Hard to find value on some tractors

[moe1965 738]

Every wheel horse I see for sale  I always have to take a look at.  I have wheeled and dealed on  several over the years and some times wonderer if I let a good deal go by or I paid to much.   I realized condition is everything running not running how many and what implements etc.  I have looked at a blue book page on line but not all tractors are  listed.  Two of the tractor I own are not on that list.  A  C141. and a B100 but a 854 is.  Is that because they are not as desirable as others?? Just wondering ...... 

 

[ebinmaine 67,567]

It's all about opinion and location.  

Here in New England prices tend higher than the Midwest for the most part.  

 

Also, me personally... I'd rather have a C141 than a B100 or an 854. I'm not into collecting just to make a set of something. The C 141 is the   better worker. 

 

Desirable to the masses??

Likely the 854 of those listed 3.  

 

For what it's worth... I wouldn't trust the prices in a "blue book" for the length of the page. 

Waaaaaay too much variability in the market.  

 

 

The ONLY correct price is the one that makes the buyer AND seller happy.  

[squonk 41,141]

Most of it depends on where you live. A WH is worth more to someone in Florida as opposed to someone in Pa. A few models are worth more Seniors, RJ's 854's 701. Then it just depends on the shape it's in and running or not. My general rule of thumb is if I'm selling a tractor, A running tractor with a deck you can mow with is worth $695 minimum.

[8ntruck 7,015]

The value of a Wheel Horse is the agreed upon price between the buyer and seller.  That price will have accounted for the local market, condition of the machine, any attachments, running/not running, and preceived value to both the buyer and seller.

 

In short, if you are happy with the machine you bought or sold, and the price, then you got a good deal.

Edited October 12, 2022 by 8ntruck

[WHX?? 48,828]

I have overpaid and under payed on many of my horses. Way overpaid 900 for a 520 that had a bad Onan. Paid 500 for a 520 that had a bad axle but great motor. That one came with a deck and plow. I sold for them for 575 so made 75 and a good motor for transplant in the overpaid 520. 

I would like to go look at every horse I see for sale but distance = burned gas at $$$ gallon. So now it has to be a collector model or a round hood.  Collector model for me is anything less tha 1969.

Any kind of blue book for horses can get thrown out the window and replaced with knowledge of the particular model you are going to look at for the reasons the other guys mentioned. 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

2 hours ago, moe1965 said:

I have looked at a blue book page on line but not all tractors are  listed

I would never look at some website to tell me value of tractors.

 

You want values... ask Wheel Horse nuts in your surrounding area.

 

Here in Indiana... prices are generally pretty reasonable... because there are a good amount of Wheel Horses sitting around that people want to get out of their way. I would think Ohio would be no different... but I could be wrong.

 

I only own 1 Wheel Horse that ran when I bought it... all of the others were basket cases. I paid nothing for my 416-8, 100$ for my 800 Special. My WH zero turn was MUCH more...

 

My opinion... buy what YOU want... and pay what YOU want. If a seller wants more than you are willing to pay... you are probably overpaying. I have seen some tractors that aren't worth 2-3 hundred dollars selling for crazy money... then I see tractors that are in pretty good shape selling for 400$. Some people feel that certain models of Wheel Horses are worth crazy money. That may be correct for them in their area but not for me in my area.

 

Again, it all depends on how much YOU want the machine. Some machines that are in good shape have sentimental value to some sellers, so they will charge you more for those machines... and they are generally taken care of pretty well. Restored models probably sell for double what unrestored models sell.

 

You don't want to know how much I would have to sell my 800 special, 418-8, and L-157 for... but that is because of the time, money, and know-how I have put into them...

 

Every machine is different... but I am very unlikely to pay over $500 for a Wheel Horse in my area (I only paid over that for my zero turn because it is a pretty special machine to me). 

 

Just a beagle's 2 cents...

 

Don

[Wild Bill in VA 1,452]

I have always said "A person will bake you a cake if you take that old Wheel Horse out of their shed, garage or back yard but if the person knows the Wheel Horse is a collector's item, they think they're going to rich when it's sold". The price I paid for my RJ-35 would be considered cheap today but 20 years ago when it was purchased be me was the going rate. When the Pennsylvania Dutch make a deal and agree on the price, they pay that price but if they find out they could have gotten a better deal or were snookered they will not deal with that person again.

Wild Bill in Richmond VA

[WHX?? 48,828]

True @Snoopy11 and @Wild Bill in VA but when my kid dragged home a cable steer RJ for peanuts my whole world on the thought  that who knows what they are worth changed. Yeah it was pretty roughed up but completely saveable.. I've had some pretty seductive offers on the tractor but no dice ... this one stays with the herd. 

