Whats a reasonable price for an unmolested 701?

[Sailman 1,299]

Got a chance to pick up this 701 near me. Appears to be all original including both belt covers (not in photo) and a mower deck, belt and attachment parts. Missing shifter knob and seat pan is roached but I have a 704 I can scavenge for them. Original paint in pretty decent condition, original split key. Not running but owner says it ran when stored in 2016. Was in his family as long as he can remember! Has some oil leaks around the right side base of the engine. Whats a price range for this guy as is?

Thanks!

[rjg854 11,879]

Depends on how much you want it, and how reluctant the seller is to sell it.  #1 is that it doesn't run, that could be a lot of different things.  Does it shift thru all the gears? a bit hard to know for sure without it running.  It is a popular tractor though.  Mower deck needs work. That's my 2 cents/sense.

[Pullstart 64,573]

@Achto picked one up for a Benny if I recall.  He had it running in less than an hour at the show/swap meet.  Well, @WHX?? paid for it, but Dan got the score 

[ri702bill 8,980]

That is a 1962 and later bent shifter. The 701 did not come with the upper bend to clear a HY-2 pump. Unmolested?? Maybe

Does it also have the small metal cover over the brake? That is a one year, one model cover - no cutout for the parking brake lever, 701 did not have one. Are the rear fenders very pointy on the ends, not rounded off like 1962 and later?? Again, one year, one model only - also both belt guards. What is their condition??

All those should be factored into the price 

 

[Achto 28,789]

1 hour ago, ri702bill said:

Does it also have the small metal cover over the brake? That is a one year, one model cover - no cutout for the parking brake lever,

 

Actually the 701 did not have a brake cover at all. The brake & linkage was all left in the open.

 

2 hours ago, Sailman said:

Whats a price range for this guy as is?

 

My top dollar would be $400

[ri702bill 8,980]

7 minutes ago, Achto said:

Actually the 701 did not have a brake cover at all. The brake & linkage was all left in the open.

OK - egg on my face!! I do recall seeing one a ways back on a 701 - perhaps owner added. It had no parking brake slot...

[Sailman 1,299]

Motor turns over by hand. Gears all shifted smoothly. It came with 3 covers, the double pulley on the gen / blower, drive belt cover and a third small cover that owner said is for top of engine. All covers in good shape. Still has an amazing amount of original paint. I would just "replenish" it, no restoration, just make it as good as I could as is. Wanted something for the grand kids but not a "nut roaster". Its mine for $300. Will post pictures and progress when I get to cleaning and getting it running.

[Pullstart 64,573]

Congrats!  I may be out of my gourd, but I’ve paid close to that for round hoods with no or a knocking engine…

[Handy Don 13,340]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

...I may be out of my gourd, but I’ve paid close to that for round hoods with no or a knocking engine…

 

3 hours ago, Sailman said:

Its mine for $300

Reasonable, in my view.

 

My always worry with the round hoods is the absence of full-length foot rests. It is so instinctive for the operator, when something unexpected happens, to put their feet on the ground.

 

My adult neighbor wanted to try my 854. I explained and demonstrated how to work the clutch, but he still had it jerk ahead in 2nd gear which startled him. He put his feet down, and if I hadn't been right next to him to reach in and pop it back into neutral, he would have suffered much worse than a couple of scraped calves. Just something to think about.

 

BTW, there are a couple threads on here by guys that added full-length footrests to Lawn Rangers for use by young'uns

Edited December 20, 2022 by Handy Don

[Pullstart 64,573]

2 hours ago, Sailman said:

Wanted something for the grand kids

great points @Handy Don.  I’m not always the poster child for safety, but care about my children immensely.  We added a second pedal to Rylee’s Commando 800 “Screamin’ Jimmy” and have found 953/1054 tractors extremely child friendly, pushing the pedal DOWN instead of FORWARD for clutching and braking.

[rjg854 11,879]

3 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

great points @Handy Don.  I’m not always the poster child for safety, 

 

 

You don't say. 

