Jubilee find

Hi guys, looking to buy my first old Ford tractor and have found and drove a Jubilee selling here locally near my place in Oklahoma. It's rather dirty and in need of paint and some restoration, but it has a good running engine that doesn't smoke, a Sherman Combo trans, new PTO shaft and good functioning PTO, and a 12 volt conversion. It's not much to look at, but it seems sound and I think I could do a restoration to it and make it a good choice for my 10 acres and brush hog for under my budget. Here's a couple links to videos I put up on Vimeo. Nicely finished Jube's around here go for $3500 all day long, at least on Craigslist they do.
Let me know what y'all think. Oh he wants $2595.

https://vimeo.com/156049157

https://vimeo.com/156049709

Jeff

For a 60+ year old tractor condition and location are everything. Tires are a major expense and your pictures don't show their condition.

At one time somebody spent a fair amount of money on the tractor. The Sherman transmission seems to be a very desirable option to some folks and will add a lot of value if it works. The picture shows the tractor has a Monroe ez ride seat which is another desirable option. The picture also shows power steering has been added to the tractor at some point in time (the picture doesn't show the actual pump--if it is still there). This is also a desirable option.

In Indiana the asking price sounds a bit high for a basic Jubilee tractor. You should be able to buy a 600 or 601 series for that amount of money and the later series tractors offer some improvements. The price sounds more reasonable if you have a need or desire for the optional transmission, seat, and power steering (assuming that they work.)

Pay close attention to the condition of the tires and whether the steering and front end seem "tight". The Sherman combination transmission and power steering were more frequently added when a tractor was used with a loader. Heavy loader use can put a lot of wear on the front end and steering.

In my area the majority of Craigslist tractor ads seem to be from tractor jockeys. They buy cheap and advertise high in an attempt to catch an eager and uninformed buyer. Asking prices aren't the same as selling prices.

Thanks for the response Tom,

The tires are fair to good, the rears have some weather cracking, but nothing too deep.

The trans seems to work well and clutch is good in operation. I hear ya on the market for tractors. He wants too much, but many people on Craigslist do. I have a list compiled of items needing attention to convey to him if I make him an offer.

Prices here in Oklahoma are higher than a lot of places I guess.

I'm willing to recondition the right one though. Good father and son project.

"Nicely finished Jube's around here go for $3500 all day long, at least on Craigslist"

That's what they ask for them. How many actually sell for that?
I don't see power steering on that tractor. Did I miss that?
Jube's didn't have PS, I added it to my Jube that has a loader.

I thought I paid too much for my Jube with the loader at $1800.
They delivered it for that with an extra manure bucket and bale spear.

Turns out I was wrong. I wouldn't sell it for $3000 now.
It's a great tractor. Probably the most used one around here.
It is ugly as sin but that doesn't matter to me for use.
I have other tractors that are pretty. LOL

Two of my Jube's pictured here.

Nice! What silver coating did you use on the manifold and exhaust pipe?

Is that, by chance, a Kelly loader?

It is VHD high temp header paint. So far it has held up well.

Wayne, the best I can tell, yes it is a Kelly.
I had a hard time figuring out what it was after I bought it.
Then I just kind of let that go and used it as intended. LOL

Here's a picture of what was left of the tag.

I also replied on the little N Club forum.
I don't see PS on that tractor either.
But they're not hard to steer unless you put
a loader on them.
I do think it is an NAA/Jube.
You can kinda see the hyd block off plate
under the seat at the end of the second
video. Cant see if there is a big nut on the
outside of the axle hub. Looks like it has
the 600 style hyd pump on it which is a
plus. New muffler. Rears 60% plus = good.
You don't say if the brush mower comes with
it for that price. If it does then I would
buy it at that price. If not I would try to
beat him down a little.
It's a LOT more tractor than an N!

Ultra, The brush hog does not come with it. Plus it's a 6 ft, which I've read differing opinions on whether the Jube should pull a 5 ft or 6 ft. The mower's in pretty bad shape (holes in the top deck).

