430/420 are same thing with different engines. Diesel/Gas
Both have differential lock. I chose the 420 because of home use (not too many hours) and knowlege of gas engines.
The diesels are more espensive to buy and maintain but are much more economical on fuel. To get many opinions on these tractors you can go to weekendfreedommachines.com

the 317 is similar to the 318 except a 17hp engine. No power steering and the Rear PTO was a Pully rather than a shaft stub. The 317 could use the same tiller and attachmnets as the 140,300,312,314 and Kohler 316, The 317 has the worst reputation out of all Deere Garden tractors because of the original Kohler engine in it. It suffered catostraphic engine failuar until it was replace by a diffrent kohler enine you want to make sure the 317 has either the Kohler KT17 series 2 engine or a Onan p218g engine in it before even thinking about the 317. There are a lot of aftermarket attachments still avaliable for the 420/430 and 318 for instance Cat0 3point hitchs and bucket loader's which are no longer avaliable from Deere.

Here is a link that might be useful: WFM

Why so old? Newer 325-455 should be in a golden age of JD machines. They were sold during happy financial times. There are lots of them and the attachments for them out there.

Only the very first 317 engines had an oil problem. If a ditch bank was being mowed the engine could be tilted enough to run out of oil... so I was told by many here. I had one with the good Kohler engine and had good times with it. A very stout machine. Traded up to a 345 after two seasons of mowing christmas tree fields with it.

I guess the reason i'm looking to the older models is from what I can remember they are built so well. Not saying the 325 isn't but enlighten me on the newer models like the 325 of the late 90's.

The 318 IMO is way overbuilt but necessary for attachments like the bucket. I like being overbuilt but if the 325 is similiar then I will surely look at it. I currently have a Husky YTH 1542 which is a great machine but as far as a heavy dozer blade or hauling 700 lbs on a regular occasion it's quite the task for the thin frame.

I think I can save a grand by going to a very good cond 318 over the 325, but needless to say I don't want to have a large maintenance bill attached to it either...i'm fine with any repairs, I can do most of that myself. I like Kawasaki engines of today and favor them highly, a transplanted Honda is good but it always seems hit or miss with the gas kohlers....dunno why.

Go for a 430, as the Yanmar is far more likely to still be running or rebuldable versus the Onan. 400-series had the two speed rear, 26" rear tires, shaft drive to the mower deck, and individual turning brakes wich the 300-series didn't have.

If looking at a 318 type tractor, keep your eyes out for a 322 (Yanmar gas) or 332 (Yanmar diesel). Stay clear of 316's (Onan, no power steering) or 330's (Yanmar, but manual steering).

Good luck!

gmcman,

Ditto engine tech's advice. If I were you, I would also be looking at the 455 and X495/595 tractors (all diesels); you may be able to find a deal on a later model tractor.

Cheers

JDFANATIC

I think enginetech is wrong about the 300 series and split brakes. My 317, an '82 if I recall correctly, had farm tractor style brakes with two pedels for the rear brakes on each side. Stomping the brake on one side would make the tractor spin around... handy if you are going down the very next row of crops. In general enginetech has very high quality advice... LOL we are talking machines from 25 years ago!

The 325,335,345, and diesel 355 were 850lb light duty garden tractors from the 90's. The heavy duty 4xx series followed the same progression of engines from air cooled gas to diesel. Higer numbers had hydraulics and water cooled engines. The 3xx series did not seem designed for a 3pt/pto operation. Excellent quality decks were belt driven. The 345 I still have is liquid cooled gas, hydraulic lift, power steering, with 54" deck (150lbs). The heavy duty 4xx series probably had pto/3pt and shaft drive but I did not actually own one of those. They could be had with a bucket and my dealer commented he had warrenty problems with those due to abuse (ramming into packed dirt).

I recommend that series over the older 318/430 because the brakes work and the engines don't leak a river of oil. In the 80's some oil leakage was still not a big deal. Most engines leaked so it was not remarkable. The 90's saw recognition of the oil spot as a bad thing. My 317 stopped by pulling back on the hydraulic lever and nothing else. The brakes were for turning and not much else. I also find the foot controls on the newer machines to be of considerable use.

A note that I am a christmas tree farmer and not a yard mower! I beat on machines and ask for things these machines were not really designed for. Many times I've run a mower 12-14 hours trying to catch up with the rainbow.

My latest is an X-series, x485 that would have replaced the 445. It is liquid cooled gas, with a 3pt(pto available), and a 62" shaft drive deck(200lbs). Nice heavy duty garden tractor with some ability to run a back blade and cultivator. Not sold on the locking diff or the shaft drive. Putting the deck back on today after garden work was a 20 minute cuss fest as I worked on getting the shaft into the collar. I love the forked lift bars that eliminated a set of snap pins. I'm getting to old to lay on the ground lining things up while shoving a 200lb chunk of metal around. I use the locking diff some when pushing snow with the back blade. Probably needed if you want to pull the plow.

Nowdays the 300 size has become a 500 and the 400 has become a 700. Some 400 size were numbered x500 just to make it easy to figure out.

Some you have to get the deal in front of you. A great 430 probably beats an abused x-series. Not many great shape or abused to death to make the decision easy.

All three of my 317's had the split rear brake controls. The rear ends were very good, never had one give a problem. A good diesel with power steering sounds nice to me:)