Lawn Care Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Purchase a Ford 1200 Tractor?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 45 Posts

Hexa Fox

· Registered
Joined
·
471 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey guys,

So a customer I work for has a little Ford tractor, if I remember correctly it is a 1200. I cannot remember what options it has or if it is 4x4 etc. I have been mowing for him a long time and he just decided to scrape his mower deck because it was in bad shape. Anyway he asked me if I was interested in buying it a couple years ago and I never got back to him. Mostly because he wanted what I thought was way too much for it. Specifically, I only wanted to give a few hundred dollars and he wanted to talk thousands, so I just left it alone.

However, a friend told me they are pretty easy to work on and parts are readily available because of how many are made. So he said if I could get it cheap I might want to reconsider. So here is the bad news of this. That is the tractor has been sitting outside for countless years and do not think he has had it running since he offered to sell it to me. I understand that many of these tractors are very hardy but I obviously realize it being outside for this amount of time cannot be good for it.

So can you guys give me advice?

1.) Having in mind what I just said would you buy it and if so what do you think would be a fair price?

2.) Rather than just checking oil what are some other things I can look for before buying it? I am not going to even offer to buy it unless I can get it running. So what kind of leaks should I look for etc?

3.) I do not think he even has anymore attachments for it so I would probably be just getting the tractor and would have to buy my own. Can this tractor power anything like a snow blower, garden tiller and can it do it effectively?

I am sure if I offer to buy it he will let me try to start it and mess around with the PTO and raise the hitch etc. I have not decided whether I am even going to make him and offer or not. I have worked for him a really long time and do not want to offend him and jeopardize anything. However, now that it has been sitting so long he may just want to get rid of it anyway he can.
 
#4 ·
First establish its value with the customer as it sits now-couple hundred bucks. When its time to fiddle with it do it together and that will give you an idea whats going to need wok.
I collect Honda 3wheelers and saw one at a plowing customers in a lean to. I gave her $200 for it. I got it running and sold it for $550. I took another $200 of her plowing bill that year.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Mac-s Lawn & Snow said:
First establish its value with the customer as it sits now-couple hundred bucks. When its time to fiddle with it do it together and that will give you an idea whats going to need wok.
I collect Honda 3wheelers and saw one at a plowing customers in a lean to. I gave her $200 for it. I got it running and sold it for $550. I took another $200 of her plowing bill that year.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the replies. This is what I was thinking. I was thinking if I can get the engine turned over and cannot spot any major problems it is worth risking a couple hundred bucks. I am starting to remember now why I never messed with it. I remember when he offered it to me or said he would give me 10% if it sold on Craigslist or something. Like I said though he was literally talking thousands when I was talking hundreds. It cannot hurt to ask him about it.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Mdirrigation said:
If it doesnt have a loader , do you have a need for it? If it has a loader , give it a shot
Click to expand...
To be honest, I am not sure what it has. There might be a few attachments left. There are a couple snow blades but I remember him telling me there was a problem with them. Like one he bought real cheap and found out it was for a bigger tractor. I do not think I ever saw a front end loader on it.

Anyway isn't this stuff easier to find? I might have to play a waiting game but if I can find a front end loader for it in good condition they will probably let me try it out with the tractor and sell it cheap. Sure I might have to pay the same price I paid for the tractor but it will be worth it to me.

Anyway isn't a lot of these implements and stuff backwards compatible? I know front end loaders might be a little different but generally speaking isn't there many other than a Ford branded one that will fit and basically be the same?
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Wolfgang said:
http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/2/4/247-ford-1200.html

I'd buy it depending on price. Not sure but here those Fords were Shibaura tractors re branded. They were generally bulletproof machines, so I'd get it going, hope the clutch isnt stuck on and free out levers etc . Shibaura are making tractors still.

Click to expand...
Thanks, I looked up the tractor before coming here. I would need to look at it again to make sure. It looks exactly like the one in the picture though. I also could not believe it was a diesel being that small either. I got a really nice jump starter for Christmas and dying to try it out. It could probably drive a starter like this for solid minutes before overheating.
 
#8 ·
There should be a 2point or 3point hitch on the back and implements will switch in between to a point. Also look and see if there is a output back by the hitch for a PTO shaft. These would be the most desirable of these little tractors. Also having 4wd is what people want with these.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hexa Fox
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #10 · (Edited)
Thanks guys I will check that out. So I do not know much about GPM and stuff like that between tractors, skid steers and the like. You guys seem to know a little about this tractor. Will something like this be able to run something like a small snow blower and other useful implements? I know that many of these smaller tractors struggle with even the most basic of attachments. I am not sure if this would be one or not.

I sent him an email but he does not keep track of that kind of stuff. I may just need to ask him when I see him next. I was thinking maybe I should just offer to buy it off him even before I try to get it started. If I try to get it started and it turns over he might change his mind. Would you guys pay a few hundred bucks before you knew whether or not it ran?
 
