What's a VAC worth?

[grsthegreat]

You have never heard of a VAC ?? Case made them were had one before the farm got too big !! Can't believe that you've never heard of case tractors !!!

I never once said ive never heard of case tractors, i used to operate them. They were never called VAC back when i operated them. Everybody just called it a tricycle . We only used it when the big boys were already being used.

 

[grsthegreat]

First time i ever operated it was in 1977 on a job at a cattle operation i was working on. Apparently it had been sitting on the farm for 10 years or so not operational. I was enrolled in a tractor class in college and working in the machine shop. I decided to give it a look over. Was an easy peasy repair. Some idiot had miswired the sparkplug wires. That, and some badly warn wires. All it took were a few parts and proper hookup and she was up and running. The tires only lasted a few months up front, probably from sitting so long. It took the owner awhile to find the proper sized, very old set to replace them with.. god forbid he bought something new.

 

[Jrasband]

When I was in High school we were using the LOL, and my mom thought it meant, " lots of kisses"

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I honestly thought you meant vacuum, and i was wondering how you cultivate using a vacuum.

Then again, the fiber optic crew at my house was using a vacuum and water nozzle to dig a 4 foot deep hole in the ground and worked around gas and power lines. Huge hole, no damaged pipes. Amazing. Get one of those VAC’s

I thought I was the only one to come to this conclusion!

Oh, yeah, for the guy looking or intelligent conversations, yeah, it does happen, but this one went off the rails pretty quickly

 

[GrandpaSmurf825]

I would say unless it has some real unusual features like an orchard model or something like that it's absolutely at the top dollar it could be worth. I did a quick search on Sullivan/Big Iron Auctions because they are going to give a big cross section from Ohio to the Rocky Mountains. I might have overlooked something but $1600 is the highest I saw and most were less than half that. Some looked preety good but that doesn't mean they were running condition. Tire condition is a factor as well. If you have to throw ties on one that will cost you at least $300 a tire on the back and that's if you can do your own mounting. That's probably low. I know my farmer friend was searching for 12.4/13.6-28's for an 801 Ford and they were going to be almost $300 each plus that much in freight.

 

[slingworks]

To my mind a Case VAC tractor (not an acronym but and actual model designation) is something desirable. Mostly because that is what we had when I was a kid. It only did duty pulling a small John Deere Model 12A self powered combine. As I understand it, the VAC could have run a PTO powered model 12 but it would have been close to the limits of power output for the little tractor.

As far as I know the VAC came in either wide or narrow front ends as well as an orchard model that had a smoothed over body to keep from catching on branches.

Currently I don't have a need for another tractor, nor another project so for $2K (that is two thousand dollars in United States money for the acronym adverse) would be a big stretch unless it was in show quality condition. Likewise $800 for a running but rough unit would seem about right if you are looking for a restoration project or just something for little odd jobs and occasional light work.

Location is probably as much of a factor as condition, although it is small enough to be easily transported on even a small car trailer. Generally I tend to want to preserve old equipment but time, finances and practicality have to be considered as well. For example I have a 1967 Ford F600 truck that is in pretty bad shape but it runs and operates for the limited amount of use I need it for. Occasionally I look at it and think "man, I need to restore this neat old truck" then I look closer and realize it is just too used and too broken for that much effort even if money were no object.

For certain there are old tractors and other equipment that are "just used up". Only you can decide what you are willing to spend and if what you are getting is worth it or not.

If you have any pictures of the actual tractor you are considering please post them.

Best of luck in your decision making.

Well I've found 2 more VACs to contemplate on within driving distance. So 3 to choose from.

This one is pictured here is pretty similar to the one down the road I'm looking at. Maybe having been repainted some years back? Comes with a case plow and full set of weights. The seller is asking 2500 but I suspect could be persuaded down somewhat. I think he's had it up for sale since summer? It's online and 3 or so hours away:

The other I've found just 35 miles away and is 1K. Paint is old/faded/rusty and a bit rough around the edges. New tires all the way around. Missing an alternator and side panels. Probably not as bad as it looks?:

I'm mainly wanting it for some like tasks like raking hay and spraying/hilling potatoes and such. I like the better looking tractor here of course, but I think 2500 might be too much. Maybe 2k even a bit of a stretch?

The $1k tractor would probably also fit the bill about the same, but looks not as great! LOL. I really don't have much time to spare for cleaning/repainting/tinkering, so however I pick one up that how it may stay for some time.

Now, I have NOT looked at either of these 2 tractors in person yet, but I'm planning to this coming week if we can arrange it.

 

[piper184]

Personally if it were me I would go for the $1K unit. It is missing some side panels and some "bling" but if it has good oil pressure and appears to not have major leaks it would be more bang for the buck as a working tractor. Originally they had 6 volt systems and used a positive ground. Important point when evaluating the electrical system. They had a generator, not an alternator. If it has been changed, then inspect it closely.

the tires on both look decent and the accessories add to the value of the nice one.

I think either will do what you want, it just depends on how much you want to spend on pretty.

Best of luck to you in your quest.

 

[slingworks]

Personally if it were me I would go for the $1K unit. It is missing some side panels and some "bling" but if it has good oil pressure and appears to not have major leaks it would be more bang for the buck as a working tractor. Originally they had 6 volt systems and used a positive ground. Important point when evaluating the electrical system. They had a generator, not an alternator. If it has been changed, then inspect it closely.

the tires on both look decent and the accessories add to the value of the nice one.

I think either will do what you want, it just depends on how much you want to spend on pretty.

Best of luck to you in your quest.

I'm sort of leaning towards the cheaper one. It had a Generator but apparently got stolen along with the battery. (Rough neighborhood??) I can still start it up on a battery when I go look at it. I'd "probably" put an alternator on it anyway.

In honesty the wild card might be my Wife. Every time I bring something home that looks a little rough around the edges, she asks why couldn't you buy something nice???

 

[grsthegreat]

I'm sort of leaning towards the cheaper one. It had a Generator but apparently got stolen along with the battery. (Rough neighborhood??) I can still start it up on a battery when I go look at it. I'd "probably" put an alternator on it anyway.

In honesty the wild card might be my Wife. Every time I bring something home that looks a little rough around the edges, she asks why couldn't you buy something nice???

Buy a new Ferrari , she will change her attitude

 

[t1kilo]

Well I've found 2 more VACs to contemplate on within driving distance. So 3 to choose from.

This one is pictured here is pretty similar to the one down the road I'm looking at. Maybe having been repainted some years back? Comes with a case plow and full set of weights. The seller is asking 2500 but I suspect could be persuaded down somewhat. I think he's had it up for sale since summer? It's online and 3 or so hours away:View attachment 4509413

The other I've found just 35 miles away and is 1K. Paint is old/faded/rusty and a bit rough around the edges. New tires all the way around. Missing an alternator and side panels. Probably not as bad as it looks?:

View attachment 4509414
I'm mainly wanting it for some like tasks like raking hay and spraying/hilling potatoes and such. I like the better looking tractor here of course, but I think 2500 might be too much. Maybe 2k even a bit of a stretch?

The $1k tractor would probably also fit the bill about the same, but looks not as great! LOL. I really don't have much time to spare for cleaning/repainting/tinkering, so however I pick one up that how it may stay for some time.

Now, I have NOT looked at either of these 2 tractors in person yet, but I'm planning to this coming week if we can arrange it.

Whenever I am looking at used equipment, I like to see it in its working clothes not all spiffed up. Paint can hide a lot.