john deere question

[8N Tim]

Picked this up for 260. The engine is free and has good compression. Normally I wouldn't hesitate to fix it but I don't have a lot of extra money right now because of medical bills. Its missing the carb clutch and seat and those all seem to be a rip off ($1000for all). Do I try to fix it up or part it out? Its got good straight metal.

 

[rick deere]

You paid top dollar, not much left to work with.good luck.

 

[8N Tim]

Its worth 450 in scrap I had it priced but I can't in good conscious scrap an old tractor

 

[M-MAN]

Half of scrap ain't top dollar unless you're a jockey. Watch ebay and be patient. It may take a while but you'll find what you need for much less. Some of these guy's selling parts are plum crazy with their prices.

 

[ben70b]

Scrap must be up in your neck of the woods, around here it's lower than its been in years.

 

[rick deere]

scrap is 3.75 a hundred you do the math. An Ajd weighs4900 with clutch times 3.75 comes to 183.50 a Bjd weighs 4000 that comes to 150 i think your a long way off of scrap price.At least in Arkansas

 

[coonie minnie]

I'd be patient and fix it. You don't have much in it at this point. It does have some interesting qualities- that split front pedistal says it likely started life as an AN or AW. The split pedistal with a regular narrow front was not available until after yours was built. That gives you a little leg up on base value.

Where are you located?

 

[RLA]

I disagree with those who say there isn't much there. If your not in a hurry
you'll be able to part this tractor out & get a return on your money. If your
like me you have spent your whole life trying to find enough parts to make a
machine run so parting it out is rather hard. If you have access to another
tractor close to this that has the missing parts it may be doable, but when your
all done you might have a 2000.00 tractor & you'll have near that in it. I say
part it out or sell it whole for a profit......

 

[Mike M]

I agree with those that say hold onto it and look around for good deals on the parts you need. There are good deals to be had off ebay for sure.

 

[D-]

Sounded like a great deal until I got to the missing parts.
A carb will cost more than you gave for the tractor. That's
why it's gone.
I would check the compression before deciding anything. With
missing carb there probably is rust in the cylinders. Maybe
even go ahead and remove the head?
Check closely for cracks or welds.
You might find a mechanically better but rough looking A that
you could use your sheet metal on. A's aren't hard to find.
Apparently the previous owner didn't think the tractor was too
good or he wouldn't have robbed parts off.
Scrap metal isn't worth anything and probably will never be back
with the situation in China.
You might seal the openings and use it for "yard art" til you decide
something. Keep in mind that any way you fix it up you will have more
in it than it's worth.

 

[8N Tim]

I'm in Boulder Colorado everything is worth way more here including old tractors and scrap. Idiots will spend 3 to 5 grand on an unrestored a 8n out here

 

[Mike M]

Or is it the pot farmers with too much money burning a hole in their pockets ?

 

[ss55]

Check what a running or a "restored" tractor sells for in your area. It could cost more to fix that one than to buy a better one in running condition. You will likely be ahead to part it out.

Would the split front pedestal, Roll-A-Matic, rear hubs and sheet metal have any value in your area? You could probably sell the best parts or sell it complete on Craig's List for more than you paid for it it you write up a good description of the best parts and post a lot of good pictures of it.

 

[D-]

Mike
You think he would forget about the A and partner with us on a few loads of 8N's for the pot growers?

 

[8N Tim]

Haha they have to do there farming in basements I get to use a tractor

 

[toot]

I don't understand why people would say part it out? The items you are missing are not hard to find, and yes you must be patient. Also every freakin thing seems to revolve around an restored tractor cost. Are you gonna try to make it an expo masto showpiece?? You said it had compression, I would wait and find a carb, etc check fluids and try to fire it up. Don't tear stuff down or fix whats not broken unless you have to.. Id pay 260 in a heartbeat and find the parts as I could, it aint going anywhere.. take care of your medical bills and do things as your able.

 

[machineryman]

What you did was pay the owner about $100 more than he could have gotten for scrap. Now if you can buy another one with the missing parts at about the same price you might get one going. Actually it will cost you more to even try to restore the A than you can but a restored one. I wouldn't even consider a restoration.

 

[vrietscha]

I would pay double what you did in a heartbeat. Where are you at? If close enough to me, i'd grab it right now and you can make some money.

 

[RandyB(MI)]

The grills will easily bring $300 as straight as they are. The rest is profit. There may be a very good reason (hidden) that that good a tractor has just sit and been picked off of. One would hate to buy all the parts just to hear the death growl or clanky engine. Someone around there knows exactly why it is just sitting. The correct carb for it is the # 71 and they go for lot of $$. I have a perfect rebuilt one for $ 350 to your door. I also have a nice rebuilt # 18 off unstyled "A" but has late "A" rod operated choke so would work just fine on this "A" for $ 295 to your door. Does it still have the magneto/distributer on it?? Usually that's the first to get pilfered. My e-mail is open. 6 of one and half dozen of the other.

 

[westga]

I would hang on to it right now. As for having it running I would be looking for a used carb first. One to rebuild. Just to hear it fire up. Try looking for what you need at some of the engine/tractor show swap meets. I see disassembled john deeres all the time at the shows. Last Friday i got a model b manifold i needed cheap at the Arden NC show.

It really depends on what you want to end up with. A running tractor then work with what you have but if you want a show stopper it maybe cheaper to find another tractor.

Does it need a mag? Looks like its missing.

 

[rick deere]

dont forget about a new seat200,set of tires around 1000-1500 plus.carb 375, clutch 200, still dont know what else your now at 2000 plus and probly than some a running Ajd might bring 1500 in these parts.

 

[Wemedeeres]

(quoted from post at 10:05:52 10/27/15) I'm in Boulder Colorado everything is worth way more here including old tractors and scrap. Idiots will spend 3 to 5 grand on an unrestored a 8n out here

3 to 5 grand for an unrestored 8N!?!...Id let mine go in a heartbeat for that! Up here where I'm at that A would easily be for sale here for $800-$1000, as far as I'm concerned you got a steal, as for now your only out $260 hang on to it until you feel you can put a little money into it, and if you get to the point you can't, well sell it then. This is a fun hobby look around a little, you might be able to find someone close by that restores or collects Deere's, you might be able to sell it to him or better yet he might give you some pointers or even loan you a spare carb just to get yours running. I wouldn't jump on the band wagon to part it out or scrap it yet.

 

[M-MAN]

I've seen every part you need slip by on ebay for $9.99 each + shipping. It's getting harder to find since jockeys are now hunting the low stuff so they can make a huge turn a round but they miss sometimes and you can get lucky.

I would like to know where these guy's that think you overpaid are getting their tractors and at what price? Also how they sleep at night?

There are very few tractors of any brand I woulden't give $260 for in the shape your's is just to make sure it didn't hit a scrapyard. And NO I would not try to yuker them down.