John Deere Model A...Is it worth it?
 

I need some opinions! I stumbled across an old 1937 (i think) JD Model A that I want to restore. It is sitting next to a shed in my hometown ...Nobody has used it in probably 30 years because there is a pretty good sized tree growing up through it. It looks to be in really good condition! I've looked at it twice and this is what ive found... The paint is still good, faded bad, but good, either someone has repainted it in the past 30 years or its just a really good paint job because I found little rust. It will need to be repainted to be restored though..The only rust I did find is on the exhaust stack, which has rusted through and fallen off. The tires are still intact, but crumbling, but thats a given being as its been sitting outside so long. I haven't had a chance to look at the rear of the tractor because the tree is covering most of that, but from what I can see, the rear looks just as good as the front. It didn't look like there were any dent's or dings to speak of in the few parts that are actually flimsy enough to get dents or dings...The one major thing im worried about is that if the exhaust stack has rusted off, will water have gotten into the engine..its pretty protected, but after that long, no telling what has happened...I know this isnt really a whole lot of info, but is it worth it to buy and restore? Im not sure who owns it, but I think I can get it for pretty cheap! What would be a bottom dollar for something like this?

Thanks in advance!
Patrick

Take the plugs out and fill the cylinders with diesel. In a few days see if the flywheel will turn, and if it does put the plugs on and see how the compression is. The compression isn't too much, do don't be worried if it turns. Good luck! Does it have a brass serial # tag?

I need to figure out whos it is first..but thanks for the idea! I'm going home again this weekend to do some more "research" on it so ill keep this in mind if I get to do some work on it. I've found a place on the web that sells parts for these tractors pretty cheap so thats a plus!

Parts for JD's are EVERYWHERE...especially A's. See if you can figure out if they want to sell it.

You should be able to buy it for less than $1000...but you may have to give a "bit" more, depending on how bad you want it.

Chris

Yeah I was thinking 500-1000...i think the person who owns it is an older lady and this lady is known in townfor not being the nicest of people (gotta love small towns) so this could be a wild goose chase..ill keep yall updated on how this turns out. I know where I can get an old 30's JD plow too so if I get the tractor, then ill just have the whole setup! :D

ratat98 - a small "logistical" suggestion here. I'm guessing of course, but you sound young, or at least under my age - so the suggestion is to handle this transaction via mail (yes...snail mail) at first. Write her a letter, expressing your intrest in the tractor, how you located it, and that you would be willing to speak with her further on "terms" of a possible deal. I would NOT suggest quoting her a price in your initial letter. Be VERY polite and while you should express intrest, try to avoid expressing "too much" intrest. Give her your name, address and phone number, and let her get back to you on it.

I only say all of this as she is 1. an older lady, 2. from a rural background,
3. communicates in ways other than the internet (some people even still dislike using the phone), and 4. has likely dealt with many a "rude young fellow" in her life. Don't be one of those. She would probably like to sell that tractor to somone who will fix it up nicely, but she's obviously not in a hurry. Your mannerisms will mean MUCH more to her than the cash. In the end, you may cheer up her heart a bit through the process - and much moreso when you have finished the project and show her the completed tractor.

It never hurts to make someone's day! Go for that tractor, and use the chance to encourage someone who likely really needs it.

Thank you for the great advice 96_12V!!! I was actually planning on just going over and talking with her at her house this weekend. She knows my family and im assumung she knows a little of who i am so the ice is already somewhat broken. Thats one advantage of a small town. Everyone knows something about everyone else. I don't like to do things over e-mail or internet that much either, I would much rather talk to the person, in person if its possible. I'm actually going back home to talk with someone else too just because I'm getting tired of e-mailing (and for some good home made meals too of course!! :D) My grandad was a very admired person in this town, and I always try to live by his actions and how kind he was. If I can just make someone who is grumpy smile, then ive achieved my goal for the day!

Great wisdom in that reply! And Home-cooked meals certainly tend to make us want to communicate face-to-face more, as well!

Yes, I would say if already have a basis of knowledge with her, then by all means a quick stop at her place should be fine. I suppose I was thinking you had not met - forgot about the "small-town" part. But with a cold-call with no background, the snail-mail letter is a good approach.

Best of luck with that transaction - and those meals in addition! :)

[QUOTE=96_12V]Great wisdom in that reply! And Home-cooked meals certainly tend to make us want to communicate face-to-face more, as well!

u might want to see if the motor will turn over first before u spend money on it. if u could ask her if u could look at it real close and get someone to pull u behind the truck. keep it in second with the clutch in and when y get goin drop the clutch and if the motor and tires still turn thats the most important thing. trust me we have 24 tractors from 1920 metal wheels to 1950 diesels and not to mention 2 model A's so i know where ur comin from. best of luck

Thanks 35" 05'! I figured I would look it over REAL good before i put any kind of money into it..ive restored some old farm equipment before, but nothing this old, so I kinda know what im getting into. Rust in the cylinders and valve heads is the main thing im worried about with the exhaust stack like it is. I havent ever worked on an old 2 cylinder, but I've driven a few so I at least have a little experience with them!

Yep, I've pull started more tractors than I've started the correct way.

We've got ove a hundred in the barns, so it's hard to keep goo batteries in all of them:D

Only 3 Deere's though...we like the Orange stuff, A Lot!!

Good Luck,
Chris

Orange stuff as in Cockshutts? If so my great grandpa would love you. He's got ten of them and that's all he does is fiddle with those things all day long( he's 96). I've never seen a tracter start so quickley as do his and he's got them all tuned in good enough that you can almost count the fan blade when he slows the idle way dow, and it will run like that for hours.

Orange as in Allis Chalmers...the only orange, BTW;);)
Chris[laugh]

I've always thought they were pretty cool old tractors. They're E-3's and E-4's

On EDIT: What do you know anyway? You act like you sell tractors for a living or something. [laugh]

Dropping the clutch will work, if the clutch isn't stuck.