Differences in 3000 series

[puddlejumper]

You have the 3204 thru 3240 then you have the GT 3100 thru 3235, what are the differences of the non GT and the GT.

Some have 1 in axles, some 1.18 & 1.125, , engine size, pto, diff lock, but other than that stuff what differences do they have, which are the better ones.

[3Kseries4ever]

Cub/MTD had some weird numbering issues with the 3000 series. Generally the GT 3000's are newest and the last of the 3000 run, except for the GT3204 and GT3235 which are both 2004 machines. The plain 3204 is a 2001-2003 machine, and the 3204's don't have a diff-loc. The other GT's have a black painted frame and a different dash and the cast iron vertically split transaxle. Check out tractordata.com for easy side by side comparisons. The later 3000's also got a 20 slot hood compared to the earlier 10 slot ones. There are other odd balls out there that seem to be MTD just using up available parts or put together conglomerations - pieced together to sell by people.

Bill

[puddlejumper]

i'm kicking around the idea of a 3000 just trying to figure out which of them would be the better for me, i would prefer the cast iron trans but if a cheap price came along in good shape aluminum would do too.

Can't find too much info on which type/ model hydro they have and how strong they are though.

[3Kseries4ever]

They all use Hydro-gear BDU-21 hydrostatic units. They are tough, I have 4 of them and love them.


Bill

[Sergeant]

All engines are Kohler Air cooled except 3205 and 3208 which Have Kawasaki Liquid Cooled Engines & the 3165 ,3185 which have B&S engines

3165 Aluminum trans Case NO diff/lock

3184 Aluminum Trans Case, NO diff/lock

3185 Aluminum Trans Case, NO diff/lock

3186 Aluminum Trans Case, NO diff/lock

3204 Cast Iron NO diff/lock

3205 Aluminum trans Case diff/lock liquid-cooled engine

3206 Can Have either depending on serial Number Break diff/lock

3208 Can Have either, depending on the serial Number Break diff/lock & Liquid cooled engine

3225 Aluminum trans Case diff/lock

3235 Can Have either depending on serial Number Break diff/lock

3240 Cast Iron, NO diff/lock

GT3100 Cast Iron, NO diff/lock

GT3200 Cast Iron, diff/lock

GT3204 Cast Iron, NO diff/lock

GT3235 Cast Iron, diff/lock

I have an Aluminum Case 3208 which I Just Picked Up In November 2023

The Aluminum Case 3000 series Can use either Cat 0 3 point Hitches either the 190-207-100 or the 190-365-100.

Cast Iron Transmission cases can only use the 190-207-100 Cat 0 3 Point Hitch.

It actually a little bit easier to piece together the 190-365-100 Cat 0 Than the 190-207-100 Cat 0 which took me over 3 years to piece together

[3Kseries4ever]

Sergeant is mostly right - but the 3165 and 3185 have Briggs & Stratton engines.

Bill

[puddlejumper]

That helps alot, lots of info thank you.

What i'll be using it for will be roughly 1 acre mowing with the occasional rock & tons of pine cones , may be nice to have the diff lock everything here is either up or down hill then covered in pine straw going up is slick, i read where they have some nice decks that leave a good cut also.

Then no plow but other attachments, box blade and such, dragging tree parts around from storms, moving a little rock & dirt no fel but would be nice.

Getting older too, leg room and decent seat would be nice along with power steering, I used to enjoy working on them but getting older not so much now but maintenance & tinkering & a few repairs ok.

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by puddlejumper

That helps alot, lots of info thank you.

What i'll be using it for will be roughly 1 acre mowing with the occasional rock & tons of pine cones , may be nice to have the diff lock everything here is either up or down hill then covered in pine straw going up is slick, i read where they have some nice decks that leave a good cut also.

Then no plow but other attachments, box blade and such, dragging tree parts around from storms, moving a little rock & dirt no fel but would be nice.

Getting older too, leg room and decent seat would be nice along with power steering, I used to enjoy working on them but getting older not so much now but maintenance & tinkering & a few repairs ok.

Well, if You're a Good Fabricator Like 3Kseries4ever it won't be an issue making Hydraulic attachments for it. I Just don't have the Patience for it; I like to design it either On Paper or out of wood and then have someone else do the actual fabricating.

A 3-point Hitch can be hard to find for the 3000 series. A Quick Option if You can't find a 3-point Hitch is this https://johnnyproducts.com/J_Bucket_...eeve_Hitch.htm and then You Can use some of these attachments https://www.motoalliance.com/all-pro...pro-implements which are Bigger than the standard sleeve Hitch implements.

On My 3208 I have the OEM Cat 0 3 point Hitch which I can also convert to a Limited Cat 1 3 Point Hitch and use some small Cat 1 implements that don't weigh over 450lbs.

The Only downside I find with the 3000 series is the Lack or a 540RPM rear PTO. In 1998 & 1999 Cub did offer a 2000RPM rear PTO but not many were sold In the States Mostly sold In Europe and Canada

[puddlejumper]

Since 3 point hitches for the 3000 series are scarce & cat 0 implements not so popular, would a guy be just as well of by going with a sleeve hitch , don't know if there would be any downsides to that idea.

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by puddlejumper

Since 3 point hitches for the 3000 series are scarce & cat 0 implements not so popular, would a guy be just as well of by going with a sleeve hitch , don't know if there would be any downsides to that idea.

Of My 15 garden tractors, I have 5 with 3-point hitches, either Cat 0 or Limited Cat 1, or both, depending on the tractor. The rest take a sleeve Hitch and most have a sleeve Hitch I actually do have three A frame 3 point to sleeve Hitch adapters, and I still use many sleeve Hitch Implements on the tractor with a 3 Point Hitch anyway.

I have one of the Johnny Products Universal electric lift sleeve Hitches On My JD GX335 and Really Like using it. The GX335 Has Hydraulic Lift for mid- and front Implements. No Hydraulic Outlets are available for the GX335 and it uses a Belt from transmission to engine and a Bit lighter transmission as Far as Pulling Implements goes

BTW, the JD GX335 and the Cub Cadet 3000 series are actually almost the same size Tractor if using the standard tires On both.

The Only sleeve Hitch Implements I don't have are https://brinly.com/product/dd-55bh_s...h-disc-harrow/ and this https://www.agri-fab.com/Products/Gr...gaging/45-0366 , and I do tend to use them more than My 3 Point Hitch Implements. Plus, most sleeve Hitch Implements Take up less storage room to store, than 3 point implements. . Those Impact Pro Implements I linked above are a Bit Bigger in size than standard sleeve Hitch Implements, so they'll be Pretty close to Cat 0 Implements Anyway.