How "fresh" is a new tractor?

topshop · Jun 18, 2005

How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

I am curious to know how to tell which model year a tractor is and to know how long it has been sitting on a sales lot. I have been given every story, including that there aren't model years for tractors. I would like to be able to determine for myself. Hints, anyone?

beenthere · Jun 18, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

Sounds like you are picking out a vegetable. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

topshop · Jun 19, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

Yeah, but I just don't want a lemon!

DmansPadge · Jun 19, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

You should be able to tell the year from the serial number. How long it's been on the lot is another story!

cchoate · Jun 19, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

I was told there are no model years also. Then I went to trade my b7500 in and they asked me several times "what year is it?"

btolle · Jun 19, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

Unlike autos, tractors do not have a model year. The common way the "year" isdetermined is by the date the tractor was put into service, the day it was first sold.

That was what I was told by a Kubota area rep and has been confirmed by many on this forum.

The only way to determine how long it has been on a sales lot is to ask the dealer.

Again, tractors are not like autos. They are made to sit out in the weather and not be started for long periods of time. I had a couple of 8N's and they would sometimes not be started for several months. And neither of them had probably spent a day indoors even though they were both built in about 1950-1952.

Bill Tolle

theboman · Jun 20, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

What's the difference in setting at a dealership with the wheels/tires on and setting in a crate without wheels/tires?

Seems to me if the wheels/tires are on the tractor has been started several times, and moved around....

Check the hour meter too...

tralderman · Jun 20, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

A lot of folks ask us the same question. What year is it?
Unlike cars, we know of no specific date that a tractor model transitions from one model year to the next. We date tractors based not on their manufacture date but on their invoice date. That's the date the tractor arrived on our lot.

However, it is true that dealers don't really care what model year a trade-in is. What we look at hours, and condition.

gsxr1100 · Jun 20, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

I would agree here.

btolle, does sold me to the dealer or to the customer?

btolle · Jun 20, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

( I would agree here.

btolle, does sold me to the dealer or to the customer? )

From what I understand it means the date the tractor was bought by the end user (you or me). That is what the Kubota factory service man told me. That is also when the warranty starts.

Bill Tolle

gsxr1100 · Jun 21, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

So if the year was 2019 and I bought a BX22 (show room) would it be used since the model was only made during 2002 to 2004 or it is still considered a new tractor (but 15 to 17 years old).

Not started a war, but this no date can be taken both ways here, I guess.

Confusing...

btolle · Jun 21, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

( So if the year was 2019 and I bought a BX22 (show room) would it be used since the model was only made during 2002 to 2004 or it is still considered a new tractor (but 15 to 17 years old).

Not started a war, but this no date can be taken both ways here, I guess.

Confusing... )

It would still be considered new since it was never put in service. New means it has not been used for it's intended purpose. Even if it has been there for 15 years if it hasn't mowed, plowed, loadered, etc. it has not been used.

If you buy a toothbrush that has been on the store shelf for 3 years is it considered a used toothbrush?

Bill Tolle

iris49truck · Jun 21, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

It might be considered NEW but would it be considered a 2019 model?

Terry

btolle · Jun 21, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

( It might be considered NEW but would it be considered a 2019 model?

Terry )

I suppose so, but when you go back to the dealer for parts they are not interested in the year, only the model number and serial number.

Bill Tolle

frank_f15 · Jun 21, 2005

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

That may be true , but a lot of folks only know to ask WHAT YEAR IS IT? completly disregarging hrs and type of use.

grm61 · Aug 29, 2013

Re: How \"fresh\" is a new tractor?

gsxr1100 said:
So if the year was 2019 and I bought a BX22 (show room) would it be used since the model was only made during 2002 to 2004 or it is still considered a new tractor (but 15 to 17 years old).

Not started a war, but this no date can be taken both ways here, I guess.

Confusing...

I could never get a strait answer on determining year, some said year sold, and some said year of manufacture.
My tractor was manufactured in 2013, verified by ser. number so that's what I am calling it.

The BX in your example, as long as it hadn't been sold before, would be new. but a 2002 or 04 model depending on ser. number.
It should also have no more than 10 hrs or so on it to be sold as new,and be heavily discounted compared to a current year model (they cost the dealer less back then).
My tractor had 1 hour on it, the norm seems to be up to 13 or so....
I also read a post where a dealer was trying to sell a previous year model with 50 hours on it as new, sorry but anything more than about 10 hours or so I would call used, but I'm picky.

So that's my understanding of the year issue.
Date of manufacture is what I am going by.

Bluegill2 · Aug 29, 2013

Re: How "fresh" is a new tractor?

Model, hours on the meter and condition are all that maters.

Sysop · Aug 29, 2013

Re: How "fresh" is a new tractor?

Bluegill2 said:
Model, hours on the meter and condition are all that maters.

Indeed, Tractors have a build date that some confuse as a "model year", but tractors are not differentiated by a "model year"...

grm61 · Aug 29, 2013

Re: How "fresh" is a new tractor?

Sysop said:
Indeed, Tractors have a build date that some confuse as a "model year", but tractors are not differentiated by a "model year"...

Thats what they tell you when you are buying a new one, that might be a couple years old.
If your trading one in, they are happy to bring up how old it is.
Then you look at the used equipment on their website and they are listed by year.....WTF

Sysop · Aug 29, 2013

Re: How "fresh" is a new tractor?

grm61 said:
Thats what they tell you when you are buying a new one, that might be a couple years old.
If your trading one in, they are happy to bring up how old it is.
Then you look at the used equipment on their website and they are listed by year.....WTF

As far as I know, the dates listed newer used machines is the "in service" date. Once a machine is placed in service, the clock on the warranty starts ticking down. Older used machines they list the build date simply to give buyers an idea of how old a machine may be. New is new and remains such until it is placed into service.