Buying Advice buying first time

[cfield]

i have never owned a tractor before, and am looking at a 1953 ford golden jubilee. it appears to be taken well care of, just a little faded paint. the description describes a machine with 100% compression in all cylinders, new guages, new brakes, new akle seals, new points, and new lower arm links. the front tires are weighted. the rear tires are filled and have chains on them. this tractor, with a 5ft bushhog, rear scoop, 6ft blade, and boom pole with a 2 hour delivery for 3600. is this a good deal? i have not been able to drive it or see it in person yet. are there other questions i need to ask prior to buying? i have found beat up looking similar models for 2000 and totally restored for 4500, so i think maybe a good fair price for seller and buyer?
thanks

 

[bigbull338]

well i can tell you this an a few other things.you need to go look at it an drive it.make sure it shifts to all gears.make sure the clutch an brakes work.also lift the 3pt with shredder on it to see how it raises an lowers.

 

[wolftree]

As long as you are not asking for this tractor to do the work of a modern tractor, then it sounds good so far. It is 60 years old and will build muscles in your arms and shoulders just steering it. Two things come to immediate mind, oil pressure and worn rear tires to look for. He says new gauges, so it should show 20-40 PSi operating. New rear tires if needed will cost $300-500 each.

I say go and look at it, it sounds reasonable if it is as he states.

 

[murphy1244]

Go with something in the 60s for a live PTO. Post this in the Ford Forum so Sound Guy can chip in. He knows Fords.

 

[cfield]

is there a way to copy post to another forum.

 

[cfield]

what is the shredder you refer to to lift the 3pt with? i am new to looking a tractors, so i dont know all the terminology

 

[murphy1244]

what is the shredder you refer to to lift the 3pt with? i am new to looking a tractors, so i dont know all the terminology

What you call a bush hog is actually a shredder. Bush Hog is a name brand.

 

[pretendfarmer]

I am kind of in the same boat as you. I've never owned a tractor, and seem to be looking at older stuff. After a lot of reading here, I am going to get something newer with live PTO as has been stated. The older ones are cool, but they are outdated.

 

[super55]

The jubilee is pretty much an 8n with a few improvement as in a few more HP and some models did come with a live PTO. They may be 60 years old but they are solid tractors.

Just out of curiosity what task are you planning to do with your future tractor? It's hard to give advice if we don't know what you plan to do with it. If your looking at food plotting or hobby farming on a small scale its a great tractor.

As for the price, It seems like a fair deal if everything checks out on the tractor.

 

[TripleR]

We have an NAA as well as some later Ford 600's, good tractors, but I would not recommend one to someone new to tractors. We bought a well used Case 995 made somewhere in the 60's and it was reasonably priced, has independent PTO and power steering in addition to a ROPS, much better for someone new to tractors and willing to maintain one. There are a LOT of older good models from all makes out there, but be sure to have them checked out by someone knowledgeable on them, I use my brother.

Good luck.