Used tractors---be careful

[BTI]

Used tractors can be a very good value.

At the same time it's easy to get "taken for a ride".
Always do a search for the model to make sure you are getting what the person selling is saying it is. I use "Google" images search alot.

There are some very good dealers on here selling both new and used, greys and domestics.
The reason I am writing this is I have seen and talked to quite a few people that bought tractors thinking they were one thing and then finding out they were something totally different.
One bought a "Ford" tractor, it ended up being a Shenniu (chinese) with Ford stickers on it.
Another bought a "Massey Ferguson" Compact, it ended up being a grey market tractor.
Another was a person that just bought an 850 JD, very clean but was represented by the seller as a "somewhere around 2000" model tractor.

There are others but those are fresh in my mind.

I also see them on ebay and craigslist all the time, being misrepresented.
Of course all are "really good deals".

Just be careful and make sure you get what you bargained for.
Ask questions and if they seem dishonest just walk away.

BTI

 

[RoyJackson]

It's expected folks have done enough homework to understand what they're buying and to ensure they buy a good fit for their needs.

And, never forget: Caveat Emptor

 

[LOOPHOLE]

Walk away................ That is hard to do when looking to purchase tractor, you think it may be the last one to fit your need. Sometimes you have to walk away to cool down that "tractor fever ."

 

[N80]

Buying a first tractor is enormously complicated and intimidating. Many times I thought I'd done all the necessary research to find that there were still things I needed to know or had wrong. I ran into a lot of QDW (Quick, Decisive and Wrong) people and got a fair share of bad advice.

So Roy is right. Research and research. Find people you trust. Mostly, spend time here on TBN. Good people, good advice, plenty of diversity of opinion.

And always remember there is an army of people out there who make their living knowing that "a sucker is born every minute."

 

[D7E]

Used tractors can be a very good value.

At the same time it's easy to get "taken for a ride".
Always do a search for the model to make sure you are getting what the person selling is saying it is. I use "Google" images search alot.

There are some very good dealers on here selling both new and used, greys and domestics.
The reason I am writing this is I have seen and talked to quite a few people that bought tractors thinking they were one thing and then finding out they were something totally different.
One bought a "Ford" tractor, it ended up being a Shenniu (chinese) with Ford stickers on it.
Another bought a "Massey Ferguson" Compact, it ended up being a grey market tractor.

Just be careful and make sure you get what you bargained for.
Ask questions and if they seem dishonest just walk away.

BTI

I live my life around used machines and auctions and there is rareley such a thing as a "deal" Cheap is cheap for a reason . If you cannot identify the points that you've made then then you really should not be "shopping alone" .
Buying used from a dealer is no safer than buying from an auction ,They just want rid of trades particularily if it's not their colour.
When a person like this comes along sellers can't believe their luck ,They don't come along very often? and in the trade are called "virgins"
For us a "deal" is something that has an obvious or visible problem like a shot motor ,bad paint or hydraulics don't work because 50% of the time it does not take much to put right but even if it does it cost a fraction of the price and you have the resources to fix it anyway .

 

[D7E]

Used tractors can be a very good value.

At the same time it's easy to get "taken for a ride".
Always do a search for the model to make sure you are getting what the person selling is saying it is. I use "Google" images search alot.

There are some very good dealers on here selling both new and used, greys and domestics.
The reason I am writing this is I have seen and talked to quite a few people that bought tractors thinking they were one thing and then finding out they were something totally different.
One bought a "Ford" tractor, it ended up being a Shenniu (chinese) with Ford stickers on it.
Another bought a "Massey Ferguson" Compact, it ended up being a grey market tractor.

Just be careful and make sure you get what you bargained for.
Ask questions and if they see

BTI

Whoops pressed send twice ?

 

[Soundguy]

One thing i like to do is buy 'extra' manuals of tractors I might like to own one day..and then have them on hand so I am familiar with a tractor if ai run across one. To this end I have stacks of tractor and implement manuals to things I don't or never owned. Occasionally I find a tractor to match a manual I have.

Garage and yard sales.. and aebay are a good way to pick up tractor manuals cheap...

( yes.. I have tractoritis.. .. you guys already know that..)

Soundguy

 

[Kendall69]

One way to help secure what you are paying for is to use the many "internet escrow" services.

