Buying Advice Buying first CUT

GManBart · Dec 3, 2015

Cornfed8 said:
I've wrestled with the price too, especially compared to a new machine. With the two attachments it's coming with, I'm hoping to sell them off and get an extra $3k at least which, in my mind, brings me down to paying $11k for the tractor. That doesn't seem so bad to me.

I don't think you'll get $3K for the implements. That snow thrower runs around $2,200 new. The RFM is likely a house brand made for the dealer by any one of several implement companies...they slap various brand stickers on them but probably $2K or less new. You're probably looking at something like $1K for each (I just sold a 90" Sitrex RFM for $1300 in excellent condition...roughly a $3K mower new). Your best price for the thrower would be now...before the snow starts. The best price for the mower will be in early Spring.

vacman · Dec 3, 2015

2004 JD 4210 - 1200hrs residential use, 420 loader and 72" belly mower, R4 Tires, this thing is immaculate and the owner kept phenomenal notes and care of the machine, dealer sale at $13.5k tax included

I second the opinion that this seems to be the best value. Well cared for and already has the loader and mower so it's ready to go. That Case machine might be a good tractor, but when you consider the hoops you are going to jump through to selling some implements and buying/installing a FEL just to get it where you want it, it becomes less desirable to me.

Good luck in your purchase.

John

paulfun9 · Dec 4, 2015

I tend to agree with the others who think you should buy one ready to work and not have to jump threw hoops selling attachments to finance the loader. Myself personally I would keep looking as I haven't been impressed with JD lately as too many people I know have had problems with them.

Cornfed8 · Dec 4, 2015

GManBart said:
The RFM is likely a house brand made for the dealer by any one of several implement companies...they slap various brand stickers on them but probably $2K or less new.

The RFM is actually the Case 72" (the MW172S I believe) mower which may bring more appeal upon sale as both the RFM and the Farm King Y660 have less than 50 hours on them. Both were new units with the tractor. We'll see. I fear you're probably right though that I may get less than I hope for the attachments. I get my first view of the Case 30C and attachments on Monday or Tuesday. If it's not all it's described as, I'll go take another look at the 4210. Otherwise, I may just sit a be patient for a bit as the weather continues to cooperate. If I get something, I'll post pictures.

Here's the pictures of the Case I was sent from the seller. It's sitting in a warehouse in Minnesota:

GManBart · Dec 4, 2015

Cornfed8 said:
The RFM is actually the Case 72" (the MW172S I believe) mower which may bring more appeal upon sale as both the RFM and the Farm King Y660 have less than 50 hours on them. Both were new units with the tractor. We'll see. I fear you're probably right though that I may get less than I hope for the attachments. I get my first view of the Case 30C and attachments on Monday or Tuesday. If it's not all it's described as, I'll go take another look at the 4210. Otherwise, I may just sit a be patient for a bit as the weather continues to cooperate. If I get something, I'll post pictures.

Here's the pictures of the Case I was sent from the seller. It's sitting in a warehouse in Minnesota:
View attachment 449398 View attachment 449399 View attachment 449400

Generally speaking, RFMs that are labelled with brands like Case, NH, LS, Kioti, etc, are made by companies that supply identical units to lots of companies. Companies like Pittsburgh/Taylor specialize in this. I've seen the same RFM on the same trailer being delivered....some had blue paint and some had orange paint....they were getting LS and Kioti stickers. They're decent mowers, but don't demand premium prices. I did a quick Google search and only found one example of that mower for sale which means they aren't common.

If it was from one of the big implement companies like Land Pride, Woods, Sicma, Caroni, etc, you might get a few more bucks for it.

Similarly, with snow throwers you're looking for brands like MK Martin, Lorenz, Erskine, Pronovost, Lucknow, and Normand to command a premium.

That's not to say the RFM and snow thrower with the Case are bad, it's just they aren't as likely to get you the extra $ when you go to sell them.

Regardless of all that, the tractor certainly looks clean, so that's a good start. Since it doesn't have a loader many of the most common problems with used CUTs aren't likely a concern (front axle issues from improper FEL use). It would be pretty hard to do much damage to that machine with just an RFM and a snow thrower, so I'd put that down in the plus column.

Cornfed8 · Dec 4, 2015

Sorry, I was wrong, it is the RR72. The other one is the belly mower for this unit. Either way, I see your point.

Cornfed8 · Dec 8, 2015

I was hoping to see the Case on Monday but the seller couldn't get a key until today. With my schedule this week, I won't be able to see the tractor until next week. In my meantime, I did stop by a trusted JD dealership and talked with the owner a bit. He's got a mint 955 (1000hrs, loader, MMM, snow blade) at around $12k, a 4600 (1200 hrs, loader and MMM) at around $16k, and a 2720 (unsure on the hours, loader and MMM) all coming in this week. Each of these tractors are very interesting to me. The 4600 is probably overkill, the 955 is old but a good size for my needs, and the 2720 I don't know much about. Then there's also that 4210 at another JD dealer that I can't get out of my head. I'm not going to purchase anything until I see the Case, but I'm glad to have some options. I think next week will finally be the week I purchase something!

Cornfed8 · Dec 16, 2015

Update:
I contacted the seller with the Case on Monday to take a look at the machine and have yet to hear back from him. Something seems fishy about that.

I went back and looked at the JD 4210 again, it's in great shape but I'm starting to question it's ability to handle the gravel work on my hill. So many forum posts talk about it being underpowered. What are guys doing with these things that they don't have enough power to handle?

Another dealer says he has a JD 4400 coming in this week that's a 1 owner with 1000 hours. I'll see what that's all about.

I'm starting to think I should go back to that JD 4410 owner that had the rougher farm use and offer $14.5k. Outside of a leaky left front axle seal and bent hydraulic lines on the loader, it was a good machine with 850 hours on it. That 430 loader sure does raise up in the air higher than the 420 and seems quite a bit stronger. Plus I'm sure the higher powered engine will be enough to power a tractor of its size. It's just not in the condition the 4210 is even though it has less hours.

Thoughts?

kcflhrc · Dec 16, 2015

For me, first impressions are everything. If a used vehicle looks good then it has probably been taken care of. If it looks bad at first sight I will politely say no and move on. A leaky axle seal and bent hydraulic lines would be red flags to me that the machine has not been taken care of. If it were me selling that tractor I would have fixed those issues and cleaned the machine up before selling.

varmint · Dec 16, 2015

I agree with kcflhrc, and wonder why the seller wouldn't take care of obvious flaws before trying to sell his machine?? The 4210 should do what you want, just slower than the more powerful ones, nothing you don't know, probably. If you are the kind of owner who takes care of his equipment, then you are better off starting with something clean, IMHO.