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Can anyone tell me if I've done something stupid?

J

Jeff McGuire

Member
Hey all,
Long-time lurker here. I just had a rather one-sided conversation with a guy that was formerly my boss about what a piece of S the 6030 is that I am restoring. The guy hates old stuff and thinks it's a waste of time to restore them. The fact the he's my former boss makes it sting a little I guess. Here's what I did, please give me input if I'm an idiot or not.
I purchased a straight '73 6030 for $6,500, excellent motor and tranny. I am going to re-paint, and put in a new interior, plus have re-wired so all the lights and a/c work. I'm adding duals to the 24.5 x 32 singles. When all is said and done I will about about $9000 in it. Is this a bad plan? Kinda new to this stuff..
 
The purpose of a hobby is not for monetary gain.
It is to keep the mind sharp and the body strong.
I know I put way more into my little Allis B than I will ever recover.
 
If you are happy, all that matters.

What color is it? I think I could get a couple different colors from just '6030', so don't know what you are talking about really. Not that it matters, it's what works for you, not others.

--->Paul
 
jeff, i took a peek over on external_link, the 6030's there for sale are going for 10-16.5 thousand. so, having 9 in the tractor you are still way ahead of the game money wise if you ever need to sell it. on the other hand, if you enjoy the tractor and like working on it, why worry what anyone else thinks!!! i am workin on my project super m, by the time i am done with it, i'll rpolly have 8 grand or so in it, waayyyy more than the tractor is worth, but its mine, i like it, and i dont care what anybody thinks!!!
 

So what hobby does your boss think you need to be spending time & money on??? :)

You didn't get hurt at that price. It partly depends on why you bought it - they are not that easy to drive (hard to shift, not a super tight turning radius) - but I think they are pretty collectable.

They didn't make too many of them. One of the JD magazines (either Green or Two Cylinder) had a big write-up a while back on that model along the lines of "last model of the D lineage"... In other words, it's the "grandson" of the long, time-honored line of JD's.

To me, it is THE classic western, wide-open spaces, hard core, old-style wheatland pulling tractor... It is one powerful old mule - just about the last before the Soundgard cab came on the scene and "pansy-ized" everything... ha.

Although, if I'd known as a kid working slave labor for my Dad what I was missing with all the neighbors in Soundgard cabs - I would have probably revolted at the time. ha...

There were a lot of hot, hot, hot old summer afternoons I spent driving that old beast with my feet up on the window ledge because the floor would get too hot even through work boots...

If you pull into a tractor show with it - all the little JD A's and IH M's & H's will all be scurrying for cover!! ha...

I'd keep it in the shed, if you spend much money on the A/C. We could never keep the A/C up - even on the 6030 Dad bought brand-new. The fan motors point straight up on top of the cab, for one thing, and moisture will ruin the motors very quickly.

They look pretty fearsome all "prettied up". I hope you got the engine covers with yours - those are very hard to find.

I wouldn't take $9000 for mine and hope Dad never sells his.


Howard
 
You are not the idiot here.
Look at it this way, you will have a good tractor for way less than half of the cost of a new one. You can redo another one and still be money ahead.
Another factor is, could you justify the cost of a new one for your use?
 
You are not the idiot here.
Look at it this way, you will have a good tractor for way less than half of the cost of a new one. You can redo another one and still be money ahead.
Another factor is, could you justify the cost of a new one for your use?
 
If the customer (which is you) thinks they got a good deal then it was a good deal. No matter what the cost was.
 
Someone asked if I could justify it with my operaton. No, I only have 200 acres and didn't need this. I work in a white collar job and the job pays for living expenses and retirement(hopefully). I just love John Deere tractors! There's no way i could justify it, except the fact that I can run it through my schedule F and deduct everything. Guys you've made me feel much less stupid!
Jeff
Kansas
 
The only problem I see is that you will be money ahead after getting it done, while most of us end up upside down in them. The problem comes if you let our wives know that we should be able to restore 'em and come out ahead. That could create quite a bit of creative explaining on our part to our better halves. So as long as you keep the financial end a secret, you've done well!
 
If it is something that you really want to restore,then do it. I know a man that has restored a 51 Studeabaker. Has more in it than he will ever get out of it.But it is the car he has always wanted and has no plans to sell it.Tell your former boss to shove it and do what you want. If you have a wife. Give her some cash and send her shopping,always worked for me.
 
When it's all said and done you will have more to be proud of than your boss will more than likely ever gain on the golf course. I know people that don't understand why I spend so much money on my cows but I spend way less on them a year than some folks spend chase'n them little white balls around.

Sounds to me like you didn't do bad on it and good luck to you on fix'n it up.

