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What would you charge to restore this?

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42FarmallH

01-23-2004 17:35:00

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First custom restoration for me, done plenty of my own but never for anyone else. A neighbor asked all over the community and evidently I come highly recommended. It runs good, good oil pressure and no blue smoke, but has oil leaks. It is a late 44 or early 45 model (don't remember the serial number other than 113,xxx).

Anyways, what would you do? Charge $1000 plus parts cost to restore? Keep track of hours and charge an hourly rate?

I was thinking of keeping track of hours and charging around $10 to $12 per hour for the time I spend on it. Plus cost of parts of course.

Just looking for your opinions, thanks!

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gauger

01-24-2004 21:52:24

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

It's tough to get someone to pay what it is really worth. I restored a Super A for a friend a few years ago. He bought all the parts and services (machine shop etc.) I put in hundreds of hours. I charged him $1000 plus show rights. Obviously I didn't make much per hour but it's a hobby to me. It's like if I was a golfer and someone offered me $1000 to play. It worked out great for us, we show the tractor together on occasion. I'd go broke if I tried this for a living, noone would be willing to pay me what my restorations are worth (To me).

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42FarmallH I should be m

01-24-2004 05:56:19

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

This is a side job, not my sole income. I enjoy working on these tractors and use the time spent as "therapy." I wrote a detailed letter explaining what I plan to do with the tractor, a list of parts that I know it needs and a list of parts it may or may not need. I stated that I wanted it in writing from him that I should start the restoration and that he would pay me along the way.

As for the $10 per hour, I upped it to $12. Yes it seems low, but I am not a professional and sometimes things take longer than they should. I'm fairly meticulous and I feel that this tractor will take 75 to 100 hours to complete.

I'll keep you posted on the progress, thanks for the advice!!

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ChadS

01-23-2004 22:02:50

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

I would disassemble it, take it someone that has an idustrial sandblaster, that would save on the hourly rate instead of sanding, and grinding,, I have a commercial sandblaster, and have restored tractors for many people, I have about 2 hrs in sandblasting the tractor, at 100 bucks and hour, and if it requires any repair work, as far as seals and such,, it is 20 an hour plus parts, They buy the paint, the hardener and the decals, 35 dollars an hour to paint it. A tractor like that, would take about 5-8 hrs to disasseble, some scraping of grease,, 2 to 2.5 hrs to sandblast, and 4 hrs to paint, and if a second coat is nessisary, and usually does not,, and then 5-8 hrs to reassemble if nothing needs repaired. That is what I get to restore tractors,, some rates change depending on repair, and body work on the sheet metal, That owuld be a very nice tractor when it would be done. Just my 2 cents,, ChadS

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Red Rider

01-23-2004 19:48:21

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

42FarmallH, I just finished restoring a Farmall 100 which is basiclly the same tractor. Restoring a tractor can mean a lot of different thing to different people. A fully restored tractor to me is inside and out side. If I were asked to take on a job like you were asked I would be sending my parts list to this individual to purchase and supply to me. If you have lots of time and love restoring tractors more than you need money then 10 bucks an hour is fine. My self I have to many restoration jobs I need to do for my self or there is always that honey do list.

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Dave - Illinois

01-23-2004 19:09:34

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

You are way too low on your hourly rate!

I had a fellow overhaul the engine on this H last year. His rate was $25. I paid the machine shop directly and paid for parts and supplies as he went along. Paid him for his hours completely when I picked up the tractor.

Dave Olson - East-Central Illinois

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John of Canada

01-23-2004 19:04:28

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

I would trade him with a John Deere and keep the Farmall if I were you .

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Bob

01-23-2004 18:49:47

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

Remember he didn't get rich by pi$$ing away money. Give him an estimate of what you think it will take and be honest with both yourself and him. Tell him its your best estimate and see if he wants to bare the weight. If he says okay after you start and if you run into something major that wasn't in your estimate let him know and tell him what the added cost may be. Above all document everything and be very careful about thowing those words "mechanics lean" around because if hes as well to do as you say it won't mean squat to him and he might let you have something you can never get your money out of and ruin you anyway..... ..... Good luck.

