JD 60 in the pasture--should I?

UncleCarl

Member
Okay folks, I need an honest opinion here. I recently ran across a John Deere 60 that's sitting in a guys driveway. I've always wanted to buy and tinker with an old two cylinder so I'm constantly looking. But I've never owned one. I'm mechanically savvy, but don't want to bite off more than I can chew if I didn't have to. Anyway, I asked the guy about it and he said his brother used to own it. It ran when his brother got it and he used it for several years. then his brother 'rebuilt' the starter and it hasn't ran since. (unknown if related). So this guy got it from his brother. Long story short, between him and his brother, it's been sitting in the open for about 10+ years total (mid Missouri).

He says when he got it, he tried pulling it several feet in gear, but the motor wouldn't turn. He didn't try a lot so unknown how bad it is. He's had it in the yard but never had time to fiddle with it. So it's locked up apparently but unknown how bad. The back tires would need to be replaced (they're pretty crappy only one has air) but fronts are okay. Is there a chance a guy could get this running with a lot of patience and letting some diesel or break-free sit in the cylinders a while? I'm sure it will need more as far as tune up, etc, but what's the chance I could get it going without having to tear into it? He told me he'd sell it to me for salvage value around $200.

What, if anything could/should a guy consider before doing this? Thanks
 
I would buy it for $200 in a heartbeat if it has the sheet metal and is in fairly straight shape even if rusty. Was the exhaust pipe covered? If not, the cylinders probably filled with water and it's probably really bad then. I would buy it, and take the head off. The judging by how the valves and pistons look, go from there. Then again, I've never done much work on them Deere's, and for the most part the only Deere I worked on was a 60. Nice tractor when they run good, when they have problems, it's a pain. That's why i have my Fords. ;) Hopefully some more knowledgeable guys will chime in here. For scrap price, you can almost not go wrong.
 
Just in parts alone you'll probably spend $1000, Pistons, rings, gaskets, and bearings. The cyclinders will need bored so there's machine shop expenses. Not to mention fuel and electrical system repairs. Tires , tubes ,and most likely new rims if the tires were loaded with calcium chloride. You could part it out and still make a profite if all you pay is $200 for it. Restoring old tractors is a gamble.
 
That you can get it for scrap value, you really have nothing to loose if it turns out to have major problems.

Just do all your tear down and diagnosis before buying any parts.

I suspect the reason the starter was rebuilt was a result of a locked up engine. As in ran out of oil or something let go, not just stuck from sitting.
 
Hmm. Thats an interesting aspect about the starter. But wouldn't it have given them some indication of engine failure even before they rebuilt the starter?
 

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