wheel horse supply dried up

[ohiofarmer 3,265]

 I just cannot believe how few quality tractors seem to be available. I had a good year lat year as they just seemed to find me. I got some important parts to finish a 8 horse(Thanks Eric] a complete 8 horse, a ten horse engine, Stuff like that.  Since i am in west Ohio, every little hardware store could sell the red tractors.  if you look at our own site, there are not any within driving distance.

 i am guessing that since we really cannot go to shows and meet each other that a lot of people are hanging on to tractors and fixing them up.

  The ones that are still out there are for much higher prices on average. i am blessed with project tractors, so nothing to complain about. i just wondered if my area is in a slump or if others had noticed the same thing?.

 

[bottjernat1 2,190]

I got lucky several times this year. and i am always buying trading you name it. Traded a 65 jd 112 hydraulic lift for this one even up. the jd ran but poorly and need alot of tlc. This no name runs great doesnt smoke and everything works as it should. I am technically the 4th owner. then I got a 1976 D-160 for free! But i had to drive almost 4hrs 1 way to get it. well worth the gas money. I have dumped almost $500 in it. and $400 is tires. Then I got a tiller for $20. I have also gotten a few other items dirt cheap but there the wrong color. LOL

[Stepney 2,325]

Here in Maine the deals and most decent machines dried up about five years ago, with the same overpriced left overs being available for a few years now. 

[Herder 2,354]

In this area there's plenty of decent machines available and the prices range.  Nothing seems to be moving, I can barley give stuff away!! 

[roadapples 6,983]

It's our own fault for telling everyone how great they are...

[ebinmaine 67,271]

1 hour ago, Herder said:

In this area there's plenty of decent machines available and the prices range.  Nothing seems to be moving, I can barley give stuff away!! 

Advertising them in Maine might be a way to move them.

Just make sure you price them way too high and that they DON'T run.

 

 

I agree with @Stepney.

 

I haven't been looking for any tractors to buy but I peruse the CL on occasion.

It's a joke...

 

 

 

 

 

Then ya got folks like @Docwheelhorse.....

Thanks again Tony 👍

You're alright...

 

[c-series don 8,664]

I would think the Ohio/Indiana area would be loaded with them. I remember a while ago it seemed like Pennsylvania had lots of them.

[Darb1964 1,042]

In the Berkshires Ma. There is a lot it seems, some overpriced, some cheep. I've picked up three complete tractors, 312-A with A good power bagger for two hundred 730 hours runs very good. A C111-8 been sitting for five years, haven't done anything with it yet, not much information on it, briggs motor. Fifty dollars and a 520-H that has been sitting for five years push, P.O. Said motor was stuck. I did get it to turn over but have not got back to it either, fifty dollars. I have a chance to get a 518-H that is complete but in bad shape accounting to a friend, and a running 67 that friend is not sure of the model. Friend is fixing up a C-125 8 for the same people and they want to sell the other two to pay for repair. Looking at them this week. I've seen a few other's advertised locally.

[ohiofarmer 3,265]

2 hours ago, c-series don said:

I would think the Ohio/Indiana area would be loaded with them. I remember a while ago it seemed like Pennsylvania had lots of them.

 I used to find the occasional one on searchTempest, but it got spammy with repeat posts.Marketplace has more , but most of the deals are in off brand stuff. i found some quality toro push mowers today.  Some of the MTD stuff is priced OK for what it is, but really not interested in that.  The MTD Craftsman is the same as the rest of them, but high priced for the name, I guess..

 

[953 nut 55,071]

10 hours ago, c-series don said:

I would think the Ohio/Indiana area would be loaded with them. I remember a while ago it seemed like Pennsylvania had lots of them.

Seems like that market has dried up since @pullstart has been making rustling runs south of the boarder.             

[bottjernat1 2,190]

I just sold last night this beauty. I know its the wrong color. I was asking $450 but ended up selling it for $350. It runs great tranny works really good. It sat at my daughters for 2 years. My wifes nephew ran it till it was out of gas. I put a new battery in it and gas and she fired right up. It was my late dads but I am needing to get rid of a few. I have to many machines and a ton of parts. I am starting to let go slowly of stuff green and red. It is hard for me to. But i dont want to burden my wife and 3 daughters if something happens to me.

