The John Deere series GT225, 235,& 245 are really pretty solid garden tractors. I purchased a 1999 GT235 with the Briggs engine and lots of hours on it that had only ever had use and abuse. The hood was severly cracked, lots of rash marks on the operator platform. The headlights lenses had yellowed due to sitting out side its entire life. It even had tire sealant in the cracks on the side walls of the rear tires. Baling twine was wrapped around the rear axles and the spindles on the deck. The rear hitch hole was severly egg shaped. The muffler was even burnt out.

The most expensive fix was a new upper hood. The rash marks on the operator platform were filled and repainted. I did a complete service, changle all oils and filters. I took apart all spindles and greasable bearings, cleaned and repacked them. I welded a thick washer to the bottom side of rear hitch, and then welded and redrilled out the hitch hole. Ialso replaced the muffler.

The tractor starts up right away, reguardless of how cold it is, it sets in an unheated shed. The engine does not smoke or use any oil. I pushed a lot of snow with this tractor this winter and never a problem. I have put 25 hours on this tractor and the oil level has not moved yet.

The rear hitch hole egg shaped real easy, due to the metal that the holes is punched into is so thin. I would recomend welding a thick washer to the bottom side of the hitch and then repainting the hitch area. By putting the washer on the bottom of the hitch, you can tell that any thing has happened. I will do this to any other tractor that I buy.

It would seem that I spent a lot on the tractor, but other than the upper hood $160.00 and muffler $60.00. Everything else really didn't cost that much.

I am hoping the motor lasts.

I hope this helps.

First, the GT225 is a great, and tough, little garden tractor. I have a 1999 model I bought used about four years ago. I just love it. The GT225 will do everything that a GT235 will do except it will not take the 54" mowing deck.

If the price is right - I wouldn't worry about the tow hole. If I had other major concerns I would have a John Deere dealer check it out. Sometimes there is a reason why a owner is selling his tractor that is not readily apparent, and they may not tell you about it.

My GT225 looked brand new. It had been used very little. I tried it out, made the owner an offer, and he accepted it. I returned home, borrowed my neighbor's trailer, and went back to get it. When I tried to start it to drive it on the trailer - it wouldn't start. We tried, and tried, and tried, and it just wouldn't run: not even a hiccup.

I told him to get it running and I would come back and get it. It was a sort of sometimes it would start and sometimes it wouldn't kind of problem. Finally, it had to be returned to the dealer to get fixed. The ignition module had to be replaced. That cost the former owner about $100.00 to fix.

So, did he know about the hard to start problem, and was that why he was selling it? Did I just get lucky that it wouldn't start when I went back to get it? I will always wonder.

Sounds like a great machine. I tend to over maintain my LT150 it looks almost brand new with about 330 hrs. When I saw the GT225 it looked beat. The hood cover has a good size crack and the steering has alot of slop. I left a offer but it was probably to low. I am in no hurry and I enjoy looking anyway. Thanks for the reply I won't worry as much about Gt225's getting abused.

Second thoughts here. You brought up a great point and an important one. Who ever used that little GT225 (and I doubt it was that lady) didn't care a hang about it: drove it hard and put it away wet. How do I know this? because if they did it would look more like your LT150 or my 1999 225. It sounds to me like it was put to commercial use. I probably wouldn't touch it unless it was awful cheap.