Buying Advice Any advice on buying a NH 1920?

casingbill · Apr 30, 2005

I am soon to be purchasing a 1989 NH 1920. Just wondering if there is anything I should look for before purchase. The hours seem high at 2600, but I'm not sure. Its $10,000 with FEL, york rake, posthole digger, and back blade. It has some visible rust but is being repainted with new fenders and seat. The bucket has a hole rotted through it one corner but its being repaired. It starts and runs well. Just want to know what you guys think. Thanks.

fire72 · Apr 30, 2005

I've had my 1920 for just over a year now, purchased with 1100 hours. I've put about 150 hours on since then. Only problems I've had have been a sticky diff lock (sometimes won't lock in, then sometimes won't unlock). NH service tech seemed to think this was fairly common, and not a big deal to fix. The big problem was worn rings and burnt rods and bearings. I noticed white smoke from the crankcase breather tubes and figured it had worn rings. While it was torn down for the rings, the guy doing the work for me found three rods and rod bearings burnt. Apparently the landscape company that owned it before me didn't pay much attention to maintenance and ran it low on oil. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Mostly my fault; I noticed the smoke when I tested it but failed to consider the worse problems that might be related.

Basically a solid tractor that I'm very happy with. Look for a response from Soundguy; he frequently has good advice on 1920s.

casingbill · Apr 30, 2005

Thanks Fire. I started it up and let it run a while and only the usual black smoke. Nothing noticeable from the breather either. It is a friend of mine who I am buying it from and he has used it for several years doing some light landscape/construction work part-time. He is only selling it to get a skidsteer. I will double check it though. It will prolly be a month before its ready.

Soundguy · May 1, 2005

Not a steal.. not a ripoff. NH 1920 go for 8500+ around here. The loader adds value. Mostly I see units with 1000 or less hours.

2wd or 4wd? tranny? 12x12 shuttle or 12x3.

I had a 1920 for a few years.. loed it.. it was a mule. ended up trading for a bigger tractor for heavy mowing.

Soudnguy

casingbill · May 1, 2005

Soundguy, Its 4wd. Not sure about the tranny though. I know it had 2 shift levers coming out of the steering column. It will also need 2 rear tires in the near future. They are calcium filled. Not worried about that though since tires is what I do.

casingbill · May 1, 2005

I found the same tractor without the implements with more hours and its more money. So I'm feeling good about the price. Heres a link to the one online.

Now I'm getting excited. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · May 2, 2005

Sounds like the deal it is getting better.. it's 4wd, and if it has 2 shift levers.. must be a shuttle, as my 4wd gear tranny had just a column shifter 3+R, and then a range selector 1-2-3-4 on the left side of the seat abobe the pto engagement lever.

All that and a laoder too. Yes.. good deal.

Soundguy

casingbill · May 2, 2005

Sweet!.....Thanks for the input Soundguy. I'll let yall know when I get her. Thanks again.

fire72 · May 3, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not sure about the tranny though. I know it had 2 shift levers coming out of the steering column./quote]

Mine is the 12x12 shuttle. The shifter to the right of the steering column is the gear (1234) shifter. The one to the left is the shuttle (F/R) shifter. The range shifter is to the left of the seat. The shuttle is handy for anything that requires a lot of directional changes, such as loader work.

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casingbill · May 3, 2005

My uncle has the same on his 2120. I've used it but not a big fan. It always takes a couple of seconds when you let off the clutch before it moves. Do all shuttle shift do that?