grandma letting go of old equipment

[Austen]

Have you guys ever been disgeraged when a person won't let go of an old piece of equipment that will just rot away into the ground? My grandma has a old John Deere riding mower and also an antique Yanmar tractor that she won't let go of that will just rot away into the ground which have started to. I have always wanted a rinding mower because our yard is very big, but my dad will never wants to get one because he doesn't have to do the work! Well the pto wouldn't engage last year so she bought a knew mower. Well my dad said I should ask her if I could have it. She said no! I even offered her $50 for it and she still won't give it away! I can't believe it. She has a brand new riding mower and the old John Deere is on it's way to rot into the ground when I could get it working just fine again. She also won't give away her old yanmar tractor which my dad even would let me have! It just discourages me!

[John Newman, Jr.]

Now I don't mean to interfere, and I can't speak for anyone else, but the idea I have is that you try to work out some kind of deal with Grandma to take care of her yard work (and maybe a few other chores around the house) and see if she might be willing to agree to an exchange of services for her rider mower. Show her that you can be reliable, hardworking, willing to make a commitment and live up to it. That might mean going over to Grandma's on a nice day that you might rather be doing something else, or clearing snow off her driveway when you'd rather stay warm in your house.
Above all else, don't whine on her about it. Ask her what her plans for it might be. See if she wants someone to take a look at it to determine if it's worth fixing. Maybe if she can find out from an independent party that it "Isn't worth her time & money to fix up" she could have a change of heart.
My Dad used to say "...Patience and persistance - All things happen eventually"

[Tanner Remillard]

Welcome to the world of iron collecting Austin. John made some good points on how you have to be patient. I know where alot of engines and tractors are just sitting in the field or in a junk pile (GOOD ONES) and the owners that dont know anything about them dont want to sell them. I always get the excuse, "were going to restore that someday." Well, I know that is'nt true, because most of them dont even know what they have or the first thing it takes when finding parts or restoring. I know an old lady that has a 60 H.P. Holt engine that is just sitting in the junk pile at the old farm, but she will not let go of it. No one in her family is interested in it, and she sure as heck is'nt going to touch it. So why not sell it to me and preserve some history?? Heck if I know, but that's the way people are.

[Peter]

Hi Austin,

I'd like to hear your grandma side of this. Maybe she wonders why you dont offer to fix her JDeere instead of letting her waste big bucks on a replacement. Sounds like its not too late too offer to get her Yanmar running. Then share the Yanmar?

[Austen]

The situation on the Yanmar is the rear tire rims have rotted away. I forget the name but there is some kind of chemical that the tires were filled with witch seaped through the tires and rotted the tires away. I have found new rims and tires but she doesn't want to pay for them. Otherwise the tractor runs great. My grandma thinks the John Deere is a garbage because the pto won't engage but it's probably a small fix. She bought a brand new mower over not fixing the John Deere. Wasn't my decision!

[Andrew Yeary]

Well Austin I think you should pay for the parts and tell your grandma you enjoy working on them. Show your interest that way. Tell her you rather see it working and looking good again than rotting. You still may not get them but at leat your helping your grandma out which is still a good thing. Good luck with the mowers.

[Andrew Yeary]

Sorry Austen, I noticed most of us spelled your name wrong. Got it right this time

[Austen]

Don't worry about the misspelling of my name, I get it all the time! I'm pretty sure I know what the problem with the pto not engaging. It's the switch that's frozen up. It would probably have to be taken apart and cleaned or replaced. My dad said this winter we'll cover it up (which it has hardly ever had) so maybe she will be even more convinced that I want the mower. -Austen

[Phillip Hutchinson]

G"DAY Austen.
Some years ago a fellow restorer noticed a "JELBART"engine on the side of the road,he told some friends about the engine,and was told to forget it because the owner had been offered large amounts of cash to no avail.Anyway on another trip he thought he might take some pics and gather data on the engine ,so he went up to the house and knocked on the door introduced himself and asked if he could get the info.To this the owner asked if he was a restorer and did he have one like this "his reply no",and with that remark the owner said to him that you are the only person to come and ask to look at it and not insult me by trying to buy me off,its yours he said. My friend could not load it soon enough.True story, so don't push when granny is ready she will probably tell you to come get it. Happy cranking