beer_me said:
So................................what am i looking at?
Im looking for a winter project for next year and im not new to fixing old junk, thats pretty much how i buy the toys i have. Would this be a lost cause or does it sound like a worth while project?
What would something like this be worth? If i get it cheap enough I have no problem putting a couple thousand $$ and some time in front of the wood burner working on it.
Worst case scenario, you have an engine with a core value of $500 to $1000, and associated tranny, rear end, hydraulic, and sheet metal that can be parted out for another $1000. I doubt EVERYTHING went bad just sitting, unless it was outside in the elements. In any event, you have AT LEAST $1500 worth of parts, maybe quite a bit more.
In pristine condition, everything fixed RIGHT, that tractor would bring $5000 to $6000 here. So lets work backwards from there. If the engine is locked up, and in need of overhaul, figure $2000 off the top. Injector pump needing rebuild or replacement? $1000 will evaporate right before your eyes. New clutch? Figure another $400 if done with an engine overhaul, or $800 if the engine isn't already out of the tractor. Hydraulic system rebuild, typically $400 or $500, if it needs a new (re-man) pump, as much as $1500. Tires can be a deal breaker. At todays prices, a good set of 13.6X28's will exceed $750, front 6.00X16's, maybe $125, add for tubes another $100 for all 4. Or, luck on to a set of used tires at a good price and save a pocket full. Paint, wiring, gauges, incidentals, maybe another $500+
So, it would be EASY to sink in the neighborhood of $4000 into bringing it up to a $6000 tractor. Possibly as much as a $5000 bill. And that's with a lot of the labor falling on you. You can see now why it's important to be able to determine just what sort of condition the major components are in before diving headfirst into the shallow end of the pool.
I've dragged home a few 135's, 150's and 165's that had simular histories. Typically, the cost to get them running and in good mechanical condition, less paint and tires was in the $1500-$2500 range. A couple were considerably MORE, a couple turned out to be "new battery, a couple gaskets, and a filter change" and not much more. I ALWAYS start with finding out if the engine is locked, what sort of condition the engine and hydraulic oil is in, and again, that all important rubber. Then you roll the dice.
In the end, if you have to spend the entire value of the tractor to get it in mint condition, you still have a very nice tractor with a lot on fresh parts. A great deal depends on how much of a "project" you wish to take on and what sort of mechanical aptitude you see yourself as having.
If it's "all there", I wouldn't hesitate to invest $1000 to $1500, and with a little research, maybe even more. Again, spend some time checking out overall condition and THEN evaluate it's worth.