Never used Barn find Timberking 1220

[sam-tip]

Found out about this mill from a friend.  It is at least 12 years old never used.  Was put in the barn and owner died.  Widow still has it.  But then a tree fell on the barn and the barn fell on the mill.   I think it needs many many hours of TLC and a new frame for the saw.   How do you put a value on a mill like this?  



 

 

[Haleiwa]

A new one is about 8400 without a trailer.   With damage, an expired warranty,  and a good possibility of the engine having problems it shouldn't be worth more than 2500 on a good day. I would start out offering maybe 1500 and not be in a hurry to go up.  It hasn't moved in 12 years, so it doesn't appear buyers are beating a path to the door.

[sam-tip]

I wonder the price of the mill 12 years ago.   

[dgdrls]

Hate to see good machinery go to waste.
Sure, it can likely be fixed,  but time and cost are
probably beyond the cost of a new one,

D

[doc henderson]

call timberking.  If the carriage is tweaked a little there is a fair amount of adjustment.  new carb and some lube and tlc.  need to pull it out and take a good look at it.  My TK 2000 is used and I think I could get more for it used than I paid.  prices are up about 50% over what I paid, but also with upgrades.

[farmfromkansas]

Be good if it were pulled out to see if there is actual damage.  Carb kit, and a little tlc would probably fix the mill to running condition.  Neighbors bought a 1600 that had not run in years, about a day in the shop it was running.

[Wintergreen Mountain]

     sam-tip ; 

    I would offer them a $1000 for it. The head can be cut and refabricated From what i can see very easily. $1000 to $2500 should get it going if the engine can run with a little tinkering. Looks like the bed is ok and can be made to work.


Leon

[Durf700]

buy it!  heck...  my LT 15 I just sold had sat out for a few years with just a small tarp half way over the motor..  it wouldnt take much to get that baby going.. 

[doc henderson]

muffler looks like it ran a bit.  just so you feel like you got a good deal, it is prob. worth 4 or 5 thousand with the trailer, barring major damage.  only cut wood on Sunday!

[SawyerTed]

It's a sad situation but at best I'd offer no more than $1,500 but probably would start a $1,000.  In the condition sitting where it is it is worth little more than scrap prices.  It's doable but a lot of work and some money is going to have to be invested to get it operating.  I believe I'd try to get an auto body frame shop should to straighten the frame if it's tweaked.

[Southside]

The "market value", consider it's present state, the cost to have it professionally repaired, machine time, welding ,replacement parts, etc.  If you can do those things at that level then that's to your advantage, not to the sellers.  Then consider who else will show up to buy it.  I would say scrap price is the "market value", same as an old car sitting under the same barn.  No buyer would consider what a new one costs today as a comp value.  

Personally, I don't think I would pay over $1K for it as it sits.  FWIW that is not a reflection on the quality of the brand - I own two of their sister companies machines and they are absolutely excellent products.  More of a reality check on the price of time and what neglect has done.  

[sam-tip]

Just sent me some more photos.  They must want to get rid of it.  Pulled it out of the shed.  To me the back frame looks bent down.


 

 

[Southside]

Something does not look right for sure, maybe it's just a broken bolt on the cam followers, maybe it's the frame.  Personally, I don't think a frame shop could straighten a sawmill frame to the tolerance of new.  Automobile frames don't need to be sub 1/16" true as you can make body and alignment adjustments to make up for a problem, not really the case on a mill.  Sounds like they are motivated.  Might take an offer, might back peddle thinking they have a pot of gold there, only one way to find out.  

[farmfromkansas]

I would have to see it in person, but from the pics, does not look badly damaged.  Bet it will saw lumber if you get the motor running.

[doc henderson]

If it rolls down the track and all four wheels are contacting the rails, and the head moves up and down,  most of that can be adjusted.  put a strait edge across the faces of the band wheels and a little off is all adjustable.  fresh belts, filter, oil, and a trip through the carwash.  do the adjustments, frame shop if needed but can do most at home if you have heavy stuff.  look it over good with a four foot ruler and a length of string to see if something is torqued.  the one rear wheel looks lifted, but roll it and see if it is just off a little or if the frame of the carriage is bent.  call the techs at TK.  Lots of new assembled stuff need a little bending right off the line.  we just do not see it.  while you have them on the phone, see what that package costs new with the trailer.

[doc henderson]

when you said frame, I thought you meant the carriage.  I see that and may be why the wheel is up.  run the carriage forward after getting it level as you can and see if it fits straight.  If I did not have mine, I would not be afraid of it.  unless you see something in person that we are not seeing.

[Iwawoodwork]

With what I am able to determine from the photos I think $2500 would be a starting point. Think what the price is for an entry level mill sitting on the ground is, the Harbor freight mill is about $2000  and the other manufactures go up from there. This is a quality mill with good manufacture support.
 If the engine is bad A new  H.F. 22hp predator is $700 , a frame shop about $500 for an up-down pull, so you have another 1200 to 2000 invested, look around and see if there are similar mills selling for around $5000 and there is the answer to the value .

[donbj]

Looks to me from the photos that the bottom carriage track frame is bent, the frame part with the rollers in it. I put a straight edge on my screen here against that piece and it does not follow a straight line end to end. Put a straight edge along the main bed frame and it looks straight.

That's my best computer generated guess :D

[barbender]

Anything that needs work, figure your labor rate for any work you have to do to it. You could put a lot of hours into it. Also, I'm somewhat averse to dealing with widows. If you make an offer on what that mill is worth as it sits, you will likely be remembered as the guy that lowballed the widow. 

[47sawdust]

Do you want to tinker or do you want to saw?A used up and running saw of the same size can be had for not a lot of money.
Seems like a few ?? marks about this saw.
Best of luck to you.

[sam-tip]

Thanks to forestry forum I found a post which had a price list attached in 2008.  Took some searching but FF kept showing me similar posts at the bottom and I kept reading.

New 1220 complete 15 hp                $6195
New Supercharged 25hp 3 blades     $6.995
Transport Package                           $795
7.5ft Bed Extension                          $795
Box of 6 Blades                                $156

2020 Internet price with 23 hp standard  $8295

Spreadsheet is attached if anyone wants to compare other TK models from 2008

[Gere Flewelling]

From what the pictures show, I think the frames are straight.  Looks like there might be an issue with the forward carriage rollers.  Possibly a bent pin or bolts going through the wheels or mounting brackets bent.  I would think that would be fixable even with minimal mechanical or welding experience (should that be the case).  If it was me trying to decide whether or not to purchase this mill, I would offer $3,000.00 for a mill of that quality in an instant and feel confident I treated the widow with respect and got a good machine as well.  If the engine turns over, it will likely not need much to get it operational as well.  The fenders need a little adjusting or just plain remove them.  One less thing to scrape you shins on.  Good luck with your decision.

[Wintergreen Mountain]

In the new pictures It looks like the bed has very little damage, but the front structure of the head needs some reconstruction, Front corner posts cross bracket and trolley wheels.

   Leon

[Tramp Bushler]

Did you get the mill yet ? 
 I had a couple trepidation when I bought my mill 2 years ago. I paid 3500 for my Mighty Mite Gen 2. 
 But I've sawed more than that on it so far .
 If you have time and desire to tinker then that Timber King might be just the ticket for you. 
 Leaves more money to buy an edger with .

[tacks Y]

Sam, Let the seller put a value on it. Then go from there explain what you see wrong and your concerns first.