Losing Wheelhorses-C121

[Irv 115]

I know we all need parts now and then but it seems this guy out of Michigan (Joes Outdoor Power) is parting out a lot of tractors, never to be seen live again. And now there's another guy out of Indiana. (both on Ebay) Kinda sad to lose whole horses but I suppose somewhat neccesary. I picked up a decent C121 Automatic at an auction last nite, rusty but runs great and all original. Will post a pic soon.

[Jim_M 179]

Kinda sad to lose whole horses

I couldn't agree more, but it seems like some people care more about money. They say they're collectors or hobbyists, but their hobby seems to be collecting money by parting out perfectly good tractors.

[CasualObserver 3,411]

I'll have to play the devil's advocate here.

If it weren't for folks like JOP and a couple others, we wouldn't have access to parts to get some of our own machines running again. These are people who have made a business out of our hobby.

Let's face it, Toro's not manufacturing now nor will they ever, all the parts to build a Suburban 400, 753, B-60 or C-165 from scratch anymore. This hobby doesn't generate enough revenue to justify re-making the tooling to produce OEM parts. Kohler's not making K-series engines and Tecumseh is completely out of the engine game. Yes it's sad to see that some good whole tractors are cannibalized and left in a pile of parts to be peddled on ebay.

In my opinion, people like that who have the foresight to take a machine full of good parts down and sell off EVERY SINGLE good part on it to folks like you and me have actually done a service. You can't get many usable parts off a half rust-eaten hull of what used to be a tractor that will do you any good. However if you're in need of a rock shaft for a 1277 or a steering gear for a Suburban... those are the guys you're going to turn to. A few skilled people have managed to make small markets for themselves with some specialty reproduction parts, but these are fairly few and far between. They do outstanding work, so please don't think I'm at all discrediting them, but there just isn't a hobbyist who can make every part.

[Buzz 502]

I'll have to play the devil's advocate here.

If it weren't for folks like JOP and a couple others, we wouldn't have access to parts to get some of our own machines running again. These are people who have made a business out of our hobby.

Let's face it, Toro's not manufacturing now nor will they ever, all the parts to build a Suburban 400, 753, B-60 or C-165 from scratch anymore. This hobby doesn't generate enough revenue to justify re-making the tooling to produce OEM parts. Kohler's not making K-series engines and Tecumseh is completely out of the engine game. Yes it's sad to see that some good whole tractors are cannibalized and left in a pile of parts to be peddled on ebay.

In my opinion, people like that who have the foresight to take a machine full of good parts down and sell off EVERY SINGLE good part on it to folks like you and me have actually done a service. You can't get many usable parts off a half rust-eaten hull of what used to be a tractor that will do you any good. However if you're in need of a rock shaft for a 1277 or a steering gear for a Suburban... those are the guys you're going to turn to. A few skilled people have managed to make small markets for themselves with some specialty reproduction parts, but these are fairly few and far between. They do outstanding work, so please don't think I'm at all discrediting them, but there just isn't a hobbyist who can make every part.

Amen. Used parts have to come from somewhere. I just hate it when a great running sweet looking 'Horse is butchered.

[Save Old Iron 1,571]

Count me in on the donor list - I owe 3 functional tractors to donors.

Thank You whoever you are ! :scratchead:

[Kelly 1,033]

Yes to what Jason said, I've parted a few WH's that where in fair shape, and many many other brands, I sure the guys that collect the other brands hated me too, but I do it to fund my hobby and to buy tools, supplys, parts, other tractors, ect..... if we didn't have joes and others like him, the prices would be even higher than they are, because parts would be even harder to find, we can't save everyone of them, and at least they are being parted not just scraped for pennys on the pound, I'm sure lots of them last year with prices for scrap being high are long gone and no parts sold. just my two cents.

[MikesRJ 558]

If it wasn't for a certain friend in CT, my RJ and someone else RJ wouldn't be alive today.

As someone who has been involved in more than a few different restoration venues, I have come to learn one thing if nothing else.; It is an evil necessity, but some have to die for others to live on. The longer a part or machine is out of production, the fewer number of machines will be out there due to rust and salvage. It's inevitable. Ashes to ashes. Eventually they will all go extinct, but for the time being we alone are keeping the flame alive through the salvage marketers.

[bitten 134]

It is diffenatly a double headed sward. I have seen JOP take very nice tractors apart to sell them and thought how could they do that, but you look and people are bidding on the parts. I have gotten parts from them and probly will again. I just wounder how they get so many, must have people going all over the place getting any loose ones they can.

[pfrederi 18,649]

Better to part out a tractor so that others may continue to work than have one rusting away in a hedge row....

