Tractor fire

My wife s Grandfathers tractor caught on fire. It is a Ferguson T0-20 or a TE-20 I don t know the difference. He said it cranked over a couple of times and exploded in flames. He was able to roll it out of the shed and saved the shed. Don t know if the battery exploded or it had a fuel leak or what. Burnt the steering wheel, battery, all the wiring, and the top radiator hose and belt off. One tire had a lug catch on fire but he got that put out with a container of water that was sitting near by as it had rained the night before.
He (grandfather) is getting long in the tooth and said it was just as well to send it to the scrap yard. I don t know what scrap price is on a 2500 lb tractor but I suspect it is low. The tractor may not be worth fixing (I don t know) but I suspect it is worth more that scrap. I seen a few online that were $1500 in running condition. It has been a while since I used the tractor, but the tires had dry rot and the rear axle seals leaked bad enough there were virtually no brakes.


Since I would have to load it and haul it off I figured if might be best to post it online and sell it where it sits. What would be a fair selling price in this condition?

I don't know what it would be worth, but
don't just scrap it. Looks like there are
still lots of useable parts. I'm sure
someone would buy it for parts

that tractor looks quite fixable.I've seen worse.It's Grandpa's tractor. Fix it,you will still have it after he is gone. Maybe he can help.Priceless.Last I heard,scrap was a penny a pound. that's 25 dollars for a 2500 pound tractor.I'll bet the motor and trans are fine,looks jike cosmetic damage.really not too serious. Fix it.

dont scrap it. plenty of good parts to be used, whether on other tractors or rebuilding this one. i'd rather give it away to help keep other tractors running than to scrap it and lose the parts to the smelter
i have been questioned on why i mount a fire extinguisher to both of my N's. you just never know when you will have a mechanical or electrical issue causing a fire

Just a SWAG estimate: $200 to $500 maximum sold as a parts tractor. Most of that is the value of the tires.

Funny you should say a penny a pound. That is what I was getting for scrap back in 1973. Even then, it was barely worth hauling in unless you had a lot.

Tractor is certainly salvageable. If it were my grandfathers, I would restore it just to have after he is gone.

PLEASE! Do NOT scrap that tractor! That is so salvagable with minimal cost. It looks worse than it is.
Power wash it. Inventory visible parts damage. Consider starter, generator, battery and all wiring.
Look at plastic or rubber parts that need to be replaced. How is the radiator? It can be checked. I
would bet that less than $500 for parts and your labor would put it back to operational condition.
I burned a Ford Jubilee 20 years ago much worse than that. It is in the barn with my sprayer on the 3
point ready to spray dandelions.
You might check grandfather's home owner insurance. Mine listed the tractor as my lawn mower (it was)
and settled for $5000. I had only paid $1500 several weeks before. I did let my local mechanic have it
to repair. I was still ahead.

I would fix it. I've repaired MUCH worse. I've used one since 1976 that had all of the tires completely burned off of it.

It could be fixed. I fixed a worse one
without much trouble.
I probably wouldn't fix it.
A TO20 is about the same as a 2N and they
dont bring enough to bother with.

Advertise it for $500 and be willing to negotiate. Someone will buy it for parts or a project.

Looks like an easy fix to me. Somebody will want it.

Agreed. Relatively easy fix. Soft parts
will need replacement, some gaskets and
wiring. My guess fuel bowl was leaking,
find a spark when starting and poof. Has
lots of soot, but probably minimal hard
damage.

Family tractors are always worth fixing.

If you are considering repairing it, start a list of the parts you will need to repair or replace, their prices, and the hours of your time to repair/replace them including your travel and online shopping time:
Steering wheel;
starter;
generator;
distributor;
ignition wires;
battery and cables;
wiring harness;
light bulbs and clean the lenses;
radiator;
hoses;
belts;
fuel tank - I would replace it as it will rust like crazy inside and outside;
Carburetor kit and rebuild;
where any seals, o-rings and gaskets damaged?
all tires still hold air?
prep for paint;
painting;
etc.

If you are looking for a labor of love on a family heirloom - go for it!

If you are looking to flip it at a profit - forget it!

A power wash would do wonders. it doesn't look like a hard fix. Just look at this way. Time for a complete tune up, and now is the time for a 12 volt conversion upgrade / complete rewire. I don't think you would ever regret it.

Amen to fire extinguishers.

Before I got a chance to make the mounts for the fender, I carried it around in a back pack.

You want to make that old man happy? Do what you have to do to get it running again and let him use it. Used parts, recycled parts, whatever it takes, he will really enjoy having it running again and you will know you did him a huge favor. Also, buy him a good fire extinguisher to keep in the shed.

I agree fix it, does not look too bad all external, no internal dammage, worse ones have been put back to work and family means keep it. Wish I could still have ones Grandpa, both sides, Dad and I had that I no longer have.