Is this tractor trashed or am I being too picky?

[ptsg]

not to be rude - my question is - your looking at a low priced 47 hp hydro drive tractor , what do you expect ? if it was 1 of the big 3 47 hp with that low hours and hydro drive you would pay almost double ! not to bash the tractor [ that's against the rules ] but it is a less expensive to start tractor - do you think it will be as heavy duty as other more expensive brands. that's a lot of tractor -[47 hp - hydro drive ] for the money !

Branson tractors are actually heavier duty than the expensive brands and are built to last. They can stand abuse.

The tractor doesn't look that bad apart from the front. Seems to me that it was used by an inexperienced operator to load a dump truck or something. Which would explain the smashed front. People sometimes forget that the hydro will help stopping the tractor but they still need to use the brakes in some cases.

Honestly if the price is right, I would consider get it. But again, it's me and I could easily fix that stuff in the front.

 

[mikester]

It this normal wear and tear for a tractor with a couple hundred hours, or was this tractor used too hard and should be avoided?[/B]

Thanks!

If your idea of fun is a nasty nagging shrew of a wife who constantly beats you over the head with a rolling pin, kicks you in the nuts, calls you names and keeps taking all your money away from you then go for it.

I stopped looking at your photos after I saw the loader cross tube weld repair job. Last owner ran out of duct tape?

 

[ericm979]

Eric, are you saying that the stalling is a problem, or that's just they way the Bransons operate?

It's how mine worked from new. I think that's normal.

 

[LouNY]

I don't see anything major wrong with that unit visually.
The weld needs to be ground down / out and redone, that would be a couple of hours work.
As far as hydro whine I haven't run any hydros since we retired our IH 656 hydro except for lawn mowers and all of them whine,
As far as the hydraulics and hydro not knowing how it was maintained and run I would want the fluid and filters changed and I know some of the Bransons have suction screens in the sumps and magnetic plugs, some require / recommend a change out and cleaning of screens at 50 Hrs and then periodically after that.
I'd either have the dealer so those items or bring the price down with me doing.
Any time you buy used you are taking a chance, even with new there is a chance of issues.
Just look at all the problems some members have had with new units and trying to get them corrected under warranty.
Some dealers will offer a parts only limited warranty on equipment that will be out of their service area.
It could be a decent tractor for the price or it could bite but everything is a chance and a choice.

 

[thekkfan]

I would want the fluid and filters changed and I know some of the Bransons have suction screens in the sumps and magnetic plugs, some require / recommend a change out and cleaning of screens at 50 Hrs and then periodically after that.
I'd either have the dealer so those items or bring the price down with me doing.
Some dealers will offer a parts only limited warranty on equipment that will be out of their service area.
It could be a decent tractor for the price or it could bite but everything is a chance and a choice.

Understood, if dealer was 30 minutes down the road, this might be an option.

You think that dealer is going to change any fluids, filters, maintenance at all? Or just TELL you they just been completed.

****, they wouldn't even wash it before posting on Tractorhouse. :thumbdown:

 

[Texasmark]

In real estate it's location, location, location. In used tractors it's condition, condition, condition. For that much to have been damaged in such a short time, no way do you want anything to do with that sucker.

 

[rScotty]

I'm going all the way back to the OP's original post and still trying to figure out why anyone who currently has a John Deere 5105 would be looking at a very similar sized Branson? Are you going to replace the JD with the Branson? Is there something that you don't like about the JD? And is so, what is better about the Branson?
rScotty

I still wonder about my question above....but I can't help weighing in on the condition of the Branson and what - if anything - it might mean. To the OP who is apparently wondering just what those damaged parts indicate, I agree that those particular pieces don't mean much and are easily fixed. But I think what puts a lot of us off is that when a low hour machine has been treated like that on the parts that you can see, we have got to wonder just how the owner treated the more important things that we can't see so easily. That would worry me.

As to just what the creeping, stalling, clattering !!!?, and whining of the Branson HST means mechanically.... I'm mystified. Maybe those HST characteristics are normal for that model Branson - as some have said here. I wouldn't know because there aren't any Bransons around here that I've seen. So I've never seen nor used one.
I can say that those things wouldn't be normal in the Kubota of the same size that I use a lot. Oh, I can get that one to whine if I take off in too high a range, but it shuts up if I just let up on the pedal a little. The clattering and creeping would sure worry me if mine did that.