[jusjeepn 59]

A friend of mine supplies JOP with a lot of tractors you see parted out on ebay. He is a displaced factory worker that lost his job when the factory shut down. He started investing in garden tractors and selling on ebay. JOP approached him and ask him to find machines for them. He buys a lot of machines specifically for JOP but still sells to locals also. JOP is the primary source of income for him and his family. He has 20-50 tractors at any given time and usually when I go over there, most of them are marked "SOLD JOE'S". He will usually give me a call when he finds W/H's and gives me dibs. My profession allows me to find quite a few GT's that I will regularly give him a call and tell him about. A lot of the machines he picks up do not run for various reasons. All of the machines he buys has value other than scrap. I know that most of the machines JOP parts out, even though in good condition, are non runners and people have just given up on them. JOP rarely list anything over $10. Demand is what drives the prices up. KUDOS to JOP and my friend for keeping all of us, and collectors everywhere, supplied with a steady supply of used, reasonably priced parts.

[kpinnc 14,628]

JOP rarely list anything over $10. Demand is what drives the prices up. KUDOS to JOP and my friend for keeping all of us, and collectors everywhere, supplied with a steady supply of used, reasonably priced parts.

There ya go Pat. You and Jason are 100% correct.

[Redbird 1]

I, for one, am glad there are a few people like JOP out there I have purchased some parts from him that I couldnt get where I am here in Maryland. There is one place around here that is a Wheel Horse dealer (or was) and he wants and arm and a leg for parts!!! When my horses are no longer funtional and too expensive to fix---most likely I will part them out to keep other Horses alive :hide:

[Irv 115]

I guess most of us agree, it's a "neccesary evil"

[Doubletrouble 10]

I also agree. I would love to have several more horses in my barn and will in time but with out JOP and others it would be far to expensive to keep them running

[Suburban 550 28]

I have to agree with Jason. You hate to see them parted out, but Wheel Horse parts are getting harder and harder to find. Better than seeing them laying outside somewhere rottin away because the owner refuses to sell them.

[can whlvr 994]

It is also much better than the scrap yard getting them,at least those parts end up in circulation again,just my 2 cents

[Jim_M 179]

I guess I should clarify my position. I'm not saying that no Wheel Horse should ever be parted out. I've parted a few myself. My beef with J.O.P. and the J.O.P. wannabe's out there is this: Why part a complete, perfectly good, running, driving tractor when there's plenty of non runners sitting around?

For example: Do any of you remember a couple years back when a complete and running 520-8 sold on eBay and then showed up in a million pieces on eBay 3 days later?

That's the sort of thing that doesn't sit well with me.

[rickv1957 74]

I agree 100% with Jim M,Rick

[bustedglass 1]

I too do not like to see Wheel Horse go . But, I have found JOP and e-bay, as well as others, to be very helpful in supplying much needed parts for my 414-8 that I am starting to rebuild.

So without these "ORGAN TRANSPLANTS", those of us without an unlimited supply of CASH, would see our beloved Wheel Horse, LOST FOREVER .

[WH nut 553]

I have bid against him on Ebay and lost, Its sad to see them parted out, but then again I have bought several parts from him at a decent price

[jusjeepn 59]

Jim, I will agree with you on that point. I do really hate to see a perfectly good running tractor done that way. I know that most of the ones my buddy sells are DOA when he gets them. Not to say they could not be revived but the P/O have given up on them or my buddy wouldn't have them. Now me,on the other hand, I take a perfectly good pile of parts and build something out of them. (a future build).

[Rollerman 290]

I've held off adding my thoughts here...as a mod I have to stay in the grey area.

That said I agree with Jim....several years ago I was bidding on a clean D down by Indy.

My max bid was actually high enough I thought I was safe with only a few minutes to go.

I was bid sniped at the last seconds of the auction by JOP.

This was before ebay became anonyous.

The tractor was listed by JOP on ebay a few weeks later...two pages worth.

So it stings a little to know nice ones are getting parted out.

But I do know it's a necessary evil to keep the parts comeing that are no longer being produced.

I have even bought parts through JOP & can say he has excellent service/shipping.

I will continue to watch his auctions for parts, but I can't help to cringe a little when I see something that looks like it could have been a nice useable machine disassembled for parts.....it's just sad.

I think I get more irritated with sellers that use JOP's auctions as a bench mark on the value of there parts.

You know....JOP got $75 for one of them chrome plated wing nuts last week so I'll need atleast that.

This isn't the first time this topic has come up...it kinda lingers.

And sorry if I threw fire on a dieing fire....guess I had a bad day.

Well I'm done...off to ebay to look for a chrome plated wing nut.

[Raider12 13]

It's a good thing I don't have the resourses that Joe has. Cuz I would have the back yard FULL of these tractors and non of them that ran. At least someone can find what it takes to part them out so that rest of ours can live on. :scratchead:

[Duff 206]

(a future build).

Hey, Pat...how the h*ll did you sneak into my workshop to get this picture?????

Duff :hide:

[jusjeepn 59]

Duff, You are the senior (senile) member aren't you? You gave those to me last week! :scratchead: