Buying Advice JD 870 mfwd on Craig's

[Tnsoon]

Pictures look good and seller says it runs "perfect". Power steering - 1277 hours. $5800. I'm going to look at it tomorrow. Anything in particular I should be looking at? I've had only a little experience with tractors - mostly older ones. I'll be mostly bush hogging hilly terrain here in TN.

Front tires - ag - are worn, rears look OK. Is it normal for front to wear out a lot sooner than rears?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Wolfy]

Yes the front tires wear much faster, largely due to turning and binding. A camp I used to build at had a JD 970. It was a real beast of a tractor. I bet the 870 is also a good machine.

 

[Code54]

Most the normal things - check your oils, check the filters (are they changed?), look at things like the floor boards for wear to compare to the Hrs.
I would check the 3pt with weight on it (want to make sure it can lift a load and maintain it).
Look at all the seals (between engine tranny, housing, axle areas for leaks. Check the brakes. If the front are worn out it could have be from running 4x4 on road or hard surface but could be rears have been replaced.
Check your electrical - all gauges and light working?
Clutch - does it engage correctly and fully? Pulls without slipping (if you can hook a plow to it that really helps), any grinding ? - if i recall correctly that is a duel stage clutch so make sure both stages work (PTO) - parts are not cheap and it is an involved job if you have to split it to fit the clutch.
Check your cooling system - hows the fluid? Full, clean?
Anyway - just a few quick thoughts..... Good luck