Do people actually pay the substantially high prices for WHs?

[Blasterdad 2,760]

11 minutes ago, c-series don said:

As a matter of fact I probably should sell a few as having twenty is a little ridiculous!

BLASPHEMY!  (but I'd be on the road in a hot second for your loader tractor) 

[RED-Z06 2,344]

44 minutes ago, c-series don said:

I’m one of those guys that paid up for a nice 420-LSE, didn’t overpay but I believe I paid what it was worth. As a matter of fact it really wasn’t for sale, but the original owners widow wanted it to go to someone who would take care of it the way her husband did. She knew what it was worth and we both agreed on a fair price. Personally I never thought I’d own an LSE, but when one becomes available to me with 17 original hours and it’s signed by the man himself Cecil Pond I knew I had to do whatever I had to to make it happen. I sold some things that I wasn’t using anymore, and worked a little harder to come up with the balance. Would I lay out that kind of money again? Probably not, but I am a Wheel Horse collector so to me this is the pinnacle of my collection. I too see some of the prices people ask for these things and just shake my head! Since I purchased my first Wheel Horse brand new in 1984, I’ve bought a few, had some given to me and even had three left to me by two separate gentleman in their will! I’m not in this hobby to buy and flip them to try and make money. As a matter of fact I probably should sell a few as having twenty is a little ridiculous! However, this is my hobby, it’s what I do and having nice tractors makes me happy 😃. When it does come time to downsize I would love to give some of them to a kid who could properly take care of them for the next generation to enjoy. And the rest? Well I’ll worry about that when the time comes. God Bless everyone…….

An autographed LSE is definitely something different.  Like a 99 Monte Carlo is just a car, but if Dale Earnhardt signed the dash...thats a more valuable car.

[OutdoorEnvy 1,669]

Okay I didn't realize the 420-LSE's had the Kohler M20 till I was just looking up some specs on them just now.  I always assumed it was like a special early version of the Onan 520.  That is really neat though.  My friends D-200 has the M20 and it seems like a monster engine for a garden tractor.  That in a 400 series is quite the rig.  Did the 420 come with the swept forward front axle by chance?  

[SylvanLakeWH 26,287]

47 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

An autographed LSE is definitely something different.  Like a 99 Monte Carlo is just a car, but if Dale Earnhardt signed the dash...thats a more valuable car.

Darn...

 

I should have autographed the WHrat Whrecker before I sold it to @Pullstart for a bottle of Wheel Horse whiskey and future rights to add a wind noodle and bus seat to it... 

 

I'd be rich!!!

 

 

 

 

[Blasterdad 2,760]

50 minutes ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

Did the 420 come with the swept forward front axle by chance?  

No.

[Handy Don 12,830]

5 hours ago, c-series don said:

Well I’ll worry about that when the time comes.

Or leave it to someone else to worry--yours will be over!

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,608]

 That $12,000 dollar 315-8 has already been discounted to $10,000. 
  Pretty sure that 12k starting price was just to see if there was a sucker/nubie out there that wasn’t well informed. 
  I do hate how it makes folks think that must be the going rate, so they price their Wheel Horse similarly. Prices all over start to creep up driven by a select few. 

 

[RED-Z06 2,344]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

 That $12,000 dollar 315-8 has already been discounted to $10,000. 
  Pretty sure that 12k starting price was just to see if there was a sucker/nubie out there that wasn’t well informed. 
  I do hate how it makes folks think that must be the going rate, so they price their Wheel Horse similarly. Prices all over start to creep up driven by a select few. 

 

Yep, it'll sell, probably not for anywhere near what he thinks its worth though. 

[kpinnc 12,899]

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

Prices all over start to creep up driven by a select few

 

I hate to say it, but Redsquare contributes as well- albeit indirectly.

 

On more than one occasion I've had uninformed sellers claim this site and it's membership size as a reason their rusty/ non-running/ 4 flat tire/ missing the seat machine is a collectible. 

