Pitfalls of buying a used tractor

[aharmon52FL]

Hi!
What to consider when buying a used tractor?
Which old John Deere models are better? I am limited in my budget. Actually, any your advice will be helpful for me.
Thanks!

 

[mclintoc]

One thing to do is learn to evaluate the fluids, crankcase, rear axle, and transmission oil. Also look for any oil in antifreeze.
Look out for major leaks. Most old tractors are going to leak oil. You just want to make sure the leaks are just small drips.
Check out the exhaust--continual smoke is a bad sign.
Definitely run the tractor for a long time while evaluating it. Some tractors start fine but show problems after they've been run awhile.
Also, always make sure you do a cold start on a tractor--make sure when you start the tractor that it's not been started for several hours.
Run the tractor through all (or at least most) of its gears
Check the clutch to make sure it engages, disengages smoothly. not too jerky and doesn't slip
Also make sure the brakes work well.
Tires are always important since replacing them can be very expensive.
I would also ask to hook up an implement to the PTO to see how well it runs under load.

There are plenty other things to do, but these are the first things that come to mind to check.

 

[Thomas]

Good points given.
Check to how owner takes care of his equpiment etc.,and go w/your gut feelings.

 

[jeff9366]

What to consider when buying a used tractor?

Which old John Deere models are better?

I am limited in my budget.

Condition of each used tractor you inspect is going to be more important than brand 99% of the time.

Have you decided on what size tractor you need?

If not, start by listing all your intended uses.

Describe the land you will be working and its condition.

What is your budget for this tractor?

How skilled are you mechanically?

Any tractor operating experience?


There are 32 used tractors, including 7 John Deeres, for sale on eBay within 200 miles of Hartsville, TN.

eBay TRACTOR LINK: -OEM in Industrial Tractors | eBay

 

[aharmon52FL]

Thanks for the replies. The informative is useful for me, because it will be my first purchase of tractor.
How to determine the age? I mean, the year I can find by serial number will not tell me the real condition of the machine and how much it has seen in its lifetime. Not all models that I looked have a working hour-meter tachometer.
Or just to cross the fingers and believe the owner?

 

[jeff9366]

Forget "indicated" hours. A low hour tractor can have major repair issues if not well maintained. A well maintained tractor with three times the hours may be a good buy.

Read Post #2 again.

Cross your fingers and be skeptical of everything the seller tells you.

High hour tractors often have had multiple owners.

 

[nybirdman]

If you are not familiar with tractors;I would "hire" a tractor mechanic to inspect any purchase.Try and purchase from a non-commercial operation.
Watch you local sales(Craigslist for one) and be skeptical of any really cheap "bargains
We recently purchased a gem from a local widow that wasn't advertised just parked on the front lawn.

 

[mclintoc]

Yes, unless it's a fairly recent model, hours won't tell you much.
A common way to evaluate age is to look at the wear on the clutch and brake pedals.
If it's been used for field work, an oval shaped hole in the draw bar can show long-term, heavy use.
But what I mentioned above is a much better way to evaluate a tractor than by hours.

 

[prichard]

What is generally meant buy "a lot of hours"?

 

[varmint]

Lots of good advice above. (If you are looking at a Kubota, send the S/N to them via email and they will tell you when it was built.) I have had great luck with Craig's list, but then, I lurk and look for however long it takes to find what I think I want, and I have a tractor (which I will sell, when I get a new one) in the meantime. For some reason, I am wary of eBay equipment.

Don't worry about OEM lighting- as you will find out from here on TbN, adding LED work lighting is cheap and easy.

I would post answers to the questions from #4 to get more detailed help here. And, look at Tractorhouse.com to find lots of tractors in all price ranges, just to get an idea of what whatever you consider is selling for (well, asking prices are mostly higher than final selling prices.)

As for hours, one of the best tractors I have had came with 1200 hours, but it had been maintained nicely, and I had zero issues with it while I had it.