[mac102004]

I agree. If I contact someone, I'm open about my intentions, right away.Like I'm looking, just fact finding, very interested, if it sells while I consider it, no problem. I would also communicate if my plan to come look or buy has changed. All that a person has is their word; once that is ruined, they've got nothing.

I have a small side business, building telescoping stabilizers for compact tractors. It is an internet-based business, and I almost never meet, or even speak, with my customers. 98+% communicate through email or forum private messages. It is absolutely imperative that I do what I say that I'm going to do, and then some. They can't meet me or look me in the eye, so they are contracting with me based solely on trust and internet reputation. I've built and sold close to 700 sets now, many of them to overseas customers. Two observations-
I've been able to build an internet business, with a good reputation, by doing exactly what I say, and communicating well. It works.
Second- I've yet to lose a dime. Most pay through paypal, while some prefer to mail checks or money orders. In some cases, knowing that they were in desperate need (say a landscaper has broken their stabilizers, and need their tractor back to work as quickly as possible), I've mailed the stabilizers to them prior to receiving payment. Again, I've been paid, every time. There are good people out there, all over. They do what they say they'll do, and only need an opportunity to prove that they are trustworthy.

I recognize that sooner or later, I may get taken advantage of. So be it- for the sake of good business, and the understanding of human nature, I've accepted that- a cost of business. I have no regrets, and it has been an enlightening and encouraging journey.

Say what you are going to do, and do what you're saying.

Kind of curious, stabilizers like for the 3pt?


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Yes. Most tractors use two stabilizers, one on either side of the lift arms, to keep an implement from swaying side to side. Many tractors come with turnbuckles, which work fine, but are inconvenient. They take time to adjust, you have to tighten a jam nut to keep them from vibrating and backing off, and they get rusted, bent, and hard to adjust. I build custom telescoping stabilizers, which are pin adjustable. Pull a pin, adjust the stabilizer, put pin back in. What takes a couple of minutes to adjust with turnbuckles, takes second with pin-adjustable telescoping stabilizers.
There are hundreds and hundreds of makes, models, and variations. So, I build them custom to each model, adaptation, and unique customer uses.

It all started when I bought a Kubota B7100, which had turnbuckles. I hated them, and assumed that something better was available. It wasn't, so I built a set, and immediately started refining them. Eventually, I started building and selling them locally, and then through the internet. It is a small, niche business, but I'm the only one doing it (as far as I can tell), and people love convenience.

This is a set that I built for my cousin's JD 3032e-


And a set that I built for my father's JD 5065e-

That's pretty neat. Most of my tractors are already setup like that, I think just the Massey 135 and 375 have the chain/turnbuckle. But my "toy" tractors definately don't have it lol Have you ever done any for Cat 0 3pt's like on the older garden tractors? Case, Massey, Bolens, Cub etc.? I think it would be a little harder, don't know how much room there is on some of them for the bar on the outside...

 

[hodge5]

They most likely aren't possible. Telescoping stabilizers work because the holes in the tube are drilled on different spacing than the holes in the rod, and as the rod slides in and out, two holes will line up about every 1/8th inch or so. That gives some fine adjustment. To have enough holes, the stabilizers need to be at least 14" long or so, total length. When they get too short, there simply aren't enough holes to have adjustment options. I would imagine that on most, if not all, garden tractors, the lengths are too short, as well as the tires are too close for clearance.

 

[fishfiles]

I don't want to sell them , but if I did , I would consider my wifes' pink bike to be worth say $3,000 and my red one $3,500 ------ but there are a lot of mods going on , both have 4x2 kick outs , disc , 250 rear ends , etc , etc

 

[mac102004]

I don't want to sell them , but if I did , I would consider my wifes' pink bike to be worth say $3,000 and my red one $3,500 ------ but there are a lot of mods going on , both have 4x2 kick outs , disc , 250 rear ends , etc , etc

Sad thing is you wouldn't get half that because nobody cares about mods or how much you got into them. If you were to sell them your really better off taking everything off and returning it to stock, it makes it easier to sell and when you sell the add ons you get more money out of them in the long run. To me a stock unmolested 300 is worth considerably more money than any modified one.



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[hodge5]

I don't want to sell them , but if I did , I would consider my wifes' pink bike to be worth say $3,000 and my red one $3,500 ------ but there are a lot of mods going on , both have 4x2 kick outs , disc , 250 rear ends , etc , etc

Sad thing is you wouldn't get half that because nobody cares about mods or how much you got into them. If you were to sell them your really better off taking everything off and returning it to stock, it makes it easier to sell and when you sell the add ons you get more money out of them in the long run. To me a stock unmolested 300 is worth considerably more money than any modified one.



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Most things are that way. You do the mods to enjoy them, not to recoup your money.

 

[shadetree]

yep, mods don't mean crap to a buyer, unless he's after those mods anyway ?, chances are, most are not ?. to the owner, we think it jacks the price up ?, but it really does not. it boils down to what the buyer is wanting, and how much he/she wants to pay ?.

 

[fishfiles]

I don't want to sell them , but if I did , I would consider my wifes' pink bike to be worth say $3,000 and my red one $3,500 ------ but there are a lot of mods going on , both have 4x2 kick outs , disc , 250 rear ends , etc , etc

Sad thing is you wouldn't get half that because nobody cares about mods or how much you got into them. If you were to sell them your really better off taking everything off and returning it to stock, it makes it easier to sell and when you sell the add ons you get more money out of them in the long run. To me a stock unmolested 300 is worth considerably more money than any modified one.


I don't buy into that philosophy fitting around here , cause not too many ride stock bikes , sure there are a lot of hunters and farm people , some might see mods as a sign that it was ridden hard and put up wet , but the majority of the people around here ride in the Mud Parks and places where they can ride in the Mud for fun , it is a BIG TIME thing down here , remember we ride 52 weeks a year down here , not like 90 days for "You Guys" , mods do limit the people who might want that kind of bike , to a hunter or a farmer it wouldn't be good , but to a guy that likes to Mud Ride and can't turn a wrench , they will pay up

 

[mac102004]

Doesn't really seem like it, I watch the fb groups a lot, seems like most of the 300's are down your way. The modded ones in average condition (there really is no mint and modified 300's) don't demand even close to the same price as nicer condition stock machines. But to some extent there is a bigger market for modified machines down there than there is up here. So while it might be easier to find a buyer, it might not necessarily bring more money. That's just my observation.

Also I ride year round, not 90 days lol