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Is it worth it?

N

norm s

Member
My Uncle purchased a Super C back in the 70's, excellent condition. Unfortunately his son, who decided for a number of years to farm, went through all his tractors and trashed them (including an immaculate JD 4020 that was his grandfathers) and eventually got to the Super C. He wore out the engine in short order then decided to rebuild it. He tore it all apart and that's where it sits today, 25 years later. Parts are scattered about, tires are flat on the rear and rotted. So, purely out of sentimental value, I have always thought of purchasing it from my uncle and rebuilding it. It needs everything engine-wise - a complete kit with pistons/sleeves, etc. bearings, all seals, cam bearings, absolutely everything. Crank is rusted so will need to be ground. Assuming all the parts are there, and knowing what the engine needs, plus the tractor needs all tires, is it worth it even if it's given to me (or close to it)? You guys can help me put sentiment aside...

Norm
 
I did this with a 200 which will be worth more when finished than the SC. Mine came free (I had to go pick it up and get it out of the man's yard.) With all the work you will need to do I would give no more than scrap value and I would offer to move it for him to get it out of his way, that is offer to move it for nothing. It will cost you thousands to do all the work needed so keep the first cost as low as possible.
 
I'll start by saying, only you can assign your sentimental value to this tractor, you know what it needs, and approx. how much those parts cost, now is it worth that cost and your time to restore your uncles tractor?
I'll finish by saying I have a '36 F-20 that my Grandfather bought new, it has a froze up motor and some things are rusting out, (rims, air cleaner), I don't have the time now to restore it, but I will in another year or so and it is worth it to me.
So you just have to ask yourself if it is worth it to you.
Hope this helps a little.
 
Value wise, it's a parts tractor, and not a very good one at that. If it's been sitting outside you likely will have water in the trans and that is not good. Still it's a family tractor and has some extra value to you. I'd offer scrap value, then do thorough inspection of the transmission/rear end first, before doing anything with it. Then you can make a better estimate of the cost to rebuild it and decide what to do. Eliminate as many surprises as you can before putting a lot of money in it.
 
I'll add this - it has been sitting in a pole barn all these years so there is no weather damage - just the damage of 25+ years of dry rust, etc.

What does a decent Super C go for these days?

Thanks guys!

Norm
 
IF YOUR TRYING TO PUT A DOLLAR VALUE ON IT THAN NO ITS NOT WORTH IT,A REAL GOOD SC WITH FAST HITCH ON A GOOD DAY MIGHT BRING 2500.IF IT WAS MY FATHERS THAN YES ITS WORTH IT.MY FATHER BOUGHT A 300 DEISEL THAT HAD BEEN REPAINTED BY THE DEALER,AND IT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION,AND I CAN STILL SEE THE SMILE ON HIS FACE WHEN HE FIRST CLIMBED ON IT,PRICLESS

JIMMY
 
I would take it on just for the satisfaction of putting it back together and getting it running. I am an accountant but it doesn't mean I apply accounting principles to every aspect of my life. I know guys who spend $100+ for a day of golf with nothing to show for it at the end of the day. I prefer to restore tractors.

If you want to take a harder line then, no...it is probably not worth it. Anyone who thinks that is a parts tractor has never been to a place where they part out tractors. That is a scrap tractor and maybe a few parts have value but not top value. Parts tractors I have seen are "like-new" tractors that the guy has gotten on the cheap from an estate or auction. Collectors want parts that are in top shape and a lot of really nice tractors are chopped for this reason. Offer him scrap value for it and tell him what you will do, how much it will cost you, and how nice it will be to have a clean spot in the shed.
 
Good advice given: The big question is what do you have to pay for it? If you can get it bought for 300-400 the still financially the answer is no...BUT...to me it's a family tractor so yes! You will have more in it than you can get a nice Super C (which MAY be worth 200 less than the 200 mentioned below) for but you will have a tractor with sentimental value and a VERY handy tractor! I don't know what you plan to do with it but for the large part it will do anthing a straight H will, you can move it around easily with out a big truck and trailer, they are alot of fun to pull in stock classes too...easy for kids to learn on too! Believe me, unless they have the low low low 1st gear, you will leave all the straight H pullers scratchin' their heads in a truly stock 1st gear NATPA type pull too!
Yeah I know those hangin' weights aren't NATPA Div 1 legal, but this wasn't a NATPA pull, so I figured when in Rome...
a63201.jpg
 
Pete, you and I think alike as far as the usefullness and versatility of those Super C`s. Your statement about the Super C`s ability to do most anything a straight H will do brought back memories of Hugh Mackay for me from a thread many years ago on here that I was paticipating in. I made pretty much an identical comment that you did, and well, it fired him up and he basically said I didn`t know what the heck I was talking about. God rest his soul, but Hugh never had much good to say about the Super C`s, 200`s etc. when the topic came up from time to time. He sure knew his stuff about tractors, but on that topic, he and I agreed to disagree. Sorry for taking the thread in a different direction, but it made me think of Hugh, and I had to smile when I saw your comment.
 
I would fix it up in a heartbeat if he gave it to me. But if you want to do it and make money your nuts. I can't even name 5 red tractors that could be restored (and I mean RESTORED not a paint can overhaul) and be sold for more than you have in them. Like the accountant said, do it because it is your uncles and it makes you happy not because it will pencil out.
 

I can tell you from experience that a Super C will plow and disk just as much ground in the same time as a standard H because out neighbor to the north had an H and we have worked ground across the fence from each other. As to whether or not it will do "everything" as well, I can't say for sure, but I imagine anything that requires the added weight like pulling a pto implement, baler with a hayrack, corn picker with a wagon, etc. it might do better. A SC will probably cultivate corn or beans faster because it gets around handier. To qualify the plowing and disking... we had a 2x14" Fast Hitch and 7' tandem disk and he had the same size pull type implements, which no doubt helped us. I also pulled a truck out of the mud one time that the truck driver said would never happen... they do better than you would think.
 
They are essentially the same tractor, other than sheet metal changed and maybe they bumped up the governor a couple hundred RPM`s on the 200. Only reason the 200 will bring a little more money than a comparable condition Super C is that alot less were produced, so as collectable tractors go, the 200 is more coveted. As work tractors go - 6 in one hand & half dozen in the other.
 
Well, a couple have already said it. If it is given to you, then absolutely. The price you will have in parts and effort will be covered the emotional part and the satisfaction you get out of redoing it.

If you have to pay for it, walk away........unless you have heavy sentimental attachment to it, then only scrap price.
 
(quoted from post at 15:58:31 02/25/12) Are you telling me a 200 is worth MORE than a Super C???? Convince me of that!!!!
Click to expand...

I think it makes a difference if the SC has Fast-Hitch. I have never seen a 200 without F-H (and I'm sure there are some) and there are lots of SCs without it. A SC with F-H will probably be worth about the same as a 200, IMO.
 
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