Fair price for 450 Farmall?

farmallkevin · Jun 9, 2013

I am looking at a 450 Farmall. It is a 57 without power steering. The tractor is not running as of now and hasn"t run since 2002. The farmer told me that the carburator is cracked and flooded out all the time, the Sediment bowl is shot because of water getting into the tank. It will also need the tank cleaned out and minimum of 1 new front tire. I believe that the motor is free though. The farmer said that he is open to offers but i was wondering what would be a fair price for the tractor in the condition that it sits.

Royse · Jun 9, 2013

If it has sat for 11 years in one place, it likely needs all 4 tires.
Tires are not cheap by any means.
If the sediment bowl is junk from water in the tank, the tank may be junk
as well. After all, that's where the sediment bowl gets it's junk from!
Have you priced a carb just to see what that would be?
Not knowing if the motor was set up or not, I would assume it is.
Even if it's not, the rings and valves probably are so you're in for some work.
I guess it depends on your needs and abilities.
Of course, prices vary by region, but I wouldn't put it much above
scrap value in my area.
After saying all that, that is the condition I buy most of mine in!
I'm just a sucker for that "good deal"! LOL
Good luck, what ever you decide!

Michael Price · Jun 9, 2013

Ive seen some in good shape here in MI with a asking price of $3500. Id plan on spending at least $1000 and yours still wont be as nice as the $3500 tractor. So you need to go less then $2500. Add another $1000 to make it as nice as the $3500 machine so now your max is $1500 and you still have to put all your time in to break even. Add another $500 to cover a battery and fluid changes. So now your max is $1000.

Thats how I got about figuring up what I should pay. You can still go in the hole, you never know. Or you may flush the tank, clean the bowl, find a used carb and off you go.

LAA · Jun 10, 2013

I would not want to pay over $500.00 maximum and that is because in addition to what you already know it needs it will need a lot more work, every filter and fluid changed, hydraulic system flushed out, tires patched, repaired or replaced, probably a seat -- you don"t know about the engine -- the list goes on.

mkirsch · Jun 10, 2013

$2500 with so many unknowns is ludicrous. Though, I've seen sellers ask for way more, claiming the tractor is "rare" or that they've seen other tractors sell at their price.

You could be staring at a useless lump of scrap iron, so that's where the price starts. $200 a ton on 4 tons of scrap iron if the engine is seized. $250 a ton if the engine is free. $300 a ton if the tires are usable. $400 a ton if the tractor looks decent, has been kept inside.

ss55 · Jun 10, 2013

Scrap value is a fair price unless the tractor has been stored in a shed all it's life. Post some pictures if you can. A 450 weights what, about 3 tons? 3 tons x $170 per ton =$510.

450's are very good tractors. There are working 450's with power steering available for $2000 to $3500.

If you are looking for a restoration project and you are willing to spend more than the finished tractor will be worth, because you enjoy the hobby, then this sounds like a challenging candidate that could keep you busy for a year or more.

If you are looking for a working tractor that is an easy fix and to make some money on it, then this one will likely be a money pit even if you can get it for free.

Follow your dreams and have fun.

fixerupper · Jun 10, 2013

I'm trying to picture in my head what would crack to cause it to flood unless someone tried to adjust it with a hammer. Is the float cracked? I've seen the mounting flanges cracked from improper tightening and a chip broken out of the air intake from dropping it on a cement floor but I can't picture what would crack to make it flood. You carb experts might know something I don't. Jim

farmallkevin · Jun 10, 2013

My assumption from the info i have is the float would stick so
they would do some fine tuning with a hammer. So that
cracked it and in true farmer fashion they wrapped the carb in
intertube and tird it on with bailing wire.

jm. · Jun 10, 2013

No power steering and not running makes it a scrapper around here. Somewhere around $ 400 to 500 max.

Royse · Jun 10, 2013

(quoted from post at 14:34:37 06/10/13) My assumption from the info i have is the float would stick so
they would do some fine tuning with a hammer. So that
cracked it and in true farmer fashion they wrapped the carb in
intertube and tird it on with bailing wire.

That information may also give you hint as to how the rest of the
tractor was maintained.

Fair price for 450 Farmall?

farmallkevin

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Royse

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Michael Price

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LAA

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mkirsch

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ss55

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fixerupper

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farmallkevin

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jm.

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Royse

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