What's a good-running 312-8 worth?

[Alrashid2 171]

Hey guys. I found a 1985 Wheel Horse 312-8 a few weeks ago for $500. I didn't even negotiate with the guy selling it, as he offered to deliver it to me, and I figured $500 was a lot less than I was willing to pay for a garden tractor. My original budget cap was $1,000.

 

The thing ran well and technically probably didnt need anything, but I'm a tinkerer and like to maintain my engines, so I threw some money into it. 

 

• -$68 initial maintenance (fluids, filters, etc)
• -$196 replacement parts (shifter boot, voltmeter gauge, gas cap, brake lining, fuel pump, gaskets, etc)
• -$78 new seat (old one was cracked and duct taped) 
• -$21 misc hardware and tools (some machine spacers, cotter pins, bolts, etc)
• -$171 receiver hitch
• -$138 tire tubes x4 (tires were cracked pretty good but all have good tread. Some were losing air so decided to put tubes in all 4)

 

At this point, I'm at $1,172. Yikes, that happened quick! Crazy to think I spent $172 more on maintenance/repairs/mods than I did the whole tractor! The tractor did come with a working, in good condition 42" mower deck - I plan on selling this in the spring as I won't be mowing with this horse. 

 

Was I stupid here? What would you pay for a Wheel Horse 312-8 that already had all of these repairs and maintenance done on it? On the plus side, I am selling a second Ariens snow blower I have that I should get at least $600 for, so that will help offset this in the end... Likewise,  if I get 200 bucks for the deck, that helps too. 

 

Thanks guys

Edited November 14 by Alrashid2

[Darb1964 1,044]

The tractor alone with everything you have done is worth about what you paid originally or less, Without a good attachment it's not going to get much more than that. Even with a good deck you won't get back what you have into it.

[Alrashid2 171]

Damn, and here i thought I got it for a steal, haha. Still beats every other more-modern used tractor I've seen for sale in months! Ton of 90's to Mid-2000's Craftsmans and such around here for $900+ 

[ebinmaine 67,766]

Look at it this way. You could have done better but you could have done a lot worse too.

Go see if you can find a brand new excellent quality garden tractor right now. They no longer exist. All the money that you have put into that 312 is honestly, negligible. It's just maintenance items. So you've got $1,200 into a tractor that you couldn't replace for five times that or a lot more. I'd call it a win.

Did you learn anything? Even better.

Did you enjoy what you did? Even better.

 

Is it a tractor that's going to give you a lifetime of service? You bet it is.

 

[moe1965 743]

Figure your time into it as well if you had someone do all that work for you it would cost a lot more.   I to have bought a good deal and then put a way lot more into it.  But the end result is I got a machine that is the way I want it.  Sounds to me like you have the same.   Enjoy your ride

[MainelyWheelhorse 506]

@Alrashid2 I found the original bill of sale for my 312 from 1992. The tractor was 3200.00 new with a mowing deck. Now look up the exchange rate from 1992 to now. Since you have an older version, You have a tractor that if it was new would be worth around 6-8 grand. and if it only needed minor things after 39 years spending roughly 1,100 on it isn't bad,. You essentially have a new tractor. If it's lasted this long, as long as its taken care of It'll outlast you. Plus, if something goes wrong you have the info on here to fix it.

[Alrashid2 171]

You guys are all right. Thanks for the reassurance. Definitely could not buy something like this today, let alone for just a grand or so. 

 

As @ebinmaine pointed out, I've learned a lot working on this tractor and the Kohler engine, and I'm having fun! My other hobbies also get money dumped into them with far less of a return.

 

Sometimes my opinion changes based on the machine too. I hate working on and maintaining my lawn mower: to me, a mowed lawn is just very materialistic and vain. On the flip side, I love spending money and time on my chainsaw. My chainsaw helps me to produce firewood to heat my home. It serves a far greater purpose in my head. And it gives me more peace then mowing the lawn. I think the tractor is surely in the same category as my Stihl!