The Kubota won't stall under any condition, but that doesn't really tell us anything about the Branson. It just means that this Kubota has auto-throttle and more computers onboard - which are just more sophisticated (and probably more expensive) ways to control the interaction between the throttle and the HST transmission.

So what are you going to do?
rScotty

 

[BlaisePascal]

I'm going all the way back to the OP's original post and still trying to figure out why anyone who currently has a John Deere 5105 would be looking at a very similar sized Branson? Are you going to replace the JD with the Branson? Is there something that you don't like about the JD? And is so, what is better about the Branson?
rScotty

Good question. I think I need a 4WD tractor with FEL and HST to help my aging back and left knee.

No offense to the Greenaholics on the board, but from all I've read here, the off brands may be about as good. My JD hasn't been a treat. Last year at about 200 hours, I had to spend $1,000 to replace a fuel injector and a sending unit (I think).

OT, "Rural mountains - Colorado"? Ooooo, I'm jealous!

 

[BlaisePascal]

Looking at the pictures you posted and the ones at the dealer, I'd guess it was owned by someone who did construction work and had several folks operating it at various times. That loader bucket does not represent a bucket owned by someone who purchased a new tractor to use on his property for several years. You circled the grill guard on the left side. The right side looks just as bad, if not worse! Those same operators used the tractor for pushing something, that's why it's bent.

As mentioned, the torque tube being repaired is caused by a latch not being locked in and staying locked in. A somewhat common problem with SSQT. However, the way it was repaired once again tells me it's someone who doesn't really care how it's repaired. Just fix it and let's get to work.

I don't care if the guy would sell it for 10K I would not be interested. Too far away to get any help later. No matter what the dealer says, it's basically "as is-where is". You could end up after a few hours use with repair cost you can't imagine. The internals have received the same consideration from the owner as the parts you can see!

Didn't you say you wanted something to make life easier? Quit hoping you found a good deal. Find something close to home, and take your time looking.

Yeah, I think you've summed it up pretty well for me here. Well stated.

If I could do more of my own repairs or was closer to a Branson dealer, it might make sense if they came down more on the price. But I can't, and I'm not.

 

[ning]

I can't help but wonder how all that dirt got inside the headlight housing?

 

[searcyfarms]

its cracked you can see it in the picture

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

The creeping and shuddering HST is NOT normal on a Branson. The creeping is most likely just a simple pedal adjustment to fix. Easy-Peasy on that one. The shuddering though, that could be serious, and is not normal. Could also be that when (or if) the hydro fluid was changed, they just put in whatever was cheapest, and not what should have been put in. *Maybe* can be fixed by changing fluid. And maybe it can't. I would say the stalling would only be "normal", IF you started off at idle, from a dead stop, and just dumped the forward pedal to the floor while in High range. If you're slowly pressing in the forward pedal and letting the engine and tractor build speed as you go, and it's still stalling, then no, it's NOT normal.

With it's condition, distance from selling dealer to your location, and complete lack of maintenance history, I think I would pass on this one. And none of that has anything to do with what BRAND the tractor is.

 

[Jstpssng]

Follow your instincts. Every time that I don't I regret it.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Those headlights sure do look like they've been underwater. IDK about tractors, but whenever there's a big flood, the flooded cars are often wholesaled to dealers, and they can end up for sale anywhere. Or maybe the tractor just ended up in a creek. Or maybe he was working in a lot of dust and then tried to wash it down.... or.....

With you not being mechanical, no dealer anywhere near, and money being tight in case it needs a *big* repair, the deal seems pretty risky.

 

[rScotty]

Those headlights sure do look like they've been underwater. IDK about tractors, but whenever there's a big flood, the flooded cars are often wholesaled to dealers, and they can end up for sale anywhere. Or maybe the tractor just ended up in a creek. Or maybe he was working in a lot of dust and then tried to wash it down.... or.....

That's possible. We went through a flood on our property that had water about 8 feet deep. When the waters went down I noticed that some of our older equipment that used bulbs in a reflector instead of a sealed beam type headlight had water sitting in the headlights for a long time. My old truck and motorcycle were like that. Those were all about a quarter to half full - and the water in the headlights was there for a month or so. It eventually either evaporated or seeped out, but the dirty flood water left an obvious "ring" on the inside of the headlight - particularly on the lens and the mirrored reflector.

