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How far to go with this H?

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Nick in SC

11-30-2003 07:01:30

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Back in 2001, I got a hold of the 42H that I drove as a kid in SD. It had a stuck motor and needed tires and one rear rim. I paid $400 for tractor with a new set of rear tires. (Unbelievable bargain right?) Now two years later I have over $3000 in it. (engine rebuild,new clutch and plate, new carb, new rim,tubes and tire mounting, paint etc) Still need a few little things lights, correct wiring, etc. Its a sound tractor everything works great. The hood and grill aren't too pretty but are painted nice. All I've used it for is pulling a trailer around the place. (have other tractors) Now my concern: I've seen H's in this shape and cosmeticly better sell routinely for less than 2K. Should I continue with plans to completely restore and add options like 3-point, wide front, live hyd., and make it my really slick tractor, or should I buy a really slick tractor and stop pumping money into this H. Will it ever be worth what I have in it now? With wfe and 3point will it ever be worth the 4-4.5K that i will have in it then? opinions?

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Dick Davis

12-02-2003 02:33:34

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

So Nick, you got a lot of answers here and they all make good sense(except for Farmall Daddy putting that kind of money into an Allis!) What are you going to do? Keep going? Sure are! Didn't you all ready know that before you asked? If you had asked the question of this form, "Does anybody have a tractor that they are NOT upside down in?" there would have only been one positive answer - and he likely would have been lying! It's just money and time. My nickel. Dick Davis

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Big red 1

11-30-2003 15:58:34

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

Good for you,If I could only find the stuff I grew up on.Bottom line whats it worth to you,if thats what you want then market value means nothing.
Your lucky you can find a part of your youth,many of us cant.
do what it takes.

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49 Cubber!

11-30-2003 15:49:39

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

To simply answer your question,NO!Itll never be worth what you have in and I went through the same type of predicament a couple of weeks ago.Im not doing anything for myself,but am helping a friend with his SMD,as I am posting questions on it now.I enjoy helping someone work on theirs and helping others.One thing you must consider,are the tractors your finding in mechanically as good of shape as yours,I feel that is your biggest investment so far,right?You are at th very least,using it now,and selling it would mean one less tractor you have right now.Use it for a while,then see if maybe in a year or two you can get at least some of your money back on it.Being formerly from Charleston,SC,I know how you feel about the money aspect of it.I found an old F-30 outside of Surfside,put maybe 6000 in it to get it right and all I could get for it when I auctioned off everything was 2800.I later found the same tractor in Virgina for 1200 bucks!

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NDS

11-30-2003 15:44:03

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

Like others have said when you start working on old tractors you usually can never get your money back on them. I have a M that belonged to my Dad. Couple of years ago I pulled it out of pole barn where it had set for 30 years and got it running. The old tractor had no major mechanical problems but am sure I have spent over $2000 on it (did not keep up with expense because I did not want to know) and it is still not painted. Would be lucky to get $1500 for it but $5000 would not buy it.

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11-30-2003 14:27:14

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

have a 45 H that we bought in 63 for the grand sum of $300. rebuilt the engine for the 2nd time this year. totally redid transmission in 74. have live hyd, 3pt., remote hyd, deluxe seat, 12v., warning lights, a platform on left side over axel for easy on/off, front bumper. probablly some other items i forgot - point is over the years we have spent several dollars on it. would it bring enough to get the money back? NO is it worth it? YES for us it is. a tractor that would do what it will and in the shape it is will cost at least $5grand and not be near as simple to pull in the shop and fix.

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Paul in Mich

11-30-2003 14:18:05

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

Nich, If you try to justify the cost of restoring by what you may be able to sell your tractor when finished, I'm afraid you will never be able to sharpen your pencil enough to enhance its worth, but if you measure the cost by the degree of satisfaction you receive each time you look, touch, hear, or drive your project, then the results become priceless. I live within 40 miles of a cassino, and I have seen many many people spend money that I feel could have better been spent restoring a tractor. Point is we all have our priorities on what to do with our leisure time.

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Jonathan Mirgon

11-30-2003 13:12:15

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

I have an (a) that I am restroing and have been working on for about a year and a half, Dont feel bad I have about 3,000.00 invested in the little (a) It's not done yet, and go figure I went out and bought an (h). The (a) was a parts tractor if that when I bought it. So I did learn a lesson from that. In my opinion its impossibal to do a nice restoration on these old tractors and sell it for a profit, If your lucky you might break even "not including your labor" or lose some in order to sell it. It sounds like you have put a lot of time into your H , If it were me I would continue on with it. I hope in time the market will catch up with the money we have invested. But also on the other hand were could you go and buy a new tractor that is as big as your "h" new at for 3,000.00. Somthing that size today would probably cost you 25 or 30 thousand dollars, And when you get it done you will have a "new" looking and running tractor.

