Trying to establish a buying price on a super dexta

I am trying to get an estimated value on a Super dexta that I saw which has the following characteristics:

Engine: Runs okay. It grey smokes at start up, but this dissipates after about 5 minutes. Valve seals or rings?
The maximum oil pressure drops to about 20 psi after about 25 minutes. I suspect the bearings and/or pump will need replacement rather soon.

The radiator looks relatively new (probably less than 5 years) and has no leak repairs. It is in good order.

Steering: The tie rods and spindle sleeves appear to be in good shape, but the steering wheel has a lot of free play est about 20 degrees. I did not check to see if there are any shims left to remove, but the upper ball bearing race and balls need replacing. I know repair rockers and shaft are hard to find and up there.

The gear box is in great shape and the shifters are smooth. I think this has been overhauled or redone and they did a great job. The pto works, but the lever may pop out if not externally hooked with a spring or strap.

The rear tires are worn with fine cracks and have an estimated 5 percent tread.

Sheet metal surface rust, but hood handles are loose and a bit worn.
Does anyone have a idea of what I should pay for a Super Dexta in this condition?

Not sure where you are located. This is at a dealer in Northern Lower Michigan. I will say it seems like a buy to me, although it doesn't say anything about how it runs or even if it runs.

http://www.ginopsales.com/search-equipment/Hillman-Michigan-USA-1962-Ford-DEXTA-%5B2133395%5D/#detailanchor

There are some ridiculous prices being asked in the tractor magazine adverts here in England for these tractors. Some get up to
?5000.00 for a refurbished one.

Think I would aim at a maximum of ?1000.00 to ?1500.00 in the condition you say it is in.

You will need to do a total engine overhaul including pistons and rings by the sound of it, smoke on startup could be just a cold
engine or low compression, low oil pressure will mean crank needs regrinding at least, bearings and oil pump. Going this far in I
would do pistons and sleeves as well. Dexta sleeves were originally pressed in then bored to size, Perkins later sleeves can be
used but the block will need to be machined to take them. The only oil pump available is the Perkins version which is different
from the original so this too will have to be modified. Parts for the above will cost around ?400.00 plus labour.

Steering gear parts are very hard to find but shims and new balls may sort out your problems. I do know of people who have fitted
oversized balls with some success.

Rear tyres are going to cost around ?250.each.

At the end of the day you will have a good little tractor but it will still be 50 plus years old and, if you paid the ?1500.00
cost for it it will stand you in at ?2500.00 plus VAT and any painting you need to do.

Should also add that the PTO problem might be as simple as the snap ring that holds the bearing in place has been pushed out of its grove by a too long PTO shaft on an implement or an ungreased one. My Dexta had this problem but in my case the bearing housing had been broken around the ring grove and I had to find a good second hand one.

The tractor itself runs fine. I ran it over the field for about 10 minutes. I went through all of the gears with no problems and no sticking on the shift levers. The brakes also worked well. The only thing I am not sure of is how high the lift arms should be at maximum. It had a finnish mower attached and the highest it would raise is about 6 inches off the ground.


DL

I forgot to mention. This tractor is in Southeast, Georgia.

The two piece ball race at the top of the steering is no problem. I have a lathe and can regrind them or make them new. I have a ready supply of new chrome steel balls. It is the lower part of the shaft with its grooves that might be the problem. If the steering is operated with little or no lube the grooves and corresponding contoured projections of the rockers wear eccentrically making shim adjustment useless.
I do have a possible fix although it would involve making the main shaft just rotate and not move vertically. I.E. A ball screw and different manner of achieving rocker rotation.

Majorman,
It has been my recent experience that most of the Dextas and Super Dextas here have been updated with Perkins sleeves or at least bored out for the 3.6 inch id liner. It might just be necessary to counterbore for the flange type slip fit liner. I am crossing my fingers on that.

The only two main problems I see are the steering and the liner modification. The rest are easily obtainable or not much work.