Used DX40 with 2700 hours.... should I buy?

cpeters · Oct 1, 2005

I am tired of working on my old beat up MF 165 diesel. I use a Bobcat 773 for any loader work and feeding round hay bales so I don't need a loader. Just something to run my 6 foot Brush Hog to cut my horse pastures. I've been seriously looking at a NH or Case DX40 compact tractor.

I drove by a dealer which was closed for the day and saw they had Case DX40 on thier used lot with the optional canopy. Tractor has 2800 hours on it. There was a mechanic milling around and he said the tractor was traded and was used for a commercial mowing/brush hogging by the previous owner. Tractor is not beat up or damaged ....just wear on knobs, levers and wear on paint on fenders where someone had thier arms resting looking backwards. Still has what looks like original tires (industrial tread) look fair.

Question: Should I be concerned about 2800 hours if it was well maintained? What kind of reliable hours should you expect from this engine, pump, hydro? I don't mind minor repairs but don't want to have a major repair. What kind of money would be a fair price for this tractor?

Thanks in advance.
Charlie

jinman · Oct 2, 2005

( Tractor has 2800 hours on it. )

Wow! Charlie, that tractor is running up the hours pretty fast. Between the time you typed the title and body of your post, the tractor gained 100 hours. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

In all seriousness, the tractor is probably just exactly as it appears. If it is dry under the tractor with no leaks, you are likely to not see anything going wrong with it. It has had plenty of hours to have problems show up. They are likely not to show up now. Check all the places with known heavy use like the hydro pedal mechanism under the operator's platform, the battery area in front of the radiator, and the PTO. Make sure the PTO clutch engages and disengages as it should with no slippage. Slippage is a sure sign of failure in a short time.

A tractor with that many hours should be a real value in price. I'd expect it to be around $11,500 to $12,000 without a loader. If it is more, I'd try my negotiating skills.

Oh! Welcome to TBN. Tell us more about your Massey-Ferguson too. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

cpeters · Oct 2, 2005

Yeah....I typed the post and noticed my heading I had typed 2700 hours.

I just didn't know with this particular engine/hydro combo how they lasted in hours.

I can buy this same tractor new for around 18k locally. I thought with this many hours it might even be worth less.

I also came across a Kubota L-4200 4wd with 1700 hours for 9300...this is a 46 hp and a 95 model.

I plan to call the dealer about the dx40 tomorrow.

My MF-165 has a strong engine. The power steering pump siezed up and scared up the idler gears in the front of the engine. No matter what I will need to fix that to sell it. The hydropower or whatever they call it slips. All the lights are missing (that way when I bought it) I ran it for a month before I realized the electrical system had been butchered and dead..and the generator was bad. I just converted it to a single wire gm alternator and it charges the battery just fine. The tires are dry rotted. I could fix it up but I just have too many projects.

Anyhow...thanks for your reply.
O'h by the way if you know of a source for a good used power steering pump resonable for my MF 165 Perkins AD-204 let me know.

Charlie

jinman · Oct 3, 2005

( I can buy this same tractor new for around 18k locally. I thought with this many hours it might even be worth less. )

Charlie, I think there is no reason a properly maintained CUT that mainly does mowing shouldn't last way beyond 10,000 hours without a major problem. If the previous owner took care of his PTO clutch by engaging/disengaging at low RPM, your tractor will last a long time. If you look at the numbers, the 2,800 hours is only a little less than 1/3 of 10,000 hours. 1/3 of the $18,000 is $6,000 and that puts the tractor at around $12,000 in value. If it looks good, then that might make it worth even more. You can offer the dealer $10,000 for that tractor, but I'd be really surprised to see him accept that price. Who knows? Give it a shot... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

cpeters · Oct 3, 2005

Well Jim you were pretty close.....I did the deal for $11,000.

Thanks for your help.....I'll stay in touch around here.

Charlie

jinman · Oct 4, 2005

( Well Jim you were pretty close.....I did the deal for $11,000.

Thanks for your help.....I'll stay in touch around here.

Charlie )

Don't you know that pictures are mandatory? If you don't put pictures up on TBN, it's bad karma... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif