520 price?

[Searcher60 209]

Looked at a 1997 520H this morning. It shows 301 hours. The deck is total Swiss cheese. The wiring is butchered and it needs a battery. Unable to hear it run due to wiring problems. Tractor looks ok. What should I offer if anything . Deck will cost a fortune.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,360]

I don't know if I would offer much. You can't hear it running , so it could have engine problems , transmission could have problems. Wiring is butchered , deck is full of holes, how does the rest of the tractor look ? Lot of rust ? need a pressure washer to get it clean ? tires ? seat ? has it set outside  since 1997 ? Lot of unknown factors which could cost a mint.

[Searcher60 209]

It looks ok, doesn't need cleaning, surface rust on the foot rest around rubber pad. 

[N3PUY 1,031]

I paid $100 for this non-running 520HC.   Cost another $210 to make it nice again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Searcher60 209]

The biggest problem is no deck. 

[ericj 1,578]

if you look at as strictly parts, the gear reduction steering is worth somewhere around $ 300.00 by itself. then you have the wide rear rims. You can jump power to the coil and to the blue wire on the starter and try and see if it would start or better yet do a compression test. If it has compression then it will run, someday lol. I have and would offer $ 300.00 all day for it the way you described it, maybe more once I see it in person. Lots of good parts there. Good luck and post some pictures if you get it  or if you have some.

 

 

 

 

 

eric j  

[Searcher60 209]

I offered him $300. That will mean I would be into it $800 to get it running, $400 for a deck, then a battery. Plus I would have to drive to pick it up and drive to pickup a deck. I do not need a parts machine. What I need to do is downsize to one excellent tractor. Decks are a big problem around here. It's not like it is up north. 

Edited August 1, 2017 by Searcher60
Correction

[N3PUY 1,031]

And you still don't know about the transmission. 

Offer $100 to take it off his hands.

Then repair it and sell it or part it .... make a few bucks to put toward a complete tractor.

 

I bought one last summer that was ½ running....... yep ..... broken rod.   Paid $225 and parted out just the motor and got my money back. 

 

Edited August 1, 2017 by N3PUY

[Big_Red_Fred 1,548]

They just give them to me LOL, i must look poor  

Id do what you want to do, find a running Horse, theres plenty if you dont mind a Road trip

[ericj 1,578]

I don't know about your area but, around here a decent 520 with gear reduction steering would be snagged real quick. If you are looking for one excellent tractor maybe you should move on. I like the 520's but they can be plagued with gremlins and could give you some headaches. my personal opinion is that it's worth it, but I have more then one 520 lol, way more then one. maybe @Big_Red_Fred might buy it if you don't

 

 

 

eric j

Edited August 1, 2017 by ericj

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,360]

@Searcher60 There are a few guys around the area that sell tractors on occasion . Check with @richmondred01 or @chip61. They may have something in your price range or know of something for sale. Sometimes you will have to take a long drive to get what you want. Two years ago I drove out pass Lynchburg to get a 416-8. Also check with @limited12. 

[Big_Red_Fred 1,548]

LOL, there goes the Neighborhood @ericj 

Throw in a 68 Dart 440 & its a deal

[Searcher60 209]

11 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

@Searcher60 There are a few guys around the area that sell tractors on occasion . Check with @richmondred01 or @chip61. They may have something in your price range or know of something for sale. Sometimes you will have to take a long drive to get what you want. Two years ago I drove out pass Lynchburg to get a 416-8. Also check with @limited12. 

 

Yea, I may load mine on a truck and try to work a deal with that guy. I been out there once. 

[Big_Red_Fred 1,548]

There's decks up here in Pa for sale, not bad prices, Heck Ericj has a 100 of them i bet LOL @ericj

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,360]

@Searcher60 What tractor are you trying to replace?

[Searcher60 209]

I got a 96' 312-8 low hours, and a C-160A. Only 1 42" deck in excellent condition. 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,360]

Why don't you look for a deck  I am not sure but I think either tractor could handle a 48 inch deck. I run a 42 inch RD on a 310-8 without any problems .

[ohiofarmer 3,352]

  With an Onan engine, you have to fear the worst. The cost for PARTS to rebuild them is so high that you are better off with a substitute engine. Low hours does not guarantee anything , because debris on the air intake screen and the resulting heat is what kills the engines . If the previous owner did not take any better care of that "swiss cheese deck" with only 300 hours on it, that should tell you something about how he took care of the tractor. If you do not hear an Onan run, figure that it is toast.  Besides that, they get horrible fuel mileage per acre mowed as compared to a Kohler one lunger.

 

 Previous owners --i could write a book about what they dont inform you about--   Will often say 'Needs battery" or "Wiring issues" and that appeals to buyers more than. "This engine would make a good paperweight"  When that engine cannot be started and you buy it anyway they cannot be held responsible for anything else wrong with it

 

 That being said, I imagine that there are guys who buy old Onans and make one good engine out of two  I do that with non-running Honda motorcycles and it works out OK. I never ever buy a non-runner for what I can part out half the bike for and that price is about 100-200 dollars

 

. Don't get me wrong, I like my 520. It drives like a sports car with that lightweight 420CC Harbor Freight engine up front

.