 

Not that any of us do anything to artificially inflate prices. Our very existence is easy to Google... 

[whtractors24 3,215]

On 1/24/2025 at 11:54 AM, johnnymag3 said:

Or you can just go spend 5000 for a stamped steel mower at Home Depot.......then throw it away in 3 years. 

Wheel Horse Tractors of the early years through to the 90's  are worth whatever a buyer will pay. Also they will be around in 3 years....      After all, they are already 20-50 years old already.  

 

That being said, why not pay for something that will last your lifetime............instead of a throw away clunker

They aren’t worth anything now …. lol think about the John Deere values are bringing double what they costed new some models or more. Why should a 400/500 series of sold for 4-6k new and be worth minimal  now in showroom

shape ….. Buy once cry once . You’ll spend the dollar today and it’ll last 30 plus years . 

[whtractors24 3,215]

8 hours ago, Sparky said:

 That $12,000 dollar 315-8 has already been discounted to $10,000. 
  Pretty sure that 12k starting price was just to see if there was a sucker/nubie out there that wasn’t well informed. 
  I do hate how it makes folks think that must be the going rate, so they price their Wheel Horse similarly. Prices all over start to creep up driven by a select few. 

 

This machine is in fact sold at 12k . I worked a payment plan out with the gentleman … Thank you . 

[Ken B 3,165]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:42 AM, RED-Z06 said:

I see these dreamers on marketplace and in groups, craigslist putting up clean 300/400/500 tractors for 5000, 10,000, 12,000 dollars, not always low hours unused machines either, and usually no valuable implements to make them more useful.  

 

My take on it is, WH is already a niche market vs JD, Cub, Case, Sears...for one they changed hands a few times, and have been gone for what, 18 years now?  So right off the bat you have a small buyer group, then you have the issue of usefulness.  WH tractors mowed really well, they can handle a tiller if you can find one. But except a few models only clevis hitch attachments,  no 3pt.  There were not, on most models, remote hydraulics, or multiple spool valves, so things like loaders, needed an external pump and valving.  So they aren't widely considered an option when people look for tractors for that kind of work.

 

There are dedicated collections, yes, but are 300/400/500 series really "collectibles" when they were manufactured in such large numbers?  Like even a clean 500 series, with no implements besides a deck, worth $5000?  with over 500 hours on it?

 

Im all for making money, but are those numbers reasonable?

 

You dont even see mint low production "Patio" Deeres bringing that money, and those guys are militant over them 🤣.

 

 

 

[whtractors24 3,215]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:42 AM, RED-Z06 said:

I see these dreamers on marketplace and in groups, craigslist putting up clean 300/400/500 tractors for 5000, 10,000, 12,000 dollars, not always low hours unused machines either, and usually no valuable implements to make them more useful.  

 

My take on it is, WH is already a niche market vs JD, Cub, Case, Sears...for one they changed hands a few times, and have been gone for what, 18 years now?  So right off the bat you have a small buyer group, then you have the issue of usefulness.  WH tractors mowed really well, they can handle a tiller if you can find one. But except a few models only clevis hitch attachments,  no 3pt.  There were not, on most models, remote hydraulics, or multiple spool valves, so things like loaders, needed an external pump and valving.  So they aren't widely considered an option when people look for tractors for that kind of work.

 

There are dedicated collections, yes, but are 300/400/500 series really "collectibles" when they were manufactured in such large numbers?  Like even a clean 500 series, with no implements besides a deck, worth $5000?  with over 500 hours on it?

 

Im all for making money, but are those numbers reasonable?

 

You dont even see mint low production "Patio" Deeres bringing that money, and those guys are militant over them 🤣.

 

 

Honestly yes a short answer to your question . These guys that know quality that killed their childhood wheel horse after inheriting it . Then went out and bought a 5-7k box store junk with a bagger or a John Deere for even more . They got less than half the amount of life expectancy vs the wheel Horse that  they grew up on. That being said I can say a low hour super clean , fully serviced 400/500 series in showroom shape have been selling for 3-4k all day with a mower deck . If you search marketplace frequent you’ll see 1969-1970s John Deere 140’s no implements selling for 2500-4k repainted that aren’t even original . 

