Price Check What is it? What's it worth?

[piaffepony]

My elderly neighbor of 20 years gave me this tractor last year that my dad and brother were supposed to fix up for me.

I'm doing my best to learn how to fix, build and maintain stuff on my own, but I haven't got to the major engine stuff yet beyond checking oil, replacing filters etc... honestly, I really don't have the time to restore a tractor and I'll grow old waiting on a man to do it ;oP I also really need the money...

So...What is it? What is it worth as is? Is there small, cheap and easy fixes that I could do in a day or 2 that would significantly increase the value? I believe it's diesel that used to run on butane.. I was told they got it running a couple years ago but that is all I know.

I had a John deer 5055d that I had to trade in on another skidsteer when my ex husband got to sell ours. I used the skid more and my neighbor has let me use his good one.. but I'd like to get another tractor eventually to mow my big pastures and the occasional box blading...Is it really worth keeping? Would it be cheaper in the long run?

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[fidowanttobe]

Google searching told me it is a 1971 David Brown 1200 LiveDrive 72 HP which has some pretty decent reviews over the SelectoMatic tranny which was lower on reviews. DBTC Forum is dedicated only to David Brown tractors and has a pretty good following so many of you questions should be answered. I would start there.
Parts seem to be plentiful.
What is it worth? Not a lot with your description of it. Running and operating, TractorHouse has them for $3k to $6k. If it was mine I would check all the fluids, make sure it HAS some and nothing is dry, change the oil, drain the fuel and add 5 gallons fresh fuel, stick a good battery in it and start cranking. That Old Iron might surprise you and would be a nice size for your needs.
And you don't need to "restore" it, tractors work just fine with their work clothes on.
Keep us updated on your decisions and good luck!

 

[Teachu2]

Also remove the PTO driveline that's hanging off the back before you start cranking!

 

[boggen]

looks like a nice old tractor, pictures can be deceiving, but if she runs, and you have a use for it, keep it. anything else you buy used will still require DIY'er knowledge / ability to repair. as stuff breaks down / needs repairs.

if you had a truck and trailer the haul the tractor to a local repair shop already for fixes that you can not do yourself. maybe keep, if not having repair shop come out and pick it up and then fix and haul it back to you, the hauling charges may eat you up on repair bills.

if you are like my mom, i show her were to check oil, were to grease, check fluid levels, how to change oil, and she does it, but once it gets to eletrical issues, and engine issues. then forgot it. and time to bring someone else in. normally me, if i can do it ok, if not time to bring someone else in before i mess things up more.

if it is beyond you to deal with, sell it and get something you can use.

you didn't say how many acreage you mow / use a rotatory mower (lamen terms bush hog) a tractor generally will move faster than a skid steer.

sites generally listing tractors for sale. so you can research / look around yourself.
TractorHouse.com | Used Tractors For Sale: John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Kubota.
www.craiglist.org
SearchTempest: Search all of Craigslist nationwide & more = search multi cities of craig list at one time.
Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles, Coupons and More | eBay *meh* never found anything worth it when speaking tractors.

generally there are local "large / huge auctions" for tractors 1 to 2 times a years that might be near you. were folks haul there stuff in, and there are 2 to 4 rings (auction folks) going on at the same time.

uShip | The Online Shipping Marketplace might be a place if you find someone to buy but do not have equipment to haul tractor away.

there are some other websites out there that sell stuff. but not enough tractors / heavy equipment listed to make it worth while to look through at least for me.

you might get a trade in value at some dealer for newer machinery.

 

[boggen]

duplicate

 

[piaffepony]

Wow guys! Thanks! That's was very helpful! I forgot to add.. it needs all new tires... how much would that cost me?

I have 62 acres to mow.. and I still have the 8ft brush hog and box blade for my other tractor.

 

[Cataclysm]

I have a buddy that has a similar David Brown. While a tough tractor it isn't very user friendly. Have you given that clutch a press yet? The clutch and steering on the one my buddy has are very taxing. Very hard to use finesse especially after running it for a bit. That tractor was made to hang an implement in the ground and run all day.

Also it has no ROPS.

Check the transmission case closely for water. I see a cobbled up gear shift boot that may be letting water in.

With the condition you describe I would sell and use what money you get from it towards a better tractor that you will enjoy using instead of wrestling with the David Brown.

I would say to get that PTO shaft off and set it aside sooner than later. That PTO shaft hanging loose like that is an accident waiting to happen.

Best of luck.

 

[Tractorable]

Free 72hp tractors don't come along very often. I'd see if you can get it running, then use it to mow your 62 acres until you decide what other tractor you want to get. You may find that it's perfectly fine for mowing lots of acreage, and then you would've saved yourself spending ~$50K on a new 72hp tractor.

I still mow my fields with an 1952 8N and it does that job just fine.

 

[boggen]

that 62 acre mowing.... and just a single rotatory cutter (bush hog) on back youch!.... if it was a bat wing / wing mower on back then i could mowing it all. but those bat wing mowers tend to drive up the HP and HP at the PTO. and that old tractor may be needed to run the bigger mowers.

setting on 77.5 or something like that. i call it 80 acres. and mowing the pasture which is like 20 to 30 acres. around all trees and hills takes a couple days or more per each mowing. with a single 5' to 6' rotatory mower.

 

[sweettractors]

My elderly neighbor of 20 years gave me this tractor last year that my dad and brother were supposed to fix up for me.

I'm doing my best to learn how to fix, build and maintain stuff on my own, but I haven't got to the major engine stuff yet beyond checking oil, replacing filters etc... honestly, I really don't have the time to restore a tractor and I'll grow old waiting on a man to do it ;oP I also really need the money...

So...What is it? What is it worth as is? Is there small, cheap and easy fixes that I could do in a day or 2 that would significantly increase the value? I believe it's diesel that used to run on butane.. I was told they got it running a couple years ago but that is all I know.

I had a John deer 5055d that I had to trade in on another skidsteer when my ex husband got to sell ours. I used the skid more and my neighbor has let me use his good one.. but I'd like to get another tractor eventually to mow my big pastures and the occasional box blading...Is it really worth keeping? Would it be cheaper in the long run?

Thanks for your help guys!

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Before you spend much on it, make sure the 3 point lift is strong. Many David Brown lifts began to get weak around 3500-4000 hours and the parts to repair them are now hard to find. Ken Sweet