Considering another project tractor

I’m considering taking on another project tractor (not that I need another tractor). I looked at a non-running (been sitting in field for 3 years) Massey Ferguson 35 gas tractor. The sheet metal looked straight but was rusted pretty bad. All 4 tires are flat and dry-rotted. I couldn’t get the hi/lo 3 speed gear shifter to move. The guy in charge of selling it for his aunt said another man looked at it and tried to crank it and the engine was loose (although they couldn’t get it to fire). There was an all purpose plow and a brush hog buried somewhere under some thick hedge bushes but I couldn’t get a glimpse of them through the thick hedge growth.

The guy said they wanted $1800 for the package. Although the tractor has potential, there are too many unknowns for me to shell out $1800 bucks for something I don’t really need. I told the guy I would think about it and I may decide to make them an offer.

Well, what do you all think? I don’t want to make an offer so low it insults them and makes me look unethical or like I’m trying to take advantage of them; but, their asking price is probably twice more than I want to pay.

Any thoughts or opinions appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Rick

If you want to stay friends, present your offer for what it's worth and apologize saying "I know it's not anywhere near what you're asking and you may be able to get your price from someone else, but if not I'll be willing to give you this for it." Then give them your offer in writing with your name, phone number and the date.

Then you just walk away. If they want to make an issue of it you can politely explain that without being able to hear it run, you have no idea what other problems it may have in the transmission, hydraulics, etc etc, and that's why you're only willing to risk that much.

Of course $1800 is too much for a non-running rusted bad tired stuck shiftered unknown mechanical shaped tractor. The correct thing to do is offer "parts tractor" rates unless he can get it running for you to test out the mechanicals. I would start at $500 for the tractor, and $100 a piece for the implements depending on condition. That means, I would offer the guy $700, and be willing to increase depending on how bad I wanted it.

Congratulations on the find, and good luck on your next project - if it turns out even half as good as your previous ones did, it will still be show quality.

Dan