FARMALL Super H

I wonder how much a farmall super h would be to restore????

I restored my great grandpas first tractor 1936 FARMALL F-20 AND that was so fun i want to restore a tractor my other great grandpa had a super H

It all depends on your definition of restore.

I grew up with Farmalls, my brother ended up with our H, so I bought a running Super H to restore. That was 5 years ago and it is now in 3 main pieces, with hundreds of little ones scattered around.

See, I wanted to do it "right".. Every part off, electrolysis treatment of many items, new ties, complete engine overhaul, etc.

I paid $1300 for it and figure if I do it like I want, I will have about $6-7000 in it, ( for a $3000 tractor). And that is if I get my but in gear and finish it 2 or 3 years from now.

Want a good restored tractor? Buy one already done by someone who knows the ropes.

Gene

ps, and no, I am not quiting, just resting and biding my time.

I meant "tires" not ties.

Guess you knew that, Gene

I agree with Gene the cheapest way to buy a tractor is buy one thats already restored if its done right . If you do it right its usually not worth what you have into it. Some people always look for a cheap tractor, i try to find one in great shape for as little as posible because it ends up being the cheaper way to go. Tires are a major thing today. Erik..

Been there, done that and have learned the hard way to buy one that is in decent shape mechanically and a good runner. Then tweak whatever little things that need to be done.

I've got more in my tractors than I can get out of them except one, my 53 Super H. It had been a loader tractor all it's life so the tin work had been protected. Had to do the whol front end/steering rebuild procedure, did a valve job and a few of the usual things like rebuild the carb and generator but that was about it. I like this tractor and it's real snappy on the governor. My son, who is green and yellow, started plowing with it at a plow day this year with a 2X Little Genius and I don't think he ever let me back on it that day.

Anyway-what I learned is the cheap tractors will put a bigger hole in your wallet than buying a decent one up front.

I would concur with the other folks on the price, which would be 4-6K to restore the tractor. That does not mean replace every bearing and bring it to original condition. It means to just fix the leaks, repair worn parts and paint.

My experience is similar to those previously stated. I bought a '50 M that was a part's tractor at best - I'm $5000 into it now and it'll be $6K when it's all said and done. Still I've enjoyed the process and it was (is) a great learning experience. I don't recall who said it, but someone on this forum once wrote "If you buy a tractor that's running, how do you expect to learn anything"?

So that's my excuse.

Restoring a "family tractor", to me, is a world of difference than another tractor you just purchase. If you have real strong feelings about that tractor and it's history in your family, then forget the dollars as you will never be sorry when it's all finished.

I have over $6000.00 in my Dad's H Farmall and I still get emotional every time I climb aboard and fire it up. The money is not what I remember; it's the feeling of being 14 years old again and plowing and planting and cultivating and cutting hay and baling and hauling ear corn in the fall. That tractor talks to me in ways that I can't describe. I'm 72 and wish my Dad was here and could see and hear it.

At shows, I meet a lot of guys who wish they had done what I did. They just stand there loaded with regret. They all talk about the family tractor that got away and they did nothing about it.

On the other hand, putting $6000.00 into an H that I would purchase and fix up....that's insane!

Now excuse me....I have to go out, fire her up and go for a short drive even though it's going to be 50 degrees today. We had a heat houser on it years ago and that was comfy. But I'll be warm, you can count on it.
LA in WI

With [u:728f71f522]good[/u:728f71f522] paint jobs costing from $2K on up, it ain't cheap these days.
Like LA in WI says though, if it was a family tractor it's different. I'm sure I could never find the Super C dad bought new and I put in many hours plowing, disking, cultivating, (Dad always insisted on planting) mowing, raking, hauling manure, etc. I would probably not care much what it cost.

You"ll find out fromn reading the posts on this site and from going to shows that the word "restore" is very subjective. To some it means mainly new paint and decals and fixin a few leaks. Some are at the other extreme. Take a look at my SH photo site. I can"t think of any corners that I cut and I"m over $7000 (please don"t tell my wife) and still not quite finished.
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It it's not in the family and is not an emotional issue, take your time and find a good runner with a good paint job. Or find a good runner with a not-so-good paint job, but with good tin. Then you can mostly clean up, paint, put on decals, tinker with some of the small stuff. I guess you know this is a very time-consuming hobby, and parts ain't cheap.

I have $6500.00 + a lot of time, so far, in my 53 SH and am not quite done yet. I have a 52 H that is a good runner and and doesn't need too much more than paint. I have a total of about $1000.00 in it. I am having much more fun with the SH even though I know have more in it that what it is worth "IF" I had to sell it today. Decide what you want to do and why you are doing it. If your trying to make money this is probably not the game to play.