Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Driveway Erosion Control, ETC.

Lol. That reminds me of going to the gun shows with my buddy and the old farts would have prices higher than retail on old used guns(not collectible).

We'd look at each other and say "Yep, he's here to "show" his guns...not to sell

 

I've seen stuff at auctions bring more than you could buy it new from a dealer. I took some front hanging weights off a J.D. tractor I had to a consignment farm equipment auction, they got about $20 past new price and the auctioneer said "somebody go take the weights off my tractor in the shed" shortly after he said that they sold, I was very happy

 

Yeah, same with the closest dealer to me. They've got some old Fords that have probably been sitting in their back lot since I was in diapers. Not that you couldn't get them running again with a lot of time, effort, & $$, but they want 'running & operating' prices for what are currently tractor-shaped rocks.

 

I hate that. Most gun shows around here are 99% dealers who jack their "regular" price up and put on a "sale" price that is still higher than retail.

 

No doubt, I just want to clarify I was primarily referring to broken old tractors where repairs are difficult due to lack of dealer knowledge or part availability for older models (looking at you Kubota).

Heaven help you if you look at a dealer that has shiny old tin...

 

Yeah, this is on on everything. Rusty, broken, whatever. This dealer basically keeps old stuff on hand and priced high to push you into something newer, I think.

 

Makes me happy, I have a Massey dealer about a half hour away that has been passed down from father to son. They used to have a guy there that knew common 60's MF parts by heart. I'd just tell him what I needed and he'd pull it out in a heartbeat.

He left now, but the owners are still fantastic. There hasn't been a part for my '64 MF that I haven't been able to find.

 

Have you gotten any stabilizer chains yet?

 

I redid a Farmall Cub a while back and one of the brake band pin locators was broke off on the transmission. It was a 1947 model and I didn't want to swap the trans out so I brought it to the shop and decided to fix it.

 

I wish I had your talent, tools and checkbook.

Seriously, that is impressive!!!

 

I am a blessed man, although the checkbook won't get you very far

 

To add to this, and perhaps a bit of a life lesson for myself. My parents always raised me to be respectful, not pass judgement quickly, be kind, help people out when needed or when I can. A little kindness goes a long way.

When I called about my machine, I was quite literally the 8th caller. I talked to the man on the phone, his name is Wallace, and it was his dad's pride and joy machine until it broke (three point lift cylinder snapped off the lift cover, hydraulic case filled with water, blew the control spring out of the hydraulic pump, all of which I rebuilt myself). I didn't offer him anything over the phone, but instead insisted that I drive over and take a look at the tractor so we could talk in person. I was raised on a "handshake." It's your word, you don't break it.

So I cruise over there, the machine was listed for $1000, and that's what I had in my pocket. I talked to Wallace about life, jobs, mistakes we've made. He was in his late fifties, I was 31. We laughed and joked for probably two hours before we even walked to the tractor to look at it. He hadn't allowed ANYONE to come look at it yet, even though I was the 8th caller, I was the most sincere, the kindest, most genuine out of all. Once I laid eyes on the tractor, which was under a carport, I knew I was interested and let him know. I scoped it out for about a half hour, told him it was a beauty.

His father, whom I did not realize was still alive, came riding out on a very new Kubota sub-compact. His name is Jack and he's probably pushing 90yrs old.. He told me stories about how hard he worked the machine but that it was his baby. He wanted to know my intentions with it, if I were going to flip it, fix it, keep it, etc... He asked Wallace what my offer was. I told him that me and my wife just built a house and that I needed a machine to help me maintain 4.5 acres. I told him if it were ok with them, I'd love to buy it and have a flatbed come pull it out. They did not hesitate. I promised Jack that I'd send his son Wallace a picture when I finally got it repaired. I made good on that promise and Wallace said it absolutely made Jack's day to see it working again. The picture I sent him had my 650lb flail mower lifted with the 3pt hitch, the loader up, and obviously running under it's own power.

A little kindness goes a long way. Everyone else had apparently tried talking them down on price before they even saw the machine. For $1000, I couldn't go wrong! We're rolling up on five years this October and I'd buy it all over again.

 

Great story, I was brought up the same way.

Over the past several years I have realized other people weren't though, I recently got who-dooded over a lawn mower I had for sale because I took a guy for his word saying he wanted it and ask me to hold it for him. I held it for him for 2 days before he wouldn't respond to me. I sold it 2 days later to someone else. It makes one question other people but all we can do is go on with life

 

Right on. I find myself getting disappointed in people I have to deal with because I hold everyone to the same standards. I don't have time for flakes. If I say I'm going to buy it, I'm going to buy it. I've had the same issues as you, I try to be as polite as possible, however it irks me when people kick tires and disappear.

 

Made a bottle holder for the Ford, had to make it on an angle so I could bolt it to the joystick control cover.

 

Nice, I've gotta do something similar on my Massey.

 

@ColoradoTJ I found a couple pictures of a fork frame I made for my buddy who runs the powder coat business. He already had some forks and he painted this, he has a Kioti with a quick attach like a skidsteer. Have you found a frame yet?

 

Went through starting issues all spring, diagnosed down to fuel pump. Not something I was ready to tackle in the orchard, so off to the shop with her today. Fun to load a non-running tractor alone...

 

I can't believe I didn't know about this thread.
I'll get pictures when I can but right now we have a few tractors.
New Holland Workmaster 40- 4x4 (I don't like this one, too many electrical issues)
2 IH cubs, both were owned by my grandpa and need lots of work done, one is in much better shape than the other
and a grey market Farm Pro 2430 4x4, we've rebuilt the engine in it and it runs good but the front axle has something binding so we need to fix that.
The new Holland (and our skid steer)
And the Farm Pro

We also have a ford/new holland 555E backhoe that we're using to dig a pond to get dirt for our road and foundation.