Buy first tractor maybe? '36 A

dylantuttle2015 · Jul 11, 2018

I went and looked at a '36 model A yesterday. It looks nice and in nice shape but I just don't know if it's worth it. I was given my great grandpas '51 A in a basket case condition and put it together and had help to get it to run. I'm always looking for another as I love two cylinders but wondering if you guys can give me more info about this one.

Are the wheels on it more valuable than just run of the mill ones? They are flat spoke on the rear and round spoke on the front. He's asking $2000 as is pretty set on it despite not knowing anything about it. Couldn't even tell me that it was an A.

It was the sellers father in laws tractor who bought it new. The FIL had the tank sent off to be lined and painted and sent the carb off to be completely redone. He didn't have a chance to put back together before he died hence the son in law has it. He states he heard it run two years ago. It looks like he has everything for it, carb, tank, hood, etc.

The motor turns over real easy and has decent compression based on rolling it over. Let me know what you guys think.

ss55 · Jul 11, 2018

Tires are half the value of old tractors. The value of unstyled tractors is falling as the people who collected them 20 to 30 years ago are now downsizing, they are not practical or comfortable to use for much besides parades, and hand starting is tough for older collectors. If you want a project, there are much worse ways to spend money, but IMHO $2,000 would be top dollar for one in working condition with great paint and almost new tires. Non-running and partially disassembled it would be worth 1/4 to 1/2 of that. Those values will continue to fall in the future as there are 1,000's of restored 1930's and 1940's tractors coming up for sale. I doubt you could ever resell it for close to $2,000.

Would you be willing to reassemble the tractor and get it running nice for free instead of buying it? It would double the value of the tractor for the seller and give you a fun project at no cost to you except your time. If not, I'd keep looking.

old · Jul 11, 2018

Being flat spook in the rear I think would make then cut off wheels as in came with steel wheel and then cut and had a tire rim welded on

kurt v · Jul 11, 2018

(quoted from post at 15:02:45 07/11/18) I went and looked at a '36 model A yesterday. It looks nice and in nice shape but I just don't know if it's worth it. I was given my great grandpas '51 A in a basket case condition and put it together and had help to get it to run. I'm always looking for another as I love two cylinders but wondering if you guys can give me more info about this one.

Are the wheels on it more valuable than just run of the mill ones? They are flat spoke on the rear and round spoke on the front. He's asking $2000 as is pretty set on it despite not knowing anything about it. Couldn't even tell me that it was an A.

It was the sellers father in laws tractor who bought it new. The FIL had the tank sent off to be lined and painted and sent the carb off to be completely redone. He didn't have a chance to put back together before he died hence the son in law has it. He states he heard it run two years ago. It looks like he has everything for it, carb, tank, hood, etc.

The motor turns over real easy and has decent compression based on rolling it over. Let me know what you guys think.

If the tires are all good they are worth half the asking price.

Ben.So.Tex · Jul 12, 2018

Run away from it, sounds like a money pit. You can probable find one running and be able to demo it before you buy it. That's my 2 cents. It's your money.

jd man wis · Jul 12, 2018

For that much a guy can buy one with fair tires and runs for that, just be patient one will come up for sale and you will be glad you did.

NoDakInMN · Jul 12, 2018

The seller wants more than it is worth. He most likely has no real idea of what it is worth, probably just what some other person, also with little or no real knowledge, told him and is now convinced that is what it is worth. It is hard to deal with people like that because if you make a reasonable offer, he might get offended.

Having said that, there are other unstyled As out there for reasonable prices. They are a good tractor to get started on as they are about as simple, yet functional, as they come. Cut my teeth on a 37 A years ago and still have it. You can still get implements to use with them, which is a lot more fun than just putt putting in a parade now and then. And the sound. When you put one under load and the governor starts to open up, aint nothing else like it.

fixerupper · Jul 12, 2018

Those old girls can have so darned many things wrong with them and still run good. Pass it up but keep an eye on it. If it doesn’t move for a few months or longer he might come down on the price.

bishons · Jul 13, 2018

The Good thing is work was done and the. motor turns over with compression the big question what parts are missing or misplaced There are many online Part sources and from Deere dealer I have 35 A . The tractor never fails to start and I use tractor more than the other Deere tractors in my collection as far the flat spokes on rear wheels the farmer would order a tractor on steel wheels when the farmer saved enough money he would call Deere and the tech would come out to the farm and remove the rear wheels. And Take them in town to a mechanic or blacksmith. They cut the spokes and mount new rim for the tire Deere dealers didn't do the conversion . I am working a total basket case 40 A My wife and father in law think i am crazy

Buy first tractor maybe? '36 A

dylantuttle2015

New User

ss55

Well-known Member

old

Well-known Member

kurt v

Member

Ben.So.Tex

Member

jd man wis

Member

NoDakInMN

Member

fixerupper

Well-known Member

bishons

New User

Similar threads