[Ken B 3,165]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:42 AM, RED-Z06 said:

I see these dreamers on marketplace and in groups, craigslist putting up clean 300/400/500 tractors for 5000, 10,000, 12,000 dollars, not always low hours unused machines either, and usually no valuable implements to make them more useful.  

 

My take on it is, WH is already a niche market vs JD, Cub, Case, Sears...for one they changed hands a few times, and have been gone for what, 18 years now?  So right off the bat you have a small buyer group, then you have the issue of usefulness.  WH tractors mowed really well, they can handle a tiller if you can find one. But except a few models only clevis hitch attachments,  no 3pt.  There were not, on most models, remote hydraulics, or multiple spool valves, so things like loaders, needed an external pump and valving.  So they aren't widely considered an option when people look for tractors for that kind of work.

 

There are dedicated collections, yes, but are 300/400/500 series really "collectibles" when they were manufactured in such large numbers?  Like even a clean 500 series, with no implements besides a deck, worth $5000?  with over 500 hours on it?

 

Im all for making money, but are those numbers reasonable?

 

You dont even see mint low production "Patio" Deeres bringing that money, and those guys are militant over them 🤣.

 

 

 

[Ken B 3,165]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:42 AM, RED-Z06 said:

I see these dreamers on marketplace and in groups, craigslist putting up clean 300/400/500 tractors for 5000, 10,000, 12,000 dollars, not always low hours unused machines either, and usually no valuable implements to make them more useful.  

 

My take on it is, WH is already a niche market vs JD, Cub, Case, Sears...for one they changed hands a few times, and have been gone for what, 18 years now?  So right off the bat you have a small buyer group, then you have the issue of usefulness.  WH tractors mowed really well, they can handle a tiller if you can find one. But except a few models only clevis hitch attachments,  no 3pt.  There were not, on most models, remote hydraulics, or multiple spool valves, so things like loaders, needed an external pump and valving.  So they aren't widely considered an option when people look for tractors for that kind of work.

 

There are dedicated collections, yes, but are 300/400/500 series really "collectibles" when they were manufactured in such large numbers?  Like even a clean 500 series, with no implements besides a deck, worth $5000?  with over 500 hours on it?

 

Im all for making money, but are those numbers reasonable?

 

You dont even see mint low production "Patio" Deeres bringing that money, and those guys are militant over them 🤣.

 

 

 

[Ken B 3,165]

Not too hard too find out it’s Tommy Hagren again.. You mad bro? Who cares what people ask for something when they sell it. If someone wants it then they will buy it.

[whtractors24 3,215]

5 minutes ago, Ken B said:

Not too hard too find out it’s Tommy Hagren again.. You mad bro? Who cares what people ask for something when they sell it. If someone wants it then they will buy it.

Not worth it Ken ..

Edited yesterday at 02:53 AM by whtractors24

[Ken B 3,165]

On 1/24/2025 at 8:45 PM, RED-Z06 said:

I like my WHs, my first tractor was a WH, but my first tractor experience was a Deere 318, so Both brands hold a spot for me, I watch marketplace and local listings for any older tractor, if its a good deal in decent shape ill buy it.  My hangup has always been that my WHs are far and away the least useful of the tractors I have, i still love them but they are limited by design...i cant see spending $2500+ on a tractor thats limited to a 48" deck, and clevis rear implements, but $1000, yeah i can see that, 1500, if its clean.  I wish they were more popular in the south.

 

[Ken B 3,165]

Just now, Ken B said:

 

Hi Tommy, why such a problem with what someone asks for a tractor? Everything is negotiable. I thought you were a salesman?

