horse buying advice needed

[truckin88 104]

My C-120's motor is on it's last leg, and yes I was going to buy a lowes husq GT for mowing duties for summer, as no decent sized WH's have been coming up used anywhere. My father in law would not hear it. So we found a 314-8 w/ 42" for $1200, pics looked mint (they lie, but it is a clean machine), very low hours, and the guy dropped to $1000 over the phone, I still think it was to much $$$, but listened to my father in law and decided to let him check it out. He buys it (w/ my money), as it will be my mowing machine, loads it on his truck, now it was not running, the guys said he ran out of gas, and would give us a full refund if we could not get it running (I was not there he did all of this while I was in meetings at work). We got it running, after a basic tune up and straighten out this guys safety switch jumps, runs very good and strong, drives good, mows good, but it need $250 in parts to make it function as it should, his ad said it just needed a tune up. Now I am not meaning tires or cosmetics, I mean $250 in wire harnesses, choke cable, etc., On top of the basic $30 oil, grease, filters. I feel like we got burned (or I lost $1000 at poker), but not by the owner, he was honest, he knew 100% nothing about tractors. This machine sat in a shed, unused and ungreased (which is now fixed). Do I eat the $250 as a cost of 'should have done it myself' or do I call the guy up. Either way I plan to keep this machine, fix it up as my daily worker. I haven't done anything yet, and am not sure I should, I was not there. I think it should have been looked over better, but I don't know if there is anything else that could be done or should be done, I am leaning towards just fixing it and moving on.

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

I'd spend the money on it and use it.It'll still be better than any new mower you could buy.As far as calling the guy back.......I wouldn't.If I told ya all the times I've gotten a hosing from dishonest people,I could write a book.I think just about every tractor I've ever bought had a rebuilt engine in it.Yah right.My problem is I think most people are honest.I also believe in The Easter bunny and Santa Claus.Good luck with your tractor.Let's see some pics of the tractor your father in law bought( with your money ).

[shorts 182]

Buying a used anything is a buyer beware kind of thing, Call the seller and talk with him he might be willing to work with you or he may say that he already compensated you $200 off of the selling price already. I do know that he won't make an adjustment if you don't call him

Fix up the new to you so that your fatherinlaws daughter can cut the grass while you play with the rest of the herd :wh:

[shootinok 15]

Yeah man, Caveat emptor..... or in your case "Cave Socar Emptor" (beware the father-in-law buyer)

I agree with Pete. You still have a better machine than a new one.

Focus on that and you'll not be mad everytime you use it.

[stevasaurus 23,292]

I think I would be looking for a new father-in-law. Just kidding, but training and what to look for is shirley in order...and don't call me Shirley. If the guy was honest with you...you can't beat that. Would not hurt to call him up and tell him what you found and that you got it running...you never know...maybe he would help you out. :wh:

[IthacaJeff 151]

The fault lies with you not being there, and unless you think your FIL tried to mess

with you, the fault does not lie with him. And diagnosing wiring problems while

looking at a WH is next to impossible. I agree with the others. Put the money

into fixing it the way you want it, focus on having a strong machine in the

stable rather than something that may have cost you a few hundred extra

bucks -- which it may not have.

I just bought some trees ($300) at an auction only to get home and find out that

Lowes had similar trees on sale for less. I can moan about "losing" $50 bucks

or enjoy the trees I have and figured I got a solid deal nonetheless.

Jeff in Enfield NY

[truckin88 104]

The fault lies with you not being there, and unless you think your FIL tried to mess

with you, the fault does not lie with him. And diagnosing wiring problems while

looking at a WH is next to impossible.

[stevasaurus 23,292]

:thumbs: :D

[dgjks6 8]

I you spend $1300 to have a perfect runnning tractor and deck you did good. I have looked at a lot of tractors, bought a few, and can't omagine speding less. My threoty is if you spend $100, you will put $1000 in it to get it running. If you spend $500, you will only have to spend another 5-600. and if you spend $1000 you only have to spend a few hundred.

[Shuboxlover 481]

With friends like your Father-In-Law...who needs enemy's???

We've all been there, either way it sounds like you got a nice runner out of the deal. After you have used it for a while, that bad taste in your mouth will be gone and you will forget all about it. HANG IN THERE!!!! :D

[jpmcleod 4]

I wish you lived in Florida. I parted out a C-120 with a great running 12HP Kohler. I have all of the sheet metal and lots of the parts. I trashed the rearend and frame due to severe rust.

I would almost give you what I haved to help you out. Maybe someone else in your neck of the woods will step forward and help you. That's what we are here for.

[SAM58 30]

Keep it... Fix it... Run It...

Money is not eveything, I also have a 314-8 that I bought at the show last year.

The Seller knew nothing about it, and I took a chance.

He was asking 1200.00, and I paid 900.00, My first purchase for a

And that was without a deck Didn't have a clue what it was worth, but I wanted it.

As long as it runs strong, and the Tranny is good everything else can be fixed.

I think you will be glad he bought it.

They don't make them any more and once they are gone... they gone.

[sgtsampay 117]

Don't feel bad. It sound like you got a nice strong horse with a nice mower. Sure it needed some work, but i had the same thing with my horse. Now, the cool part is I would do it all over again in a heart beat as I know that its a nice strong/powerfull horse with many years of working in the fields ahead of it. HEHE.

[truckin88 104]

Thanks guys, I think my expectations were just to high, with the price, and the guys ad, said "perfect, just needs tune up" I am just going to fix it and run it.....still can't believe he bought it not running....he is a mad man (literally)

[Save Old Iron 1,571]

"perfect, just needs tune up"

In his reality, it probably is near perfect.

As I remember, you and I fixed an indicator board a little over a year ago via emails. We where able to id the problem down to a transistor which you replaced and cured the issue.

Makes me think you are completely capable of throwing a wiring solution together for about $50.

you can grab the guts of a choke cable anywhere and fit it to the tractor.

[HankB 16]

Try to find out what the tractor and deck went for new and I think you'll feel better. Price a set of tires (presuming the ones you have are good) and I bet you'll be jumping for joy.

Also check out that deck. How does it compare to your older one? I have a 42" rear discharge on my 314-H and it is a Beast! You see how lots of the older decks get dented from hitting stuff? Look at the 1/2" rod that the edge of the deck curls around. I don't think it's going to give very easily. (Of course you may have a similar deck on your C-120. I don't know how far back that style.) The only thing bad about it is how hard it is to move around due to the weight.

I think you probably got a great tractor that needs a little work to get it back in shape.

But... What's wrong with the C-120? Is it beyond repair? Or just needs a little work?

best,

hank

[Ken B 3,189]

I wish you luck with it Will. I agree, there haven't been to many decent tractors for sale locally lately. I'm thrilled I snapped up the Fireman's C-101 when I did, more luck than anything.

I agree with the guy that said take a look at what you can now buy new for 1000 bucks and you will feel much better about your purchase. :thumbs:

[truckin88 104]

Guys, 314 is coming along good, hopefully will have her back together tonight or tomorrow morning...just trying to get her fully up to snuff on ....been putting late nights in on her.

As for the 120, I think it needs a motor rebuild, it still runs ok, but under load (I was mowing really high grass), she started backfiring, was hoping to get her through the year, now I am thinking a rebuild or new motor and paint her, I have all new tires on her. The tranny is good and has been flushed, mechanically she has been taken care of and greased for years (in the family since new), but we figure it has about 3000 hours on her....so it is time.