Ive been looking at this 1206 near my house to tinker with. I was looking at 1086 or 1066 but i found this one and finally stopped and asked the guy. He said hes had it 7can years but hasnt run it in 3. He told me it did run great. The problems are reverse is out of it, the rear tires are flat and dont look to healthy, its been sitting outside so its rust but the typical old tractor rusty not rotted, and its got a couple "farmer" fixes but nothing too bad. I did also notice the exhaust stack and air cleaner were gone but covered with coffee cans. He told me he did put new injectors in it, new brakes, new radiator, rebuilt hydro pump, new front tires and rims. Id has a loader mount and dual hubs but i cant recall if he has the loader and duals. Hes asking 1500. I was just curious if this is a good deal and if i can get parts to fix it even. Im a diesel mexhanic by trade so i can handle the repairs. I havent done a lot if tractor work. Im not looking to restore it anytime soon but i want to have everything working and looking like factory. I aprreciate any input you can give me. Thanks!
- Thread starter jtdiesel
- Start date
Deere Scotty
Member
If You run a search on "external_link" You will find 1206"s are normally priced above $20,000. Some almost $30,000. I dont know how much repairs would cost; but parts are still available. I have never driven, or rode on one; but if they werent so expensive, I wouldnt mind having one! I suspect they are a very good tractor, judgeing by the price. Try contacting for parts...
1) Bates Corporation, Bourbon, IN. (new, & used).
2) Steiner Tractor Parts. (new, & used)
Just for starters.
1) Bates Corporation, Bourbon, IN. (new, & used).
2) Steiner Tractor Parts. (new, & used)
Just for starters.
mazemeister
Member
search the archives on here for 806. that model uses the same engine except naturally aspirated. darn good engine, but expensive and tricky to rebuild.
if you don't want it tell me where it is.
if you don't want it tell me where it is.
Farmboy856
Member
1206s are a very good tractor, but as stated by others, that motor is not for the first-time rebuilder. I think they represent for some folks--- and collectors--- the first modern-age, big, IH field tractor. I have to admit I am a fan, even though they have some of the drawbacks of the 06-66-86 series, primarily the gear shifting issues. Haviing the clutch and T/A properly adjusted, and not shifting gears from a dead stop with the engine at half-throttle or more will greatly reduce shifting frustration. I heard an old IH dealer mechanic describe the 1206 as the first real "tamed beast" that IH produced. Having said all this, Buy it! Buy it! Buy it! Unless it is has a major issue like a junk block, that is a bargain.
Allan in NE
Well-known Member
$1500 buy-in and another 20 grand to get 'er in the field.
Been there, done that. :>(
Allan
Been there, done that. :>(
Allan
Agreed on that one. Given the condition and years without even being started all of the repairs he claims to have made are probably for naught. Buy it knowing it needs an engine and transmission overhaul, new tires and eveything that moves checked.
If this is your first refurbishment I would pass.
If this is your first refurbishment I would pass.
I don't know. If it took 15K to fix and 1500 to buy it you may still be OK. The guy says he's a diesel mech so he should be OK working on most of it himself plus he may be buying parts wholesale instead of retale like most of us do. Still a bit of wiggle room in there.
Rick
Rick
craigreavley
Member
Thats junk price. You cant go wrong buying anything IH for junk price.
If this is your first tractor restoration, I'd recommend aimming a little lower.
Not to over simplify, but that's a big tractor, and big tractors have big parts - and big parts are expensive.
I'm not sure what scrap prices are these days, but at 5 or 6 tons, you're not really risking much at 1500.
But I'm willing to bet the owner knows exactly what it'll cost to fix, and priced it accordingly.
A 1206 represents a significant investment. It's not the kind of machine a guy wants to just clear out of the yard because he's tired of tripping over it. I'm sure he did the math before making the sell decision.
On the other hand, it depends on what your goal is. Aside from the utility value, I personally think the 1206 is one of the nicest looking tractors there is, and it's certainly worth restoring.
If you want it as a hobby project, then the bottom line doesn't really matter - you're paying for the fun of restoring it.
And I'm not the only one who feels that way about the 1206 - there's certainly a solid market out there for them. You probably stand a better chance of recouping some of your costs than with some other models.
BUT, one thing I've learned as a "truth" in the tractor world:
It's ultimately cheaper to buy a tractor in good condition than it is to put one into good condition.
The simple fact is, parts are a whole lot more expensive individaully than they are bundled together on a working tractor. Only way around that is to have a LOT of patience for good deals.
If your goal is to have a nice 1206 - buy a nice one. But if your interest is more in doing the work for the fun and satisfaction of it, and you have the resources to support a loss, this sounds like a good place to start.
