Saturday Auction

JML755 · Oct 31, 2016

Went to an auction Saturday. This 1950 JD B (according to the auctioneer and a few old farmers standing around) went for $675. They towed it out but after it was sold one of the old farmers said he got it started by "switching a wire around". Myself, I bought a JD Gator and $ 55 bunch of stuff I really don't need. :lol: The owner had more stuff than I've ever seen, at least 25 drills, 25-30 chain saws, two trailer loads of tools and other miscellaneous parts. A couple of rocks were advertised as "Indian ax stones". Fetched $95. :roll:

paul · Oct 31, 2016

I'm not accusing anyone of anything including the old timer you mention, but I've heard of potential buyers switching wires around so a thing
doesn't start; then after they buy it cheap it fires right up.....

Guess I wouldn't say that on the auction grounds anyhow.

Paul

Traditional Farmer · Oct 31, 2016

Unfortunately it happens all the time

1970-1655 · Oct 31, 2016

I have seen people switch wires, leave headlights on to run the battery down, readjust a carburetor, the list goes on. In my book, they are trying to steal something. I have also been at an auction or 2 where they would stop the auction, call out a person, and talk with a sheriff, and have the person removed. If someone is that low down, they should be locked up if it can be proved that they did it.

Goose · Oct 31, 2016

In the late 80's when I had a dealer's license, I bought an S10 Blazer at the Omaha Auto Auction, and found out after I got it home the 4wd didn't engage. I snooped under the hood and fount the vacuum line to the engagement solenoid had been pulled off and hidden behind a wiring harness. I plugged the line back in and the 4wd worked fine. (On the auction grounds there really wasn't a good way to check 4wd for operation).

It was obvious someone had planned to buy the vehicle, then go to the Arbitration office, claim the 4wd didn't work, and try to get the price reduced.

And arbitration did work. I once bought a full sized Blazer and took it for a drive around the auction grounds before I paid for it. It sounded like the rear end was going out. I went to the Arbitration office and talked to an arbitrator. He took it for a drive, came back, and said, "Sounds like the rear end is going out. Would $400 off work for you?"

I said, "Make it $500". He said, "Fair enough", and called the seller. The seller wouldn't go for it, so I walked on the deal.

Half · Oct 31, 2016

How about the ones that tell everyone what is wrong with something when they walk up to look at it, then you stand back and watch and they are the ones bidding on it. Seen it happen many times.

Flemming · Oct 31, 2016

Bought a 1955 JD 50 on auction about 20 years ago. Started it before the auction started. Was only running on 1 cylinder. My son tinkered with it a bit,
got it to run just fine. Told him to put it back the way it was before. He did, and I bought it for $1000.00. My sister has the 50 now, uses it every day.

Determined · Oct 31, 2016

Was at a farm auction where an older fellow was retiring to town and selling off his stuff, his adult son was helping demo the equipment as it sold.
The auctioneer pulled his truck down the line to a Honda trike.
When the son fired it up it ran OK but had a terrible growl coming from a cracked side case cover.
Son tried to put it in reverse to demo it and ended up driving it forward into the side of the auctioneers truck, no serious damage.
The father came over and the two of them fiddled with it.
Next attempt to demo it thinking it was in reverse they hit the gas and drove it hard into the door on the auctioneers truck.
At this point the auctioneer none too impressed told them to shut it off right now it will be sold as is.
Got it for a song, walked over to it, fired it up, hit the button and brake lever to release the reverse lockout and drove it to my trailer.
The look on the owners face was not a happy one.
$30 for a used side cover and it is still running great today.

Bottom line is it is not always someone messing with equipment to get it cheaper, sometimes the seller is his own worst enemy.

JML755 · Oct 31, 2016

(quoted from post at 10:00:34 10/31/16) How about the ones that tell everyone what is wrong with something when they walk up to look at it, then you stand back and watch and they are the ones bidding on it. Seen it happen many times.

Heard a couple of guys talking about a 4-wheeler, saying it had no reverse, blah-blah-blah, but they weren't bidding on it. Seemed to know more than I did about that brand.

When I was loading some stuff in my truck with the gator I bought, the guy bidding against me came up and said the steering was screwed up because he heard the owner say their kid hit a tree. Pointed to a "slight" dent in the front bumper. Also pointed to a "shiny new bolt" on the steering column pinch clamp. Said, "see it doesn't turn all the way to the right". Got it home, checked the steering linkages, turning radius, it was fine. :roll: Seemed like he wanted me to feel "buyer's remorse" for out-bidding him. :lol:

BarnyardEngineering · Oct 31, 2016

That's the game. First rule of the game is, don't believe what anybody else says. Make your own evaluation and draw your own conclusions.

2x4 · Oct 31, 2016

years ago the West Virginia Dept.of Highways left keys in the auction vehicles so you could run them. Creek runs beside the sale site. The creek was full of keys & of course, after that, the keys stayed in the office til drivers drove the vehicles past the auction stand. Always some scumbags ready to ruin things for everybody.

Saturday Auction

JML755

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paul

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Traditional Farmer

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1970-1655

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Goose

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Half

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Flemming

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Determined

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JML755

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BarnyardEngineering

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2x4

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