3320 rolled and damaged...new purchase

dfkrug · May 2, 2010

Thx for the kind words, Joe.

I would have grabbed that 3320 in a NY minute if it came up in my area.
Since these tractors are so expensive to fix thru the conventional channels,
they only appeal to those of us who want to do it for the fun of it, or
to get a nice tractor for less money. Translation: our labor is "free".

I have now done 9 refurbs of modern tractors....8 were former rental units.
Those who got the finished machines who have kept in touch with me have
had no problems that I am aware of. All units were less than 10 y old at the
time I got them. I prefer the newer stuff with innovative new technologies
incorporated. Especially high on my wanted list now: diesel-powered
skidsteer, any NH with HST, any Kioti with HST. Rolled over CUTs would
be perfect.

Spudland_Dave · May 2, 2010

To add to Joe's comments...this is how I feel about the rebuilding topic..

You gotta decide up front IF you're rebuilding for yourself or to resell...the path taken makes a big difference to a "nit picker" like me. I've seen guys rebuild machines and turn huge profits...but they really fix the minimum "required" and it ends up being more of a Krylon Makeover then anything.
Me, I couldnt sleep at night if everything was "just good enough"...took me a bazillion hours to rebuild my F935 to what you see here, and just recently I finished a 246 Broom...both were for myself, no chance of resale, so I spared nothing...everything is 100% new. Even re-sealed the gearbox on the 246 because it was weeping a tiny bit. To a normal person it would have probably been good enough...a 13.00 seal and I was able to sleep at night...

Same on the F935...I replaced parts that most people wouldnt have....but again, I can sleep at night knowing that everything is exactly how I want it.

For the record...I didnt keep records on what I put into the F935, I've got a rough idea but lets just say that the only reason I could resell at a profit is because I got the machine cheap...

crazyal · May 2, 2010

Nice work. I've dealt with rebuilding cars and trucks in the past and one thing you can never figure is why an insurance company decided to not repair something. For example the adjuster may have decided that the cracks in the gear housing are structural and didn't want the liability of fixing it. Most likely they had a dealer give an estimate. If that dealer was busy and didn't want to mess with it they could have gave a quote that would have sent shivers through your spine.

The point is you just don't know what they were thinking. That and it sounds like you ended up with a lot more time invested into your 'new' tractor but a lot less cash. In the future when something doesn't feel right you know a lot more about it. Finally it is a tractor, not trying to bash anyone who waxes one but tractors are mean to be worked. Paying as much as they want for new makes it real hard to get that first scratch in the paint, etc.

wippster · May 2, 2010

hanson please post your next project this project was neat to view. thanks for all the pictures most people wouldn't spend the time in a project that big!

mfreund · May 3, 2010

Nitro-Fish said:
Did he really say "WAXED" his two non rebuilt four wheel drive tractors? Wow, he must have show tractors, no wonder he doesn't understand the rebuild thing!

Hey now, My wife laughs at me when I wax mine and it certianly is no show tractor.