To Part or Not To Part ???

[Brandon Webb]

Need everyone's opinion. At what point do you feel a cub should be parted out? I'm kicking the idea around about not parting anymore out, just selling what I find whole. I find cubs, maybe with a really bad transmission, or stuck engines. Once I take them apart and sell the good stuff, I'm left with pallets of drop housing and trans tunnels and castings, which no one needs. I know everything is worth more in parts, but by doing away with a complete cub, that's one less for someone who needs one. Stacks of cub plows aren't worth anything unless there are cubs to pull them. Thanks Brandon.

[Bigdog]

That's a tough call. To me, a cub with an obvious major problem or multiple problems is probably a candidate for parts. But if we part out only worn out old cubs, there will be no good used parts available for those who need them. And, as you mention, there are parts that no one needs except maybe once in a blue moon such as the torque tube etc.
I guess you have to evaluate each one on it's own.
I have also seen some really nice tractors parted out because they were worth more that way and as much as I hate to see it, I know it's necessary.
I didn't answer your question but at least you're not alone in your thoughts.

[Eugene]

Tough call. If you don't part out the Cub and sell it as is. The next guy will part it out.

There are individuals going around to tractor consignment auctions looking for tractors to part out. The problem is that the people who want to restore old tractors get out bid by the people parting out tractors.

If the tractor is not economically repairable, I would part it out.

As far as the castings no body wants. Scrap metal prices are pretty attractive.

Just an opinion.

Eugene

[Brandon Webb]

Thanks Bigdog, I guess if there is no supply of used parts to keep the good cubs going, they to will become junkers. I'll have to take it on a case by case basis, I believe I'll try to sell the complete ones whole, but the ones in parts, I guess I keep parting them out. Thanks Brandon.

[Hengy]

I guess as a "preservationist," I have a different idea of what is a "parts tractor" vs what can be restored. I live in an old house (ca 1895) and am constantly putting money into it to "keep it up" but that is what I like to do. It gives me satisfaction to see my house looking nice again and closer to what it was originally...a working-man's victorian house.

Of course, I have doors and other woodwork from other old houses that were going to be torn down...so I know the value of old parts, too... Cub parts are no longer manufactured in many cases, so there has to be a supply from somewhere to keep the treasured ones running and among the land of the living.

It is indeed a difficult situation you are in. If you find one of the 'rough but running' ones that could be servicable, send it my way...OK?

Mike in La Crosse, WI