Went to look at a John Deere model A

Brent Zappe · Oct 9, 2014

Went up to Bishop this last weekend to look at a John Deere MOdel A. My Dad was almost ready to buy it for a price of 2,500.00. It looked clean and painted up but as I looked closer it had not been runing for some time. The man said it ran but he could no longer have the straight to start it up. AS I looked at this tractor I notice that fuel lines to the starting tank was missing. The main tank had old fuel in it and smelled like it was seating for a long time. He then told me that he had bought it for yard art but the tractor was to big. As I talked to him I found out he had no knowage on how to start or run this tractor. I tried to start it up the best I knew how but could not get it to run. I then offerd the man a price of 1,400.00 for it but he still would not take my offer saying to me when I bought from the owner he stated it ran. Did I offer to little of a price? Should I have taken his word that it ran? Even though I have to clean it up run fuel lines and other misc. work to this JOhn Deere A? The pictures look like a nice tractor but up close it needs alot of work.It s amazeing what pictures can hide in an add.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 9, 2014

The price of any tractor depends on how much you will give. Depends on if you are trying to flip it and turn a profit.
To the seller its worth his asking price, to the buyer its worth your final offer.
As its been stated dozens of time"LOCATION" is a determining factor on price, you know, Supply and Demand.

D beatty · Oct 9, 2014

I would pass on it. For what he wanted you could find a good one running. I wood keep looking you will find a good one.

Bryce Frazier · Oct 9, 2014

I don't think that was a very bad price. For something that isn't running, it is always a gamble...

I've got a 1940 John Deere A. Very early in serial production, and it is a hand start..

Turns over, and has compression, but no fuel lines, and it will have to have tires! $1200.. Im in North ID. Bryce

Steve@Advance · Oct 9, 2014

Might check back with him in a month or so, tell him your offer still stands if he still has it.

old harv · Oct 9, 2014

I think you have no reason to feel bad. It's your money, you have the right to spend it as you see fit. The guy obviously doesn't know what he's talking about. If the tractor was running when he bought it, then the fuel lines would not be missing. "Running once upon a time" is infinitely different than running right now. All junkyard wrecks were running once upon a time. He is trying to get you to pay for his mistake. Another question, why would he buy a running tractor for yard art? Are there not lots of non running tractors for that? I think he's full of bull doo-doo.

Mike Aylward · Oct 9, 2014

From the way it sounds I believe you should be thankful he didn't take your $1400 offer. That seems very generous for a non-running A tractor to me. Don't let nicer paint fool you. I would rather buy one in it's working clothes than all "dolled up". Mike

Meangreen · Oct 9, 2014

The missing fuel lines to the starting tank isn't that big of a deal because when most guys switched to strictly using gas they got rid of the 3 way fuel valve. If was bought as "yard art" first thing is has it been sitting outside and was the exhaust covered, if not engine more than likely has water in it.

In my area (Iowa) you can get a really good A for $2500 with lots of good running ones under $2000. I would have offered $1000 myself, but it sounds like someone got in over their head and they want to make some money to get out of it. I see some of those tractors around myself and usually in a short conversation with the owner you find they have little to no knowledge of what they have, but it's old so it must be worth a lot. Unfortunately there were so many JD A & B & Farmall H & M produced that unless there is something really special about them they are kind of the bottom of the barrel pricewise for antique tractors.

Just my 2 cents

Meangreen · Oct 9, 2014

I reread your post and if the current owner has never heard it run - then you better run like the wind away from that tractor. I would never take someone's word on a non running tractor.

Mike (WA) · Oct 9, 2014

As others have said, your $1,400 offer was maybe a little generous, but certainly in the ball park. He just needs to find another sucker, like he was. Keep your eye on it- he may eventually get more realistic. There are too many running A's out there for him to make a big score with a yard art special.

RLA · Oct 9, 2014

I paid 300.00 for one just like the one you
offer 1400.00 for... But I knew when it ran
last 5/30/1985..

buickanddeere · Oct 9, 2014

For that money you can look around and find a running 620 with the duplex carb, live pto, live hydraulics, power steering and full three point hitch capability.
Run, run away.

Brokenwrench · Oct 9, 2014

A non-running tractor that was bought for yard art would scare me. I think $1400 was more than generous. This whole situation sounds like a can of worms that was ready to pop open on you. Thankfully you were with your dad and he still has his $2500 in his pocket.

I took a friend with me to look at a pontoon last spring. I have no idea how the guy pulled off taking such nice pictures to send me. When I got there I knew right away I wasn't interested.

A lot of dry rot, one pontoon leaked, and you could see the lower unit had been off the motor, probably more than once. The guy bragged it up, how great it was. He pulled his family behind it skiing, the whole bit. He was asking 12k for it. The pictures he sent looked to be in the ballpark.

I told him politely that I would pass, he literally begged me to make an offer. I didn't and shook hands and left. When we got in the truck my friend burst out laughing. He said that was the first time he had ever seen me too scared to make an offer for fear the guy would accept it..

NNP · Oct 9, 2014

anything Deere is expensive here too,
but as described on an A or B, your 1400 was more than enough.
Decent tires, and the engine free, I might have took a chance at 1200.
2500? no way, even here, that will get you one that runs well (might be ugly with so-so tires, but I could drive it on the trailer)

as far as a sellers words.
always nice to talk tractors, but when buying, I nod politely here and there........but I'm not really listening to anything they say.....

kj(seil) · Oct 9, 2014

please direct me to one of those a 620 "here" in good condition with good tires and paint will push 5grand

Animal · Oct 9, 2014

Is this from the Dude who does not want to come off the money for a head set?

DaninKansas · Oct 9, 2014

http://wichita.craigslist.org/grd/4656574363.html

John Deere A that "looks" good.

http://wichita.craigslist.org/grd/4662107653.html

John Deere A ready for parades for $2700.

rick deere · Oct 9, 2014

I have a running 1937 A that's ugly needs restored for 2100

2underage · Oct 9, 2014

You won't buy many JD "A" tractors around here for $1400 or for $2500 either. I have sold a few tractors in my day and I have seen many would be buyers who expect to get a $5000 tractor for the price of a salvage yard one. What you have described is an inexperienced seller who did not know how or did not wish to shine up his tractor or fake a story for you.
If I was offering a tractor for $2500 and you offered me $1400 I would soon tell you where to go and add a "DO NOT COME BACK"

You had a rare day, you met an honest man.

Kent Petersen · Oct 9, 2014

that may be all they bring in Canada but most that i have seen or bought up there are just about junk i will not by any up there now

Royse · Oct 9, 2014

I paid $1000 for my 1946 A.
The tin was just fair, a few dents, hole cut out around
the muffler, etc but it had decent tires and it ran.
Normally can't find a good runner much under $2000 though.
There were two non-runners on CL last month for $1000/pair.

C. Amick · Oct 9, 2014

Price depends on location. Here in the east it would probably bring at least $1,400. Out in the midwest, tractors of this type seem to go for less.

buickanddeere · Oct 9, 2014

(quoted from post at 14:12:00 10/09/14) please direct me to one of those a 620 "here" in good condition with good tires and paint will push 5grand

Still cheaper than purchasing the A and getting it to run. market for antique tractors is dropping rather than increasing. Collections are being sold off .

Went to look at a John Deere model A

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