Educate Me About 382's
 

I went to town this morning, saw a 382 in someones front yard for sale. Stopped and talked to them. They are asking $500 OBO, clean Lil mower, one owner. Starts right up everything seems to work fine. I made an offer, they are going to let me know later today on my offer.

I don't really need another mower, but thought it would be nice to have a small one to cut in around the house and outbuildings, then use my 2182 for the open spaces.

Are these good mowers? What is a fair price to pay for one?

Here are a few pictures.

I payed $50 for the one we have but it doesn't have a deck, I frequently see them for under $300.

It ain't a shaft powered garden tractor. Not worth 500 IMO.

The one you posted pics of looks really nice if that is the original paint and decals. Looks like it may have the original engine. I think your front tires have been changed, don't remember that tread pattern. All the ones I remember had black seats. The deck spindles tended to wear the bearings more than the bigger Cadets. As was mentioned its a belt drive hydrostatic unit. The hydrostatic unit would sometimes get weak with age/use. I am pretty certain I have read on this forum where guys here used a heavier oil in them to remedy this--possibly motor oil---search the forums, don't take my word for it. Due to the value, not many of these left in use, you can tie too much money up real quick. I have nothing but respect for these little machines, but would not pay any where near $500 for a worker. Now if it were a trailer queen, then sure.

Here is a pic of my dad's, notice the seat has wood blocks stuck under the springs to make it more comfortable for taller/older folks.

I don't put the 382 in the garden tractor variety. It's just a riding mower, mostly.

Unless you are trying to fill a gap in your collection, your best bet would be to buy a used 5-10 year old big box store model, same quality really and 20 years better technology.

IH (gasp!) made crappy lawn mowers back in the day to compete for that market share. Like someone already stated, it is no garden tractor and can't be compared.

$50-100 bucks

I have one I intend to clean up and sell for at least that much.... nice mower to use but not for larger or rough lots, that one looks to be worth $500 but dont expect to flip it for profit;)

Unless you are going to be completing a collection I wouldn't have one.
That's way too much either way.

Well I guess I need to stick my 2 cents in on this one also.
We had the gear shift version of this when I was a young lad, (model 76) and it cut a lot of lawn, so it is a capable little tractor.
But I would agree with the others, it's not worth his asking price. And if it's what you need to fulfil a want, then it's all up to you on what it's worth.:beerchug:

If it's in as good of condition as it looks, I'd bet you could cut $500.00 worth of grass with that little mower before it shoots craps. Keep in mind that it is just a grass cutter.

If it's all original I hate to see an old survivor like that eventually worn down to nothing, it belongs in someones collection.

If someone rattled canned it, just to make it look better for the sake of getting a big price for it, then it's probably not worth the money.