tjc1989
Silver Member
I guess after reading Bird's and some other posts, I would like to add some common sense advice if I may. As Bird said, if everything worked, that tractor would have probably been worth $3500. or more. An old saying can really apply here. If its too good to be true, it probably isn't.
Secondly, when buying a tractor, you are buying a tractor to do work. Make it work to your satisfaction. In any purchase of a tractor, the buyer needs to try all the gears, not just 1 forward and 1 reverse. He needs to check the PTO under load, not just turn it on to see if it spins. Hook an implement to it such as a brush hog, and see if it spins up OK, and sounds OK. Check the lift the same way, not just if it goes up and down with no load attached, but with a heavy load. Such as a brush hog. Sure its extra work for you, and if the seller balks at demonstrating that it works, turn and walk away, and count your blessings.
Recently I bought a brush hog off Craigslist, and I practiced what I preached. I asked the guy if he had a tractor there and could he hook it up for me when I arrived to check it out. His description of the brush hog was a cream puff in appearance, but I noticed he didn't mention how it worked in the ad. When I got there he hooked it up as requested, and when he spun it up it shook his whole tractor. And it was a big John Deere 5500. Obviously something was really wrong. I asked the guy how long it had been shaking like that, and he said he had it for 2 years and it had always shook, but sometimes got better when the blades were spinning fast. I asked him to shut down the PTO and lift it up higher where I could look under and check. One blade was installed upside down, and when it had hit something, it spun into the pan and wedged itself tight, causing massive imbalance. I could see there would be a little work involved to fix it, but the gear box did sound good, and overall the brush hog looked to be in good condition. I did buy it, at his asking price. But, my point is this. If I hadn't requested he demonstrate it working, I would have been in for a rude awakening when I got home, and might have been PO'd. This way I made an informed decision, knowing I would have to remove the blades and check the pan when I got home.
By the way, no damage to the brush hog after I removed the blades. I sharpened them, weighed them against each other, measured them , put them back on correctly, and its the best brush hog I have ever used. Really quiet gear box, and smooth cutting as you can ask for.
Secondly, when buying a tractor, you are buying a tractor to do work. Make it work to your satisfaction. In any purchase of a tractor, the buyer needs to try all the gears, not just 1 forward and 1 reverse. He needs to check the PTO under load, not just turn it on to see if it spins. Hook an implement to it such as a brush hog, and see if it spins up OK, and sounds OK. Check the lift the same way, not just if it goes up and down with no load attached, but with a heavy load. Such as a brush hog. Sure its extra work for you, and if the seller balks at demonstrating that it works, turn and walk away, and count your blessings.
Recently I bought a brush hog off Craigslist, and I practiced what I preached. I asked the guy if he had a tractor there and could he hook it up for me when I arrived to check it out. His description of the brush hog was a cream puff in appearance, but I noticed he didn't mention how it worked in the ad. When I got there he hooked it up as requested, and when he spun it up it shook his whole tractor. And it was a big John Deere 5500. Obviously something was really wrong. I asked the guy how long it had been shaking like that, and he said he had it for 2 years and it had always shook, but sometimes got better when the blades were spinning fast. I asked him to shut down the PTO and lift it up higher where I could look under and check. One blade was installed upside down, and when it had hit something, it spun into the pan and wedged itself tight, causing massive imbalance. I could see there would be a little work involved to fix it, but the gear box did sound good, and overall the brush hog looked to be in good condition. I did buy it, at his asking price. But, my point is this. If I hadn't requested he demonstrate it working, I would have been in for a rude awakening when I got home, and might have been PO'd. This way I made an informed decision, knowing I would have to remove the blades and check the pan when I got home.
By the way, no damage to the brush hog after I removed the blades. I sharpened them, weighed them against each other, measured them , put them back on correctly, and its the best brush hog I have ever used. Really quiet gear box, and smooth cutting as you can ask for.
