A Good Ford 1210 Deal?

herdfan · Oct 9, 2004

I have the opportunity to get a 1985 Ford 1210 4WD diesel with FEL, tiller, and finishing mower. I think there may be a couple of more attachments but I'm not sure. It only has around 120 hours on it (the guy's grandfather had it and barely used it). I'm told that it looks showroom new and is in great running condition. I'm going to see it tomorrow. He's asking $8500.

How's the price? Are there any issues with the low hours (dry seals, etc)? Also, is this unit a good size for maintaining around 20 acres of hilly land with creek banks and a pond? I have a Century 3045 already but wanted something a little more turf-friendly but don't want to get something too small.

Thanks for any help!
Eric

AndyMA · Oct 9, 2004

I don't know about the price. Hours sem very low. I have heard that some parts for 10 series Fords are getting scarce. I think the machine is too small for what you are looking to do with it. I would be in the 30 to 50 hp range.

andy

Ledgemere Farm · Oct 10, 2004

It seems a little high. That tractor is only about 12 or 13 HP if I remember right.

DieselnHooters · Oct 10, 2004

Those 1210 are very good little machines, perhaps smallish for your needs though.
The hour-meter on a 1210 only has 3 digits , it only goes to 999.9 then goes back to 000.0, the one you are looking at may very well have 1120 or 2120 or more?

I have never heard of parts scarcity for the '10 series, most parts from the'20 series are compatible anyway.

Soundguy · Oct 11, 2004

Price seems high. A friend had one.. Seemed like it couldn't pull itself out of a wet bag. High grass and a 4' mower were too much for it... This one was abused.. but then.. most tractors get hard use too.

You can only figure on half value at best on a used implement. Doing the math on yours makes it look like there should be another small used tractor in there in the deal.

That friend that had the 1210 had me over on many occasions to mow his 6 ac lot for him.

For thos ethat aren't familiar with this tractor.. it is large lawnmower sized... similar to the one attached here:

Soundguy

Ledgemere Farm · Oct 11, 2004

It is a cute little thing though... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Inspector507 · Oct 11, 2004

Here's one on my dealers lot, still after a year or more.
345 hrs and only $3900.

AndyM · Oct 11, 2004

<font color="blue"> I have the opportunity to get a 1985 Ford 1210 4WD diesel with FEL, tiller, and finishing mower. I think there may be a couple of more attachments but I'm not sure. It only has around 120 hours on it (the guy's grandfather had it and barely used it). I'm told that it looks showroom new and is in great running condition. I'm going to see it tomorrow. He's asking $8500.

How's the price? </font>

I paid $8250 for my brand new New Holland TC18 last year. It doesn't have a FEL and I had to buy a mower for it, but $8500 seems rather steep for a 1210 that is 19 years old.

I just saw a 2003 TC18 with FEL in the newspaper a month ago for $9000.

herdfan · Oct 11, 2004

Thanks for all the replies, guys.
I finally got a look at the tractor in person today.
It was a little bit bigger than what I thought it would be, but I think it would still be too small for what I need.
It is a neat little tractor, though. It looks it has hardly been used. Even with the low hours, that price does seem high based on what you all have said and some of the other sites I have looked at.
This certainly isn't a must-have, but it would be nice to have another 4wd tractor for turf-work.
The only thing that would be better than 2 tractors would be 3 tractors! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ledgemere Farm · Oct 12, 2004

The only thing that would be better than 2 tractors would be 3 tractors

I tried that one with my wife. I hope you have better luck than I did! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif