Curious.. - Page 2

Sam Mac · #11 02-06-2014, 05:23 PM

Earl
I have a very good friend that rebuilds mostly Ingersoll tractors to like new condition. He does a few every year and makes decent money doing them. He is in CT and has a word of mouth following. His pricing is reasonable considering what he does to the tractors. Biggest issue is we are living in a throwaway society. You will need to develop a following of customers that understand the value of a remanufactured older tractor. It will need to be as good as new and you will need to stand behind it should it have a problem. When I say remanufactured I am talking about a total disassembly all parts inspected and replaced or repaired so that it is like new. Give it some serious thought and then ask yourself if you after all that can you make a profit. Just speaking from my personal experience I think it may be a tough sell, I took an 1882 and replaced the engine with a brand new CH22, went through the whole drive line new drive shaft, PTO all new seals in the rear and on and on. I had $3000.00 in it not including anything for my time when I went to sell it the best offer I got was $2000.00. I ended up removing the new engine and replacing it with a repaired CH18 and bailed out of it for $1800.00. I lost about $300.00 on it. I guess you need to be in an area that can support the kind of dollars that it takes to do what you thinking about. All that said if you decide to proceed go slow and don’t put more into the project than you can afford to lose.

TIMCRUTCHER · #12 02-06-2014, 07:47 PM

$300 was a small price to pay for all the enjoyment you had bringing the old machine back to life.

Sam Mac · #13 02-06-2014, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIMCRUTCHER

$300 was a small price to pay for all the enjoyment you had bringing the old machine back to life.

Tim

My point is that Earl wants to do this and make $$$ doing it. I have done too many in the last few years and have lost $$$ on all of them. I don't need any more practice and I'm done trying to save every Cub that comes along. I only do my own stuff now. You will see far fewer posts from me doing rehabs.

J-Mech · #14 02-06-2014, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

Tim

My point is that Earl wants to do this and make $$$ doing it. I have done too many in the last few years and have lost $$$ on all of them. I don't need any more practice and I'm done trying to save every Cub that comes along. I only do my own stuff now. You will see far fewer posts from me doing rehabs.

Words of wisdom right there.

I looked into doing rehabs. Decided quick, that outside of this forum (and a few others) it's just a lawn mower to most people. They aren't going to pay the kind of $$ it takes to make one brand new and you still make money. The people who love and respect these machines, want to do it themselves. Outside of say, rebuilding just engines, or various other parts, there isn't any money to be made re-habing these tractors.

Unless someone asks me to work on their machine, and know in advance the cost, I stay away. Rebuilds are for myself only as well.

Yosemite Sam · #15 02-06-2014, 11:34 PM

I'm not going to get into a whole big thing about this, you guys speak the truth and I believe it's a sad, sad thing.

Shrewcub · #16 02-07-2014, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkminion_17

What is in your pipe?

What ever it is I think I'd inhale!! lol It's just not feasible. Building things with a real warranty is just not in the shareholders interest anymore!

Shrewcub · #17 02-07-2014, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Mech

Words of wisdom right there.

I looked into doing rehabs. Decided quick, that outside of this forum (and a few others) it's just a lawn mower to most people. They aren't going to pay the kind of $$ it takes to make one brand new and you still make money. The people who love and respect these machines, want to do it themselves. Outside of say, rebuilding just engines, or various other parts, there isn't any money to be made re-habing these tractors.

Unless someone asks me to work on their machine, and know in advance the cost, I stay away. Rebuilds are for myself only as well.

I wish there was a market for it! That would be my dream job

There is no way they could EVER be JUST a lawn mower to me!!! They are an awesome childhood memory at the very least!!!

cubfan · #18 02-07-2014, 06:18 AM

As for me,I simply got sick of being stuck with the throw away mower syndrome.I had a CC 1554 with 580 hrs and it had started giving me alot of problems.I decided it was time for a new machine.Im a devoted CC person so only a CC would do.Although it was expensive I decided to invest the money into something I felt would last.I came home with the CC LZ 60 and it is a well built machine.I upgraded from the Kohler to the Kawasaki.That being said,if someone wants a good quality built machine they are still being made but they are also expensive.Same as it was back when they built these old ones were built.Im sure 700-1000 dollars was absurd for a riding mower back then.Just guessing not sure that's what they cost but that's back when a dollar was worth a dollar.I really like my zero turn and so far the hr meter is the only issues I've had with it.In todays world you get what you pay for and if its alot less expensive there's a reason why.Cheap ain't good and good ain't cheap.Just my

hdsdcouple · #19 02-07-2014, 07:11 AM

It is a sad throw away world. but like it was said earlier most people look at a tractor as just something they have to have to mow the grass. Most don't take care of them and if they stop running they run to Waste-Mart and buy the latest $330 dollar riding pile of junk. Me I don't mind spending good money on a nice a great tractor, but I am the 2% of the country that cares about their tractor.

here is a great story to back this up, I have a Troy built push mower. I paid $0 for it got it from a neighbor when I lived out in Vegas. He had bought a new mower and this one was about 3 maybe 4 years old. I asked him what happened to it and why he bought the new one. He told me it just stopped running so he thought it was junk and went and bought another one. I took it home and 20 Min later had it running, and still use it 8 years later. Troy built has a low oil switch on it. they neighbor never changed oil or added any. So in a nut shell he bought and ran it till it ran low on oil and went and bought another mower.

That's the real America you would need to market it to.

To a non collector why would they pay 2K for a 50 year old tractor when they can buy a new one for 1/4 of that?

I hate the throw away America

Leadslingingdaddy · #20 02-07-2014, 11:49 AM

I just pick the project that I know will have the greatest outcome anymore....example...

Free JD 420 with blown engine...Buy ragged Cub 2185/1863 type and swap out motor...part rest of tractor..($)

Sell for 2.5k....

Only way I will do non personal use tractors....Time is way to valuable these days...

Like Sam said just wanna keep mine running like new....

These days you are going to buy a high price for what we took for granted back in the day....