[SEL] OT: Titan Tractor Questions

[Grant Weir]

Hi Joe,

    I understand your sentiment about the tractor list being mostly about 
rubber tired machines.  I too am mostly about pre-1930 steel-wheeled 
tractors and have little use for talk about starter repair or distibutor 
trouble.  To me, if it don't at least have a crank and a mag it aint an 
"antique" - it's just old. :-)

    Too bad you missed the Happy Farmer - those are neat.  Rumely's and 
spoker D's are neat too but hardly "rare" or even uncommon - if that's what 
your looking for.  The Titan seems like a fine choice for you.  Not too big, 
but big enough to make lots of noise and have lots of levers.  After all, 
noise and levers really is what tractors are all about - more of both!  A 
Titan is pretty weird looking too and an antique tractor should be at least 
a little bit weird looking.  It sounds like the one you are looking to buy 
is in pretty good shape too.  I don't think $13,000 sounds too out of line 
if it's a good one.   Go for it Joe!

Grant Weir
Saskatoon, SK.
Canada



>From: Joe Prindle <joe_prindle2001 at yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: The SEL email discussion list <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
>To: sel at lists.stationary-engine.com
>Subject: [SEL] OT: Titan Tractor Questions
>Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 18:53:52 -0700 (PDT)
>
>I ask here because I am also on the tractor list and most of the traffic
>there is related to the rubber tired variety and since a Titan is a lot
>more like a gas engine than a tractor, I thought the chances of getting
>some info would be better here.
>I have been wanting to get a nice tractor for quite awhile. My main
>criteria are that it has to be on steel, made before 1930 and preferably
>have two cylinders or less. Since we have plenty of John Deeres come to
>our show, I ruled them out even though I was offered a fair deal on a
>spoker D. Rumely's are pretty pricey for what you get, and while
>desirable, not really rare. A Rumely is probably the best investment, but
>I want it for a toy, first. Hart-Parrs are pretty scarce around here, and
>I haven't found a real good one yet. I missed a Happy Farmer, which is a
>good tractor now, but wasn't when it was new!
>What I have found are several (5) different 10-20 Titans, at varying
>prices in various states of repair. I always liked the looks of the Titan
>and can just barely remember the one my grandpa had when I was a kid. Even
>though there are several in the state, it is fairly rare to see one at a
>show. The one I like is an older restoration, in good shape mechanically
>and the paint is still presentable. The tanks are correct and, save a
>small dent in the water tank, in good condition. The engine doesn't knock
>or smoke excessively, and it starts and runs good. It is a 1919 model,
>with the exhaust exiting to the bottom and front of the tractor. It has
>the large carby and a good KW high bar mag. The tranny, sprockets and
>chains seem good and it looks like a winner. The price is $13,000 and they
>are pretty firm on that. I can swing that if know that the tractor is
>worth that.
>So, here are my questions:
>First, does anyone know what the going price is on a decent Titan? Finding
>prices on some of this stuff, except for auction prices, is pretty hard
>because you don't seem them traded very often.
>Second, does anyone know the weight on one of these? I can't find my IH
>book or the Nebraska Tractor Test Book. I am guessing 3 to 3 1/2 tons.
>Third, Does anyone know of any particular weaknesses on the Titan? Is
>there anywhere that I should be looking for a particular flaw? Every make
>and model seems to have it's own set of quirks, does anyone know any for
>this one?
>As you can tell, I am pretty excited about getting a tractor. I am not
>going to quit playing with my engines, but a tractor is pretty neat, too.
>I was looking at a few traction engines, but my buddies have talked me out
>of it with all the changes to the boiler rules and all that. One of them
>told me that it was a time bomb waiting to go off in my wallet, which sort
>of got my attention! So, an early gas tractor seems to be the next logical
>choice.
>Thanks in advance for any help you can give me, and if I get one, you are
>all welcome to come to Baraboo and play with it!
>Later,
>Joe
>
>=====
>Joe Prindle
>Member Badger Steam & Gas, Baraboo, WI
>www.badgersteamandgas.com
>Hosting the HPOCA Nat'l Oliver Show
>August 19, 20 & 21, 2005
>*****************
>"Is this a private fight, or can anyone join in?"
>Old Irish Proverb
>******************
>
>
>
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