Illinois Shop Specializes In New Generation Deere Tractors
“I started customizing Deere 6030 tractors – and other New Generation Deeres – about 10 years ago, and it’s grown into a substantial business,” says Brad Walk of Sigel, Ill. “I never dreamed when I bought my first 6030 from Montana, sight unseen, that a few years later I’d have a business that would support two employees.” Today Walk’s business, known as my6030.com, has a national reputation for producing outstanding quality customization.
Walk started working on 6030s because it was the most powerful two-wheel drive tractor of its time from 1972 through 1977, and is one of the most sought after collector tractors of its era. Adding to its value is the fact that just over 4,000 were built. Many of them are still working today.
“It’s Deere’s version of the ‘muscle cars’ that came out of Detroit in the 1960’s and 70’s,” says Walk. “People love them.”
The 6030 is set apart from other New Generation tractors because it was offered with a choice of diesel engines. It could be ordered with a naturally-aspirated 141 hp. diesel or with a larger turbo and intercooled 175 hp. powerplant. It’s estimated that about 80 percent of the tractors were sold with factory cabs. All the options offered on the previous big body model 5020 applied to the 6030, which weighed almost 16,000 lbs.
“Most of the people I refurbish tractors for want them to look original, but they want options they can’t find in the marketplace,” Walk says. “They usually don’t want a cab, so we take that off. They want an open station with fenders, a nice canopy, and nice paint. We can do all of that of course, and also install larger wheels, new air cleaners and exhaust pipes. We rebuild the tractor exactly the way a customer wants it. If they want it to look brand new, everything is restored to an expo-quality finish, so we’re giving people a tractor that looks better than it did when it came from the factory.”
Walk says he buys and sells several 6030s a year from across the U.S. and Canada. “I don’t go to auctions or buy off the internet. I have people calling me offering their tractors for sale.”
He has 2 full time employees who completely clean, disassemble, sandblast, refurbish and re-assemble old iron. They repair leaks, remove dents and dings, and send the tractor to specialists for overhauling and more technical work if that’s needed. “Every tractor that leaves here is in as good shape as the customer wants,” says Walk. Many are sold to farmers from across the U.S., and he’s also sold a few to France, England and the Netherlands.
Two of his 6030s are very special and will never leave his farm. “My two boys are fortunate to own the very first and the very last 6030 ever built,” Walk says. He acquired number one from a farmer in Ohio, and the last one from a large construction company.
“It took me two years to locate the last one built,” says Walk, “and another two years to play the poker game to get it bought.” The adventure included waiting 90 minutes for a decision-maker in a large Alabama corporate office, bringing custom pork sausage from his farm, then waiting another month while the company’s board of directors approved the sale. “It was worth the wait because now I’ve got bookend 6030 tractors for my two sons.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Brad Walk, Box 127, Sigel, Ill. 62462 (ph 217 246-3445; www.my6030.com).
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Illinois Shop Specializes In New Generation Deere Tractors SPECIALTY/SERVICES “I started customizing Deere 6030 tractors – and other New Generation Deeres – about 10 years ago and it’s grown into a substantial business ” says Brad Walk of Sigel Ill “I never dreamed when I bought my first 6030 from Montana sight unseen that a few years later I’d have a business that would support two employees ” Today Walk’s business known as my6030 com has a national reputation for producing outstanding quality customization Walk started working on 6030s because it was the most powerful two-wheel drive tractor of its time from 1972 through 1977 and is one of the most sought after collector tractors of its era Adding to its value is the fact that just over 4 000 were built Many of them are still working today “It’s Deere’s version of the ‘muscle cars’ that came out of Detroit in the 1960’s and 70’s ” says Walk “People love them ” The 6030 is set apart from other New Generation tractors because it was offered with a choice of diesel engines It could be ordered with a naturally-aspirated 141 hp diesel or with a larger turbo and intercooled 175 hp powerplant It’s estimated that about 80 percent of the tractors were sold with factory cabs All the options offered on the previous big body model 5020 applied to the 6030 which weighed almost 16 000 lbs “Most of the people I refurbish tractors for want them to look original but they want options they can’t find in the marketplace ” Walk says “They usually don’t want a cab so we take that off They want an open station with fenders a nice canopy and nice paint We can do all of that of course and also install larger wheels new air cleaners and exhaust pipes We rebuild the tractor exactly the way a customer wants it If they want it to look brand new everything is restored to an expo-quality finish so we’re giving people a tractor that looks better than it did when it came from the factory ” Walk says he buys and sells several 6030s a year from across the U S and Canada “I don’t go to auctions or buy off the internet I have people calling me offering their tractors for sale ” He has 2 full time employees who completely clean disassemble sandblast refurbish and re-assemble old iron They repair leaks remove dents and dings and send the tractor to specialists for overhauling and more technical work if that’s needed “Every tractor that leaves here is in as good shape as the customer wants ” says Walk Many are sold to farmers from across the U S and he’s also sold a few to France England and the Netherlands Two of his 6030s are very special and will never leave his farm “My two boys are fortunate to own the very first and the very last 6030 ever built ” Walk says He acquired number one from a farmer in Ohio and the last one from a large construction company “It took me two years to locate the last one built ” says Walk “and another two years to play the poker game to get it bought ” The adventure included waiting 90 minutes for a decision-maker in a large Alabama corporate office bringing custom pork sausage from his farm then waiting another month while the company’s board of directors approved the sale “It was worth the wait because now I’ve got bookend 6030 tractors for my two sons ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Brad Walk Box 127 Sigel Ill 62462 ph 217 246-3445; www my6030 com
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