A few things happen immediately when you mention you want the purchase to go through escrow. If it is a legit deal or item, the buyer will agree - if it's not, it's the last time you will hear from the seller. Escrow immediately filters out the scam artists.

You send your money into escrow, wait for the product to arrive, if it's as advertised, then and only then do YOU release the funds. If not, you ship it back and collect your money.

I've used it several times and when the item arrived I had time to check it out and test it, all was fine I released he funds. Great service.

Even if you offer to pay all escrow fees it's cheap insurance, to get your money back.

 

[Bill Barrett]

Good post! I bought a Toyota fork truck years ago, I still have it, and love it, it was the first I ever heard of grey market when I looked for a oil and air filter. Its a Toyota so I've had no problems but if I do it may be a problem.
First CUT I bought, and still have is a Satoh, same thing been good but parts are tough to get!

 

[jimg]

One thing i like to do is buy 'extra' manuals of tractors and implements I might like to own one day..and then have them on hand so I am familiar with a tractor if ai run across one.
Soundguy

Seems like a real good idea to me...its what I do.

 

[justin caise]

New guy here. (From So NH, USA)
Virgin as it were.

Repair Manual Catalog Online - RepairManual.com has many manuals for many things. I can't vouch for the value as I'm unfamiliar with costs of manuals and other reference literature, but it seems like a good resource to me.
One which sticks out to me is "Farm Equipment Guide & Bluebook 2007 Volumes 1 and 2" but I don't actually know my donkey from a hole in the ground.
Also, being entirely new at all of this (sort of) I've found that like so many other things - a good first step is assessing my true needs.

I am using excel to list my intended projects, necc equip for those projects, whether those projects and subsequent need for the equipment is a one time deal (hardscaping a residential property should only need to be done once - i think) or a repetative task (snow removal), and the relative costs of owning, renting, or farming the work out to someone else who has the equipment.
Of course I'm really sure that I'll be needing a 4x4 CUT with HSD, FEL, BB, MMM, and PHD, ect (all terms I've learned here in a few short entertaining hours of reading - thanks) - but I know in my heart that the need is driven by my own machismo-ego desire for all things big metal and shiny which prove my relative manhood.
But, a true assesment reminds me that that's what Hotrods, motorcycles, and choppers are for.

In my understanding, after a good honest appraisal of ones true tractor needs; then the research starts, types of equip, brands, costs, market timing - all of those other goodies found here on TBN.
I have a million questions and will post my gutwrenching plea for advice after I've done my needs assesment, and a little more research... so's to properly frame my questions, i guess.
Yup, I agree. First time tractor buying is "enormously complicated and intimidating." So, I'll take my time and employ proven methods of decision making. then I'll screw up and learn from my mistakes.
Thank Y'all for being here.
JC

 

[jbrumberg]

Justin caise:

Welcome to TBN ! You are approaching tractor research and acquisition from a pretty good "place". To help the TBN readership in providing you appropriate feedback please provide us additional information about your location, property, terrain, immediate tractor uses, and anticipated short term and long term projects. I would recommend that you make use of the available tractor selector software programs found in the major tractor brands' websites. These programs are loaded towards FEL use and acreage, but will give you a basic idea of tractor frame and HP needs based on your own data input. Do not get hung up on tractor "specs"! Beware of all those fancy, glossy sales brochures you will find at the dealerships (I have collected quite a few ). They are driven by Sales & Marketing Departments and will often compare different criteria relative to the competition to put their own products in the best perspective. Try to get a feel for all the tractors with which you are interested by getting actual seat time if possible and it is just as imprtant to get a "feel" for the different dealerships. A good dealer will save you money in the long run. Also prepare yourself for sensory overload from the membership of TBN and beware that there are a lot of HP junkies in TBNland . We love to spend everyone else's money ! Good luck- Jay

 

[justin caise]

OBAA
Stands for Oh Boy, Another Acronymn.
I'm assuming that an HP junkie is, rather than Hewlett Packard, a Horse Power junkie. then I'll fit in well here.
[1998 GMC truck, 1966 Chevy Impala, 1979 Suzuki GS1000 dragbike to be, all I need is a boat and a tractor - and of course to finish my chopper project(s).]

