Parts Tractors?

[seuadr 488]

So question for the gurus here.. do you keep a full parts tractor for your main horse?

 

little background to the question - I just recently purchased a 95 520H, and i really like the tractor. it's got 750~ish hours on it, which isn't a huge deal it seems but i spent a lot more money on this than i typically spend on mowers (with the intention that it will last a lot longer). i do, however, worry that something unforeseen may fail and i'll be put into the position of "needing" parts.

 

solution? Parts tractor! i was just curious who else may have the tendency to have a similar system going on. 

 

There is a 520H that doesn't run relatively close to me (with a tiller too!) that doesn't run, but if it isn't my main horse, then it is ok and i'm trying to rationalize the fact that i want to go buy it.

 

ENABLE ME!

[JackC 617]

I do. Often more than one.  When my time comes, I plan on riding off into the sunset on my 520-HC with that sweet sounding ONAN getting me there with a smile on face.

[daveoman1966 3,745]

it MAY be soo that you won't be able to buy parts AT ALL.  So, go buy it... 

["D"- Man 827]

I bought one for my 18 automatic it came with enough attachments and equipment, to sell, that more than covered the cost of the entire package deal. The seller also provided free delivery. I would say go for it, Mark.

Edited April 28, 2014 by TWIN54

[stevasaurus 22,700]

I have a theory.  You buy a parts tractor, and after getting it home and looking at it with one of your favorite beverages for a while...you decide that the old girl does not look that bad and would not take too much to fix it up.  So then you start looking for parts for the parts tractor.  Two 520's are better then one. 

 

Go buy it.

Edited April 28, 2014 by stevasaurus

[Martin 2,131]

Hey! That's what I do!!!!

"I'm just buying this one for the transmission" was how my last two 416 tractors started off. We all know how that turned out.......

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[leeave96 487]

You need at minimum a two tractor plan anyway.  One for mowing and another for double duty mowing or plowing snow, etc.  Worse case, a second tractor gives you a spare part if you need it - but better yet, a running spare tractor should your primary one go down.

 

Then you get a third tractor for a parts tractor....

 

One thing about the 520H - IMHO, these are tractors worthy of the expense of a repower.  If you think about it, really the weak link in any old iron tractor is the engine, be it an Onan or Kohler, etc.  Even if you get 2000 hours on the engine, eventually it goes, but it seems like the rest of the tractor is OK for a repower and another 2000 hours!

 

IMHO - especially with the later model 520H like you've got, the combo of Matt's foot control kit and the tractor's swept forward axle/gear reduction steering and you've got a tractor as modern as anything Deere has out there for 5 or 6K plus.

 

But the spare!!!!!!!!!  

 

Good luck,

Bill

[groundhog47 347]

I have a theory.  You buy a parts tractor, and after getting it home and looking at it with one of your favorite beverages for a while...you decide that the old girl does not look that bad and would not take too much to fix it up.  So then you start looking for parts for the parts tractor.  Two 520's are better then one. 

 

Go buy it.

Exactly, exactly, exactly, did that with more than one project, transmissions lately, past slot machines, cash registers and any coin op stuff. So far, having been threatened by the city, I do my best to limit what is visible. 

 

 

And seuadr I agree with all the others, def on the rarity of parts, also it seems 520's are as rare as some early years ,  

Edited April 28, 2014 by groundhog47

[seuadr 488]

well, the guy wants 800, says "ran fine when parked, now no spark" i clarified with him motor turns over, etc. yet, just doesn't actually catch. sounds probably pretty simple. unit comes with a tiller and 52" (is there a 52"?) deck and i'm pretty sure i can get the whole package for around 5-600. i'd really like to have at the very least a motor ready to go and heck, a tiller would be handy!

[Fun Engineer 859]

Buy it. I have extra motors, Trans, seats ect. Boy Scout motto is "be prepared".

Sent from my tractor seat using Tapatalk 2

Edited April 28, 2014 by Fun Engineer

[bmsgaffer 2,043]

well, the guy wants 800, says "ran fine when parked, now no spark" i clarified with him motor turns over, etc. yet, just doesn't actually catch. sounds probably pretty simple. unit comes with a tiller and 52" (is there a 52"?) deck and i'm pretty sure i can get the whole package for around 5-600. i'd really like to have at the very least a motor ready to go and heck, a tiller would be handy!

 

Just be prepared on the onan. They are good motors but if it lost that rear valve seat, it is not often worth the cost to repair it.

 

So I would only pay the price you are comfortable with for everything NOT including the motor. If you can get the motor running again, that's just icing on the cake!

[Martin 2,131]

also with the Onan, if it has no spark, be prepared to sink a few hundred into it. could be the coil or the ignition module, both run near $100 ea. there are cheaper ways, used parts etc. but its real easy to get caught up buying parts to get one of these engines running. and then you take a gamble on the internal condition of the engine. having a seller you can trust is a big bonus as far as info goes on why it stopped running. 

I've taken the gamble on 3 occasions now, came out great at the other end as far as good runners go, my 416 adventures details 2 of them, the 416 #1 i put at least $100 in the engine, the #3 around $250.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Martin

[Kegler 68]

Some of you deep pockets guys hoarding 'parts tractors' is why some of us cant find repairable tractors at a reasonable price. Remember, every running, or repairable 'parts tractor' is one that someone else could be using. We have too many ppl buying nice tractors just to part them out and make a quick buck. We had one person not far from here that parted out dozens of tractors, but would he sell you a compleat one?  Not a chance! Give us a break.

