starter tractor

[Ethan Chamberlain]

i have been trying to find a tractor to start me off in this hobby for a long time now. everything i find is junk or too expensive. i have about 300 to put towards a tractor right now. i have found tractors withen this price range, but they all are on the other side of the country. i am located in montana, and would like to find a tractor that is close to home. what do u guys think?

 

[Bob]

Have you checked out your local Craigslist?

 

[Leland2]

300 will only buy a lot of parts and pieces ,better save a little more .

 

[Ethan Chamberlain]

ya checked craigslist everything i saw on there was 1200 or higher. i dont see where these people who have these tractors come up with the prices.i have tryed to deal with people who want good running tractor prices for junk, stuck, and incomplete tractors. 90% of the people i have talked to are that way. i learned something by talking to these people though, what a tractor is worth and what it sells for are two vary different yalues. i am tired of all the people that are this way!

 

[old popper]

Don't give up, I started with a $100 parts tractor that wound up being repairable back in the '70s. Actually, I used it, a 1950 John Deere B, and a JD 45 loader for snow removal for 22 years. Then I retired it and put the loader on a JD 520. So that leaves me 50 years behind the "cutting edge". At least I have power steering and "live" hydraulics. Good Luck and keep looking.

 

[old]

$300 is scrap price for one so yep all you will or should find for that is junk. But one mans junk is another mans treasure. I have over the years got tractors for as low as $100 and as high as $5000 so you have to keep your eyes open and look for them and also at your price range be open or should I say extra open as to what you find since $300 is less then a new tire now days

 

[kyhayman]

With unprepped farm scrap in the 100 a ton range it doesnt take a very big tractor to run more than 300 dollars. The last 'junkers' I bought ran from 500 for one with a hole in the block and a bad rear tire, to 1000 for one that was running but held together at the torque tube with one bolt, the pressure plate almost ripped in half, and barely running (5 of the 6 sleeves were cracked). I ended up parting both of them.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Ethan, If you are still in high school talk to your FFA or 4H advisor, if your school dosen't have one try a nearby school that does. Failing that try to get hooked up with some old guys club that fixs up tractors, you may take a little abuse at first but if you stick with it they will accept, and probably admire you. Even if you can't buy a tractor you will get to work on them and you will have great supervision and learn much. Plus You will get to know exactly what you want and some one may steer you to a good buy.

 

[Paul Janke]

Where are you in Montana? I'm just west of Bozeman.

 

[dirtyred]

ethan just keep looking!I found a runing cub for 750. and just found one for 200 with some issues(missing parts) but im in ga. I know there aint that many out there. you might have to come to the midwest to find something in that price range but then you got to pay to get it home.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Ethan; for that price range, you could probably start out with an older JD or Cub Cadet garden tractor.. Do your research before any purchases, as certain parts for those machines can also be very spendy..

 

[TimMiller]

I was thinking if you are looking for a small garden tractor you can find them for around your price. But if you are looking for a bigger tractor then it will be harder. I wish my gf's brothers would get into FFA. We have several tractors they could use for projects with just a few parts they would have a show ready tractor. Mainly all they need is a good bath.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You'll understand a whole lot better when you're the seller. For even $1200 it's very hard to find a decent running tractor unless you're looking at a lower end garden tractor. A tractor for $1200 may seem like too much for a piece of junk but it could have lots of good useable or rare parts that if sold seperately could bring much more than the $1200 for the complete tractor. Some people do want too much, that's why you have to shop around. From a selling point, a tractor is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. That's why some tractors seem to be for sale forever. Dave

 

[Ethan Chamberlain]

im in sidney