[davem1111 2,030]

3 hours ago, Snoopy11 said:

 I paid nothing for my 416-8,

 

Don

 

Ah, but you paid in friendship, which is worth much more than that hunk of metal, that *you* made back into something to be proud of.   

 

I think many people care less about the money, which will probably be gone in a few days anyway, than they do about something they may have a bit of sentimental value for, going to a "good home" or having something worthwhile done with it.  I personally would rather sell something for less than it might be worth (or give it) to someone I know will make good use of it.  But.... not everyone thinks that way.

[Moonshine*Connoisseur 435]

I've been trying to sell my 701, I can't believe I haven't gotten even one inquiry or bite.  That's ok, doesn't hurt my feelings to still see it in my garage 🙂 

[Lee1977 6,663]

1 hour ago, Moonshine*Connoisseur said:

I've been trying to sell my 701, I can't believe I haven't gotten even one inquiry or bite.  That's ok, doesn't hurt my feelings to still see it in my garage 🙂 

Just another sign of the times, a lot of people are in a bind because of all the high prices

[ebinmaine 67,567]

7 hours ago, davem1111 said:

 

Ah, but you paid in friendship, which is worth much more than that hunk of metal, that *you* made back into something to be proud of.   

 

I think many people care less about the money, which will probably be gone in a few days anyway, than they do about something they may have a bit of sentimental value for, going to a "good home" or having something worthwhile done with it.  I personally would rather sell something for less than it might be worth (or give it) to someone I know will make good use of it.  But.... not everyone thinks that way.

 

Right there with ya Dave. 

 

I've been on both sides of the coin on this one. 

A few months ago I went to look at a snowblower that was attached to the front of a C160. 

The guy had a 20 to 30 year history with the tractor between him and his dad. 

He wasn't using it to move snow anymore but REALLY had a hard time letting the tractor part go.  

After talking to me n Trina and seeing what we've done with our herd he "assigned" the tractor to us. 

He even delivered it to make sure we got it ok.  

 

[953 nut 55,290]

16 hours ago, moe1965 said:

I have looked at a blue book page on line but not all tractors are  listed.

In order for Kelly Bluebook or any other publication to give an opinion of value there has to be a reliable large volume of public sales available. One sale of a tractor is not enough to establish value for all others. Very few Wheel Horses sell at auction houses that publish their results. If I buy a tractor from a private seller and then sell it to another private buyer none of that data is collected for a Blue Book. Mecum Auctions and Aumann Auctions post results but very few of their sales are Wheel Horses.

If you want to sell that 854 to me for $ 100.00 that wouldn't establish a going price fort all 854s!   Though it would probably put a smile on my face.            

[Snoopy11 5,714]

13 hours ago, Moonshine*Connoisseur said:

I've been trying to sell my 701, I can't believe I haven't gotten even one inquiry or bite.  That's ok, doesn't hurt my feelings to still see it in my garage 🙂 

Hey, that is another case that depends on the area you are in...

 

If it was here in Southern Indiana, it is likely that myself, Dave, or Jerry would have it in one of our shops...

 

Don

[Moonshine*Connoisseur 435]

Pittsburgh, PA, prime wheel horse territory. 

[wallfish 17,011]

18 hours ago, davem1111 said:

I personally would rather sell something for less than it might be worth (or give it) to someone I know will make good use of it.  But.... not everyone thinks that way.

  X 2

[rmaynard 15,509]

18 hours ago, Moonshine*Connoisseur said:

I've been trying to sell my 701, I can't believe I haven't gotten even one inquiry or bite.  That's ok, doesn't hurt my feelings to still see it in my garage 🙂 

Is your 701 listed in the classified? If so, I can't find it.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

37 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

Is your 701 listed in the classified? If so, I can't find it.

Him and I were discussing that in PM earlier... I guess his classified disappeared at some point...

 

Don

[WHX?? 48,828]

701 Moon?!?! ...

[kpinnc 12,080]

Tractor pricing is just crazy. Some find a new home for near nothing, but most nowadays are insanely overpriced. I blame pickers and antique roadshows. 

 

BUT, as has already been said- so long as seller and buyer are both happy or at least equally disappointed, I think all is fair. 

[Horse Newbie 7,071]

My two were worth WAY LESS when I bought them, and will be worth WAY MORE “if” I ever sell them…

[rmaynard 15,509]

I have a dollar figure in mind for what my horses are worth. However, should I die and my wife is tasked with getting rid of them, you can bet that figure will be a lot less. 

Edited October 14, 2022 by rmaynard