Concerns buying a tractor stored 20 years

I am looking a buying a tractor that has been stored 20 years and not run much. What are there, if any concerns.

Many concerns. Engine locked up. Block frozen at some point and cracked tires no good things broken etc etc etc. That said I have also seen them that are easy to fix it all depends on if you know how to bring it back to life or if it is junk when your done with it. Me it is child's play to do that but I do it all the time and have cut more then one tree out from around a tractor just to bring it home and have it running a week later

If you are a qualified mechanic, or a very good general repair person with tools, do it if you are not! Don't do it unless you can operate it for 1/2 day (your gasoline/diesel) this lets you become aware of its fundamental value! and even if you do not buy it, the owner can say with certainty that it is running. Jim

Make sure that the engine isn't stuck, and that the points aren't stuck. Drain and refill the oil etc. Obviously the battery is probably dead, but, if you check the tractor out well, the fact that it has been sitting shouldn't be a deal killer if it's otherwise good. If the engine is stuck, you can still free it up by squirting some diesel into the spark plug hole. Make sure that the water jacket isn't cracked. Check the area around the head gasket for signs that welding has been done across the mating surfaces. If it's a gas engine, it isn't the end of the world, if you're getting it for use as a tractor. Back in the day, I've Nicle 97ed a few tractor engines. Gas engines have less compression, and if you file the surface well it should still run fine, but several engines that I've encountered that someone else weren't rounded(Ususally drilled) to prevent further cracking. Even though the tractor hasn't been run for 20 years, doesn't prevent you from changing the fluids, charging(or changing) the battery and starting the engine. You may need to break the points free, though. When I worked at the indian res at night, the chief use to gather up old idle tractors from here in the south, bring them to Buffalo and make me start them. He brought a couple of diesel articulating steering pettybones that would not start at all, but everything else just took a little attention. Good luck.

Make sure that you drain the fuel, ecspecially gas as it breaks down even if water is never condensed, and if it has been sitting for twenty years, expect to use ether to start it. Like the first guy that responded, start the tractor before buying it, unless you're just trying to get some parts to fix up your "Other" tractor.

Depends on what you are buying it for and how much you have to pay. There are tractors that have started pretty easily after sitting for years. I pulled a GP home one day that had dirt dobber nest in one cylinder. Took a garden hose and washed it out. put some fresh gas in it, pulled it about 10 ft and it fired right up. Then there are those that have serious problems. all depends on what you are going to do with it.

I just bought a tractor that had been setting for a few years.One of those ran good when we parked it tractors.It had a spun bearing and three bent rods.Your basically buying a parts tractor.

I bought this Cub back in April after it had had been stored for 20 years. The engine was free and the implements were like new. I advertised on the Classified Ads and a man from MA bought it. No problem for him getting the engine to run. He's going to restored it for his son as a graduation present. Hal

Heres my main concern on these,simply why was it stored that long?in all reality ,parking one in a barn for 20 years,and actually storing one for 20 years is two different things entirly.when i buy one like this, and this is my opinion mind you,i buy it as a nonrunner,with good paint.and very often even the paint is bad because of all the bird crap and stuff.i bought one identical to the one in your pictures once.it had sat in a barn most of its life that i knew of for sure.it had very low hours because the fellow that bought it used it to cultivate a small garden only for maybe 4-5 years after he had bought it new.he then had a wreck that left him in a wheel chair and he couldnt use it.i knew the man personally and i was the one that backed it in the barn.it had nothing doe to except i shut the gas off,and unhooked the battery and left it.i bought it from his widow,after he died.when i went to pick it up i was kind of surprised it wouldnt turn over.it had been setting in a clean well maintained barn out of the weather its entire life.before i got it running again i had to overhaul the engine,rats had built a nest in it and completely filled one cyl and it was rusted solid.i think i replaced every gasket on the entire tractor to stop leaks.and replaced every gas component on it.every wire was eaten up and gen and starter had to be replaced.clutch never did release and had to be replaced.i think i wound up with about three times what it was worth invested in it,and it definitly wasnt the same tractor that it was when parked.i did MORE work on that one than i did on ANY one i ever bought working,no matter what condition they were in.on the other hand,just to illistrate the difference,a very good freind of mine had a 38 rolls royce setting in his garage that had 13 ACTUAL miles on it.his grandfather bought it in england ,drove it to the docks,loaded it on a boat,shipped it home and stored it properly.even the original battery was drained of acid and stored.i helped him start it for the first time since 1938 i think it was the fall of 79 it quite literaly had been setting untouched for over 40 years. since it had been profesionally stored,kept in a controled envirenment,all openings capped,all gearboxes filled completly with oil,all we had to do was drain it ,install correct fluids.recharge battery, add gas ,and hit the switch.it started on the first round ands never missed a beat.every single part of that vehicle was original and it had never been into in any way.a truly one of a kind automobile.dont be fooled by the word "stored" theres parked, and then theres really stored.very rarely is one setting in a barn really stored! check everything that you would check on one setting in a hedgerow,the ONLY difference is the location.

Update on the old Tractor.

I showed up unplanned and the owner was home and willing to show me the Tractor.

What I have found is a 1957 Farmall 230 wide front end. The tractor on first impression was good. Checked it over, oil, water and gas okay. So I attempted to start it. Fairly cool today about 45, the tractor fired right up with no choke at idle and then stalled. Gave it a little choke and it fired up and idled no problem. Checked the hydraulics out everything checked out good hitch lifted up and down quickly front rock shafts both work nice and smooth. Not sure why the two levels to operate them. Next was the test drive easily moved with little throttle in reverse and the first 3 gears it even shifted in to 4th and was able to move foward at 3rd or 4th notch on the throttle. Paint is all orginal, no poor repaint job. The tractor has the draw bar and even has the hook for releasing the fast Hitch from the seat. No signs of welding or cracks in the hitch.

Issues found one rear tire has a boot bulging out. Ran the tractor about 15 minutes and the heat gauge did not move. The amp meter does not work, bur it is converted to 12v so it may not be hooked up. There is some type of gauge by the clutch pedal that appears to connect to the Fast hitch that does not work.

Seller even has a IH 2 bottom plow and a IH sickle mower both fast hitch.

Asking $3000.00 for the tractor and $3500.00 all on. Is this a fair price?