Isn't it funny....

I was reading a couple of stories on here and thinking back, I'm sure some of you here have done the same thing, you go and look at a tractor, sometimes it is not exactly like you picture it in your mind.  Then you go home to think it over or wait for the auction or whatever the case might be, isn't if funny how that tractor keeps getting better looking now that you are home in your Lazy Boy, and all the things that seemed wrong with it when you were looking at it now seem like such easy fixes, things that maybe even adjustments or wax might fix.  Then you go buy it and it comes equipped with a big box of reality.

My first tractor reminds me of this.

I overlooked a few flaws and minimized my "problems" when looking at my wd45.

I have this issue with everything I buy or don't buy.. lol

I never have that problem, 

I bought my d14 the very same way.  I knew I was looking for one, well actually, I was looking for a wd45.  But happened across this one, at a town not too far away.  I knew I wouldn't get a pristine example for what I wanted to spend.  But like the others said, I enjoy working on them, so wasn't that big of a deal.  So, I talked to the guy over the phone, we came to a price agreement.  First time I ever saw it was when I picked it up.  Came around the corner, and there she was.  Rusty, a horrible paintjob, they even got the tires with the overspray.  guy started it.  sounded beautiful.  Made him drive it onto my trailer.  Never checked the oil.  Never checked the PTO.  Never checked the hydraulics.  nothing really.  Never even asked questions.  So I drove it for the first time in the dark, unloading it from the trailer.  Drove it around the yard a little bit then parked it in the barn.  Next day I checked the oil. white.  played with the hydraulics and PTO.  PTO worked.  Hydraulics did not.  Took the nose apart to fix a radiator hose that was leaking, and figure out why the oil had water in it.  Waterpump was trashed, the oil canister for the air filter was full of water.  One of the valve springs had rejected one of it's keepers. And it leaked its gear oil all over the garage floor like a scared puppy.   The wheel bearings are loose.  The seat bushings are gone completely.  The axle pivot is as sloppy as it can be without loosing the axle.  I'm supposed to start mowing in a couple months...and I haven't regretted it yet.  The only dissappointment I have is that I was excited to see what was in the toolbox when I got it home only to find that half the bottom was missing and whatever treasures in may have held had fallen out long ago.  I did find one 1/2" and 9/16" double sided open end wrench and an ancient pair of leather gloves that had somehow survived in the intact corner.  I've named it Alice(how original am I?).  And I don't even have it close to sorted out yet and I've already found a D19 I want to bring home next.  Although this time, I'm asking questions :)

I can't complain too much.  The guy has quite a few D series he's restored, he called this one a mechanics special.  I got it for a fair price.  I thought I was getting it dirt cheap, but I'll call it fair now that I know a little more about it.  Even with all the parts I've bought and the price to get the cylinder rebuilt I'll be in it for less than 2k. I'm a single guy with no kids so my time is remarkably free.  I still feel good about it:)  plus I can say that I'm becoming intimately familiar with the D14 very quickly.