I'm fairly new to this forum and find this site as well as others with the same topics very helpful. I'm retired and moved to the Pacific Northwest, just south of Seattle 8 years ago. My wife and I live in a rural, wooded community. We are on a little over an acre, and have about 1/2 an acre of grass and a huge asphalt entry/driveway that occasionally needs plowing when we get snow.
I originally went to a John Deere forum website and asked the question...Old vs. New? The answer from most of the viewers was...purchase an older John Deere lawn tractor.
Since its almost impossible to find a used JD here in Washington, it took me over a year to find one on E-Bay. I did the buy it now on the 3rd of July for $550 and the owner delivered it to me the next day. Its a 1987 JD 165. Its in pretty good condition since it was owned by a Microsoft executive, who kept it in his barn year round.
I found a light kit on E-Bay, and recently replaced the engine, put one of those nice high-back JD replacement seats and other than looking a bit tattered since it was used to plow snow this winter, its in real good shape.
I've attached several pictures of the 165 and also included a copy of my late Uncle Henry on his Oliver Tractor. I admired this man all my life and he was a great farmer. He owned a fleet of Deere, McCormick,:smile: and a gaggle of attachments which he and my late grandfather invented and built. Recently a family member found the post card, which originally was drawn up from a black and white photo taken by the tractor mfg. It was re-drawn in color and made into posters, mailers and calendars and distributed to farmers who might be interested in a new tractor. It was taken in Greenfield, CA somewhere around the 40's or 50's. The reason I included it, was because this was the first tractor I ever got to drive when I was a kid, but most of all, it is my tribute to a great man. Also, since he was a big John Deere fan, it was the real reason I just had to have a baby Deere. Enjoy and I'm looking forward to using this very nice forum.
I originally went to a John Deere forum website and asked the question...Old vs. New? The answer from most of the viewers was...purchase an older John Deere lawn tractor.
Since its almost impossible to find a used JD here in Washington, it took me over a year to find one on E-Bay. I did the buy it now on the 3rd of July for $550 and the owner delivered it to me the next day. Its a 1987 JD 165. Its in pretty good condition since it was owned by a Microsoft executive, who kept it in his barn year round.
I found a light kit on E-Bay, and recently replaced the engine, put one of those nice high-back JD replacement seats and other than looking a bit tattered since it was used to plow snow this winter, its in real good shape.
I've attached several pictures of the 165 and also included a copy of my late Uncle Henry on his Oliver Tractor. I admired this man all my life and he was a great farmer. He owned a fleet of Deere, McCormick,:smile: and a gaggle of attachments which he and my late grandfather invented and built. Recently a family member found the post card, which originally was drawn up from a black and white photo taken by the tractor mfg. It was re-drawn in color and made into posters, mailers and calendars and distributed to farmers who might be interested in a new tractor. It was taken in Greenfield, CA somewhere around the 40's or 50's. The reason I included it, was because this was the first tractor I ever got to drive when I was a kid, but most of all, it is my tribute to a great man. Also, since he was a big John Deere fan, it was the real reason I just had to have a baby Deere. Enjoy and I'm looking forward to using this very nice forum.