Lots of people locally had a least one set of "headlights that had been through a flood". It became a sort of local joke. I can't tell from the photo it that's the case with the tractor you are looking at It could simply be a busted plastic lens cover. But it's easy to tell if it was flooding because if it was you will see a definite dirty waterline inside.
And a flood doesn't always cause problems. On my equipment I just dried it out and changed oil. All except the headlights...

BTW, I hear you that your JD 5105 doesn't have 4WD or HST. Not much you can do about that.... but it's a pity. Frankly I think you could get by with 2WD and maybe chains for the worst of the winte if you have a lot of deep snow or ice. And of course there are lots of loaders that will bolt right up. But there's no way mimic HST. It took me a long time to get onboard with HST over gears like your 5105 has, but now I sure prefer HST over any other type of transmission. That's after I've used it for a decade.

My second choice for a transmission would be one of the old 12 speed powershifts where you have a lever on the floor for choosing H,M,L range and then you shift between N,1,2,3,4,R in that range via a little lever on the steering column. Those powershift trannys usually have a foot clutch, but you don't have to use it for shifting. It's mostly for PTO use. The best powershifts don't even need to clutch even when starting out from a dead stop. Still, the multirange HST really is nicer to use.

What a shame, though. Those JD 5105s are otherwise a very nice machine for a lifetime. Be careful; you could sure do worse.
rScotty

 

[searcyfarms]

and the votes are tallied.........45 No - 4 maybe and 0 Yes votes

:anyone:

 

[finn1]

Ad me to the Maybe, if the price is right group.

The tractor has been used in a construction environment, as evidenced by the concrete residue in the bucket.

That is consistent with the dealer claim that it was traded in for a skid steer, which, in my opinion, is a much more robust and suitable tool for construction work.

The damage is largely cosmetic, and obviously is an issue with many of the suburbanites here, but, a cracked headlight and scratched paint is rather trivial to the life and functionality of a work machine.

I don稚 know the accepted retail value of used tractors of this brand, but if this particular unit is priced at the lower end, I don稚 see any reason to run away.

If shiny paint is an issue and you are risk averse, perhaps a brand new machine is a better option, but there is a price to pay for that, too.

 

[D2Cat]

Ad me to the Maybe, if the price is right group.

The tractor has been used in a construction environment, as evidenced by the concrete residue in the bucket.

That is consistent with the dealer claim that it was traded in for a skid steer, which, in my opinion, is a much more robust and suitable tool for construction work.

The damage is largely cosmetic, and obviously is an issue with many of the suburbanites here, but, a cracked headlight and scratched paint is rather trivial to the life and functionality of a work machine.

I don稚 know the accepted retail value of used tractors of this brand, but if this particular unit is priced at the lower end, I don稚 see any reason to run away.

If shiny paint is an issue and you are risk averse, perhaps a brand new machine is a better option, but there is a price to pay for that, too.

You sound like the salesman trying to sell it. You have no clue that everything is cosmetic unless you've inspected it in close detail. Maybe those suburbanites have more experience at making decisions with reason instead of opinion.

 

[finn1]

Don’t think anyone except the op has seen it either.

Like I said, i’m In the maybee camp. I would have to see it, and walk into the deal with my eyes open, and the price would have to be commensurate with the cosmetic and mechanical condition.

Sorry if I offended you, but the general tone on this site seems to be overwhelmingly that of gentlemen farmers. Not exclusively, but, in my opinion, predominantly.

I am certainly willing to be wrong about that.

By the way, I’m familiar with used and abused equipment. I worked my entire career doing product qualification at a manufacturer that made trucks, construction equipment, and farm equipment. In the end, it’s steel, rubber, electronics, and hydraulics. Cosmetics don’t do the work, and unless something is horribly twisted up, there’s not much an operator can do to a piece of well engineered and qualified commercial industrial machinery in only 200 hours 'that would render it unrepairable.

 

[WVBill]

I can't get past the first two pictures. They seem to be clear evidence that the FEL (or another front implement) took a serious hit on something. Enough to bend the torque tube (I think that's what someone called it) and the bracket.

Who knows what else may have invisible damage from that impact.

The weld on the torque tube looks pretty sloppy to me.

These are not "cosmetic"

I would pass.