much use for a front bucket you will have. I am excited as I have never had a diesel before and this thing has diesel torque. My gas engine stuff must have been ludicrously over-rated horsepower wise. The 4wd aspect is sweet as the property is heavily sloped. I also have a rear dirt scoop and will be getting a 5' rear blade for it for snow plowing and light grading work on the gravel driveway. I am pumped!! |
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I have seen a tiny Ford 1100 for sale locally to me (13hp, 2 cylinder diesel, 4wd, made from 1978-1983), about 700 hours on the engine and in excellent shape (has a 4' finish mower that runs off the PTO). I only have 7 acres, and of that I mow about 1.5 acres. I am beyond frustrated with my existing basket of deplorable ride-on gas mowers. They spend more time on the injury list than they do in the goddamn game, and ethanol gas is mostly to blame. I am ready to torch the lot. It is time for a new mower before I go ballistic and stroke out, so do I stick with gas or punt and go for a wee diesel? I have to admit the little Ford is f'ing adorable. |
I had a 18hp Kubota a few years ago. 4x4 with bucket and some implements. it did all kinds of jobs well. I upgraded to a 38 hp tractor, and was planning to turn the little Kubota into a lawn mower.... but had to sell it while on my journey to buy a house, because I needed the money. 
currently I have a cub cadet lawn tractor. its ok I guess.... but my yard has a slope to it, and I'm not impressed with a reg gas lawn mower. I only mow maybe 1 acre myself... but as I said its sloped and I have a few wet areas. in a few more years, after the big tractor is paid off.. I CAN see myself buying a small , used Kubota tractor for my yard work. ill hunt down a older used one, for about $5k... and likely have it rest of my life. ill get something like this.... ( unless I get traded and buy a lot newer one ) I can buy a good used 4x4 Kubota, for only a little more than 2x the price of a new lowes lawn mower. I picture this. 4x4 diesel 18hp.. ( I REALLY don't NEED a new one. ) only think I really need with it is a belly mower. a tiller would be nice too, for putting in a small garden.. if it came with a bucket.. great, as those are nice, as these little tractors can get into places the bigger ones cant. big tractor is for everything not related to mowing the yard, and tilling a tiny garden. Attached File heres my old tractor...( B1750 . 4x4 diesel) it did a lot of work, for something so little. it was also stupid simple, and really easy to tinker with. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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I have been using a husqvarna GT2554 for the last 7 years on modern gas with no issues and still on the same belts after 320 hours of operation. Just regular oil changes air filters and greasing once every spring. You must be buying junk to start with. I never had trouble with my gas engines before ethanol came onto the scene. |
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I had a 18hp Kubota a few years ago. 4x4 with bucket and some implements. it did all kinds of jobs well. I upgraded to a 38 hp tractor, and was planning to turn the little Kubota into a lawn mower.... but had to sell it while on my journey to buy a house, because I needed the money.
currently I have a cub cadet lawn tractor. its ok I guess.... but my yard has a slope to it, and I'm not impressed with a reg gas lawn mower. I only mow maybe 1 acre myself... but as I said its sloped and I have a few wet areas. in a few more years, after the big tractor is paid off.. I CAN see myself buying a small , used Kubota tractor for my yard work. ill hunt down a older used one, for about $5k... and likely have it rest of my life. ill get something like this.... ( unless I get traded and buy a lot newer one ) I can buy a good used 4x4 Kubota, for only a little more than 2x the price of a new lowes lawn mower. I picture this. 4x4 diesel 18hp.. ( I REALLY don't NEED a new one. ) only think I really need with it is a belly mower. a tiller would be nice too, for putting in a small garden.. if it came with a bucket.. great, as those are nice, as these little tractors can get into places the bigger ones cant. big tractor is for everything not related to mowing the yard, and tilling a tiny garden. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/92687/kubota-234221.JPG heres my old tractor...( B1750 . 4x4 diesel) it did a lot of work, for something so little. it was also stupid simple, and really easy to tinker with. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/92687/20141206-091401-234225.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/92687/20141206-091312-zpsc7ef04b6-234222.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/92687/20150324-140751-234224.JPG )
The rear dirt scoop I got with the tractor is interesting. It is hell for stout, but how useful it is in practice is something that I think will take some experimenting. |
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Some of it is just worn out, but the problem I have been having is we can't get ethanol-free gas up here for less than ludicrous prices. Ethanol ate fuel lines, sludge formed in tanks, clogged jets in carbs, on and on. I would use enzyme treatment but still had problems with fuel purchased (for instance at the beginning of the summer) going iffy and then bad by the end of the season. I never had trouble with my gas engines before ethanol came onto the scene. I keep about 50 gal of gas on hand at all times and put sta-bil in it. I use it in my lawn equipment and tiller during the spring and summer and fill jugs as needed to keep my supply on hand all the time. I am using gas now I bought last year. Every time I mow I burn through 2.5 gal. |
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Bad part about a tractor with a rear mower, they dont cut finish grass as good as a zero turn. They will cut grass, they just disperse clippings more unevenly due to lower blade tip speed compared to zero turn or commercial level mowers.
Better than a crap home depot ride on mower, just not as good as a commercial mower as far as cut quality. Also quite cumbersome. |
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Bad part about a tractor with a rear mower, they dont cut finish grass as good as a zero turn. They will cut grass, they just disperse clippings more unevenly due to lower blade tip speed compared to zero turn or commercial level mowers. Better than a crap home depot ride on mower, just not as good as a commercial mower as far as cut quality. Also quite cumbersome. There is certainly a learning curve to mowing with it after being used to belly mounted mower decks. |
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I have a Kubota with a rear finish mower and agree with the above points. There is certainly a learning curve to mowing with it after being used to belly mounted mower decks. |
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I don't have any issues with ethanol..everyone keeps talking about it like it was the incarnation of satin himself but it has never caused me any heart ache. I keep about 50 gal of gas on hand at all times and put sta-bil in it. I use it in my lawn equipment and tiller during the spring and summer and fill jugs as needed to keep my supply on hand all the time. I am using gas now I bought last year. Every time I mow I burn through 2.5 gal. If OP is really having fuel problems, it isn't the ethanol that's causing it. Also, most boat marinas sell ethanol-free gas. It's not terribly expensive. |
| I got my mom a ford 1210 a few years back to work her small acreage. It's 4x4 and definitely runs out of ass before it runs out of power. Pulls a 4ft bushhog just fine. Keep an eye on the tempature, some of the older micro-fords were known to crack cylinder heads. |
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Ah, I will keep an eye on temps- thanks.
The engine is a 2 cylinder Shibaura (sp?), which I think means it is a Mitsubishi (?). I think it is going to be just the ticket for mowing the rougher areas of my property. The good news is how the lawn looks doesn't matter- I can't see my neighbors.
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Some of it is just worn out, but the problem I have been having is we can't get ethanol-free gas up here for less than ludicrous prices. Ethanol ate fuel lines, sludge formed in tanks, clogged jets in carbs, on and on. I would use enzyme treatment but still had problems with fuel purchased (for instance at the beginning of the summer) going iffy and then bad by the end of the season. I never had trouble with my gas engines before ethanol came onto the scene. Gasoline should be used in less than 30 days, unless treated with a stabilizer. Even then, you want fresh gas when possible. |