General Production Questions......The quest for the holy grail

[GrassLakeRon]

Your research really is pointless, you do know that right?
Doesn't matter if there was 5 or 500,000 built.
What matters is how many are still in existence as or right now.

I can tell you from a parts aspect that very little hard parts are still available.
They quit making parts several decades ago, and stock of parts has been depleted.
There are no aftermarket makers of hard parts outside of engine and hydraulic pump parts.

Yes you are right. If you have ever looked for car parts it is the same quest. I looked to pyrex headlight covers for my 65 ford galaxy. Same quest. I did find 2 pair in the US. I knew when i bought it that it would be a research project when looking for parts..... I also knew that these are built like tanks and what does break they still have parts for. This has never stopped me in the past. I just wanted to see if there were others also needing the information and to pool resources.

How many are out there....... 9 for sale...... How many still in private hands in north america? that is the question....

 

[skeets]

32 years as an Earth Science High School Teacher/ College Professor/Planetarium Director. Dad wanted me to be an engineer, was accepted but went into teaching.

No disrespect there Ron, just every engineer I ever know was the same way. Sooo tell us about the 65 Ford.

 

[WFM]

I had a couple stop at my shop this week.
Retired husband and wife.
He was packing a 25' tape measure and pad of paper and pen in his chest pocket.
He wanted to see something I had made.
After twenty fabrication and assembly questions I said to his wife. How long was he a engineer???
32 yrs at the ship yard she says and bursts out laughing!!!!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

GLRon, you'd cry at what I help toss into several 40yd bins 2 years ago. Everything from trim,engines, to full frame ..all '65 Ford' parts.

 

[GrassLakeRon]

No disrespect there Ron, just every engineer I ever know was the same way. Sooo tell us about the 65 Ford.

65 galaxy xl, front and back leather bucket seats. The 352 was replaced with a 66 428. Fairbanks stail, Ford Nascar large bearing 9" rear with 4.56 gears. Factory fiberglass tear drop hood. Candy apple red. Cragers with rear Hoosier wrinkle walls. Full length ladder bars.....

The 428 had ported and polished heads with all the fixings and signed by john veermish from Ford Motorsports. He did the heads himself. Topped with 2 Holley 4 barrels.

Not bad engineering......ah?

 

[skeets]

Nope, pretty fair I would say,, yes Sir pretty fair indeed!

 

[GrassLakeRon]

I'm in the process of taking a statistical sample from all Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, auction, YouTube and private businesses for the last 4 years. That should give me a small but decent representation of how many of each type would have been built. It will not take into account market shift over time based on buyers wants....unless i can get the years in as data points.

 

[pigdoc]

Ron, it might be useful to spend some time with the online Parts Diagrams at Messick's and see if you can come up with a model range for tractors that used the same parts you think you might need.

For example, when I began thinking that it might be a good idea to squirrel away a spare front axle assembly for my L2500, I did the research, and learned that there are TEN other Kubota models that used the same ring gear and drive pinion in the front axle. That's a good start to determining 'interchangeability'. Widens your options a bit...

-Paul

 

[GrassLakeRon]

Ron, it might be useful to spend some time with the online Parts Diagrams at Messick's and see if you can come up with a model range for tractors that used the same parts you think you might need.

For example, when I began thinking that it might be a good idea to squirrel away a spare front axle assembly for my L2500, I did the research, and learned that there are TEN other Kubota models that used the same ring gear and drive pinion in the front axle. That's a good start to determining 'interchangeability'. Widens your options a bit...

-Paul

Words to live by Paul. I have. Always loved the way the b8200 looks. When I saw what she can do, it was a done deal. The factory that built her built several models so it makes sense that tractors share parts. Thanks.

Ron