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Zonie

11-30-2003 11:24:49

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

I have a 48 H that I originally bought for $650 that sounds to be in about the same shape as your's was it was running but blowing oil from the exhaust. It needed everything in the engine redone,and I have around $3500 in it now with new front tires and used rear tires that I need to change soon.
I'd consider my self lucky if I could get $2500 out of it now if I wanted to sell it, which I don't.
I think I'll keep it around as it was the first tractor I "restored"

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The Red

11-30-2003 09:57:22

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

Read my article in the YT article section, "1951 Farmall H". You can see how much time and money I put into that one. I think it ended up right around $3,500. You have a sentimental reason to bring this one back to life. Go for it!!

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little john

11-30-2003 09:45:00

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

I enjoyed the earlier comments. I never thought of my tractor as an investment that would return a profit someday. Just bought it for satisfaction.

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Farmall Daddy

11-30-2003 09:10:06

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

I have had the same problem with my WC Allis. I bought it as basically a peice of junk. It was my first tractor that I bought w/ my own money, and I seen some potential in it. Put new rubber all the way around it, brakes, sandblasted it, primered it, new overhaul built for pulling, new drawbar setup, clutch, wiring, and a lot of work. Just can't seem to stop spending money on the ole thing, and doubt that I ever will. Up until a few months ago, I thought it was your normal WC, but finding out that it was used in World War 2, that makes me want to keep it even more. How I found this out was the steel rear axel, rather than the cast. If it means a lot to you, keep it as long as it doesn't affect money issues!! Best of luck with it!

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Todd

11-30-2003 08:24:33

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

Many years ago I learned that things such as this, whether it be an old family pocket watch, a favorite truck, or a antique tractor that is connected to your past and your soul, money is really no object. My list of things is quite large, of things that I have put way more cash into than will ever be worth. Never do I ever fret that as much as the things that I have passed up and not pampered. I know this may sound strange, but the true value is what you place on something, not what a stranger would pay you for it. It all comes from your heart and not a blue book.

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Allan

11-30-2003 08:11:59

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

Nick,

I dunno. You've got a tractor in SC that you drove as a youth in SD. I think that is really something and only wish that I could be so darned lucky.

I just got into this 'tractor hunting hobby' since the 1st of the year and found out within about 20 seconds that the money is not going to ever pencil out in any way, shape or form. It just isn't going to happen.

I also realize fullwell that I am just trying to buy back my youth; it is as simple as that & I just like tinkering/looking at the old things. It makes me feel good.

I shall have every model and make of tractor that ever turned a wheel on my farm; that I will do.

So, if you are fortunate enough to have the means to do it and that old tractor makes you happy, then continue putting the pretty face back on that grand old girl.

Because, this is what we do, (in my opinion).

Allan

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buck

11-30-2003 08:04:01

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

I think what you are finding out has been the experience of thousands of others. We put out time,energy, and money into something old, only to find that it's real value is less than just the amount of money that we put into it. Then comes the reality check as should we continue or take out losses. A friend once ask why I put so much effort into so old object and after a little thought I replid that for a brief time I could say that it was mine and I made it useable again. I had just as soon spend my time on an old tractor,piece of furniture,car,lawnmower,or what ever than watching TV,paying golf,fishing,or whatever as these are the things that I call my toys.At the end of the day I have the satisfaction of my accomplishments just as others had of making par while paying $70.00 for a round of golf. There are also days when a $150.00 carburator didn't help one bit.BTW If you take a real good look at that $2000.00 H I am sure you can find a way to spend another $2000.00 on it. When we go fishing don't we need at least one new rod or reel. Finish your H and enjoy or you may find yourself interested in little red sports cars with removable tops.

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dan

11-30-2003 07:58:56

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

I spent 1000 dollars on mine in worse shape than that. It was an area of the country where they are common and more expensive and I only paid the price we gave the original owner for his trade in. Still it was a lot of money and I spent probably 3000 at least in the restoration but I wanted one. I got one. And now it's good as new! I am happy and so should you be. Having an antique peice of iron you rebuilt yourself is almost as good as owning a fararri to me. At least I know the farmall will start no matter what when I need it. Can you say the same about your new truck? Not often do we get out of them in money what we put in but you will get the enjoyment that you can only get from a fine machine that works right every time day in and day out. Have fun with it and don't worry about money. As long as you can afford it.

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Nebraska Cowman

11-30-2003 07:41:34

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

Nick. apearantly the tractor has sentimental value or you wouldn't have come this far. At this point you are married to it so it realy don't matter. If you just keep it the way it is the market may catch up someday. They ain't makin no more new ones!

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Jim in michigan

11-30-2003 07:10:26

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Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Nick in SC, 11-30-2003 07:01:30

They are never worth what you put in to them...as for the H you are working on,,are you doing the work yourself? 3000 sounds awful high for what you have done so far, where do you get your parts from,, if its from a dealer, there are cheaper places,,,Jim

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Nick in Sc

11-30-2003 07:22:05

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Re: Re: How far to go with this H? in reply to Jim in michigan, 11-30-2003 07:10:26

The 3k includes the original 400. I had a shop do the sleeves the cam bearings and the head. I did everything else. Also bought new rear centers (had cracks). Also have some dollars in labor done at my shop by others. Mostly metal prep and painting. I believe I bought the engine kit from Walts tractor parts. Anyway add it all up and thats where I am.

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