#11 ·
Check the condition of the oils in the transmission and engine, etc, if they look clean with no water ingress, and if the engine turns over by hand then it has to be worth a punt, just decide what you are willing to pay and walk away if you cannot buy for that figure, also consider the condition of the tyres if its being standing for a while. best of luck!
on the list of attachments there are 2 sized snow blowers, a couple of front loaders and a rear dipper arm, so it must have hydraulic system of sorts, google is you friend.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Wolfgang said:
https://www.tractor-specs.net/ford/1200.html
here is another page of info from google :cool:
Click to expand...
Hey Wolfgang,

Thanks for all the help. I spent some time looking into the implements. So it looks hard to find specific implements for this tractor and looks like ones that are not even in great shape are going for thousands. Is that normal? I noticed you have to run a brace under the tractor when you use a snowblower with this tractor.

Admittedly it makes total sense because of the tractor being so small. I imagine that this is going to make compatible snowblowers more difficult to find as well. So how would you go about looking at other snowblowers (and other implements) and seeing if they are compatible? Just looking at them to see if they are similar and have the same specifications? You also said I can look at similar Shibaura's from that time correct?

Do people really pay thousands like I am seeing on Google for a snowblower that would fit this tractor?
 
#14 ·
Hexa Fox said:
Hey Wolfgang,
Admittedly it makes total sense because of the tractor being so small. I imagine that this is going to make compatible snowblowers more difficult to find as well. So how would you go about looking at other snowblowers (and other implements) and seeing if they are compatible? Just looking at them to see if they are similar and have the same specifications? You also said I can look at similar Shibaura's from that time correct?
Click to expand...
Sorry Hexa Fox I live in a country where it might snow once in ten years and everything comes to a standstill if we got an inch of snow! :cool:. I have never seen a snowblower in real life ever, so no idea on snow equip. To be honest if you were looking for a tractor for front loader work etc. I think something with at least 25 or more horsepower would be better. I'd see this machine as more of a hobby restoration.
 
#15 ·
I don't want to through cold water on your idea, but remember, this tractor is OLD. I would think, from literature, that it might be over 30 years old. That is old, and parts may not be readily available. Just don't give much over scrap price for it.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Mowingman said:
I don't want to through cold water on your idea, but remember, this tractor is OLD. I would think, from literature, that it might be over 30 years old. That is old, and parts may not be readily available. Just don't give much over scrap price for it.
Click to expand...
You are not, I appreciate honesty. Just not when people are purposely an @$$. This is a clearly true statement. I am sticking to our original estimate. If he is in a negotiating mood I might think about giving him $500 for it but not a penny more. I think that may even be too much for a tractor of this age.

However, it would be cool to have a cheap little tractor around that could push a little snow, till a garden and the like. Then maybe if it runs good I could sell it for double what I bought it for. My dream tractor ever since I was younger was a Turbo Diesel Ventrac. Obama ruined that dream unless I find one used.

I have never had to buy tires for anything like this except a zero turn. So I have to imagine they are ridiculous. That is even if they are readily available for these rims.
 
#17 ·
Mowingman said:
I don't want to through cold water on your idea, but remember, this tractor is OLD. I would think, from literature, that it might be over 30 years old. That is old, and parts may not be readily available. Just don't give much over scrap price for it.
Click to expand...
The fact this machine is old is one of the reasons it should be viable to repair, everything is mechanical so trottle is connected to the fuel pump, etc etc no electronics which make more modern machines less viable to repair as ecu's etc are costly beasts and any one sensor can pull the system down. This is an old school machine and with a bit of TLC will run forever.
 
#19 ·
Mowing monkey. said:
It probably is worth 2 grand if it's in half way decent shape and ran. But a tractor with a FEL isn't very useful so personally I wouldn't buy it unless I could make money selling it.
Click to expand...
I would have thought a few hundred dollars no more that $500 at most, thats all I'd pay here in local currency for an project, if it was running, and all main systems are working then 1.2k at very best and all the tinwork, wheels etc would need to be good and in place.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
Mowing monkey. said:
It probably is worth 2 grand if it's in half way decent shape and ran. But a tractor with a FEL isn't very useful so personally I wouldn't buy it unless I could make money selling it.
Click to expand...
I was looking through my email and he agreed to let me try and sell it on his behalf. He said he thought a good place to start out was $3,500 and that was in the middle of 2015. I am almost positive it has not been started since around that time as well.

According to the data this tractor sold for $6,500 new. I realize similar sub compact tractors are selling for more now. Having everything in mind that I know about it, I do not think it is worth much more than $500.00 to me still. Especially since I know it is a limited little tractor. If it was a couple models up and could really through some snow and do other jobs well I would be more willing to pay more for it.

If you guys could not tell yet, I want a piece of machinery that can help out with snow and possibly allow me to pick up a couple customers as well. I do not think this is the machine for the job but it still might be cool to have around and possibly resale or find a use for. However, if I could find a compatible snowblower it would probably at least save my own back in the Winter here.

Anyway I want to know more about implements. Am I limited to Shibaura and Ford branded implements for a tractor like this? I have been looking around at them and some of them look different from one another. So I am not certain if people are modifying them or what. Will I be able to look for and purchase a similarly sized blower to what is suppose to fit and it hook up directly to the 540 PTO and be functional?
 
1 - 20 of 45 Posts
About this Discussion
44 Replies
10 Participants
Last post:
J. Baker
Lawn Care Forum
posts
7.2M
members
230K
Since
1999
A forum community dedicated to lawn care and landscaping professionals and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Lawn Mowing Pesticide & Herbicide Application 🔧 Mechanic and Repair Business Operations Lawn Mowing Equipment