I-6, should i or shouldn't i?????

Posted by andy b. on April 26, 2004 at 19:57:31 from (24.229.145.221):

so i went to look at an I-6 with a Hough loader this evening. here's my evaluation and what i'm looking for and i'm wondering what any of you folks think.

i have a small pit in the edge of my backyard that i want to fill in. i have about 8 or 10 loads of fill (standard tri-axle truck loads) that was dumped off last year that i want to use to fill the pit in, plus i need to do some landscaping where dirt was removed when a sand-mound was put in. i'd also like something i could use to help lift heavy items out of my pick-up or off a trailer when i bring "projects" home, and just general around the property chores and pulling things around. for example, there are two large (20"+ diameter) trees that fell down across a small stream that i want to drag out. and i'd like to use it to remove snow in the winter.

the I-6 was in average shape for something over 50 years old. it was last ran about 5 years ago and has been sitting outside since. it was rusted, but there were no holes in the sheet metal and only a few small dings in the nose. the transmission shifted into all the gears just sitting there, and the clutch and brake levers were free. the loader pins and bushings all looked pretty tight, but rusted. there was no bucket with the loader, but a boom was connected up where the bucket would go. the bucket was a trip-release, not hydraulic. i don't think the hydraulic lines were original, but they definitely aren't new. the front wheels were about shot, but the dual rears looked okay. all six tires were in bad shape, but five of them would hold enough air that you could roll the thing around. the throttle plate on the carb was frozen, so i would think it probably needs a rebuild. also, the muffle was rusted off where the flange is that connects to the manifold. the owner said the muffler had fallen off when they moved the I-6 last year. there is no fluid in the radiator. i don't know if this is because it was drained out or leaked out. he also said the engine was stuck, but i don't know how stuck. the fact the muffler had rusted through at the manifold gives me worry since every engine i played with that had water running into the exhaust has needed some work to free it up. all in all, everything is there, but you aren't going to just turn the key and fire it up. he's asking $600, and that price is pretty firm. also, the gentleman seems honest enough and i believe what he is telling me.

here's my dilema. i have a '54 John Deere 40 Utility (i know, green and red don't mix) that i rebuilt and have a Wagner loader for. the Wagner loader needs to be rebuilt, but i think i can have it running this summer. this loader has a hydraulic bucket on it. a friend is selling a Waldon loader (the small one, a 4100 i believe). it has the Ford industrial 4 cyl. gas engine and is all hydraulic (4-wheel drive, articulated, includes the bucket). the Waldon isn't pretty but it runs fine and he's asking $1300. i also have a '39 F-14 that i am working on just because i wanted one.

so, i have many ongoing projects, and several options. i'd kind of like to have a loader of some sort to use by the end of summer. i can get the Wagner loader running and put it back on the 40U. i can buy the Waldon loader and use it as-is. i can get the I-6 and hope to free the motor, but i still need tires, two front wheels, a bucket of some sort, and hope no other major problems turn up. the I-6 and 40U don't have power steering either, but i don't plan on using these things every day and running over bolder-strewn dirt roads. i can also keep putting some cash aside and see what else pops up.

so, what do you folks think? what about the price on the I-6? i have no idea what they go for because i never looked for one before. are all of these options okay for general home use?

any advice is appreciated.

andy b.

Follow Ups:

• Re: I-6, should i or shouldn't i????? andy b. 11:34:25 04/27/04 (0)
• Re: I-6, should i or shouldn't i????? Wild Horses 10:32:45 04/27/04 (0)
• Re: I-6, should i or shouldn't i????? rustyfarmall 05:07:45 04/27/04 (0)
• Re: I-6, should i or shouldn't i????? Jeff In Ontario 20:28:54 04/26/04 (0)

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