Need help pricing a Ford 900

[alpacalips]

Hey everyone. My father in law passed away this year and I'm trying to help my mother in law sell this old ford, but I don't have much of an idea how to price it. They had it for 20 years or so and only used it a couple times a year to spread horse manure.

I believe it is a 960, since it has 5 speeds and a live PTO. The tach is missing, the rear wheels are pretty rusty, the sheet metal isn't great. The three point hitch goes up and down smoothly but I didn't lift any weight with it. Once I found the ignition switch and starter button and choke, it did start without much trouble. I drove it around a bit and found that the manure spreader is broken; the conveyer moves but the paddles on the rear don't spin.

Mother in law recalls that her husband spent a lot of money getting the engine overhauled a long time ago (she's still mad about it :laughing, but I have no way to confirm that so it's probably not much of a selling point.

We're in northeast Washington state if that makes a difference. We'd like to sell the tractor and spreader both, together would be even better. So what do you think, is this stuff destined to be yard art? This is by far the oldest tractor I've dealt with.

 

[kuschneider]

Yard art!? Heck no. You got an easy to start for tractor that drives with a working 3 point lift. The front tires are crap. The rear rims look OK. She is no beauty queen but there is definitely some $$ there to be made on a sale. Look on Craigslist for ideas on prices for similar fords in the area

 

[fried1765]

Hey everyone. My father in law passed away this year and I'm trying to help my mother in law sell this old ford, but I don't have much of an idea how to price it. They had it for 20 years or so and only used it a couple times a year to spread horse manure.

I believe it is a 960, since it has 5 speeds and a live PTO. The tach is missing, the rear wheels are pretty rusty, the sheet metal isn't great. The three point hitch goes up and down smoothly but I didn't lift any weight with it. Once I found the ignition switch and starter button and choke, it did start without much trouble. I drove it around a bit and found that the manure spreader is broken; the conveyer moves but the paddles on the rear don't spin.

Mother in law recalls that her husband spent a lot of money getting the engine overhauled a long time ago (she's still mad about it :laughing, but I have no way to confirm that so it's probably not much of a selling point.

We're in northeast Washington state if that makes a difference. We'd like to sell the tractor and spreader both, together would be even better. So what do you think, is this stuff destined to be yard art? This is by far the oldest tractor I've dealt with.

"alpacalips" ?????

Any particular meaning to the "alpa" part of that?

 

[alpacalips]

Yard art!? Heck no. You got an easy to start for tractor that drives with a working 3 point lift. The front tires are crap. The rear rims look OK. She is no beauty queen but there is definitely some $$ there to be made on a sale. Look on Craigslist for ideas on prices for similar fords in the area

Thanks. I haven't found anything similar for sale but I'll keep looking.

 

[alpacalips]

"alpacalips" ?????

Any particular meaning to the "alpa" part of that?

It's actually alpaca lips. Doesn't mean anything, just a nonsense username that sounds like apocalypse. :laughing:

 

[Michford]

Sorry to hear about your father in law. Above and just behind the starter should be two sets of stamped numbers. The top one will be either 950 or 960. The lower number will be the serial number. Tractor appears to be a 1956 or 1957. If it runs and drives, that's helpful, but it looks a little rough around the edges. The market is pretty soft for these old tractors now. A 960 would be worth a little more than a 950. If it is a 960, start out at $2400 and work your way down if need be. If it's a 950, start out at $2200. Good luck with your sale.

 

[alpacalips]

Sorry to hear about your father in law. Above and just behind the starter should be two sets of stamped numbers. The top one will be either 950 or 960. The lower number will be the serial number. Tractor appears to be a 1956 or 1957. If it runs and drives, that's helpful, but it looks a little rough around the edges. The market is pretty soft for these old tractors now. A 960 would be worth a little more than a 950. If it is a 960, start out at $2400 and work your way down if need be. If it's a 950, start out at $2200. Good luck with your sale.

Thank you for the response, I really appreciate the advice. I was guessing 960 because the specs I saw on tractordata.com said the 960 has a live PTO, and when I drove the tractor it did have a two stage clutch. Are there other differences between a 950 and a 960? Next time I'm at the farm I will look for the numbers.

 

[RickB]

If it has a two stage clutch it is a 960. Live or transmission PTO is the difference between a 960 and 950.

 

[tude]

go to tractorhouse and search the 40-99 horsepower range They have 4 960 listed for sale.

 

[alpacalips]

go to tractorhouse and search the 40-99 horsepower range They have 4 960 listed for sale.

Thank you, I will

 

[jonathco]

I picked up a narrow front 950 about a year ago with 4 brand new tires + a fresh paint job; I paid mid $3k's for it. In my neck of the woods, I paid near top end of the fair market price for it. I'm not sure what the tractor market is like on the west coast, but unless it's significantly different than here, in that condition, the tractor is not worth more than $1600 (give or take). With a manure spreader as part of the deal, I'd align with @Michford at around $2400 and see if you get any bites.

Good luck!

 

[alpacalips]

I picked up a narrow front 950 about a year ago with 4 brand new tires + a fresh paint job; I paid mid $3k's for it. In my neck of the woods, I paid near top end of the fair market price for it. I'm not sure what the tractor market is like on the west coast, but unless it's significantly different than here, in that condition, the tractor is not worth more than $1600 (give or take). With a manure spreader as part of the deal, I'd align with @Michford at around $2400 and see if you get any bites.

Good luck!

Thank you for the input. If I look at it from the perspective of a buyer who wanted to buy it to put it to work, it would need at least a few hundred dollars of parts to get it right. (Mainly the rear rims are rusting through.) I don't know what's wrong with the spreader, nor do I have the time investigate it very much. I think we may end up selling it on the cheap side to get rid of the clutter.

I see you have a Deere 750. Sweet old machine, I have one too.

 

[jonathco]

Thank you for the input. If I look at it from the perspective of a buyer who wanted to buy it to put it to work, it would need at least a few hundred dollars of parts to get it right. (Mainly the rear rims are rusting through.) I don't know what's wrong with the spreader, nor do I have the time investigate it very much. I think we may end up selling it on the cheap side to get rid of the clutter.

I see you have a Deere 750. Sweet old machine, I have one too.

Makes sense; somebody will buy and either put it to work or restore it for parades and shows. The narrow front Hundred series Fords are some of my favorites; great looking tractors.

Absolutely love my JD 750; she does the majority of the day-to-day work around my place. Cheers!

 

[wmonroe]

Where are you located?