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So, has the dust settled?

Not me that's all I farm with.I'll take 20 $4000 tractors over one $80,000 tractor any time.One of the great benefits of a lot of tractors is not having to hook and unhook
equipment all the time,as I get older that's a big deal for me and it saves a lot of time.
 
I've been going to ask the question - if you put a lot of money into an old tractor to completely restore it was there ever a time you could get your money back if you sold it. I've always put a lot more in mine than I could ever resell it for and mine aren't even restored - just put back into working condition. Anyway if the price of the old guys tanks then I guess I will own a few more before I die.
 
I always thought that any money spent on old tractors should be worked back out of them. Now I have to ask, if your hobby is fishing, hunting, or building model railroad trains in your basement, can you get your money back out of your bass boat, decoys, or model trains. Maybe a little, but you are sure to loose some value. If your aim is to make money, then go into business selling things that people just can?t stand to go without. You know like bass boats , gators, hunting equipment, tools , etc.
 
Me and a friend were looking at old tractor. The owner said he had to have 1500 what he had in the tractor. My friend said you surely don't think you can brake even on any old tractor. We bought it for 1300.
 
"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]One of the great benefits of a lot of tractors is not having to hook and unhook[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Agree.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]as I get older that's a big deal for me and it saves a lot of time.[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Agree.
 
Not to mention when the one tractor breaks down...you're done! When one of 20 breaks down, just hop on another one!
 
It helps if you start out with a good,handy nimble tractor,,not a noisy big old JD,,,,(lol)
a277618.jpg
 
That's what I like to do. I am using 5 different tractors and working on a 6th. If I do have a breakdown the tractors and implements interchange and I keep going.
 
I did that years ago, saw it coming around 05. My reasons for selling them are my own, dont want to start a color war here. The ones I have now are either working tractors or family owned tractors with sentimental value.
 
It's like I told the wife when I had to take the handles off some of these plows to get them up there,then put them back on. "I'll never take them down,that'll be somebody else's problem some day.".
a277619.jpg
 
Me too, I sold down in the same time frame when it was obvious the bubble was past, maybe a year or two later than you.

What Dean said is mostly true, just because some dont like it isn't a reason to trash talk him IMO.
 
I agree with owning enough old iron to always have a spare or two. Problem starts about December 1st. when its time to start pulling them in for winter repairs. Lots of tractors equals lots of repair bills. I don't hunt, fish, smoke, drink, chase other men's women, or give my money to the Indians, so as long as I don't put my family in financial jeopardy my wife allows me to spend money on this farm. Man has to have something to be into or he will go nuts trying to hoard up money for later in life, that his kids will only fight over when he is gone. Al
 
I never thought of old tractors as an investment. I invest in my money in real estate and the stock market. I own old tractors because I can work on them. They are useful working girls. They have to be gassers, because my lungs can't handle diesel. I think my old girls will still be around long after I'm gone.
 
I have a David Brown 780 that's been hooked to a NH 256 rake for over 10 years.When I'm baling I try to have a backup tractor and baler hooked up ready to go if something
happens to tractor or baler I'm using.
 
I'm constantly looking for bargains in tractors and equipment.I'd say about every tractor I own I could sell for more money than I paid for them,unless its a tractor I bought to pull parts off and even then many times after I pull the parts I want the scrap price covers what I paid for it.The trick with running older equipment is to buy when there is a bargain and don't wait until something is needed to buy.If you have to have something it'll always cost more.
 
David,
I could say the same thing. I hate mowing lawn with a riding mower. I enjoy mowing with old tractors like I used as a kid, better ride and cut faster.

Why doesn't everyone mow with old tractors?
 
"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]It helps if you start out with a good,handy nimble tractor[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Agree.

I did, but it has a an occasional steering problem.

a277624.jpg" width="650"


a277625.jpg" width="650"


 
Trick is to be able to judge what a tractor needs to make it usable which is what I'm looking for with old tractors and equipment.A lot of money spent on old tractors isn't necessary to make them good solid working units.Paint jobs are number 1 on that list.A lot of people will tear into a motor when it wasn't necessary.Also I stick with just a few different brands mostly so I can
pick up parts machines cheap.Just bought a non running AC D17 Series IV,I have a motor off a combine that will go right in it that a friend of mine that runs a scrapyard gave me a few years ago.I'll have less than 1/2 the money in that tractor when I get it running and usable than they usually sell for.I only buy in the first place if its a bargain price.
 
I bought mine to use and any extra value they have gained is just a plus. Most of mine will not be sold untill I am gone. I do see that the next generation is more than likely never going to have the interest or the extra money to collect what my generation has. Tom
 
I work on tractors for a living. I live in a area where just about everyone I know has a least one tractor. Most have at least two or more I have 10, the newest one is a 1980 model. We do not have any very large farms and by they same token there are not very many tractors over 100 HP. Most are 90 or below. But none of the farmers in my area want a new tractor, They give too many problems, no dealer support and if it has a computer, independent guys that are not dealers can't work on them. I hear it all the time , What do I do if I get 50 acres of hay on the ground and my new computer tractor lays down and I can't get a dealer to come and work on it for a week? Some of my neighbors have bought new tractors and traded them back in on older ones. We had 3 Kubota dealers in my area at one time, now we have none. The only John Deere dealer left has 22 stores and is very independent. The New Holland dealer is close to 80 miles away. My business working on old tractors is very good, and I don't see the new stuff taking over anytime soon, in my neck of the woods.
 
"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]When one of 20 breaks down, just hop on another one![/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Exactly.

