TIPS, TRICKS, KNOWN PROBLEMS WHEN BUYING USED TRACTORS AND IMPLEMENTS

[workinallthetime]

I am always very careful when looking at used equipment to buy, in the next year or so I plan on buying a full size Cat, Case, or John Deere TLB. There are so many people on here with tractors of varios sizes and configurations that I thought this would be a good thread to start to advise people on what to look for when buying used equipment.

My background is in diesel engine work so I know some things to look for there like excessive "blow by".
The easiest way to check for this is to remove the oil fill cap while the engine is running at 1/2 throttle and look for what we call the freight train effect. Puffs of smoke blowing up through the fill tube, this is not always an indication of a major engine damage but it is cause for alarm in most cases.

im curious as to what to look for or check for when looking at the full size back hoe market.

 

[LD1]

When I am looking at buying anything with an engine I always want to here it start up. I don't like going to look at something and the seller has already warmed it up. I always lay a hand on the side of the block to see if it has been ran recently.

An example is when going to a car dealer, and they are alway "nice" and pull it around for you. I always walk out to the car on the lot with them to see if it makes some valve train noise when it is started cold and also to see if they have to throw one of them booster packs on it. A lot of older engines that are getting worn out a bit will make some noise at start up but after a few minutes they go away, and I like to be there for start up.

This is kinda general and applies to anything with a motor and not just tractors/equipment.

When it comes to equipment I like to look at all the filters. Most people who really take good care of things tend to write the date/hrs of when the service was done on the filters. seing this is usually a good sign that they took good care of the equipment.

 

[sizzami]

I got burned for 2k when I bought my tractor because I didnt run it enough before I bought it , my advice is run in every range or gear forward and reverse. enough to be sure they work as they should , I also look for things like fresh paint ( muffler rims etc) on an old tractor thats , a sure sign of a money squeezer And those guys are often not telling the whole truth.
beaten up bolt heads too can point out trouble.

 

[workinallthetime]

I got burned for 2k when I bought my tractor because I didnt run it enough before I bought it , my advice is run in every range or gear forward and reverse. enough to be sure they work as they should , I also look for things like fresh paint ( muffler rims etc) on an old tractor thats , a sure sign of a money squeezer And those guys are often not telling the whole truth.
beaten up bolt heads too can point out trouble.

I agree, i would much rather buy something not "restored" so I can see everything as is while it was working.
We cracked the block on an old mf175 due to loose loafer bolts, cleaned it up and filled the crack with jb weld, never leaked oil again but... still had a craked block. We traded it in to a used dealer for a JD401a, the dealer cleaned it up and repainted it. One day for fun my dad and I went to a tractor auction and guess what, there was our old 175 sittin on the front row all pretty and shinny, just waiting for the next unsuspecting owner. That tractor was a money pit, bought for 8500, cost us 4k in repairs and trade in was not that good.