Questions about the value of... stuff

[nyquil junkie 266]

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 2,522]

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 3 hours ago by MainelyWheelhorse

[wallfish 19,949]

If you have something I need-- Part it out

If not, sell as whole

LOL

[ineedanother 2,287]

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.