Need advice ...

[JeffMc]

Greetings,can I get some advise on what quiestions I should be asking the seller when looking at a used tractor.Wednesday .Im going to look at a jd 2630 with a 45 fel. and as this will be my frist tractor Im not clear on what to ask. :confused2:

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:
Not a whole lot of suggestions what to ask, as with any used purchase it is a matter of deciding how honest the answers are based on knowledge of what the tractor looks like, performs like, and operates.
I'd suggest taking someone with that does know about tractors and can decipher any discussion.
What is leading you to look at the 2630 with 45 FEL ? Price?
A 35 yr old tractor will likely need some tender care and maintenance, and some parts (other than normal filters and such) may be hard to come by. Are you mechanically ready for that possibility?

But, I'd suggest getting the seller to give you a fairly good demonstration of the different tasks the tractor can do (move dirt, dig dirt, forward/reverse, turns,) so you can see if you hear strange noises, see lack of power, hydraulic problems (look for signs of oil leaks), and detect why the seller is selling. Usually if mechanically sound and the seller still has a need for the unit, he/she won't be selling.

Wish you luck, but I'd suggest being careful what you get into here.

What is the asking price?

 

[charleyfarmall]

Pull the dipstick and look at the oil. If the tractor was pressure washed it might have been done to hide oil leaks. Ask about oil leaks. Look at all the rubber hoses. When was the radiator last flushed. Pull the cap and look at the fluid. It had better be happy green. Has the owner ever replaced the trans fluid, clutch, or axle fluid? How old are the tires. Tires are over $500 a piece for the rears. Look at the wiring. How many repairs have been made to it? What do the wires look like. Has it been kept inside.

I always ask the owner what they would do to it if they were keeping it. Sometimes you get an honest answer.

Anything rubber on the tractor is deteriorating so figure that in there.

Good Luck!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Greetings,can I get some advise on what quiestions I should be asking the seller when looking at a used tractor.Wednesday .Im going to look at a jd 2630 with a 45 fel. and as this will be my frist tractor Im not clear on what to ask. :confused2:

OK....2640's were (are?) good tractors. I've got a 2440 and a 2640. Don't let anyone mislead you, parts are EASY to come by, IF you need dealer parts. Deere stands behind those tractors in a way owners of most other brands aren't used to.

Next...What year tractor? The 40 series Dubuque Iowa built tractors were manufactured from 1977 until late 1979, then production shifted to Manneheim (sp?) Germany. At that point, there were a few significant changes made in the 4 smaller 40 series tractors. Personally, I prefer the PRE-Mannheim tractors, only because they were "made in the USA".

Most 2640's were 4X2 tranny. (4-speed w/2-speed hi/lo) SOME had an additional hydraulic actuated hi/lo that gave 'em 16 forward speeds. That is good when it works, but can be a nightmare if there's problems. Additionally, the hi/lo adds a LOT of work/expense if the tractor ever needs to be split. Both my 2440 AND 2640 are straight 2X4 trannies.

40 series engines had a tendency towards electrolysis/cavitation/wet sleeve pitting. Make certain the coolant level stays full. And it wouldn't be such a bad idea to have the cooling system pressure tested. Wet sleeve pitting (the end result of electrolysis/cavitation) will create small pin holes in the cylinder sleeves, allowing coolant to drain into the oil pan. It doesn't take much imagination to see where that would be a bad thing.... BEst preventative measure is to stay on top of coolant service, which means changing coolant on a regular basis. (Every year/couple of years...)

If the loader has been on the tractor for some time, check front axle center pivot. HEavy loader work can prematurely wear that pivot (or other front end/steering components)

 

[JeffMc]

Why a 2630 ? My responds includes a vent - sorry - .Well ,I need to start bailing my grass myself { 21 acres } .I can't seem to get anyone to do it ,or like this year, they came and cut it with thunder booming over head and it has been rained on for 5 days so far.Thats over 5 k easily in grass that is now only good for bedding or belly scratch for cattle.Its a dealership that has it .Asking price is a little over 9 k.I can fix things ,but I do have trouble when it comes to figuring out what the issue is . I don't care about color ,just that this 2630 is in the right hp range for what I need it to do.Thanks all.
Jeff

 

[sweettractors]

Greetings,can I get some advise on what quiestions I should be asking the seller when looking at a used tractor.Wednesday .Im going to look at a jd 2630 with a 45 fel. and as this will be my frist tractor Im not clear on what to ask. :confused2:

The most important thing you can do is take your neighbor farmer or mechanic with you to look at the tractor. They will be able to tell you all you need to know about the tractor. The only time you need to talk to the seller is about pricing. Ken Sweet

 

[flusher]

Greetings,can I get some advise on what quiestions I should be asking the seller when looking at a used tractor.Wednesday .Im going to look at a jd 2630 with a 45 fel. and as this will be my frist tractor Im not clear on what to ask. :confused2:

Ask your questions, but, ultimately, you need to get in the seat and drive that old piece of iron.

-Check that the engine is cold before you hit the starter. You learn more about an old tractor from a cold start than from starting a warmed up engine.

- Does the engine crank strongly? If not, could be a weak battery, bad cables/connections, starter problems.

- Does the engine start quickly or do you have to grind the starter to get it going? Hard starting could be an fuel injector and/or injection pump problem.

- Be sure the oil pressure gauge is working. It's the most important gauge. If that gauge is not operating after you get the engine running, you're taking a risk that the engine might have been operated for who knows how long with too low oil pressure (possible damage to rings, valves, crankshaft bearings, etc). That would be my cue to walk away from that old turd.

- Watch the exhaust pipe when the engine starts. The exhaust should be nearly invisible after the engine runs a few seconds. Persistant black smoke might mean a fuel system problem. White smoke--water leak into the cylinders. Blue smoke--burning oil.

- Drive the tractor in all forward and reverse gears. Does the tranny shift easily or do you have to wrestle it into gear? Listen for funny transmission noises. Does the clutch pedal feel like it's adjusted OK? Does the clutch feel like it's slipping?

Check the 3-point hitch (preferably with something heavy connected to the hitch). Does it raise and lower properly? Does the hydraulic system labor when raising the hitch? If you plan to plow with this tractor, you should check the draft control. If you don't know what draft control is, google it before you eyeball the tractor.

Check out that FEL. Does it raise and lower OK? Does the bucket curl control work OK?

Another consideration: that's a big, heavy tractor. Do you have a way to transport it?

Good luck.

 

[JeffMc]

I'd like to thank you guys for all the advice you have given me. I'm printing this page and taking it with me when I go. Thanks again..........
Jeff