[kpinnc 13,742]

3 hours ago, Sailman said:

Its mine for $300.

 

I think you did great. The double pulley guards go for dang near that now by themselves. I had two 701s, but only one now. They are great little chunks of history. Congratulations! 

Edited December 20, 2022 by kpinnc

[Sailman 1,299]

Great advice about the safety issues. What I actually do is put the kids on the tractor, put it in low gear, throttled down and operate the clutch myself. Then they get to "steer" the tractor! I've done that with my C's and 416 - 8. Love that 1st gear in low range! Will rig some extra foot rests when they get capable of starting and stoping. The 701 does have a longer foot rest than the other round hoods it appears.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,398]

That machine in the right hands and cleaned properly is a 1000 or more imo…

[Handy Don 13,340]

1 hour ago, Sailman said:

The 701 does have a longer foot rest than the other round hoods it appears

It is a full "footprint" but way too far away for kids to reach.

My son's rule for his children (which I endorse) is that they must have the height to reach, and the strength to operate, the clutch/brake before they can be on the tractors alone. (@Pullstart's note on the '53 and '54 model's different pedal operation is a good one.) 

With an extra-range seat slide, my 11yo GD can now work the pedal on, and has just started driving, the 312-H. But she made very clear to her father that she also wants to learn to drive Gramps' "standard shift" tractors!

Edited December 21, 2022 by Handy Don

[953 nut 57,937]

5 hours ago, Sailman said:

the double pulley on the gen / blower,

That is a 701 only item, looks like a great deal for $ 300, if you don't want it PM me the details and I will buy myself a Christmas present.   

[WHGuy413 2,771]

Great score. I miss my original 701. 

[rmaynard 15,920]

I paid $400 for each of mine. First one I put about $800 into it to make it a show piece. I've been offered $1700 for it, but turned it down. Second one I've put about $1200 into it so far and I'm far from finished.

Any price under $400 for a complete 701 is good.

[Tonytoro416 1,097]

I had a 604 try and drag me under the rear end when I was a kid so I know that hurt and it sucks especially as a child. Didn’t stop me though I love garden tractors and still have that same 604 🤷

[Sailman 1,299]

On 12/20/2022 at 3:58 PM, Handy Don said:

 

My always worry with the round hoods is the absence of full-length foot rests. It is so instinctive for the operator, when something unexpected happens, to put their feet on the ground.

 

My adult neighbor wanted to try my 854. I explained and demonstrated how to work the clutch, but he still had it jerk ahead in 2nd gear which startled him. He put his feet down, and if I hadn't been right next to him to reach in and pop it back into neutral, he would have suffered much worse than a couple of scraped calves. Just something to think about.

 

BTW, there are a couple threads on here by guys that added full-length footrests to Lawn Rangers for use by young'uns

 So taking this wise advice I had a thought. I also have a 704 to get working and since its not as collectable as the 701 I might fabricate some floor boards off a C series roller I have then mount a shaft, spring and pedal that attaches to the clutch pedal. Idea would be to reverse the clutch activation. The new pedal would have to be pressed down to the floor board to "release" the clutch and taking the foot off the pedal would allow the spring to raise the pedal thus in actuality depressing the actual clutch pedal. If the child has any problems they instinctively take their foot off the pedal and the tractor is no longer in gear. To make it go they have to hold the pedal down. Floor board would protect their feet from rear tires. Anyone try this idea yet? Sound doable?

Edited February 12, 2023 by Sailman

[SylvanLakeWH 27,553]

 

Pics please when you do it!

[Handy Don 13,340]

3 hours ago, Sailman said:

Idea would be to reverse the clutch activation

Very interesting idea. Echos of the Ford Model T and some other early automobiles ("set the gear with a lever then press this pedal to go").

Only negative I can imagine is that by being opposite “normal” clutch operation it’d require unlearning when moving up later to “normal” clutch operation.

Pics or drawings for sure!