Flipping 8Ns worth it?

[baughmama]

Just looking at my local Facebook listings I see 10 or more 8Ns in various conditions and prices. So I had a thought of buying one and fixing and selling. But that brings the question, is flipping 8Ns worth the effort? I'm not trying to make a living off of it, just more for a hobby but it needs to make a little profit. Thoughts?

Also aware of the very real danger of not wanting to sell any I fix

 

[Jarrod32]

Just looking at my local Facebook listings I see 10 or more 8Ns in various conditions and prices. So I had a thought of buying one and fixing and selling. But that brings the question, is flipping 8Ns worth the effort? I'm not trying to make a living off of it, just more for a hobby but it needs to make a little profit. Thoughts?

Also aware of the very real danger of not wanting to sell any I fix

Well, given that you see 10 of them out there available, there may not be much of a market for them, even when you get the fixed up.

 

[HardLuck7]

Most of them are at ridiculous prices as opposed to what they actually sell for.
As a rule of thumb, they're worth what somebody with cash is willing to pay.
In most cases, supply exceeds demand.
Condition of tires is the main obstacle.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

It may not work like you think. One of the big sales features of the Furguson System is that it prevents flipping.

 

[Buffalo Pete]

Gotta remember that many of these tractors are pretty wore out at this point, unless they have been actively maintained thru their life. How far do you go into a rebuild to make a better, or great tractor, and still only end up with a tractor worth $3-4000 rebuilt & polished up. Rear tires are also a big challenge. If they are not in decent shape, that's a big investment.

 

[Kirk-NJ]

IMO ain’t worth the time and money you will spend to make very little profit. The market right now is not good for old tractors.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I went down that path about 20 years ago.
Later 3 cylinder Ford tractors though.
Bought, sold, parted out, restored, etc.
I do have 3 pretty nice old Fords but if I had been smarter I coulda had a brand new, 60 hp John Deere or Kubota by now.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Just looking at my local Facebook listings I see 10 or more 8Ns in various conditions and prices. So I had a thought of buying one and fixing and selling. But that brings the question, is flipping 8Ns worth the effort? I'm not trying to make a living off of it, just more for a hobby but it needs to make a little profit. Thoughts?

Also aware of the very real danger of not wanting to sell any I fix

Parting them out is probably a better busibess model.

TOH

 

[baughmama]

It may not work like you think. One of the big sales features of the Furguson System is that it prevents flipping.

 

[Welding man]

In my area you can buy a rough, running 8n for 1500 bucks, You buy a battery, tune it up, rebuild the carb, put a quickie paint job on it and you might get 2500 out of it. You have made 0 for your time. Everyone wants a 4wd diesel compact.

 

[Brown David]

No experienc with the N's but I do buy non-running Fergusons and flip them.

Have to buy cheap, 500 bucks is my limit for a non-runner if the tires are decent. It usually takes a while to move them too so they get used while I have them.

Can't put much money into them or any profit is gone.

The last one I flipped I bought for 500 bucks + 50 bucks for a rollback to haul home. It had a heavy but rough back blade with it that I quickly sold for 250 bucks so I had a 300 dollar tractor.

Got it running with stuff I had on hand, had it here and used it for three years and sold it for 1800 bucks. Not too bad IMO.

Bought this one recently. Again, 500 bucks for non-runner.

Got it running, took the worn out chains and uglyass loader off of it and now have a decent working tractor for very little expenditure post purchase.

I'm looking for a better hood/grill as this one is beat/cut up considerably. Someone cut doors in the top for gas fill and radiator access.

Probably ask around 2000 bucks when put up for sale.

Not a get rich quick scheme by any means but not a losing prospect either.

 

[Factotum]

They seem variably priced around here too. 2k might get you a running machine or a jewel in the rough. They all have issues, some worse than others. My $1500 '51 was mostly complete with hat rims, a very rusty hood, tires dry but not seriously cracked. It's had a good going over but not rebuilt as it runs well. Looks nice now that it's painted up. Made my version of the foot feed and I'm in the process of building a front snowplow for it. I doubt I could make any money on it, but that wasn't the idea. It's been fun tinkering and fixing up stuff. I'm always looking for a small project to keep me busy, which is more important than the monetary gain as long as I'm not losing. Mostly, motorcycles, dirt bikes, lawn tractors, and other motorized outdoor equipment are all good projects.

 

[KCTractors]

Just looking at my local Facebook listings I see 10 or more 8Ns in various conditions and prices. So I had a thought of buying one and fixing and selling. But that brings the question, is flipping 8Ns worth the effort? I'm not trying to make a living off of it, just more for a hobby but it needs to make a little profit. Thoughts?

Also aware of the very real danger of not wanting to sell any I fix

If you like to work for nothing or lose money, then do it. These after market parts are mostly junk. I have been flipping the small Fords and Fergusons since 1993 and it is getting harder every year to peddle them. The older generation is disappearing and they were the people buying those tractors. I was doing it to keep myself busy.

 

[Eman85]

Selling parts is easier and more profitable. Easy to ship parts all over the world.

 

[Brown David]

Selling parts is easier and more profitable. Easy to ship parts all over the world.

No doubt.

I like bringing them back to life though, if they're not too far gone.

 

[KCTractors]

No doubt.

I like bringing them back to life though, if they're not to far gone.

That definitely is a good feeling. I hate when I have to part them out. I only parted out a Allis Chalmers WD, two Ferguson 20's, one Ford 8N, a Ford 6000 and the one I felt the worst about was a Ford 4000 row-crop with a wide front. The Select-O-Speed transmission was bad, gas tank was crap as will as all the rubber.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

I went to a beekeeping meeting years ago and a fellow sat down next to me and asked me if I wanted to buy a tractor. I said, "hell no"!
Then, he told me about all of the implements he would throw in and the total price was $1000.00.
Unfortunately, I took the bait and learned a very hard lesson.
I gave away the JD disk because it was junk due to poor design. Gave the blade away to someone that really needed it and sold the mower for scrap.
I nicknamed the 8N, "The Junk Pile". Every single system and mechanism on the tractor was / is either broke or badly worn beyond repair.
It has had one job and only one job. It rakes hay. Then, it sets for another year until it is time to rake again.
There sre AT LEAST 20 things still needing repair on The Junk Pile. I'll get to them when I have absolutely nothing better to do.
Be careful with your money!!!
View attachment 90492View attachment 90492

 

[GChief]

I went to a beekeeping meeting years ago and a fellow sat down next to me and asked me if I wanted to buy a tractor. I said, "hell no"!
Then, he told me about all of the implements he would throw in and the total price was $1000.00.
Unfortunately, I took the bait and learned a very hard lesson.
I gave away the JD disk because it was junk due to poor design. Gave the blade away to someone that really needed it and sold the mower for scrap.
I nicknamed the 8N, "The Junk Pile". Every single system and mechanism on the tractor was / is either broke or badly worn beyond repair.
It has had one job and only one job. It rakes hay. Then, it sets for another year until it is time to rake again.
There sre AT LEAST 20 things still needing repair on The Junk Pile. I'll get to them when I have absolutely nothing better to do.
Be careful with your money!!!
View attachment 90492View attachment 90492

We have one of those... it's does what it needs to do.

 

[Btzj02]

I now have four old tractors. All four now have more money into them than I will ever get out of them.

 

[Kirk-NJ]

Have this 1940 9n runs and drives for $1000 on marketplace for 2 months now. Can’t even get somebody to come see it