How do you know when to SELL them...

Ok, for those reading who don't know me, which is probably most of you, my name is Don and I'm an Allis tractoraholic.

I'm not sure if there is a cure for the Orange Allis bug...But I contracted it at age 8. Dad and grandpa and me, used to go out road crusing for old iron on the weekends. We would ride around in the '94 Chevy with coffee and donuts, and drive backroads and search out old iron. Once we found something- Bang, bang, bang on the door. Ask the owner "you interested in selling? Seen that old tractor in the back fencerow....etc."

And so it began...

Our first trade/find was an Allis model C which we still have on the farm today. Along with others now.

It's been a boatload of fun, and I mean I truly enjoy it. So many good memories of us all working on iron together and of course grandad farming with them.

Fast forward in time- I'm 40 years old now. I have many tractors and recently acquired a D17 series 4 and also a 1936 model U.

My neighbor just told me about a wd45 he would like to sell me, sounds like cheap.

But with 8 other tractors, it's hard for me to justify keeping it. I have another model C that I might sell and keep the wd45.

So here's my question...I am only 1 person and yes it's harder to keep em all running in top shape. One tractor needs rims, another needs a Hydraulic line. Another needs a clutch tune up...

How do you know when too many, is too many? And it's time to sell?

My biggest enemy is the Orange bug I got hammered with years ago. I feel like I love em all. And it's hard to see me selling different tractors as some mean something to me. For instance, I have a WD with mounted 33 picker and a D19D tractor that I just can't see me selling them. Dad and I worked hard on both of them to get them running well. But the kicker is...I don't use them.

How do ya figure that out?

If you're only 40 years old, keep buying. Don't sell!
I'm 63, and I think about selling some because right now I have more project tractors then I'll finish, even if I live to be 100. But yet, somehow another one still follows me home occasionally. In my opinion, they are good property to have.
Darrel

Not sure if this is an option for you, but perhaps try and talk to local tractor clubs, high schools, or just through word of mouth to see if anyone might be interested - especially if they're a younger generation. I too have far more tractors than any person could reasonably want and I've (slowly) been trying to get rid of some (though thus far I've only got rid of two). As you've found, unless collecting, restoring, and working on them is a full time occupation, it just doesn't make sense to keep oodles around: By the time you get the newest acquisition in ship-shape, the gas in the one that you haven't touched for a while has gone bad and varnished up the carb. Then the diesel in another has started to have algae grow in the tank and needs a full fuel system service. Then you'll go to fire up another and find the points have oxidized and float is sticking, so it needs half an hour of work before it will start. Or the battery in one has died/expired and needs to be replaced. Or the mice have got to the wiring. Or squirrels have somehow made their way into the shed and filled the toolbox and every other cavity with walnut husks and bungled up the paint (for some reason this is a common problem for me). At some point it becomes a constant struggle to keep everything maintained to a startable/usable condition.

Edited by DanielW - 3 hours 32 minutes ago at 7:22am

Interesting post. Favorite son and I only have 2 D 15s . Plan to use the gas one tomorrow for several hours. The diesel one doesn't get worked much at all. Can't imagine having many more. Thanks