market for semi mount balanced head IH sickle mower

Was wondering if an older IH sickle bar mower has any collector value? It"s the balanced head model that is semi mount to a loop draw bar like on an H or M. Has the rubber tire caster wheel in back. Been shedded and will clean up good but will need some work to be field ready. What"s it worth? Should I let it go for $100? Located in SE Iowa.

It must be a location thing. Around here they are in demand yet.
I bid to $700 on one this spring and didn't get it. It had the PTO extension to pull a conditioner behind. Saw another with a 9ft bar bring $1000 last year. 20 years ago I seen a fella buy one for $400. He pulled the head off to fix his 1100 mower and gave the rest of the mower away. I have a fast hitch model I paid $400 for 15 years ago with a bad head.

Should I let it go for $100? Located in SE Iowa.[/quote]

The feller who wants it would like that price. I suggest trying to get it field ready for sale next spring; seasonal stuff, so it would bring a better price then. If you should have a need to unload it now and transportation could be arranged, IH National Fall Auction is Friday-Saturday, November 8-9 in Noblesville, Indiana. They are taking consignments and Chapter 7 has a website. This site has a 'Hauling Schedule' on the left side or simply post here. Friendly folks and you may be surprised...a little spot on a trailer for a convenience store gas card. Good luck with your project.

I agree with getting it field ready but I would put it out there at a higher price now and wait for the buyer to find you who is getting ready for Spring hay. Things are seasonal but that doesn't mean they sell the week before they are needed. I am planting corn in the Spring and I am just now completing my equipment additions and getting my field testing done on the old equipment to make sure I will be "plug and play" come Spring.

I have the following balanced head mowers: 115 mid mounted, 120 semi mounted, and 100 trailer mowers. Yours sounds like a 120. I bought my 120 locally on ebay for $107 and it came with a lot of extras, field ready, missing cylinder was replaced with a very large turn buckle. I bought the 100 for about $85 at an auction in working condition but needing minor work. The 115 I bought 100% complete from Rick out in MN and had trucked here. Total cost was somewhere in the $6-800 range. It lives on the SMTA and has worked and been used yearly since it was purchased...great mower. At auctions the past few years I have seen a 120 go for $270 and a beater 100 trailer went over $600. A pile of parts next to the 100, including an untested balanced head, went for over $300. Around here your mower in working condition will realistically sell for $2-300 if listed on Craigslist and you patiently await the right buyer. Anything much higher than that is either random luck or a regional demand based on some particular need. When hay is high, hay equipment goes high. Two years later you won't be able to give it away.

Watch the CL adds for SEIA and WCIL, the guy in Memphis MO will get more than that for it.