Thanks for responding, the more feedback I get, the better.

Are you acquainted with the hyd pump drive assembly on that Kelly loader? Had one here for a while. I'd have never seen one like it before. Kinda like it!

I must of been having brain farts when I saw the power steering. That seems to be happening more frequently since I joined the Medicare crowd several years ago. I also just noticed that the pictures you posted were videos. I hadn't played them. After watching them this morning I noticed that the tractor also had the cyclone pre air cleaner. This also adds a bit of value. The tractor didn't have an overrunning PTO coupler/clutch. If you buy the tractor, you should add one for safety sake. (The clutches of this vintage disengaged the engine from the transmission, but did not disengage the transmission from the PTO. Without an overrunning coupler, the inertia of the bush hog will continue to move the tractor forward even after the clutch is disengaged.) The original PTO shaft had 1 1/8" splines. Later tractors (as well as most PTO shafts) have 1 3/8" splines. The picture didn't show an adapter so I'm guessing that the recent PTO shaft replacement was with a 1 3/8" shaft. That is another plus.

Most of the other posters seem to be saying that the asking price is a tad high if the bush hog isn't included, but you have probably noticed that there aren't a heck of a lot of cheaper tractors in decent condition advertised on Craigslist. The Jubilee's and NAA tractors often seem to fetch a slightly higher price than the previous model (8N) or later model (600). The increased price may be justified from a collector's standpoint, but the later models have more utility. The Ford Jubilee or later 600, 601, or 2000 models are probably the right size for what you want. The biggest option as far as collector value on the tractor you are considering is the Sherman combination transmission. However, it doesn't really add much utility. The auxiliary transmission will give you faster and slower ground speeds, but changing the ground speed also changes the PTO speed. (e.g., without the auxiliary transmission the Jubilee will move to fast for use with a rototiller attachment. A step down transmission will reduce the ground speed, but the PTO speed will also be slowed down too slow for the rototiller to properly function.)

If you could find a newer tractor (601, 2000, or even a 600) for about the same price, it would better suit your needs. If you are planning on keeping the tractor for a long time you might want to consider whether you want to start with a tractor that is 60+ years old when you buy it. In theory the design of older gas tractors makes them easy to work on. In practice you encounter bolts and screws that have rusted in place and moving parts that show the effect of 50 to 75 years of wear. Tractors made in this century have a lot of advanced features and advanced prices. Smaller tractors made in the 80's have a lot of the advanced features, but they were imported and parts are becoming difficult to find and expensive.

Tom, thanks for your thoughts on this.

The main factor in choosing an old tractor is budget. It always comes down to money it seems. I've got $3500 to play with to buy a tractor and brush hog. That doesn't buy much, I'm aware, but that's the pickle I'm in. I've got some time and don't need to make a quick decision, so I'm looking around at various options other than just this Jube. There's a couple of Jubilee's locally for $3500 that have new tires and paint and are all cleaned up. I'm going to look at them as well, but I figure I'm capable of renovating (not necessarily restoring) one on my own and can address its immediate needs for less than buying one all prettied up.

I am enjoying the process of shopping immensely though

Don't despise the newer tractors.
Every successive generation was better than the last one.
Not sure where in OK you are but here are a couple to think about.
Sorry about no live links. You will have to c/p.
Decent 600. Seller is incorrect about live pto though.
http://tulsa.craigslist.org/grd/5447478605.html

These are my my favorite tractors. Mid 60s 2000/3000. This one looks a bit rough but you never know.
https://joplin.craigslist.org/grd/5457187720.html

Here is a 700. Not real common. It's a NF though. Some guys like them. Some don't.
https://joplin.craigslist.org/grd/5392305562.html

861?? Would have live pto which is nice but not a must have.

https://springfield.craigslist.org/grd/5456433859.html
By the way, if someone wanted an oddball here's a 4000 RC LP.
https://lawton.craigslist.org/grd/5406879820.html

Thanks Ultra. I'm going to go look at that 600, as it's only about 10 miles from me.