garydewater: That's about 1/2 the price as a new one and 135 hours is about 3 years of average homeowner use (about 40 - 50 hours/year). If it is in good condition and not been abused it sounds like a pretty good deal. You did not mention what year model it is. I have an acre and 1/4 myself and usually rack up about 40 - 50 hours/year depending on what projects I'm working on. I mow, dethatch, aerate, overseed, pull a cart loaded with rocks, firewood, etc... and mulch my leaves in the fall pulling a lawn sweeper to collect them. You can usually save a bunch of $$$ buying a good used quality tractor. Just make sure it has been well taken care of by the previous owner. If it looks rough it probably is rough. An engine coated in oil, grass clippings, etc..., faded paint, cracked seat and weathered plastic components typically indicate that it was left outside in the elements and not well cared for. Good luck!

Ive had a lot of simplicities and mostly broodmoors but some regents too and ive had 3 john deeres 2 x300 s and a 100 model that was probably was bad when I got it . The x300 I got new and it was a good tractor but I had a lot of money in it and I got it for a gift from my wife with the payment book so I sold it it was a good mower no problems . I bought used one to cut the lawn at my apartment building it has a crack in the seat and hood but only 241 hrs on it for 500 dollars I cut a good part of a 15 acre field to test it out and it did just fine . I had a regent with the hp kohler high output with the 44 inch deck and cut 3/4 acre for 10 years but it was getting hot lately when I was getting done cutting with it but it was 89 degrees outside . The brood mowers from the mid 90s had plenty of tranny problems I had a number of them that had weak trannys in them. The seats don't crack as easy on a simplicity and the metal hoods I think are better. I keep some broodmoors around because I have lots of leaves to bag and the power blower works good and there are more of them around compared to the john deere ones and used john deeres with power baggers are expensive. I do think they improved the k46 trannys from the ones of the mid 90s but they are just a lawn mower not a garden tractor not meant for hills and steep grades . Go to a garden tractor if you have those kind of conditions to cut it will cost you but you get what you pay for.

This thread reminded me of the John Deere commercial many years ago where the home owner started cultivating his garden with a JD rototiller, moved up to a small lawn tractor, a garden tractor, a small farm tractor, and finally brought in one of the large tractor that turn in the middle with a 40 foot disc. Your post also brings up another point of buying the tractor to fit the job, Yes the bigger tractor cost more, but so does the maintenance and all of the accessories that you may wish to buy. All part of the investment in bigger equipment.

I just replaced the wheel bearings in my LX178, I guess they are only good for about 14-15 years : ( Hope I this set lasts as long. It is a very cheap upgrade and I would suggest anyone with bushings that plans on keeping their tractor for more than 2-3 years throw a set on. I also must admit that I get a warm fuzzy by having greasable bearings and prefer them to sealed.