Sold the family tractor, still think about it

RustyWrench

RustyWrench

Active member
Evening folks.
Was cleanin out some old photos this weekend and came across one of me sittin on dads Cub, must've been 8 or 9 years old. Hit me harder than I expected.
We sold that tractor back after dad passed. Times were tight and my mother needed the money. I understood then and I understand now, but Lord, I wish we'd found another way.
Anyone else out there sold one you still regret? Ever tracked yours down years later? Curious to hear.
 
I don't get emotionally attached to things anymore. In my mind it's just a tractor, a car, a tool, etc. The memory associated with things are mine to keep. If I hung on to everything that anyone I cared about owned, I would live in a house of clutter. Clutter causes me frustration and frustration ruins good times. I like good times so I mostly only keep things around that I use. 😀
 
Rusty wrench I will be 60 in Sept and I’ve sold many things in my life to turn around and years later wish I had them now. I got to a point a few years back where I sold and got rid of just about everything I owned except my clothes on my back. Trust me, it was a lifetime of accumulation! What a rewarding feeling that is. It is a freeing feeling to have little to worry about. The tractors, trucks, boats, and many other things I used to own cross my mind often but I’m doing ok without them. There are always new things coming along. A friend just gave me a Farmall cub recently. Life is full of opportunities and choices, seize the good when available! 1 thing I never owned but sure wish I had was the 65 ford pu my grand father had that was sold when he passed. First year twin I beam, cream colored and my granddads. Sounds very much like the right decision was made concerning the tractor for your mother’s needs. I hope a door of blessing opens up for you in return.
 
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Farmallsodbuster said:
Rusty wrench I will be 60 in Sept and I’ve sold many things in my life to turn around and years later wish I had them now. I got to a point a few years back where I sold and got rid of just about everything I owned except my clothes on my back. What a rewarding feeling that is. It is a freeing feeling to have little to worry about. The tractors, trucks, boats, and many other things I used to own cross my mind often but I’m doing ok without them. There are always new things coming along. A friend just gave me a Farmall cub recently. Life is full of opportunities and choices, seize the good when available! 1 thing I never owned but sure wish I had was the 65 ford pu my grand father had that was sold when he passed. First year twin I beam, cream colored and my granddads. Sounds very much like the right decision was made concerning the tractor for your mother’s needs. I hope a door of blessing opens up for you in return.
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I did the same thing 7 years ago. I got rid of everything I didn't need and more (including "friends" who pulled me backwards)! Great feeling for sure! It's VERY freeing!
 
Never sold a tractor I regreted selling, well never sold a tractor. :) A couple of cars yes. But with the cost of license and insurance it is better that I don't have them. A 59 and a 63 Olds. The 59 because of its big boat feel and the 63 because of its power, 394 cu in, 330hp. The memories will have to do. Olds is no more and we have two Fords neither of which can do a burn out. I really don't feel there was a bad decision to sell, or trade them in. A person can't keep everything in life that gave them pleasure. Keep the memories and move on. Vern
 
Farmallsodbuster said:
Man you must have been an officer driving that.............
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Nope, bought a new 67 beetle and the dealer had taken it in on a prior trade. Like most everything else that comes my way it needed some TLC and they didn't want to spend any money on it. Bought it AS IS, made the repairs, drove it for a couple years, sold it and doubled my investment (not counting the good time and memories that I had with it!)
 
I had to sell my 1978 Pontiac Phoenix, was my first car (Back in 2010, ha!). I loved that old bird.

When my parents sold their home I needed to help them get rid of alot, which included basically every keepsake and childhood/adolecent item. I had already moved out and in with my girlfriend at the time (now wife) and I could not take anything with me. It was a massive downsizing as the pages of my life turned from a bachelor to a married man working and paying bills. Tractor went off to live in woods at a strangers property. I felt kinda lost, an identity crisis if you will. Different job, I wasn't wrenching any more, I had no workshop, my hands sat practically idle. 5 years went by and the opportunity presented itself to get that old piece of iron back. The red paint had faded to pink, the battery was chewed up, mouse nests, rusty gas tank, gummed up carb, flat dry rotted tires, the works. It was a depressing sight. Once I started turning the wrench on the carb flange bolts I could feel a rush of focus I hadn't felt in years. I came home with a spring in my step. You wanna know the best part? My wife instructed me to keep it in the family. I'm truly blessed to have such a wonderful and understanding woman in my life.

Ahh Rusty I hope you don't resent my story as a "I kept mine and you couldn't". I just understand the feeling of losing things you wish you could hold on to, but to not give up hope that you can aquire a piece of inspiration down the line and generate new memories to supplement the old.
 
RustyWrench said:
Evening folks.
Was cleanin out some old photos this weekend and came across one of me sittin on dads Cub, must've been 8 or 9 years old. Hit me harder than I expected.
We sold that tractor back after dad passed. Times were tight and my mother needed the money. I understood then and I understand now, but Lord, I wish we'd found another way.
Anyone else out there sold one you still regret? Ever tracked yours down years later? Curious to hear.
Click to expand...

Now now let's not have a scab picking party.
Oh wait!

Dads Deere 60 wide front.
I'd tore it down in the front yard to find the broken 60 cent (at one time) coupler between the oil pump shaft and the shaft that drives it and was designed to shear if water froze in the pump, or similar resistance occurred.. It had been brazed during a previous tear down and the braze had failed.
Not helping matters the low oil pressure shut off at the sediment bowl had been defeated while the tractor was run before I acquired it. . Oil lines had been pulled off. Bearings toast, Crank journals whacked.

A rebuild was the only likelihood of any future use of what was admittingly a very rough tractor.
I was digging sludge out at intervals when I was crushed at work and upon my return home much later minus a leg and recovering from a mostly flattened pelvis I must have succumbed to the pain meds and got the "eyesore" out of the yard by scrapping it.
I'd have sold parts off it prior and after though. Exceeding Dads cost and handed him such when he was still alive.
I still have some pieces I'll put on one or more of the pole barns walls eventually.
 
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