To use or not to use?

Anonymous-0 · Nov 28, 2012

Was out this last weekend knocking down some heavy brush with the 450D and mower. Neighbor came over and said I should be using the other tractor...this one I should keep for hay rides and parades and such.
I tried to be nice and told him I use all my junk. I do not just restore and polish.
He kinda got bent out of shape and said I did not respect tractor history.
Huh? They are my tractors, I use them not play with them.
I wanted to ask if he had been drinking, but felt I just better let it ride.
I think the old gal likes pulling hard once in awhile...keeps the insides cleaned out.

Zachary Hoyt · Nov 28, 2012

"Who died and left you in charge?" is one response that comes to mind when people tell me things in that way.
Zach

jackinok · Nov 28, 2012

do what trips your trigger!

Anonymous-0 · Nov 28, 2012

I always thank them for their helpful advice and then go on working.

SweetFeet · Nov 28, 2012

Bill46,

Use them and enjoy them. What good are toys you can only look at?

Husband uses our antique tractors to mow, plow, push snow and various other things. He may add some flags or such, but won't even wash one up to take it through a parade...he likes that they look used. Yet some prefer to restore them to better-than original condition and never use them at all. To each his own, I think.

thurlow · Nov 28, 2012

Might be interesting to know how many acres the neighbor farms with his tractors/equipment; I'm guessing that he couldn't 'set' a 5-bottom fully-mounted moldboard plow if his life depended on it.........

Royse · Nov 28, 2012

My grandfather always told me "If its too good to use, its too good to have."
I have a neighbor that uses a fully restored JD-D to brushhog his pasture,
and it looks like he's going to leave it set in the field all winter.
If I had room I'd offer him shelter for it.

uncle henry · Nov 28, 2012

use it that's what you bought it for

NEBeef · Nov 28, 2012

(quoted from post at 14:54:20 11/28/12) He kinda got bent out of shape and said I did not respect tractor history.
Huh? .

So using a tractor to do the work it was built for is not respecting its history? And pulling a wagon in a parade *is* respecting its history?

Is there something I'm missing?

M-MAN · Nov 28, 2012

Different strokes for different folk's. If I own it I'm gonna use it.

Was looking at a nice old Winchester commerative in an odd ball caliber one time. Dealer was trying hard to sell it to me untill I asked how much for cartriges. He said it ain't to shoot & I said I would so he took the rifle and put it back in the case. Wasn't for sale then. Go figure.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 28, 2012

Well Uncle, I really did not buy this one. It's one I carried back from the Hoosier state when dad passed away. I did not want to sell this one or the old MH300 combine. I am in the middle of fixing it up. It has been a hard project. It looks like some one ran fence posts thru it at one time. I rebuilt the thing cause it was his favorite tractor. It has worked hard all of it's life.

JRSutton · Nov 28, 2012

I might agree with him if parts were impossible to find, and the tractor could never be repaired if you broke something.

But that's simply not the case. Let him know that. There's very little you could do to that tractor that would force it to the scrap yard.

uncle henry · Nov 28, 2012

if he was like my grandfather he would want you to use it that's how i got some of his stuff because he knew i would use it and keep it maintained

Errin OH · Nov 28, 2012

"They are my tractors, I use them not play with them."

You did say that out loud, right?

The term - P1ss off comes to mind. But I probably wouldn't say that out loud, being neighborly and all....

However, if you realy want to get his dander up, paint it pink, purple, lime green, or a combination of.

BAnNC · Nov 28, 2012

If it stays around here, it has to earn its keep. No trailor queens on this place.

DownSouth · Nov 28, 2012

You reply "I agree, but this work has to be done and it"s the only thing I have to do it with. I"ve been trying to sell it so I can afford something else, but so far I"ve had no takers".
Of course then he will ask "Really, what are you asking for it?"
You reply "two hundred thousand cash".
He then walks off scratching his head while you continue doing what you want with "YOUR" tractor!

paul · Nov 28, 2012

They had a European old gas tractor at a show here, started it with a precussion shell, looked a little fargile.

I might agree with him just a tad - tho it is still your tractor and your business - if you had that tractor out there beating around in the trees with a bush hog.

Otherwise, the 50-60 year old tractors on my place got to earn their keep here too. They did get life a lot easier since UI got my Ford 5000, but then, that's over 35 years old too......

--->Paul

EJ70 · Nov 28, 2012

Use and abuse are two different things.

Use and maintain are fine. Sounds like thats what you are doing to me.

James Howell · Nov 28, 2012

Use it every chance you get; especially in the presence of your neighbor.

Charlie M · Nov 28, 2012

I quess the guy wouldn't like being at my place as all I have is the old tractors and one of the main reasons I have them is so I can use them. I even put my 1938 F14 to work in the summer. Those old tractors were made to do farm work and if you take care of them they will do farm work a lot longer than our life time.

Nancy Howell · Nov 28, 2012

We have 14 vintage JD tractors from 1939 to 1955, M, MT"s, A"s, B"s, & 70"s. Except for one B that has been stubborn about running, all are used for various jobs around the farm. All are in various stages of "dress". Some nicely dressed, some definitely in work clothes.

We even have a vintage JD delivery trailer that is used.

