Just reclaimed what i believe to be a 1946 2N from the pasture field. It ran 15 years ago. An attempt was made to overhaul it at that time, but when put back together it was so tight it wouldn't turn over. So it was pushed aside in the pasture and forgotten till now. My only concern is that it has been sitting with no spark plugs. Obviously condensate and moisture has gotten into the motor but i am not a mechanic. So i was wondering if it would be worth fixing or would there be more money wrapped up in it than what its worth. But everything seems solid, it does have the fenders and front end loader and rear blade. Any advise and opinions are appreciated. Thanks!
- Thread starter TurdBird
- Start date
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
One like that you never know. Years ago I picked up an 8N that had the oil drain plug out if it for a decade or more but it would still spin over with a battery in it. A couple hundred in repairs and it was up and running just fine. Big thing is, is the engine locked up or can it be turned over?? Many times when and engine is tight for a rebuild people did not do so with the good lube where it is needed so hard to turn over
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
As it sits it is worth $300-$500.
If you spend an additional $3K "restoring" it it will be worth around $2K when you're done.
Your call but I would put my money into one that someone else already took the hit on.
If you spend an additional $3K "restoring" it it will be worth around $2K when you're done.
Your call but I would put my money into one that someone else already took the hit on.
I absolutely hate to see any old iron go across the scales as scrap.
However I try to be realistic too.
If it sat in a pasture for 15 years it probably needs four new tires. Those alone would cost about the same as a good running used tractor around here.
Hoses and seal on the loader are more than likely bad too. One can hope the rest of the loader cylinders are still good.
Spark plugs AWOL I would think would be big trouble.
Depending on location, water could have frozen in any part of the tractor and broke who knows what.
Also, you mentioned that you were not a mechanic. If you have to hire someone to work on it, you would be farther ahead to sell this one and buy a newer tractor.
A lot of places won't touch them, or don't have the equipment any more to work on the flat head engines and pocket valves.
You could possibly make some money and learn a lot from parting it out and selling the parts on eBay or CraigsList.
You might also post this over on the 9N/2N/8N forum for more in depth answers.
However I try to be realistic too.
If it sat in a pasture for 15 years it probably needs four new tires. Those alone would cost about the same as a good running used tractor around here.
Hoses and seal on the loader are more than likely bad too. One can hope the rest of the loader cylinders are still good.
Spark plugs AWOL I would think would be big trouble.
Depending on location, water could have frozen in any part of the tractor and broke who knows what.
Also, you mentioned that you were not a mechanic. If you have to hire someone to work on it, you would be farther ahead to sell this one and buy a newer tractor.
A lot of places won't touch them, or don't have the equipment any more to work on the flat head engines and pocket valves.
You could possibly make some money and learn a lot from parting it out and selling the parts on eBay or CraigsList.
You might also post this over on the 9N/2N/8N forum for more in depth answers.
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
Ah but as it sits it is worth say a good $1000 in parts if you part it out
SweetFeet
Well-known Member
I hate to see old machines scrapped (though we are guilty of it ourselves...scrapped an old thresher and some other misc. stuff). But I'd rather see them parted out or sold whole to someone for a parts donor - machines like this will never be made again, and some of her parts may help a tractor live to see another day.
showcrop
Well-known Member
Most likely the reason that it would not turn over after the overhaul was the resistance of the rope seal which is normal. After 15 years of the rings rusting to the cylinder walls the problem is entirely different. There have been numerous posts on here over the years about people getting lucky and freeing up a motor stuck that way with their choice of penetrating oil. Most times people are advised to give it a mixture of acetone and Marvel Mystery Oil and lots of time. You can jack up one rear wheel, put it in gear, and every few days renew the oil in the cylinders and try turning the wheel that is in the air.
my opinion for what its worth, if you got it for nothing,youve got nothing to lose.if nothing else sell the front loader and back blade.use that money to push a set of sleeves in it.A little plastiguage will tell you if the bearings are right.valves could probably be cleaned up,and if you were lucky and the sleeves werent to bad 10 minutes with a hone works wonders.my opinion only of course but if your going to sell it for parts ,youll probably pull the head anyway.once there you half way to having it fixed!
Ah the dilemma. The basic fact, as much as we don't want to accept it, is that any old tractor needing major repairs will cost more to resurrect than what we can buy a good running example. At that point their real value is in scrap, parts or entertainment. Like a previous poster said you can purchase it and spend another $3,000 to make a $2,000 tractor. So why would someone do a tractor like this? If you enjoy doing this kind of work their is a hundred or so hours of fun in a tractor like this. If you need a tractor like this AND your restoration candidate when finished meets all your needs and your rebuild/restoration is done right you may have 3-4 thousand dollars in a $2,000 tractor but it'll be better than a $2,000 dollar tractor because of the new tires and rebuilt motor AND it might be a better deal in the long run than a newer tractor IF you don't need all the features newer tractors have like live power,hydraulics, power steering, differential lock and remote hydraulics.
i kind of have a thought myself , that if a person REALLY NEEDS a tractor to work with he probably wouldnt be pulling a broken down one out of a field somewhere. shoot,most folks would be far better off simply renting one by the day anyway.that pretty much leaves they like them,or their trying to make money.truth is theres not a whole lot of money to be made in these old things,like you say spending 3000 and selling for 2500 aint a very good money maker.that leaves we do it because we like it,and who can really put a price on that?
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