Questions about the value of... stuff

[nyquil junkie 272]

I'm gradually collecting a lot of stuff around here, specifically for this Q&A, wheel horse stuff. 

The other day one of the 520s I traded away was traded back to me, less the engine. The stuff I traded for it was in my way anyway and I figured, parts right? 

 

Anywhoo, I have now 5. As I was ready to sell off a couple whole working ones, I got to thinking (dangerous I know..) I have seen listed old Kohler engines for a LOT of $$$ that dont seem like anything special. For sure, I've seen a lot of them for sale priced at more than these whole tractors are going to bring. I said to myself "Self.. maybe we should chop these tractors up and sell parts".

 

Yeap I know the last words of every collector eh?

 

but, its a valid question, what makes some of these seemingly ordinary Kohler engines worth so much? Would it be worth it to chop and sell off a perfectly good tractor vs selling it whole?

 

These are running working Wh tractors. Maybe the parts are worth more than the whole? I dunno.

the 520H that just found its way back, I'll part out, its kind of a hot mess. Sure it ran and drove fine, but its been rewired and dewired and set outside and... as they say rode hard n put away wet.

but the others, I dunno... worth more for parts, of whole? Whats the deal with these high priced used engines?

 

Do I need stopped before I do something stupid?

[leabassett@sbcglobal.net 171]

Even the green tractors are worth more dead than alive. All us old farts have tractors and need parts to keep them running. There are not many young ones looking for a complete tractor anymore.

[MainelyWheelhorse 2,537]

If it needs a part that’s worth as much as the tractor I’d part it out. If it’s rusted to the extent it’s worth more in parts than whole I’d part it out.  If it’s a running driving tractor in savable or overall good to decent condition I wouldn’t.

Edited yesterday at 01:39 AM by MainelyWheelhorse

[wallfish 19,966]

If you have something I need-- Part it out

If not, sell as whole

LOL

[ineedanother 2,301]

I've gotten to the point where I scrap what parts I wouldn't use myself. When I have solid reusable parts, I watch the classifieds for what someone needs and send it for the cost of shipping but keep one on the shelf if it fits one of mine. A working machine or attachment on the other hand, I would sell whole. I have several Kohlers with one or more issues I'm not sure what to do with because they just don't ship well and I can't make the math work on rebuilding them.

[CasaytheMann 125]

You have to listen to your wallet. If it's saying it's hungry then you have to sell stuff in order to feed it.....

[JoeM 9,910]

What a good question! 

Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. 

It all depends on what's hot in the need department. 

I have taken running machines apart and sold a major component and it just seems like the rest just sits. 

And selling parts can be a hassle. I tend to leave parts and part machines here for those that I have running. 

I often threaten to load up the trailer and scrap the left overs just to reduce clutter. I have done a little of that but need to do more. 

I guess I was no help answering this question. 

[nyquil junkie 272]

Hi Joe! The Chucker is` doing great... we use it all the time, we'd be lost without that thing. Those forks you fabbed up for me worked out perfect. We should rebrand it a "manure horse".

 

So, heres a good example. That 312A I got at the auction that somebody puled the steering wheel and shaft out of the dash (another thread) I took apart and beat it back into shape, reset the shaft and now it steers fine, but its not "perfect". Its useable.

 

 

I know, I'm gonna be hard pressed to find anyone to buy this one, I'll be lucky to get $300 out if it, probably less. It fires right up and drives real nice, it has a mule drive on it, but no rear hitch and no deck.  I might be able to put a hitch on it off one of the rollers. Even so, my point being.... this engine is perfectly intact, no smoke, looks unmolested. The engine is probably worth $300 then add on all the other fiddly bits that can be sold off. Its worth more in pieces.

But... there aint nothing wrong with it. Why chop it? But if it wont sell, then it sits and sits does no machine any good.  And as ya say Joe, selling parts only a niche market wants is a pain. 

 

Maybe I can trade it whole for something useful. 

 

Another option is, find a deck that fits it. Mowers here sell in the spring easy. Drawback is, thats going to cost @ $100 bucks, and it still wont be worth more than 400 so, factor in time lost in labor and..... well you see why selling the engine and a few choice bits is the quick easy dirty way to make it pay.

 

These things are made like tanks, you'd think theyd be worth more.

[squonk 46,495]

With what the big box stores get for a junky mower, Any WH tractor that runs and has a decent usable deck is worth $700 easy

[peter lena 9,874]

@nyquil junkie   often  refer to  , getting a  lubrication  soakage  going on to  anything recovered  ? that paint will  , quickly  turn into patina era  , done that regularly  , with terrific results . another thing I see is people instantly want a  show queen , have my   horses over  40 years , used and maintained regularly . also regularly  rub them down  with  , mineral oil /or penetrating oil  , clean cloth  , till surface dry , no dust or dirt , sheds water like a duck . experiment  on a spot , also  like  sun baking , oiled  / cleaned mower decks . bakes in a lubrication  base , take advantage of  REPEDITIVE ISSUES ?  make a change , done a lot of that , pete

 

[953 nut 65,954]

21 minutes ago, squonk said:

Any WH tractor that runs and has a decent usable deck is worth $700 easy

Worth it,     YES.        Are you likely to get that much,              on a good day, perhaps.        

10 hours ago, nyquil junkie said:

And as ya say Joe, selling parts only a niche market wants is a pain. 

I have sold a few Wheel Horses that I bought for an attachment I needed for less than parts value just to pass them on to someone who would appreciate them. Doing that helps promote the hobby and in a couple of cases I ended up with the attachment and a very modest profit.  I would rather do that than parting it out and scrapping the parts that don't sell well.

I sold off a bunch of Kohler NOS parts and good used Wheel Horse parts years back on eBay before shipping went out of sight. Very few parts are in high demand and they are probably the ones that aren't worth the effort to remove like a manual lift rocker shaft that generally is brown welded together. You end up with a stack of running boards, frames, front axles that are too heavy to be worth shipping, steering towers, and side covers that no one wants.

[squonk 46,495]

I sold plenty of well worn but running and driving  with deck for $700.  Can't find them cheap enough to fix up and make it worth it anymore. 

[953 nut 65,954]

Here are a couple from our local C'sList that have potential, a non-running 518 with an 8 speed that may or may not be an easy fix. The upside gain IF everything is an easy fix might be good, or you could end up with a set of hubcaps and a few parts to sell. Who knows?

The second one is a predator powered Charger 9, probably a potential for a quick flip for $ 300 but not much more in my opinion. A few years back I rescued a  and sold @pfrederi the good running Charger 12 with a nice 48" deck for $ 400, about what I had in it.

The 312 that @nyquil junkie has a lot going for it but has an Eaton 700 which most of us wouldn't be interested in and has no deck. Allowing a $ 100 deduction for the deck do you think he could sell it for $ 600?

 

Wheel horse - $700 (Taylorsville)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© craigslist - Map data © OpenStreetMap

condition: salvage

make / manufacturer: Wheel horse

Wheel horse not running. Stuck in gear hard to move, not locked up.

 

1968 Wheel Horse Charger 9 - $200 (Lyman)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© craigslist - Map data © OpenStreetMap

condition: fair

make / manufacturer: Wheel Horse

model name / number: Charger 9

1968 Wheel Horse Charger 9, Automatic Drive
Has a Predator 6.5 hp motor.
Runs and drives good.
Tractor only no deck
$200 or Best offer

[Handy Don 16,540]

That 518 has an Eaton 700 hydro--motion only, no hydraulic lift. If not abused, a very solid mower or blower option. 

Edited 26 minutes ago by Handy Don