There was an add in the "local" CL yesterday for a TO30 down near Lafayette. I have been looking for a cheapish parts tractor to go with the TO30 I currently have. This looked a fit, so I went down this morning, about 2 hours, to see it.
Well, when I got there, the nice gentleman hit the started and she cranked right up, no smoke at all. I drove it around, steering soo much better than mine, all gears seemed ok, lift went up and down, no load, pto looked good and no noise. No oil in water, no water in oil. Fluids looked pretty good.
Sheet metal was way better than mine, from the pix, it has all the emblems, most of the lights, no dents in the fenders, few minor rust marks. He had bought the tractor with bush hog reasonably and only needed the bush hog. Said son of a man near Lafayette, La had it from new till he passed at 93. Well cared for. He must have been tall, cause the seat is tall, and the gentleman said he cut off 4 inches from the base when he got it.
I could actually tell him more about the tractor than he knew (blind leading blind), but I saw a handle on the left hand dash and asked him what it was. Hood latch he said, No way I said. Never saw a hood latch on mine. The starter is the original in the gear shift. Original tool box gas tank. Gauges need replacing, although the oil pressure gauge worked, it just say low-normal-high. Not sure if that's a replacement. It is a converted 12v. Rear tires look a little rough, but seem to be holding air from the inside so that's good.
Well, we got down to business, he wanted 800 for it, I have seen non runners going for 500 around here. So, using my astute negotiating skills, I got him down to 800. But he did loan me his trailer, chains and binders to get it home (someone stole my two trailers).
All in all I'm pretty satisfied. Guess now I will need #3 if I want to have a parts tractor.
Well, when I got there, the nice gentleman hit the started and she cranked right up, no smoke at all. I drove it around, steering soo much better than mine, all gears seemed ok, lift went up and down, no load, pto looked good and no noise. No oil in water, no water in oil. Fluids looked pretty good.
Sheet metal was way better than mine, from the pix, it has all the emblems, most of the lights, no dents in the fenders, few minor rust marks. He had bought the tractor with bush hog reasonably and only needed the bush hog. Said son of a man near Lafayette, La had it from new till he passed at 93. Well cared for. He must have been tall, cause the seat is tall, and the gentleman said he cut off 4 inches from the base when he got it.
I could actually tell him more about the tractor than he knew (blind leading blind), but I saw a handle on the left hand dash and asked him what it was. Hood latch he said, No way I said. Never saw a hood latch on mine. The starter is the original in the gear shift. Original tool box gas tank. Gauges need replacing, although the oil pressure gauge worked, it just say low-normal-high. Not sure if that's a replacement. It is a converted 12v. Rear tires look a little rough, but seem to be holding air from the inside so that's good.
Well, we got down to business, he wanted 800 for it, I have seen non runners going for 500 around here. So, using my astute negotiating skills, I got him down to 800. But he did loan me his trailer, chains and binders to get it home (someone stole my two trailers).
All in all I'm pretty satisfied. Guess now I will need #3 if I want to have a parts tractor.