Decent price for a Ford 1520?

[g8erh8er]

We recently purchased eight acres and I'm in need of something larger than my dad's Gravely zero turn to handle mowing duties.

My dad got to try out his friends Ford 1520 on the property today for about 6 hrs clearing brush with the bush hog. He said it ran strong all day, but at one point some radiator fluid leaked out the overflow - only happened once. Tractor has 380 hrs, is 4x2, comes with a 3 pt hitch and the bush hog shown in the picture. Just got a new battery but needs new front tires according to my dad.

His friend doesn't have a use for the tractor anymore and said my dad can have the tractor and bush hog for $4000. That seems like a very reasonable price to me given the low hours on this machine. My dad is going to discuss the radiator issue with him to see if he's aware of it.

Any thoughts?

 

[GManBart]

That seems like a good price. I've heard the parts can be a bit expensive on Shibura made Fords of that era, but they're generally considered to be solid machines. It's actually pretty common for tractors to such a bunch of cuttings onto the front of the radiator, which leads to overheating during extending mowing/cutting....a definite possibility if he was running for 6 hours. The tricky thing is that when you shut down, a lot of the debris can fall off because the suction is gone as soon as the fan stops.

 

[smstonypoint]

TractorHouse is a convenient resource for obtaining a sample of "asking" prices. http://www.tractorhouse.com/list/list.aspx?ETID=1&catid=1111&Manu=FORD&Mdltxt=1520&mdlx=exact shows the asking prices for seven 1520s, but none come close to matching that 1520's characteristics. Nonetheless, $4,000 seems like a good price, especially considering the low hours and the fact that the rotary mower is included.


Steve

 

[Creamer]

That sounds like a very good price for that tractor since it looks like it is in very good condition and with the mower. I don't know how hard your Dad was working it but that looks like a 5' mower behind it and if it was cutting brush that is working that tractor pretty hard - a little overheating would not surprise me. My 1710 handles a 5' amazingly well but I do have to watch the engine temperature.

From the picture it looks like it has been well cared for and will do you a nice job in the years to come.

 

[g8erh8er]

I appreciate all the replies.

I had initially planned on cutting this property using a pull behind mower deck with our JD Gator 825i UTV, but the tractor just seems better suited. Granted, I'd probably be a lot more comfortable in the Gator for several hours at a time, and I think it would cut quicker. But I've been reading reviews of the powered pull behinds and have yet to find one that seems above & beyond the rest. If DR made a finish cut, I would have gone that route - Swisher seems pretty cheaply made. Looking for something that will last long term.

Anyway, once we get all the brush taken down, I plan to switch out the bush hog for a finish mower attachment, unless the bush hog can give a somewhat manicured look to regular grass, but I doubt it. I have yet to see it in person, but my dad says everything looks pretty well cared for. It is an older model (1990) but there's no leaks to speak of, and oil was just changed, so I think for the $$, this will serve us well.

 

[TSO]

I also think that's a very fair price.

I had experience with a Ford/Shibaura overheating. Make sure you keep the radiator fins clean. You might not even be able to see all the dust & gunk in the fins until you blow it out. My tool of choice was my electric leaf blower. I took the extension tube off the blower so I could get in there good, and you'll be amazed how much dust will come flying out of there. Blow it from both sides. Compressed air from an air compressor works well too. Try to do that after each use and it should keep the temp in order.

If that doesn't fix it, it could possibly be the thermostat, head gasket, worst case scenario, cracked block.

 

[GManBart]

If that doesn't fix it, it could possibly be the thermostat, head gasket, worst case scenario, cracked block.

True, but if it's a head gasket, or block, there should be coolant in the oil and/or vice-versa....usually pretty easy to spot.

 

[Beltman60]

I think that's a great price for that tractor
with only 380 hrs and looks well taken care of
the BH is worth $500 so the tractor for $3500 is a good deal

as far as what a BH can do for a manicured lawn I've cut from my yard to my barns about 300 ft x 300 ft using my BH as low as it will cut without it digging in when I turn and you can hardly tell where I start from the lawn

 

[paulemar]

I do believe that I would jump on that deal, especially if your property is relatively level. Even without 4X4 and my hilly land that would have been extremely tempting. Around here, they want about $3000 for a very, very nice Ford 8N, so for another $1000 that's a big, big, upgrade.

 

[bigbull338]

sounds like a more than fair price for the tractor an shredder.as for the rad it prolly needs flushing out.an if it falls a part then a new rad.