Avenger
Veteran Member
I was offered to take back my childhood tractor!
I grew up on our small family farm. We had two tractors that did all the work. When my grandfather decided to "sell" the farm to a family friend, most of the equipment went to him, including the two tractors. I put "sell" in quotes because he didn't actually sell the land. He leased it out to him as the land was too valuable not to will it to, well, me! I have kept the land leased out to this family friend for very cheap. He did however, buy the equipment (for next to nothing) and all the extra things.
Being that he is a very dear family friend, I invited him over to my home for a family get together this last Memorial Day weekend. And he drove the 3 hours and showed up! It was great to see him!! He told me that he is seriously considering retiring and getting rid of everything. He is 82 after all. I knew that one of the tractors died years ago, the "big tractor," a 1974 International 1066, and he had to scrap it. But he still has the "little tractor."
I asked him what he was planning on doing with the "little tractor." It is a 1972 IH 656 with FEL. He chuckled and asked if I wanted it? "HELL YES!!" I replied. He chuckled again and informed me that it's not quite the tractor I remember. He said that he is having some problems with it. It still runs, but he thought the starter motor was going out. He had it rebuilt. But turns out the gear wheel is missing several teeth and is "chewed all to hell and back. Its a miracle it even starts!"
This tractor is the tractor I learned on. I spent several hours of several years driving and operating this tractor. It was our utility tractor (the only one with an FEL) and did so much work around the farm. Being hydrostatic, it was easy to drive. Flat metal fenders made for a great platform to watch my grandfather and learn from. I drove it our small town parade when I was in high school. This tractor, that I said good bye to almost two decades ago, has suddenly come back to my mind. The opportunity to get it back has thrilled me! But I am concerned about the wear and damages.
I suspect that my dear family friend would simply give me the tractor. But I'd be willing to pay for it too. I have no use for this tractor. Honestly, its kinda big! I have 10 acres of woods, not an open field. Then I think about the possibility of a complete restoration and how awesome that would be. Or simply repairing it enough to keep it running and be somewhat helpful next to my modern tractor. I don't have an adequate shop to do such repairs, but maybe I could find a local shop?
All these thoughts are swirling in my head. This tractor has no real value outside of a collectors item or scrap. But it does have a ton of sentimental value to me.
What would you do?
I grew up on our small family farm. We had two tractors that did all the work. When my grandfather decided to "sell" the farm to a family friend, most of the equipment went to him, including the two tractors. I put "sell" in quotes because he didn't actually sell the land. He leased it out to him as the land was too valuable not to will it to, well, me! I have kept the land leased out to this family friend for very cheap. He did however, buy the equipment (for next to nothing) and all the extra things.
Being that he is a very dear family friend, I invited him over to my home for a family get together this last Memorial Day weekend. And he drove the 3 hours and showed up! It was great to see him!! He told me that he is seriously considering retiring and getting rid of everything. He is 82 after all. I knew that one of the tractors died years ago, the "big tractor," a 1974 International 1066, and he had to scrap it. But he still has the "little tractor."
I asked him what he was planning on doing with the "little tractor." It is a 1972 IH 656 with FEL. He chuckled and asked if I wanted it? "HELL YES!!" I replied. He chuckled again and informed me that it's not quite the tractor I remember. He said that he is having some problems with it. It still runs, but he thought the starter motor was going out. He had it rebuilt. But turns out the gear wheel is missing several teeth and is "chewed all to hell and back. Its a miracle it even starts!"
This tractor is the tractor I learned on. I spent several hours of several years driving and operating this tractor. It was our utility tractor (the only one with an FEL) and did so much work around the farm. Being hydrostatic, it was easy to drive. Flat metal fenders made for a great platform to watch my grandfather and learn from. I drove it our small town parade when I was in high school. This tractor, that I said good bye to almost two decades ago, has suddenly come back to my mind. The opportunity to get it back has thrilled me! But I am concerned about the wear and damages.
I suspect that my dear family friend would simply give me the tractor. But I'd be willing to pay for it too. I have no use for this tractor. Honestly, its kinda big! I have 10 acres of woods, not an open field. Then I think about the possibility of a complete restoration and how awesome that would be. Or simply repairing it enough to keep it running and be somewhat helpful next to my modern tractor. I don't have an adequate shop to do such repairs, but maybe I could find a local shop?
All these thoughts are swirling in my head. This tractor has no real value outside of a collectors item or scrap. But it does have a ton of sentimental value to me.
What would you do?
