1958 D17 NFE (lots of pictures)

Local sale tomorrow has a D17 for sale. I did not hear tractor run. From what I can see:
-Gas engine.
-all gauges in place.
-steering wheel intack
-Rear rubber fair to good.
-Front rubber poor.
-Narrow front end.
-PD moved back and forth. (I am not a good judge of those).
-Brakes had 1/2 pedal.
-Snap coupler system
-sheet metal looked pretty good. Minor dents
-Grill had a tear in it.
-muffler was not covered. (this may not indicate anything)
-oil in rear end was light brown and very thick
-looks like original paint.
-Fenders had minor damage.
Any ideas what this D17 tractor may bring or its current value ?????
Sorry no pictures. Not sure if I will go to the sale. If I do I will let you know. I don't need another tractor!
Regards,
 Chris





Edited by Sugarmaker - 30 Mar 2016 at 9:22am

Dan,
 Thanks! I wont get a chance to drive it. May hear it run.
Your values sound about right. We will see.
Regards,
Chris

Ray,
 Yea that's a double edged sword alright. You pay to much to begin with and then dump money in them to fix them up. I hear you! I may go just to see where it sells at. Will report later tonight.
Outward appearance it looks like a tractor kept inside and not abused.
 Regards,
 Chris

The narrow front end will keep a lot of bidders away. My guess is you'll buy this for under $1500, unless they have a bidding ringer planted in the auction.

The uncovered muffler might be worth looking at too, make sure the motor isn't full of rain water.

Edited by Play Farmer - 26 Mar 2016 at 7:58am

You both have good points about the narrow front end. But too many people have flipped or heard stories about tractors flipped over. My grandfather always told me be careful with the H she has been on her side on level ground. Too many people not using good judgment if you ask me.

Edited by Dan73 - 26 Mar 2016 at 8:07am

I will admit I grew up green. When I was looking for my first tractor it was between a JD 3010 NFE or my D17. Having grown up green I was leaning hard towards the 3010 but the NFE wasn't something I could get past. I use my tractor on some side slopes and a NFE was a disaster waiting to happen.

Obviously I went with the D17 and have never had even a second of regret.

If you live on flat ground or are looking for a show tractor then sure, nothing wrong with a NFE. If you plan to use it the NFE would sure keep me out of the bidding.

It is all about how you drive it. If you use common since they are very stable and turn much shorter. But alot of people just don't think. I drove the H here tedding on some nasty hills and never felt unsafe but you have to think before you drive it off over the hill try to go straight and don't just follow the side of a nasty hill. But if you don't think about that you can get a wide front end in just as much trouble.   I know a few times the H here flipped because people thought they could turn it short at high speed. Then they complained that the tractor was unsafe. Well only because a wide front end simply wouldn't let them turn that short. I have given this alot of thought because of my h thought about finding a wide front end but decided against it.

What I never understood was why a narrow front was ever built. Everyone always said it was for row crops but I don't get how a 3rd wheels track helps that out. Seems to me if the front wheels track with the rear wheels you only have two chances to run things over if the fronts of set in the middle you get 3 chances to run your crops over thus it seems harder but that is just me. I never did row cropping so I don't know.

The NF's were for row crops, the earlier wide fronts had low axles so couldn't use them for corn and beans once they were up above the height of the axle.  That changed when the manufacturers started to use the spindles by the wheels and moved the axle up toward the top of the tire.  The idea that the tricycle tractors were so unsafe has really caught on lately, the only time they were unsafe was with loaders with a loaded bucket up on side hills or turning too sharp.  The other situation where one had to be careful was in mowing road ditches, but wide fronts could be tipped in those conditions as well.  Narrow fronts were much more maneuverable in turning at the end rows when cultivating.  And of course they were a little cheaper to manufacture.

Chris, Good talking to you today, I hope the D17 you got today is a good one. Please post some shots of the tractor after she comes to her new home and don't tell the wife it there.lol

Dan73 wrote: As to the value if it starts and runs doesn't jump out of gear in the transmission and the power direct clutch is good I would say it should bring 2500 to 3500. Probably be on the low side if it was here simply because no one seems to want to buy anything.

I wish somebody in the market around here agreed with your pricing. I have a Black Bar, 1960 D17 with a very strong engine, rebuilt ps, good power director and stays in all gears and can't seem to find a buyer at the low end of this. narrow front with new tires, and really decent tin.

Folks,
Don is right I did add a tractor to the fleet. Good talking to you Don, thanks for the support and things to look for.
Probably not the best move I have ever made?
Did I need another tractor? NO!
But must have had my hand up one to many times. This was a fairly large consignment auction for our area. I got to visit with all the friends and neighbors and get a hot sausage. This little D17 sat there and was one of the last items sold for the day. I had time to look it over pretty good. Guess I liked what I saw. I had set my walk away based on the prices listed in this thread. Thanks guys that helped!
Pictures coming! Hold tight! Trying to get them down loaded. I will need some guidance on this one!
Regards,
 Chris


 

Chris you got a nice early d17 there very much like mine. A couple of things I notice right away. One you have the covers under the gas tank those got lost really quickly on mine I never remember seeing them on it as a kid. Shows someone really cared about it to put them back they look like a pain if you have breakdowns. Second the hood latches seem to be there and in good shape another sign someone took care of it. Mine has the bent corners of the hood bottoms from sitting them against the rear tires and having them fall over. Then there is the big one not only do those look time the original fenders but the ribs in the fenders are all solid not rusted out like most of them.
That is one nice looking tractor.   Now the not so good that carb really needs to go. It is the aftermarket modern replacement carb. I have one here it is really too small for that tractor and won't flow enough fuel. Trust me on this one I have fought this battle with mine. Call Steve at B & B. I know he has one I almost bout it a little while back but a friend had the right carb here that just need a little TLC.
Oh and you are missing the snap coupler hooks. I bet someone put a 3 point hitch on it once and removed it. That is how mine got taken off. I got lucky my grandfather knew where he put them decades earlier and they where still right into the corner of the barm. But you don't need them unless you have snap coupler stuff which I don't. I just think the old hooks look cool.
I would change the carb before I even worried about the skip the skip is probably electrical but the carb will cause more problems and the tractor will not have the power it should when the governor opens up. As I said I have made that mistake and can tell it I'd the smaller new model replacement same as I have sitting here in my scrap pile.

All in all it is really nice and don't listen to the wife it looks great I wouldn't dream of changing how it looks!!!

I disagree on the carb. Look at the paint on it. It matches the rest of the tractor. That carb is original equipment and came on that tractor new. We have a series I D-17 that is all original and it has the same zenith on it as his does. We also have a series II that has a marvel shebler on it and the series I will do the same amount of work on a 1/3 less fuel than the series II. Give that carb a good cleaning and it will be fine. HTH.  Don Jr.

Very nice looking tractor, I like how clean it is underneath. I don't see a guard on the power director handle thumb button making it a early D17. For safety never dismount the tractor on the right side when tractor is running, been a few deaths on those early ones when operator left transmission in gear and PD in neutral then jumped off tractor on right side catching PD lever with clothing and moving lever forward causing tractor to lerch forward.

That looks nice, straight too for the most part.

What's next for it?