Your neighbor would probably have a convulsion if he saw our tractors working.

Like you said, its your tractor. Use it as you please.

mkirsch · Nov 28, 2012

I think you're getting your knickers in a twist over what was supposed to be a roundabout compliment.

Did he really get "bent out of shape" or is that just you imprinting your own attitude on him? Was it perhaps a SARCASTIC "bent out of shape?"

I've told people that their tractors were too nice to use, even the ones that weren't painted and polished up. I meant it as a compliment. They took it as a compliment and said "Thanks."

JMOR · Nov 28, 2012

(quoted from post at 12:29:42 11/28/12) I think you're getting your knickers in a twist over what was supposed to be a roundabout compliment.

Did he really get "bent out of shape" or is that just you imprinting your own attitude on him? Was it perhaps a SARCASTIC "bent out of shape?"

I've told people that their tractors were too nice to use, even the ones that weren't painted and polished up. I meant it as a compliment. They took it as a compliment and said "Thanks."

y guess, too. Done same.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 28, 2012

Oh, he was serious. I have known him for 30 years.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 28, 2012

I think you missed the point. He was commenting on the condition of your tractor. You need to take a chill pill opps sorry.

Goose · Nov 28, 2012

I would have taken it as a compliment on the tractor's condition.

But, be that as it may, I once had a '48 Dodge farm truck. I cleaned it up, put a nice paint job on it,--and put it right back to work as a farm truck. I did keep it nice enough to drive in parades, however.

I was once lined up for a parade behind a doctor who had a professionally restored '56 Cadillac. In conversation before the parade started, I indicated my truck and commented, "I've hauled many a load of hogs with that old gal".

The doctor like to have come unglued at the thought of hauling hogs in a parade vehicle.

No offense, but I think you missed the point in your situation.

Dick2 · Nov 28, 2012

You could have told him: "I own this tractor - but if you come up with a high enough offer, you could own it and do what you want with it". Let him figure out how much money is "high enough". I bet he'd back off real fast then.

RLA · Nov 28, 2012

We have 9 John Deeres on the farm. Not a one
of them look like Junk, & when I bought, restored
or repaired the fleet I decided I wasn"t going
to just look at them. If ya want something to
look at buy a picture....

Traditional Farmer · Nov 28, 2012

I don't want a tractor I'm afraid to use.It always amazes me how people have so much to say about the proper uses for machinery and land they never paid a dime on.

Robert Major · Nov 28, 2012

Its your tractor do what you want. I have some here in my collection, I will only use if I have to as used parts are hard to find and new are non excistant.
I have a Major I use right now for grass cutting. I just picked up new tires for her.
I have always wanted a concourse restored tractor so this ones gonna get done, and retired and gonna use another one instead.
The guy I Got it from just passed sadly, so gonna do it in memory as he wanted to see it when I had done it.
I never really had the time while he was alive so gonna make a real effort to find the time do it now.
Regards Robert

Rick Kr · Nov 28, 2012

Well if it is a tractor that is ultra-rare and has irreplaceable parts... it would be worth a lot. Hmmm, I would sell it and take the money.

If its a nice old tractor, restored or not, use it an enjoy it. I like the plow days pics where guys arent afraid to use that nice painted up tractor.

I can from restoring old cars and drag racing, I had a few fairly high dollar cars. The cost of insurance and being afraid to drive them or get them scratched, got old real quick. Sold all but one of them, started a little farm and have a whole lot of fun for a lot less money.

Tell you neighbor he can buy your tractor and treat it the way he wants.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Nov 28, 2012

In my world, the most valuable tractor on earth isn't worth the time of day if you cannot or will not use it. I don't believe in abusing equipment, but I don't believe in standing around looking at a tractor that's never going to be used. I've got a couple tractors that I've done full blown restorations on, right down to the smallest detail. They don't use aftermarket or replacement parts, just OEM/NOS original parts. Even went as far as to get the closest thing to the original brand and style of tires. Then I use 'em just like I did for the first 40+ years I owned 'em. I couldn't possibly care any less what someone else thinks about that. I did it for my own benifit.

Don-Wi · Nov 28, 2012

I use mine. Maybe not the gassers as much when the price is near $4/gallon, but they still get out and do some work.

Donovan from Wisconsin

showcrop · Nov 28, 2012

I have seven tractors and I put about 300 hours on them altogether. Three of them are plenty, however, to do 99% of the work so I don't feel the need to spread the work among all seven. Two of them do nothing but play at the pulling competitions. I enjoy pulling even though some insist that it ruins tractors. But what after all does the word tractor mean? And how can it be hard on it if you take off all the ballast that it had on it when it was really working? Then I have one tractor that has just gotten a restoration, and she will be just a trailer queen. But I enjoyed restoring her and now I enjoy showing her off. number seven is waiting her turn for body work and a little more mechanical work, she already has a fresh engine. So, I say enjoy them in as many or as few different ways as tickles your fancy.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 28, 2012

I would suggest you can use how you think fit, anyway a workout now and again won't hurt.History doesn't cut the grass.

Detmurds · Nov 28, 2012

I'd say that you might/could appreciate the respect he has for your stuff, but the bottom line is,...it's your stuff!

To use or not to use?

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