Dave
 
so whats it to him,do what you want and enjoy. people always trying to tell me how to build or modify things.Yet to see any of them try it on there own. latest project from scratch has been mini hay baler all out of wood mainly and will make 4" x 6" by around 10 12 inches long. It has made its first maiden bales as of last weekend.
 
You could likely have the last laugh on that baler.
Make up a bunch of bales and a good chance they will sell like hot cakes at a tourist trap around fall time for decorations.
Can you grow some mini corn for shocks ?
 
Sounds like you've done a good job and come out even and maybe a little money ahead.

First tractor I ever rebuilt, a Super C, my girlfriend came up to survey my progress on a day that I had new sleeves, pitson, rings and bearings all laid out with the rods ready to go back in. After assuring her that I did know how it all went back together, she asked if it was worth it.

I allowed as how when I was done, the tractor wold have a like-new motor, new brakes and rear rims, four new sneakers. Factor that in with what I paid for it and the implements to go with it, and the cost for parts and a few tools, we'd have a tractor that could mow the fields and plow snow for considerable dollars less than what I'd paid for the fancy green lawn-mowin' machine and mounted snowblower that was sittin in the shed.

And that wasn't even discountin' for all the fun I had doin' the work.

I think you made out just fine.
 
He's not jealous, all his stuff is pretty new. He was the guy that trained me at my current job and now retired, that's why it stings a little.
 
Howard,
I'd like to see that article you were talking about. Is it available online? The guy that sold me the tractor says he has the shields but can't find them.
Jeff
Kansas
 
James and I now have 11 JD tractors. Do we need that many? Of course not, but we like them, we use them and James works on them. Plus, they didn't wind up in the scrap heap.

Will we ever get out of them what we paid for them and put in them? Not likely. But how do you calculate the value of the fun we get out of them? I believe business lingo calls that "intangible benefits".

Go for it. You won't regret it.
 
If you've done something stupid, then I think we're all stupid.

I stuck about $10,000 into my 1600, and I didn't even have to buy it- it was Grandpa's and he bought it new in 64.
P1000371.jpg



Donovan from Wisconsin
 
I haven't been able to find one on the web for $9,000. I think you are money ahead. it will only appreciate in price.

so, will you take $9,000 for it and get out of your "mistake" ?
 
Used to drive a 1600 every once and while at my old job. Mostly giving hay rides. Goh, that was a sweet tractor...
 
Used to drive a 1600 every once and while at my old job. Mostly giving hay rides. Goh, that was a sweet tractor...
 
I just gotta replace the rubber torsion springs on the seat- right now it bottoms out so it's a little uncomfortable to drive for very long. The dealer can get them, I just gotta take the time to do it.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
Good thing I have a 42 inch screen to be able to read this messages.

Your old boss can still push your buttoms!

Now if you had that 9 grand in the market last fall you would now have about 5 grand so you are ahead.

Know of a fair size company owner who is staching his wealth in land no matter how poor.
 
Your former boss thinking it is a waste of time and not worth it just prooves that he has no appreciation of antiques and other vintage items. Don"t worry at all what he thinks, it sounds like you got a good deal and your having fun. Enjoy it.
Adrian
 
Everyone spends their money on something different. As long as you don't owe me any money I don't care what you spend your money on. Last week I took the wife on a day trip to Duluth. Spent about $60 bucks for gas in the car, $50 for dinner and drinks, $85 for some things at a craft store. $12 for breakfast, $10 for some suped up coffee drinks and $1.25 for a coke to stay awake on the 4 hour drive home. How will I ever get my money back on that. But as I said as long as I don't owe you any money, It's none of your buiness.
 
Its your money. What's the venture worth to you? When it comes to restoring tractors, folks often don't get the money back if or when they go to sell them, but they'll always have their love and pride, and that's worth plenty. Its up to you, not your old boss.

Good luck and enjoy your one time around this merry-go round of life.

Mark
 
being that that guy is your former boss, that already makes you smarter than him, as my dear ol pappy used to say "dont ever work FOR somebody dumber than you",more often than not followed up by "your going to have some problems finding work" but as to the 6030, your not doing something wrong, the rule used to be dont put more money in something than its worth when you sell it, but these days its a whole new game weather its tractors or trucks or cars, first the new machines dont have the quality or reliability that the old ones do,as most of it is made in china cheap, so when you decide to put money in something you view it as "thats what it costs to get something that will do the job while staying togeather over time", having near 20 grand in a tractor your going to use for the next 20 years when compared to the price of a new one with the same hp, your thousands of dollars ahead of the game, id do it if it were me
 
wont tell you if youve done something stupid. i know i have and will again, probably you have and will again also but do what you want. what you want to do is your business, go ahead and enjoy the time.
just a thought
larry cook
 
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