[seuadr 488]

Some of you deep pockets guys hoarding 'parts tractors' is why some of us cant find repairable tractors at a reasonable price. Remember, every running, or repairable 'parts tractor' is one that someone else could be using. We have too many ppl buying nice tractors just to part them out and make a quick buck. We had one person not far from here that parted out dozens of tractors, but would he sell you a compleat one?  Not a chance! Give us a break.

well, i can't speak for anyone else, but my intention is to do the exact opposite - i want to have a tractor that can provide me any parts i may need to keep the other one running, not to take it apart and sell it to a bunch of people piece by piece.

 

if anything, the argument could be made that having a ready supply of parts would reduce demand for the services of the people you describe. 

 

of course, one person isn't going to impact it in any way..

[varosd 1,185]

and another thought is the ability to collect more tractors by the  saying to the wife: " Gee honey, I could spend $$$$$$ for a brand new tractor or buy a back up tractor/parts and take you out to dinner, jewlery store etc."

 

I'm up to 4 tractors so far that way.

[AMC RULES 37,126]

C'mon, everybody's got back up for their back up.

[dcrage 625]

C'mon, everybody's got back up for their back up.

 

Well not everybody -- I just now am getting up to speed on having a "spare" tractor -- My wife and daughter have yet to complain about that -- They are getting a little leary of the attachments though (unfortunately some of them are outside and can be "SEEN!!")

[Kelly 1,029]

Some of you deep pockets guys hoarding 'parts tractors' is why some of us cant find repairable tractors at a reasonable price. Remember, every running, or repairable 'parts tractor' is one that someone else could be using. We have too many ppl buying nice tractors just to part them out and make a quick buck. We had one person not far from here that parted out dozens of tractors, but would he sell you a compleat one?  Not a chance! Give us a break.

Well I have about 100+ tractors here if you want to buy one stop in, I sell everything from one part to complete tractors, many of the ones I have came out of scrap yards, if I didn't buy them to part out or sell as repairable, they would be gone chewed up and turned into the next thing, and yes these are setting outside rusting, I can't afford to have a building large enough to house all of them, and would be a waste of a building in my eyes, they are just parts tractors, nice ones get to stay inside, with out people like me HOARDING them you would have a hard time finding used parts, I feel it's a service I provide in the used parts market.

 

   I'm going this weekend to buy 2 full car trailer loads of tractors and parts, many will be sold complete, I have bought 4 others in the past two weeks, 3 of them will be sold complete, best part about the 4 I bought I never even had to hook the trailer up to get them, they brought them to me, the complete collection I'm buying they called me, if I was not here many of these would have been scraped.

 

  Sorry for the rant, back to the subject I would be leary as was said about paying big money for a 520 with out hearing it run, BUT with a tiller $500 would not be bad. and if you decide to take parts off it and off the rest I only live a few miles from you and will buy the left overs.  

 

Here is a small look at what is here.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Kelly

[seuadr 488]

Well I have about 100+ tractors here if you want to buy one stop in, I sell everything from one part to complete tractors, many of the ones I have came out of scrap yards, if I didn't buy them to part out or sell as repairable, they would be gone chewed up and turned into the next thing, and yes these are setting outside rusting, I can't afford to have a building large enough to house all of them, and would be a waste of a building in my eyes, they are just parts tractors, nice ones get to stay inside, with out people like me HOARDING them you would have a hard time finding used parts, I feel it's a service I provide in the used parts market.

 

   I'm going this weekend to buy 2 full car trailer loads of tractors and parts, many will be sold complete, I have bought 4 others in the past two weeks, 3 of them will be sold complete, best part about the 4 I bought I never even had to hook the trailer up to get them, they brought them to me, the complete collection I'm buying they called me, if I was not here many of these would have been scraped.

 

  Sorry for the rant, back to the subject I would be leary as was said about paying big money for a 520 with out hearing it run, BUT with a tiller $500 would not be bad. and if you decide to take parts off it and off the rest I only live a few miles from you and will buy the left overs.  

you know, i'm on the fence. what i'm really worried about having is a backup motor - that seems to be the weakest link on the 520s. i probably would, in reality be better off just picking up a motor (heck, you probably have one) and a tiller and "be ahead" money wise. 

[boovuc 1,090]

I have a "spare" P220 Onan on the bench. I don't have a spare Eaton 1100 rear. On your $800 dollar "Parts Tractor", I too would be leery. You could have an easy fix and get that Onan started and running great only to find the rear-end is weak. If it sat outside for a time, the electronics take a beating!

$500 max only because of the tiller and there isn't a 52" deck. It is probably the 48" deck

[Kelly 1,029]

A GOOD spare engine will run $200-300 easy, a complete tiller will run you $200-500 like I said if you can buy the tractor for $500 depending on cond. you could sell me the left overs, and have a good deal, if you don't buy it PM me the info I might be interested in it, I'm sure I have parts here to make it run again. 

[leeave96 487]

A GOOD spare engine will run $200-300 easy, a complete tiller will run you $200-500 like I said if you can buy the tractor for $500 depending on cond. you could sell me the left overs, and have a good deal, if you don't buy it PM me the info I might be interested in it, I'm sure I have parts here to make it run again. 

 

Agreed.

 

I'd pay that for a decent engine, but I also think to myself - you can buy a nice tractor for $200 or $300 if you are lucky.  They come along.  Buy the tractor for the engine, keep spare parts, i.e. deck, transaxle, seat, etc., and part out the rest to recoup some $$$'s.  Sometimes (maybe most of the time) it seems like it's cheaper to buy a whole tractor vs just the parts - LOL