Not to over simplify, but that's a big tractor, and big tractors have big parts - and big parts are expensive.
I'm not sure what scrap prices are these days, but at 5 or 6 tons, you're not really risking much at 1500.
But I'm willing to bet the owner knows exactly what it'll cost to fix, and priced it accordingly.
A 1206 represents a significant investment. It's not the kind of machine a guy wants to just clear out of the yard because he's tired of tripping over it. I'm sure he did the math before making the sell decision.
On the other hand, it depends on what your goal is. Aside from the utility value, I personally think the 1206 is one of the nicest looking tractors there is, and it's certainly worth restoring.
If you want it as a hobby project, then the bottom line doesn't really matter - you're paying for the fun of restoring it.
And I'm not the only one who feels that way about the 1206 - there's certainly a solid market out there for them. You probably stand a better chance of recouping some of your costs than with some other models.
BUT, one thing I've learned as a "truth" in the tractor world:
It's ultimately cheaper to buy a tractor in good condition than it is to put one into good condition.
The simple fact is, parts are a whole lot more expensive individaully than they are bundled together on a working tractor. Only way around that is to have a LOT of patience for good deals.
If your goal is to have a nice 1206 - buy a nice one. But if your interest is more in doing the work for the fun and satisfaction of it, and you have the resources to support a loss, this sounds like a good place to start.
It would be my first tractor engine but ive overhauled v8 gassers, detroit 60s and most newer cummins so unless i need exotic special tools that arent made anymore and can still get a good manua... i think i can hadle it. Ive only have 1 tractor (farmall m) and just recently got into tractors. By the way...tell me if this is true or possible. The seller claims the tractor doesnt have a t/a and was equipped that way from the factory
I guess to clarify... the tractor set in this guys DRIVEWAY for as long as i can remeber. He has some other stuff around the yard like a old jd narrow front. It wasnt advertised for sale or even had a sign on it. I approached him cause i was curious. Hes probably in his 70s and admitted having health issues. He said a few people have stopped by but a few tried to undercut him. He admitted to buying it at auction 7 years ago for $1000. My intentions are to make it usable and in the later future maybe restore it. Im one of those people that have a lot of irons in the fire but this is something ive wanted for a while. I wanted a 1086 or 1066 but i figured this was just as good.
the tractor vet
Well-known Member
If he is asking 1500 bucks for it myself i would snag it . BUT i know what i am doing . The down side is i would atleast want to get the engine running BEFORE i jumped in with both feet . IF rev. is out your in for a lot of BULL WORK as the whole back end has to come apart and IF the rev gear is in fact gone then that is the last gear that has to come out and the first one back in . It is almost a give me that it will need a T/A and clutch MCV pump and some other pieces and parts while your in the rear end you will want to up date the park loc. A new set of back tires will cost you and arm and leg and first born. Parts wise i am guess you will have three grand in parts there abouts . If the engine is DOA then your talking big bucks and IF you have never done a DT361 and don't know all the Squeaks and Giggles of it you can build a hand grenade . Vary fussy engine . There is a lot more to fixing them the just turning nuts and bolts and alot of what ya need to know is not in the books. So your 1500 dollar find can turn into a 8000 dollar nightmare over night.
mazemeister
Member
ok too far away for me ;-) i've never actually done an engine but from what i've read and been told, the biggest complexity is that the sleeves are a heavy press fit and are held in place by friction only (no lip at the top). so you have to have a hydraulic sleeve installer and each hole has to be fit just right so it goes in with the right amount of force. too loose and she'll suck the sleeve into the crankcase; too tight and you'll crack a sleeve... maybe as much as 50-100 hours after rebuild. from what i understand you're looking at about $10K to do the engine.
if you want the tractor to earn a living, the good news of all this is when done right, they last a REALLY long time.
if you want the tractor to earn a living, the good news of all this is when done right, they last a REALLY long time.
RedRoundhead
Member
I would think to purchase it. If all goes against you, you should be able to get out from under it, as long as you assess it"s needs properly.
I am (almost) sure that if you decide that it is not worth fixing in the future, someone on here would buy it from you.
You might just get lucky, though, and have a runner. You never know until you look!
Best of luck!
I am (almost) sure that if you decide that it is not worth fixing in the future, someone on here would buy it from you.
You might just get lucky, though, and have a runner. You never know until you look!
Best of luck!
Well bad news. Long story short there was a lack of communication. I went back sunday to check over the tractoe again and apparently when he said 15 he meant 15000 not hundred... so needless to say i am not going to be buying this tractor. So now im on the hunt for a tractor with the 414 cu in engine.
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