 

[LMTC]

We ALWAYS advise shoppers who make contact with us to get references, some at least a year old, from any "dealer" they are considering buying from---including from us. When looking at a purchase from an individual we urge them to ask the individual where they got the unit and then check on it....way too many "individuals" are selling out of the backyard, pretending to be selling their own tractor, when in fact they sell 3-4-5 or 6 or so each year that way, offering no support and often (in our experience) misrepresenting the unit. Just a couple of years ago "someone" was rebadging some Shibauras and Hinomotos with Yanmar decals...of course the buyers called us about parts AFTER they bought the tractor, and then discovered they'd been had. Check serial numbers and engine numbers and do some searches to see if they match the model...if you can't find any info, you probably won't find parts anyway.

I am almost 58, pretty darn savvy relative to most of the population I have met, have a pretty good idea of the market on anything I would seriously consider spending over a couple hundred $ on, and I can count on one hand the genuine absolute "steals" I have gotten in my lifetime. Most of the time a too good to be true deal is just that.

 

[3RRL]

One thing about buying a used tractor is the experience of the buyer.
If you are a first time tractor buyer, it's really hard to sum up all the areas that need attention or repair. Some things like that you can't get from doing research. If you've owned a previous tractor, you can asses much better and place a value on what needs repair, or even if you really don't need that particular feature anyway.

Such as in my case, even though I did my research, I really couldn't put a value ... asses how useful a feature would be. How much I'd really use it or not. I knew if it had the feature or not, but of what value would it end up being to me. Know what I mean?

If buying a used tractor "fixer upper" that might be even harder for a first time buyer. No way can he make those assessments let alone put a value on how much it would cost to get it fixed up. Add to that misrepresentation, and you are buried. It's much different from an experienced used tractor buyer who knows what he can live with and what can and can't be fixed up reasonably. Even then, if misrepresentation is involved, he could get screwed too.

 

[RoyJackson]

I've bought two used tractors...one was sight unseen, in fact.
However, both were from reputable Deere dealers and I made out pretty good on both. Of course, you all know I buy very simple machines of a quality brand (not that I can't be snookered!)
Fortunately, there's a lot of folks asking the right questions (sometime we have to prompt those questions) and, for the most part, get good answers...or at least well thought out opinions.

Personally, I think anyone who can buy a used car can buy a used tractor. Obviously, that's not an apples to apples comparison. But someone with a modicum of mechanical experience should determine if the machine is worth buying. Although I wasn't overly experienced with tractors, I did have enough mechanical experience to know I got a good machine.
As tractors don't depreciate in the same way cars do...and CUTs seem to be a premium right now, determining a good and reasonable price can be difficult.

Buying a fixer-upper is never, imho, a good idea unless one is a pretty good mechanic and experienced working on tractors. For a novice to do this...well, big mistake. I don't apply this just to tractors, BTW...across the board with any motorized equipment (or boats).

 

[john_bud]

Used tractors can be a very good value.

At the same time it's easy to get "taken for a ride".


Just be careful and make sure you get what you bargained for.
Ask questions and if they seem dishonest just walk away.

BTI

Excellent points BTI!

For tractor new-bee's, it's really hard to even know what model they are looking at and thus about impossible to know what they are bargaining for. Anyone in that situation either needs to buy new, buy used from a reputable dealer (and an "honest" salesman) or bring along a VERY knowledgeable buddy. If you talk to the mechanics at the dealership, you may be able to get them to accompany you to the private party seller. The dealership may not want you to do this, so tread lightly.

You may also be able to find a tractor mechanic in the phone book or newspaper that can accompany you.

As others have said - be careful on internet and e-scam-bay deals. It's probably not a good deal if the check is made out to a Nairobi address....


jb

 

[RobJ]

No matter what you buy you probably learn quickly that you needed more or less. Until you get something you never know for sure.

I played on other tractors first to get a good idea so I'm pretty happy with my used purchase. I NEEDED/WANTED turfs..found the perfect tractor..but after I bought my tractor I got some ags, they stay on year round now unless I get a flat. So what I thought...well not really. I would like a 4wd, but mainly for the power steering. I really don't need it for my stuff, probably just get stuck deeper taking more chances.

Rob

 

[RoyJackson]

And, here's an interesting statement from Yanmar: Yanmar Statement on Grey Market Tractors