 

@MainelyWheelhorse very good point. I will go forward thinking of this tractor as basically-new! At this point, I really can't see anything else that will go wrong with it in the near future. Wish I knew how many hours were on her but maybe it's best not knowing!

 

@moe1965 you're totally right. I have the tractor I've always wanted. I can't believe originally I was going to settle for some piece of junk Craftsman or the likes... this Horse is already sentimental to me! I can't wait to see how it serves me this heating season

[kpinnc 12,174]

7 hours ago, Alrashid2 said:

Was I stupid here?

Nope. Now you have a machine that will last another 30 years. Try that with one of those big box mowers. 
 

Your tractor likely listed for upwards of $4,000.00 when new, and that was in the mid-80s. 
 

I’ve had about 16 or so Wheel Horses, now down to about 7.  Makes me wonder how much I’ve spent collectively on my herd… Nah, I don’t really care. I’ll never get it back, and I’m good with that. 
 

Edited November 15 by kpinnc

[Brockport Bill 1,668]

"worth " is only something we can each individually define -- if it's monetary worth then think of it like any asset -- a depreciating asset or appreciateting asset - - is it like your house - your car, a stock, a c.d. -- or a piece of equipment or tool ?? Like buying a table saw, your chain saw -- or a leaf blower or drill motor -- ??

 

if you bought that tractor and it serves as a productive "tool" or piece of equipment over 10-20-30 yrs - - just do the math? What was average annual cost amortized?

 

then you can decide what that tool "cost" you and what it cost per yr ? then you can determine its "worth" ????????

 

When i was working in my career i found coming home after challenging day that i loved mowing the lawn on my 312 -- total relaxation, totally mindless activity, best therapy ever - no phone - nobody asking me to solve a problem, or make a decision -- YES,  i loved my job/career but that tractor had a worth beyond its cash cost -- and that was mowing in my own little solitude -- so when defining "worth" --- my 312 was worth LOTS beyond what $ it "cost"  !!!!

[Pullstart 62,945]

I know Uncle Jim @WHX?? keeps a log of everything he pays for all his tractor stuff.  Purchase price, cost of TP on the trip to get it, etc.  I know how much I have into the RJ35, Lever Steer and Senior.  The rest, I kind of let it roll.  Maybe because ignorance is bliss?  Maybe I don’t want to know what I’ve sunk into this hobby!  We could easily be throwing it away on worse addictions…

 

[Darb1964 1,044]

17 hours ago, Alrashid2 said:

Damn, and here i thought I got it for a steal, haha. Still beats every other more-modern used tractor I've seen for sale in months! Ton of 90's to Mid-2000's Craftsmans and such around here for $900+ 

All of my WH tractors I have more into them than I could get back by selling them. The fact there's so many solid running WH tractors still available keeps prices low and all of us happy.

[Handy Don 12,281]

I heartily concur with the other members’ postings. For me, too, this is a highly satisfying hobby and social activity that also yields a practical outcome. I would never spend money on it that was needed elsewhere and I do not (overly ) stress about getting the most economical outcomes.

At one time in my life I meticulously detailed the cost per mile of my car until I realized that it was a waste of my time! It wasn’t going to “drive” a change in my behavior nor would it change the fact that I needed the transportation and was spending prudently on the purchase and maintenance.

[WHX?? 48,853]

4 hours ago, Pullstart said:

I know Uncle Jim @WHX?? keeps a log of everything he pays for all his tractor stuff.

I had to quit doing that a few years ago ... SWMBO found my ledger ... 

Just gotta keep reminding them you could have blown the coin on many other vises. 

Signed:

I blew most of my money on tractors ... the rest I just wasted. 

[clueless 3,006]

Again, over thinking it, with out pictures and more information about the tractor we can't really say if your spent to much, again it's just opinions. If the the tractor didn't come with any attachments you probably paid to much, but not that much (opinion). What do you plan to use the tractor for? You've got $1200 in it, that not that bad especially since a new garden tractor that can do what yours can do will cost you between $10,000 and $15,000. It's your first WH, many of us here have done the same thing with our first, heck our first 5 at least.