[RED-Z06 2,344]

22 minutes ago, Ken B said:

Hi Tommy, why such a problem with what someone asks for a tractor? Everything is negotiable. I thought you were a salesman?

We're all just talking hypotheticals here, do you feel like the shoe fits?

[kpinnc 12,899]

NOS  changes everything in my opinion. If someone has the money to buy it, good for them. 

 

I could not afford it, which is why every tractor I have started with me as a pile of junk most wouldn't look twice at. Over time they have been improved. 

 

My 523-H is as close as I'll ever get. The engine is new, the electrical is new, the tires are new. Bearings, gages, everything I could get is new. Frame and hydro are used obviously. I would say it has the greatest dollar value of all my tractors. Even though it is custom, it would never be worth what a NOS machine is worth. 

 

Where NOS is concerned, I say congrats to both buyer and seller. 

[RED-Z06 2,344]

48 minutes ago, whtractors24 said:

Honestly yes a short answer to your question . These guys that know quality that killed their childhood wheel horse after inheriting it . Then went out and bought a 5-7k box store junk with a bagger or a John Deere for even more . They got less than half the amount of life expectancy vs the wheel Horse that  they grew up on. That being said I can say a low hour super clean , fully serviced 400/500 series in showroom shape have been selling for 3-4k all day with a mower deck . If you search marketplace frequent you’ll see 1969-1970s John Deere 140’s no implements selling for 2500-4k repainted that aren’t even original . 

If I keep my search within 200 miles i might see (1) 140 a year, ive bought both C series ive seen come up, a couple 416-8s came up last year for decent money, both ran, 3 decks, paint was a bit faded but he wanted $600, took a month or so but he got them sold, im not into manual lift myself but that was a great deal.

 

Up North yall are flooded with old iron, down here theres really not alot of options...stuff gets listed and it sits on there until the price gets low enough to entice buyers.  Id venture that you could list a 420LSE for $2000 here and it wouldn't sell, you wouldn't even get offers.

[RED-Z06 2,344]

9 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

NOS  changes everything in my opinion. If someone has the money to buy it, good for them. 

 

I could not afford it, which is why every tractor I have started with me as a pile of junk most wouldn't look twice at. Over time they have been improved. 

 

My 523-H is as close as I'll ever get. The engine is new, the electrical is new, the tires are new. Bearings, gages, everything I could get is new. Frame and hydro are used obviously. I would say it has the greatest dollar value of all my tractors. Even though it is custom, it would never be worth what a NOS machine is worth. 

 

Where NOS is concerned, I say congrats to both buyer and seller. 

I love using my tractors, thats the whole point to me, being a good custodian to them while I have them, and using them whenever I can find a reason to do so.

 

If I had a 12,000 dollar tractor, i wouldn't want to use it, the value is tied up in it not being used, where's the fun in that.

[kpinnc 12,899]

2 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

If I had a 12,000 dollar tractor, i wouldn't want to use it, the value is tied up in it not being used, where's the fun in that.

 

I think of mine as tools. And every one of them works to earn their keep. I think I would see a 12K machine as just that: a tool as you say to use but take care of and maybe pass along to my kids. 

[RED-Z06 2,344]

16 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

I think of mine as tools. And every one of them works to earn their keep. I think I would see a 12K machine as just that: a tool as you say to use but take care of and maybe pass along to my kids. 

Back in, i guess it was 1999, my dad bought a new JD 425, 40 Loader, 3pt...it was about 14k out the door, extremely useful setup.  We used it all the time, it mowed 3 acres, spread dirt..gravel, dug holes.  It was well cared for but it had some scrapes, cracked tail lens, gauge glass was cracked...it wasn't something we looked at and said "ive spent 14k on it so im going to try and keep it worth that much", but rather "im going to get my 14k out of it".

 

But, if I bought a NOS Survivor, id feel too guilty if i scratched it, like it survived this many years and then I came along and messed it up...now its not only worth less, ive got to get on RedSquare and take a beating from the guys🤣