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super a help

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:25 pm
by pk8
My friend has a super a that he wants to sell. Problem is last yr he some water mix with the somewhere and had white foam coming out the oil breather. He replaced the head gasket and it fired right up with started to get water out the breather again. The tractor is in reallygood shape cosmedically and has a woods deck and a snow plow. It was also converted over to 12 volt also. I am really interested in buying it nbut scared it might be something major. He wants 2700 for it. What kind of risk would I be taking? I have rebuilt many JD's before but never a standard engine. Thanks for any advise

Re: super a help

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:42 pm
by Bigdog
In my opinion for the super A to be worth the $2700 he is asking it would have to be restored and in perfect mechanical condition.
If he is still getting water in the oil after a head gasket replacement he has a crack somewhere.
I would run from it at his price. Other opinions may vary.

Re: super a help

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:51 pm
by Boss Hog
Could be leaking from around the sleeve at the bottom. But way too high price

Re: super a help

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:13 pm
by pk8
Thanks guys for the response. Thats kinda what i was thinking too. No pictures but what would be a fair offer?

Re: super a help

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:52 pm
by pk8
He came down to $2000. Think that is worth the chance or will i regreat it?

Re: super a help

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:24 pm
by Boss Hog
At best I think you will have to pull the sleeves and maybe install new ones, that will cost you $500 in parts alone, and the leak may be in the block it self
Boss

Re: super a help

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:54 pm
by Bigdog
There's a fully restored Super A on our local Craig's list with new tires for $2800.
Based on what you already know about this one you can figure spending $500 to $1200 to repair it. Make your offer based on what you think it will be worth when in good running condition.

Re: super a help

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:57 pm
by Super A
With oil and water mixing that is a $500 tractor in my book, and maybe, I don't know, $800 for the mower and snowplow as a package. (Someone more familiar with these two attachments can say for sure) If the block is indeed bad, Super A blocks are easy to find, I would say you can get one for 200-400 dollars. Anyway enough rambling, bottom line is I think he's too high unless MAYBE that woods mower is nearly new. Even then I think it's kinda steep....does it run now?

Al

Re: super a help

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:12 pm
by pk8
yeah after he replaced the head gasket it fired right up. Just started to get water out the oil breather again. He takes pretty good care of his stuff so I know it didnt freeze. so I'm looing at bottom line $500-$700 to $1500 depending right

Re: super a help

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:46 am
by IH560
If you want to make sure you don't regret a purchase like this, always consider worst possible scenario and base your offering price on that. For example, worst possible scenario is the block is ruined and you have to purchase another engine. Figure what that will cost you and what your time is worth to do the task (or what you have to pay someone to do it) and take that away from the value of the tractor in perfect operating condition. You can add to the amount for the attachments, based on what they are selling for in your local area (check craigslist and other classifieds). If you base your offer on this, you will more than likely come out to the good on the deal. By saying that I mean, if in the worst case scenario you got what you expected and anything less is better for you, because you got a better deal. Of course there are always other problems that no one can predict, even with equipment that you have owned for years, some things just happen. Good Luck but $2000 is too much money for me to give for that machine mixing water and oil. I would offer max $500 for the tractor (probably less so that I would be able to work towards $500) and then maybe another $500 for the attachments, I know they are worth more serperately but unless you just really need them both, I would try to get a deal incase you need to resell one or the other to cover costs. In the end being that this person is a freind and you probably don't want to hurt your friendship by insulting him, if he thinks his tractor is worth more than you do, just tell him you are uncomfortable with performing the repairs or some story and look for a tractor that is actually worth that much money, if that is what you are willing to pay.

Re: super a help

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:33 pm
by pk8
Thanks for all the advise guys. I think I'm gonna pass on it.