August 9, 2022
Dad's International 7140 Magnum Tractor
On June 13 I ended up in the ER with blood pressure of 232/121. I also saw Amanda on the 14th to follow up. She decided I should see my cardiologist in Wichita and they set up an appointment for me on June 21. On Sunday the 19th Derrick came to my house again and told me that that tractor (which he parked here) is in the way in front of my house and he wanted it moved. I explained that I was leaving in the morning for Wichita for doctor appointments and, by the way, I've never driven it so he could move it if he wanted. I got home the following Sunday, June 26, and the tractor had not moved.
Allen came home on July 1 and moved the tractor to the creek bottom in the trees. We had discussions with Mom about how to find out what our options were for the tractor. Over the month of July Mom & I talked about what to do with it. At one point she said to keep it so I can pull myself out of the mud. She then told me to see what I could find out about options.
On July 18 when I went back to Colby, I stopped by to ask advice from Steve Juenemann. Dad had talked to Steve multiple times for advice on some of his other tractors in the past. Steve said he would come out and look at the tractor, determine what the issue was with the hydraulics then give me some options for fix, sell or salvage. He came out the next day. After looking at it he explained how that kind of break happens and I knew exactly when it happened last summer and Dad did try to fix it but there was still a leak and worked on it again over the winter. Derrick even helped him with it the second time. Dad had not had a chance to test it out before he fell sick in April then passed away on May 3.
Oh, yes. I tested positive for COVID-19 Monday evening, August 1.
On August 3 Steve Juenemann called me after much research to let me know what he found. I then sent the following email to my brothers & sisters to keep them informed and to get their thoughts on August 4.
Hi All,
As you know Derrick told me he did not want to buy Dad's IH 7140 Magnum tractor. It does have a hydraulic problem. In short the 3 point cast iron housing is broken. I talked to Steve Juenemann for advice on our options. He came out and looked at it and explained how the break like that happens and I know just how and when it happened. It has nothing to do with what anyone did wrong while using it. It was a valve that did not work correctly and caused great 10,000 pounds force instead of 3,000 lbs. Dad tried to fix the crack that occurred last summer but did not know about the valve. When the tractor was used this spring it happened again and the came thing happened and caused a big break since it had already been cracked.
Steve did a lot of research for us and called me yesterday with what he found.
1. The cast iron part is no longer made by International Harvester. He researched and finally found a used part. That will cast around $2,500.00
2. His service center can work on the tractor as things slow down a bit during the winter. That will cost around $7,500.00.
3. Once fixed we should be able to sell it for $20,000 or a bit more. Dad paid $32,000.00 for the tractor
4. If we do not want to fix it and then try to sell it, we can sell it for salvage. One place that buys salvage is Abeline Machine. Steve believes that we could get $4,000-7,000 for it that way.
I did some research on the price of the tires if we would want to sell them ourselves (they will fit Derricks 7130 tractor) but it seems salvage value would be greater. My research on the current selling price of this model tractor seems to be $24,000-50,000+ through dealerships. I do not know how Dad's tractor would compare to these once fixed or if there will be a stigma because of the repairs.
Because I am isolated at home due to Covid, I have not talked to Mom about this yet. She knows that Steve looked at the tractor and was going to give us options (provided she remembers). I feel it would be better to talk to her in person rather than over the phone about this. I can get her full attention better in person when it is just her and I there.
I want to keep you all informed and would like your opinions so I can present these to Mom for her to make a decision.
Love to all,
Rose
Cathy Broeckelman
sjrogers@ruraltel.net
Because I had COVID and could not go down to Mom's to visit with her and she could not focus when talking to her on the phone I waited till I could see her in person wearing a mask. I talked to Mom again Sunday evening, August 7, face to face about all that Steve Juenemann told me and read these responses to Mom. Mom made a face at the cost of repairs and said she didn't think she would want to spend that kind of money then we still will have to try to sell it. She told me to see what Abilene Machine would offer and I said I'd call them Monday morning.
Monday, August 8, I did call Abilene Machine and had to leave a voice mail for the person that deals with salvage. Jeff Finley had been thinking he might want a project for when he retires soon so he did some research of his own. He called me Monday after I had left the message with Abilene Machine. He had talked to them for information on parts and talked to Todd (one of the owners) who said for me to email him pictures. I wrote the following e-mail to Todd with 10 or 11 pictures that I had taken after Derrick parked it in front of my house along with the ID number and engine hours on the tractor.
I talked to Mom about putting in a call and e-mailing pictures to Abilene Machine that evening. This leads me up to the shit storm that all happened the next day (today) Tuesday, August 9.
I have a long batch of texts that I will post here. This Blog is just a way for me to journal and is not intended really for anyone else but me.
Dad must be rolling over in his grave about what has happened next. I'm sorry, Daddy. I never intended for any of this to happen and I thought I was doing what Mom asked me to do and did not know the back lash of it all that would follow. I was not keeping anything secret nor was I looking after anything you and Mom have trusted me with for anything other than for the two of you. I do not have any personal motives here and have kept all your children informed of all my actions. I won't even write myself a check for what you had been paying me for. I do not want it to look to anyone later that I may have been stealing from your accounts or anything for my personal gain at your expense. I love you, Dad & Mom. I'm sorry if I have let you down in any way. My heart breaks.
Rose
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