I walked....

But I walked today.

Wants 5750.00 as-is. Wouldn't start. Said that a cylinder must be have water; the other day it chugged. Assuming head gasket is blown. But head was removed by previous owner and re-installed after cleaning. PERHAPS the previous owner reinstalled the old head gasket and it blew? Current owner said it was a good runner prior to the head gasket issue. Son in law was running it, it overheated, and then the blowing coolant trouble started.

So, I couldn't hear it, drive it, check the lifts and pumps etc. etc.

Tires in rear were weather checked and worn to about 50-55% but new rims.

Tin...straight.

Oil or seal leaks...the usual. With a lot of fluids around steering housing, but cylinder for FEL, powwer steering, valve and pushrod covers etc were ok...no apparent leaks that drew a lot of attention.

Consistent drip from radiator.

Front differential relatively clean.

Couldn't talk him to down to 5250. He doesn't have time to work on it to get it started, but was open to the idea of me driving 4 hours round trip to replace the head gasket and get it running for him and paying 5500.00 for what he paid for it.

He has a fella in WA state who is buying an 861D in nice shape from him, collects Ford, wants one of everything and is willing to meet him at 5750 to "fill a trailer" back to WA state.

He will know tonight if the WA state guy will purchase it or not.

So, here's the 64,000.00 dollar question: What would you have done?

9N'er

AIN'T NO 40 year old non-running tractor worth more broken than running. Unless you just gotta havitts more than ya gotts smartts..... .....Dell

He wants 5750.00

It is in worse shape now than when he bought it...and wants more money for it.

Not sure I will spend my time and money to keep him from losing money. hmmmmm mmmmm mmmm..... .... 9N'er

I agree with the rest of the fellers. A tractor that aint running isn't worth $5,750, loader or no loader. I can't believe he's selling it for more that he paid.

You'll find another with a better deal!!
Hang in there my friend.

Tyman

The story you report sounds a lot like: pulled the head; figured out it was busted; slapped it back together and ran an ad.

What I do when I come across a story like this is I leave a business card with what I will pay written on it and you probably wouldn't be surprised how many calls I get about two weeks after the ad ran.

Your mileage may vary

The deal you describe was not a pig in a poke, it was just a poke.

But keep dreaming.