[Racinbob 11,042]

11 hours ago, c-series don said:

I would think the Ohio/Indiana area would be loaded with them. I remember a while ago it seemed like Pennsylvania had lots of them.

 

Not anymore here in northern Indiana. I was born here in the 50's and would constantly be on the lookout for red as I was driving. It wasn't uncommon to see them on the side of the road for sale, behind a barn or just sitting in the weeds. We moved to Florida in 2000 and my rubbernecking looking for red was hopeless. Mention Wheel Horse to probably 98% of the folks down there and they look at you like you're from another planet. Oddly enough though, four of the five I have now were found down there and made the move back here in 2017. Each one has a pretty unique story as to how they came to live with me as does my 1976 coming back to me shortly after returning home. We now live in a fairly remote area about 35 miles from South Bend and going anywhere requires putting some miles on. I still find myself straining my neck looking for a glimpse of red but it's an extreme rarity now. I used to have some success stopping at garage/yard sales but no more. I rarely waste my time stopping. 

Part prices, as you all know, are completely ridiculous. I'm looking to get a snowblade to mount on my 854 and I have the option of getting another axle bracket and using the blade I have but I'd rather get a complete short frame blade to leave on it year around. Blades are non-existent as are brackets. What little is out there is either junked out or the sellers think red is the new gold. I have to chuckle at myself though. For decades I would need (OK, want) something and when I would find it I would have to come up with another 'need' and start looking again. I thing the fun was in the hunt but it's just more challenging now. 

[bottjernat1 2,190]

I know a few guys with crap in the middle of there woods around me. I have tried to buy stuff from the one guy and he wont come off of anything. it sad. i found a jd 212, a old sears with the overhead valve which are hard to find. The sears i put the hood back on with a bungee to try and stop the weather from beating it up. the guy has hole tractors and trucks literally in the middle of the woods. I asked him on most of it what happened why is it in the woods. His response well she was running ruff and i just parked it and grabbed something else. arrgg!! Here are a few photos of just a spit of what is in the woods. The one thing is a frame and front and rear axle from a 1920's buick. The top photo is my late dads garden tractors. My sister wont sell them and good thing for me i put them on a concrete pad i found in the middle of the woods. Me and my sister are also on a non speaking terms. and im screwed because the friend was more so my sisters then my friends place. So the stuff sits and rots. My dad would be upset if he was alive. Oh well maybe someday i can grab some of it back. I have a biological cousin that lives less then a 1/4 of a mile away i can take stuff there if i could ever get anything. Got to love family sometimes. You try your hardest to do the right things and still get stabbed in the back. i worked very hard to remove all dads stuff so the bank wouldnt get it. and this is what i get

Edited July 7, 2020 by bottjernat1

[Pullstart 62,787]

I have tried to stop looking for more... but just then people tell my wife, etc. where one is then somehow they appear at my place!  

[ohiofarmer 3,265]

On 7/7/2020 at 7:16 AM, 953 nut said:

Seems like that market has dried up since @pullstart has been making rustling runs south of the boarder.             

Pullstart does not have anything on me....there was a young kid on here who wanted a vertical briggs for a b-11 or something like that.  I sent him one in trade for a nice WH cast iron Eight HP. My daughter did the trade in Ann Arbor at Busch's Grocery . The Briggs had a cracked carb housing and the kid got some help here, but then never returned to let us know how it went. Eric helped me with some engine tins and a screen to make my engine a runner. So a swap and a hand from Eric and I had a runner. Also in ANN ARBOR, i found a 42" SD mower that was as perfect as anyone could hope for at an embarrassing low price. He set it outside for me to pick up and just put the money under the door mat. At least that way I could give him more than asking price.

     The tractor itself was a roller that I got for free when i bought a couple of decks in Indiana. if i ever can manage to get fully retired, i have one tractor that needs a ring job and two more that need bored out and rebuilt. The free tractor is a short frame automatic-----just perfect for a front mount spray rig or stuff like that.

  We all have our stories of great deals. it is just that now they may be less common than before.

 

 

Edited July 9, 2020 by ohiofarmer