Opportunity to Buy IH 354 with FEL

[twtrout]

All,

I have been given the opportunity to purchase an International 354 gas model with front-end loader for $1000. It runs but smokes some and all of the hydraulics work.

Is this a good price? How difficult or easy is it to find parts for an IH 354? I read somewhere that this is an imported model, is this true?

Thanks,
TW

 

[twtrout]

I have gotten more information on this tractor. It is a diesel and the glow plugs have been disconnected; therefore, it has to have ether used on it to start it, according to the owner. Could that be the reason that it smokes? Could excessive use of ether damage the rings and cause the smoking? Here is a picture of the tractor.

 

[irwin]

I have gotten more information on this tractor. It is a diesel and the glow plugs have been disconnected; therefore, it has to have ether used on it to start it, according to the owner. Could that be the reason that it smokes? Could excessive use of ether damage the rings and cause the smoking? Here is a picture of the tractor.

The answer is a big YES. So if there isn't serious damage to the cylinders and rings the glow plug circuit should be fixed. I'd keep looking.. that one sounds like a big project rather than a working tractor.

 

[art]

That would be a good price for that tractor even with a smoking engine that might only need to be run a couple of hundred hours a year.

You also might want to see if the thermostat is working!!!!! Cold diesels will normally smoke!!! They will also eventually glaze the cylinder walls giving that problem rapid development.