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Bill in Orono, MN

01-23-2004 17:59:37

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

I would respectfully suggest the following:

Offer to purchase the tractor at a fair price with the condition that the seller will have the opportunity to purchase the tractor upon completion and before anyone else has a crack at it.
I would set a completion date.

Make damn sure you are willing to restore the tractor and swallow the costs and labor entirely if the buyer backs out due to "unforseen circumstances"

Convey to the current tractor owner that (I will assume here) you work on tractors as a hobby

My 2 cents

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42FarmallH

01-23-2004 18:20:30

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Re: Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to Bill in Orono, MN, 01-23-2004 17:59:37

I know this guy, respected banker... he will not back out due to unforseen circumstances. And along other lines, if he tries to stiff me I can put a mechanic's lein on him... I've checked up on this a little bit already just in case.

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Mechanic - years ago!!!!!

01-23-2004 17:59:24

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

I would do it for time and materials, if I were you. Don't sell youself short, most shops would charge $25 to $45 per hour (depending on your location) for mechanical repairs and paint shops charge even more. The best thing is to obtain a written agreement with the owner and get a VERY big deposit up front to cover start up. You might even want bill him peridocally as you get to various stages you both have agreeded upon in advance. My 2 cents worth!

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lee

01-23-2004 19:32:13

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Re: Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to Mechanic - years ago!!!!!, 01-23-2004 17:59:24

I like the idea of you getting paid as you go, say every 40 hrs or so at a decent rate and he pays for parts. Don't get stuck for your hrs.

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42FarmallH

01-23-2004 18:13:13

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Re: Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to Mechanic - years ago!!!!!, 01-23-2004 17:59:24

I will NOT buy any of the parts with my own money - he will need to send me money periodically to cover the costs of parts. Also, the tin work will be dropped off at a local body shop and charged directly to him. Along with anything else that needs to be outsourced.

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CNKS

01-23-2004 17:47:32

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

Steven, you listed prices for the H you fixed up, and you did not replace tires, or paint it if I remember right. Parts alone were what? $2800? You are going to have at least $3500 in that A if you are talking about a "full" restoration. From there it depends on how much you want for your labor, as you know it will be a lot. Since you are going to school and working both, it's going to take you a long time, I would go the fixed amount plus parts. I don't do that type of thing for others because I'm too slow, but my labor would be a lot more than $1000. At $12 an hour that's only 83 hours. Perhaps I could get it disassembled in that time!

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Nebraska Cowman

01-23-2004 17:42:25

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Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:35:00

The last A I did i think the bill was about $600. Didn't do nothin but clean it up and paint it. I have been charging $10 per hour but realy don't have the time. If all you were going to do is paint it you might give him an estimate. but if you are tearing into it you are going to get big time involved. is the customer willing to pay for it? I think the big boys get a good deposit down and then hold the tractor till the bill is paid.

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42FarmallH

01-23-2004 17:54:29

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Re: Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 01-23-2004 17:42:25

Definitaly going to get cash advances for parts costs. I'm asking for $500 to start so I can get shop supplies and order parts that I know I need (fan hub, gaskets, seals, etc.). Needs more than paint, tin work, seals are out, crankshaft pulley is loose, fan wobbles, etc. etc... He is a very rich man, I'm not worried about costs. Really leaning towards the $10 per hour...

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Van in AR

01-23-2004 19:43:46

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Re: Re: Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:54:29

$10 per hour, when you get done with his - if it looks good, I have three or four more you could do for me. You are under pricing yourself, and yup the rich dude will take advantage of you, thats partly how he got rich.

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Oklahomatractorrebuilder

01-23-2004 18:53:49

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Re: Re: Re: What would you charge to restore this? in reply to 42FarmallH, 01-23-2004 17:54:29

$10.00 a hour? This isn't the 50's. Even a lousy shop will charge at least $25.00 a hour and some of the name brand shops charge up to $70.00 a hour. We restore a lot of tractors here and charge $40.00/hour per mechanic and use actual hours spent working on each vehicle. We also require a $1000 deposit before any work is done and bill on a weekly basis. Parts are always extra and payable when bought. Tim

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