L4400 Pre-buy inspection

[simonmeridew]

My dealer holds a pre-buy (and prepay) inspection next week for my new L4400 with FEL and Farmi winch.
Question is --what things do I check for that might be little quicks with this type of setup?
examples: does the FEL move thru the motions easily without binding or creaking does it lower smoothly and lay level on the ground?
do the lift arms raise and lower wmoothly and without jerking?
What about the power steering and gear tranny? other controls? I'm "at sea" with a new Kubota having put up with a Ford 8N for 25 years.
simonmeridew

 

[Bob_Young]

Get him to show you how to determine, from the operator's seat, that the FEL bucket is level. The bucket level indicator on my L4300's FEL isn't much help.

Make sure you can smoothly control FEL/bucket movement in all directions using the joystick and that the arms latch into 'float'. Check that the hydraulic lines are well secured and routed and that nothing looks likes it's being stretched at the motion extremes. You might want to get the salesman to demo an FEL removal/replacement and also a bucket remove/replace if you have quick attach.

Operate all the controls, make sure the 4WD and the differential lock engage and disengage smoothly. If possible hook up a load to the PTO (maybe a bushhog....been thinking 'bout a new one, right? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) and engage the PTO, vary engine speed, and disengage. Have the salesman show you how to feather the PTO engagement at slow speed to bring the implement online smoothly. If you've gotten this far, check that the 3-pt hitch smoothly raises and lowers the bushhog.

Try all the gears/ranges in the transmission. You'll hear some noise in the High range...that's normal. Try to run it at road speed for 100 yards or so...see if the front wheels shimmy or chuck and see how the steering feels; it shouldn't feel skittish. At slow speed, take the steering through its full range, left-to-right, and look for any sign of binding.

Check each brake independently and see that they engage at about the same pedal level. Make sure you understand how to engage and disengage the parking brake latch.

Look for anything that might be loose. Look for some grease at the zerk fitting points

Also check the electrical. Make sure all the lights work and that the light switch has a solid feel and works the same way every time. Make sure the light wiring under the fenders is well secured and in no danger of catching a tire cleat. Might want to see if the wiring under the hood is well secured as well.

While you're under the hood, check fluid level in the radiator overflow bottle...make sure it's at the full mark. Get your salesman to demonstrate how to remove, clean and replace the screen in front of the radiator....you'll be doing it alot if you bushhog so give it a try yourself too. Make sure you know how to check all the fluids.

That's about all I can think of for now....hope it helps.
Bob

 

[Bob_Young]

Oh yeah, I forgot /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif: Welcome to TBN. Lotsa good information here and people with a wide range of experience.

I think the L4400 is a fine choice and a great value. Let us know how you make out with it and post a picture if you can.
Bob

 

[N80]

I've had my L4400 for several months now. Everything works perfectly, but the dealer didn't even mention a pre-buy inspection. Probably just as well, at the time I would not have known what to look for. Fortunately you've been given a good list.

The only problem I had was that it was delivered without the drawbar. No big deal, I picked up the next day, but just make sure its there.

The warranty is good and if your dealer is reputable any problems that crop up should be taken care of by the dealer whether you picked them up or not. Plus, I'd imagine the dealer has a checklist he runs through before delivery. Which is to say, there shouldn't be a lot of pressure on the buyer to 'catch' a problem.

Now, mine did have a few scratches on the floor pan and one or two on the FEL and brushguard, but they where too small for me to care.

I love the tractor by the way. Probably the most hp/$ in the Kubota line-up.

 

[ArkCivEngr]

Also make sure that a top-link holder is on your tractor (I assume the L4400 has one like my L3400). Mine did not have it. Although I normally leave my top-link with my implements, it would be quite a pain to want to leave it on the tractor and not have the holder.

 

[RobJ]

You have a top link for every implement? Wow! My L2500 doesnt have one but a bungie cord works fine, but either the FM or the brush hog is on all the time.

Best thing to do with a new tractor is put it to good work as soon as it hits the ground. If anything is wrong, loose, or broken, you'll find out about it soon enough.