<iframe width="424" height="238" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hpPEJF90vXs" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
One reason I run all 06/56 IH is everything fits. Doesn't matter if it's the SM or 1456 or anything between. Every thing fits.Wts,pto hydraulics,hitch specs........
 
I mow with a 66 year old tractor with both a King Kutter finish mower and a Bush Hog cutter.
My back kills me on a zero turn or a yard tractor. Plus the small ones spin too much on our hills.
Richard in NW SC
 
Because my Ferris ZT does a prettier job, faster, is more comfortable, and more shade with less ground compaction even though I have 5 tractors and 3 mowers to fit them that could do the job, that used to do the job.
 
If You enjoy the tractors and can keep up with them why make a move? Nice when a hobby can double as a financial investment but there certainly no guarantee that will happen or if does then that the trend will hold going into the future. Flip side of the coin is waiting for a buyer to come along to purchase tractors at the high water price now that the market has shown it is past peek for most model tractors. There are not going to be buyers that will pay historically high prices each and every time an old tractor hits the market. Unless you are worried about eating or having fuel for heat this winter enjoy the tractors.
 
I work on tractors for a living. I live in a area where just about everyone I know has a least one tractor. Most have at least two or more I have 10, the newest one is a 1980 model. We do not have any very large farms and by they same token there are not very many tractors over 100 HP. Most are 90 or below. But none of the farmers in my area want a new tractor, They give too many problems, no dealer support and if it has a computer, independent guys that are not dealers can't work on them. I hear it all the time , What do I do if I get 50 acres of hay on the ground and my new computer tractor lays down and I can't get a dealer to come and work on it for a week? Some of my neighbors have bought new tractors and traded them back in on older ones. We had 3 Kubota dealers in my area at one time, now we have none. The only John Deere dealer left has 22 stores and is very independent. The New Holland dealer is close to 80 miles away. My business working on old tractors is very good, and I don't see the new stuff taking over anytime soon, in my neck of the woods.
 
That is a JD Model 272,,6 Ft wide.A friend of my brothers here in NJ Had it hooked up to a real big tractor.The belt burned up and the one pulley went bad.The fellow gave it to my brother ,my brother gave it to me.Believe it or not,,I got a pulley from JD Dealer and fixed it on my own.I have used it a lot in PA For many years now.
 

Nope tinkered on the 1944 Model A I resurrected last night , just readjusting a few things to my liking.
& thinking how much more will need to be done to apply the finishing paint job. Pleased with the way it runs
& Drives/performs this is all after I had heard from MANY, was that POS will Never Run Again.
 

Need a Like Button! For that comment.

I've heard Why do ya need so many tractors?
Do these Old Deere's break done that often?
Nope , don't need to hook & unhook as much
.
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm???

I remember no "dire warning."

Rather, I remember asking opinions, all of which are appreciated.

In any event, the barn started turning orange several years ago with respect to users.

Because (most of) the old machines are no longer being used and still require routine maintenance, e.g., batteries, coolant, etc., it looks like advancing age and space limitations will result in continual "cashing out" of my old iron.

Dean
 
Bingo.

I have several users connected to various implements.

Rarely, do I change implements aside from spring/fall.

Dean
 
Pumpman ...... after reading your reply ..... " I don't hunt, fish, smoke, drink, chase other men's women" I can come to only one conclusion. You lead a pretty boring life .... ha !!!
 
My back hurts watching people bounce in a ZTR.

Your ztr might be faster, but when it comes a looking good it's hard to beat my two 6 ft woods mowers.
 
Headed for a consignment auction this Sat. They got a 3010 gas with loader. Might bring it home along with the 4 row cultivator.
 
You won't believe what I've invested in seats, springs, tires and weights in an attempt to get a soft ride on my equipment; tractors and mowers. However, not all bad. What's spent no way reflects what back surgery would cost and that's with MC picking up most of the bill.....not to mention the physical anguish involved in the event.
 
"Because my Ferris ZT does a prettier job, faster, is more comfortable, and more shade with less ground compaction"

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
You don't even have to run a ZTR faster than your tractor to cut your time in half.
Simply not backing up and not having to maneuver around obstacles will do it.
Sure, a cheap ZTR will beat you up. Don't buy a cheap box store mower.
 
"if you put a lot of money into an old tractor to completely restore it was there ever a time you could get your money back"

Yes there was, and sometimes it still happens. With patience.
They are a hobby for me. I make enough money to pay for the hobby.
Not getting rich off them, that's for sure.

But when people do a "lipstick on a pig" type paint job and call it restored, then
potential buyers look at a truly well done paint job, their opinions on value change.

A quick rattle can paint job may be enough to get an inexperienced buyer
to bite, but if you want to sell one for a higher price, it needs to be done right.
Or for some buyers, not at all.
I've spent a lot of time un-doing those crappy paint jobs.
 
Sounds good to me, at 36 years old I?m still buying them, at a rate of about one a year, the wife and kids and I enjoy them. As values drop I may be able to afford to acquire two a year!
 
(quoted from post at 02:06:22 08/22/18) Not me that's all I farm with.I'll take 20 $4000 tractors over one $80,000 tractor any time.One of the great benefits of a lot of tractors is not having to hook and unhook
equipment all the time,as I get older that's a big deal for me and it saves a lot of time.
Click to expand...

I tell ya, having a dedicated mowing tractor that has that left on it about 80% of the time, is just fantastic. Wheels set right, and just ready to go. Leave the other tractor(s) for shuttling other equipment around.
 
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