I did a service call at an elderly gents home and had to walk into the garage to get to the cellar door, there in the back of the garage was a tractor all covered up, he saw me looking and asked if I had an interest, when I said yes he invited me to look underneath and I really was not prepared for what I saw-a pristine 790, Yanmar 30 (?) engine, grader box on the back and bucket up front, not a mark, scratch or scuff anywhere on the tractor..."whataya think" he asks, 'you made my day' I say, 'how often do you wax it' I ask, "bout once a week" he says, then he adds; "I really think you understand", 'indeed I do ' say I........
It was a 2000 I think he said, and it cost just under 14 large with the attachments plus the higher hp engine bump up, I strongly suspect he could get more than that if he sold it, oh yeah; 106 hours-oil changes twice a year-
He didn't say and I didn't ask, but I am reasonably certain I know the answer, he has it because he is/was able to have it. A very successful business owner, machinist by trade, and he and his wife place alot of value on what they own-depression era values, which all of us will very soon know about I fear.
I think he said it was all gear drive, if true this would be the only negative for me.
And of course the engine and transmission along with all hoses and couplings were dry to the touch-he really did make my day-Deere themselves have no finer example of a discontinued machine, a museum piece; and I really do understand.
