Buying Advice Deere 5303 - opinions please

[Dawg in Fl]

I’m looking at this tractor with loader.

It has about 2800 hours - more than I’d like but seems to be a good price.

Thoughts anyone?

And thanks in advance.

Dawg in Fl

 

[Seven Gables]

Pictures and more info would be helpful

 

[MH8675309]

2800 Hours is not that much on that engine. No DEF.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I’m looking at this tractor with loader.

It has about 2800 hours - more than I’d like but seems to be a good price.

Thoughts anyone?

And thanks in advance.

Dawg in Fl

What are you going to use it for??

I have a 5103. About the same tractor but 50 HP instead of 64 HP.

It's a pretty good tractor for doing hay with a small square baler. Frankly, I think that's about the best use for it. I use it to pull a baler, rake hay, and run a tedder. However it would be nice to have more options for range / gear combinations.

It's not great for loader work. Too much shifting gears and not much fine control. The loader works smooth though and is strong. But you'll be spinning the back tires as soon as your bucket starts to push into a pile -- if you have 2 WD.

Mine has the crappy JD bucket attachment instead of SSQA. I wouldn't buy anything again that's not SSQA. The loader also is not a quick-detach model. I drop the bucket or forks when not needed just to shorten things up and lose the weight. But I can't drop the loader itself. (EDIT -- in fairness, I rarely remove loaders that I can remove. Usually just drop the front attachments.)

Mine is not 4 wheel drive. It does good out in the field, but you can get it stuck in snow or mud pretty easy.

Mine has R1 tires. Rides smooth. Steering is nice and tight. Starts almost instantly every time. Not bad on fuel -- much better than a similar size Kubota. I like the flat fenders -- better for mounting a tool box, etc. than the round fenders on their higher end tractors.

If you plan to do a lot of loader work, especially in tight spaces, you'd do better to get something that's hydrostatic or shuttle-shift or something besides a straight 3 gear tractor.

It has served me well, but I'd like to replace it with something that's hydrostatic or shuttle-shift and 4WD with a SSQA loader.

That's my opinion, FWIW.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

IIRC it has a "live PTO" and a "dry clutch" ... Both of which are very operational, but not the "independent PTO" and "wet clutch" I'd prefer ...

 

[Dawg in Fl]

Sorry, I should have given more information.

It’s 4wd and comes with a bucket, grapple and hay spear.

Asking $14,000 after lowering the price.

Was planning on using it around the house for a variety of things.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Sorry, I should have given more information.

It’s 4wd and comes with a bucket, grapple and hay spear.

Asking $14,000 after lowering the price.

Was planning on using it around the house for a variety of things.

4WD is much better than 2WD.

Still not clear on what "using it around the house" means.

Do you do hay? Would be ok to pick up and carry round bales.

What will you do with the grapple?

Does it have a 3rd function? Rear remotes?

It's still not a good tractor for loader work -- in my opinion. I have a smaller 30 HP Kubota and a 57 HP Kubota and I use them a LOT. The JD sits until it's time to mow / bale hay.

 

[Dawg in Fl]

It has 3rd function and rear remotes.

I have a number of trees to cut and carry away so the grapple got my attention.

Probably will use a bushhog more than anything else.

I need to work on my gravel driveway. I’ve been using a Farmall Super A with a straight blade so I understand the extra working the gear drive creates -

I’m a 100-150 hours per year user and it’s not to make money - yes, a desk job guy that likes to get outside.

Again, thanks for opinions.

Is 14,000 reasonable? I don’t have pictures and plan to have a buddy with much more knowledge inspection it for me.

 

[Brown Dog]

2800 Hours is not that much on that engine. No DEF.

That’s a tremendous amount of hours on a dry clutch tractor.

He’d be way better off with a power reverser trans like a 4cyl 4700, 4720, 5425, 5083E etc.
newer 5075E 3cyl has an optional PR trans.

I’d never own another tractor without PoweReverser or Hydrostatic.

@Dawg in Fl

 

[Shawn T. W.]

That’s a tremendous amount of hours on a dry clutch tractor.

Especially with a loader ...

 

[CH4Ohio]

Another question -- do you plan to ever put your wife or kids or anyone else on this tractor? If so, buy something with hydrostat instead. Everyone will be safer.

 

[Kessler Farms]

I don't post much, but since I own 3 tractors from this series, I'll provide my opinion. They are very simple, sturdy, and reliable India-made tractors. PTO is independent, not live, with it's own pto clutch. All three of mine have way more hours than the one you're looking at, and have had zero clutch issues, nor any other major mechanical failures. None have ever been back to the dealer. I bought the 2wd 5403 new in 2006, the other two used. Even though I farm over 2000 acres and have larger tractors, these small tractors are still used daily for bush hogging, tedding and raking hay, pulling manure spreaders, hay wagons, square baler, running grain augers, etc. They are easy to work on and easy to service. If you have the 16.9-28 rear tires and 9.5-24 fronts, it will wear out front tires fairly fast. I went through several sets of 9.5-24 fronts before changing to 280/85/r24 (11.2-24) fronts. The overrun speed is too much with the small front tires. They are not a real heavy tractor, but will do way more work with ease than a compact tractor. Also, hydraulics are a little slow, but not terrible. It is a used tractor, so you have no idea how the previous owner used it, but I wouldn't be too concerned. With 4WD, loader, and 3rd function, I think 14K is a steal. If you have specific questions, just ask

 

[Dawg in Fl]

Thank you for weighing in - I really appreciate it!

 

[deere5105]

I have enjoyed mine and have had no mechanical issues. I use mine for many of same uses you described. Sounds like a reasonable price to me.

 

[RiversideFarm]

I’ve had my 5303 since 2008, I bought it used with 15 hrs on it. Sounds about like what you’re looking at, it’s 4wd, loader with R1 tires. I use it on my small farm and it was my only tractor until last yr. It has done everything I’ve wanted including pulling my rd baler and my 7’ brush hog. I’ve had 2 problems with it. There’s a sensor on the thermostat housing that gone bad twice on mine. If it won’t start I start checking fuses and if ones blown I unplug the sensor and then change the fuse. If it starts you found your problem and the tractor still works until the sensor can be replaced. The other issue had nothing to do with the tractor but I ended up with bad fuel.
I think keeping the oils changed it will outlast me! I would definitely give 14k for another one if it’s in pretty good condition.
With that said, I also agree with what Kessler Farms posted.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve got a friend with a 5310, not the same tractor but vaguely similar 4x4 and gear drive, similar hours also. His is starting to have minor problems, hoses and little things like that but is a solid tractor and I’ve operated it some. I’ve read so much advice on this forum steering people away from gear drive I expected it to be terrible. I enjoyed operating it but was tilling food plots so pretty easy for me. I own a small compact tractor so a tractor like your looking at is a pretty powerful and useful utility tractor.

 

[Redlined0002]

Get a Kubota with hydrostatic Transmission