What to look for in an old second hand tractor

Mith · Dec 1, 2004

although im not new to the compact tractor arena im not exactly sure what to check whan seeing if a compact is worth the asking price. can anyone guide me as to waht to look out for in second hand compacts (mostly kubota). seeing as ill be looking at old ones i feel that i should be able to look at it (like with a car) and spot any blindidn issues with it- but i dont know what the blinding issues are. can anyone tell me please
Mith

gabby · Dec 1, 2004

Look for a tractor that is being used regularly. A tractor that has been sitting up or used once in a blue moon is likely to have boogers like flaky hydraulics, sticky or jerky clutch, weak seals, etc.
Gabby

frank_f15 · Dec 1, 2004

WELCOME TO THE FORUM> when u say u will be looking at OLD ones, what do u mean by old? either way try them out and look to see if it looks like it was beat hard or neglected. oil leaks, tire condition. main't record. also not sure if the models u find in the UK will be identical to US models, let us know what you are looking at and i am sure the guys can help.

RoyJackson · Dec 1, 2004

Right off the bat,read the story on this link .

As another mentioned, what do you mean by "old"? A Ford 8N, circa 1950? A 1990 Deere 670 or 855?

I cannot help you with the old Ford, but those mid to late 80's through early 90's Deere compacts are really solid machines!

However, since you mentioned Kubota...I'm not familar with them, but I know the older ones used a thermo-syphon cooling system. No water pump on these machines as they use fluid movement resulting from heat to keep the tractor cool. Apparently this system is reliable and robust, as there's still quite a few older Kubota's around (not so much around here..mostly early 90's machines from what I see).

Since you're familar with CUT's, you know what to expect when you test operate the machine. An older Kubota, or any other brand, should be no different.

Now...parts...that could be a problem with some of the really old Kubota's.

Kubota is a solid machine..but look at those older Deere's too. Don't know enough about Ford/New Holland to comment on them.

KiotiJohn · Dec 1, 2004

When you see the hour meter, ensure that the tractor looks like it fits the hours. Look for wear at any pivot points/joints. All the things Frank said. When looking at the front of the tractor, make sure the wheels line up and that nothing seems to be bent.
Check to see that there is no unnecessary play in the PTO shaft and that the hydraulic lift goes up and down smoothly.
Quite often old, used tractors are made to look good with a new paint job, but that can deceive. Make sure gears shift smoothly and if they're supposed to be synchronized (try to find the model on the internet to find out), make sure they don't grind. Ensure that the clutch engages/disengages without sticking. Look for evidence that regular greasing has been done to all the zerk points. Old hard grease may be a sign that maintenance has not been good. Check to see the condition of the radiator and hoses. A lot of bent fins can indicate pure treatment, and may lead to overheating. Run the tractor for at least 30 minutes and check the temp. I hope this helps somewhat, and good searching. John

Mith · Dec 2, 2004

thanks y'all some really sound advice
by old i mean early 1990's most suff before that is totally trashed or is to be found at the scrap yard - i guess it aint that old but it isnt like the brand new stuff talked about most on this forum
i was looking at kubota smaller models b700/b7001 and lots of other random older ones like old L series. the only reason im looking mostly at kubota is that i like the colour and they look to be the most common around where i live - but ill probably end up with the cheapest good one
what kind of hours is old but realistically is going to be in good condition? 1000hours? below? more?
john some real sound advice thater and i thank you for it. is rush a real big problem - you say about the fresh paint but as i plan to paint it uniquely toi deter theft anyway is there a big issue with having a rusty tractor or is this a sign of a deal to stay away from? how much play in the PTO is usual? although im not new to compacts i lack a good fiddle with a compact and lots of seat time (oo a good 2 hours) im more of a theory man at the moment (i like to read up before big purchases)
are there any questions i should ask the seller like hours/what its been used for/mintenence?
thanks for your time and brains mith

KiotiJohn · Dec 3, 2004

( i was looking at kubota smaller models b700/b7001 and lots of other random older ones like old L series. the only reason im looking mostly at kubota is that i like the colour and they look to be the most common around where i live - but ill probably end up with the cheapest good one
what kind of hours is old but realistically is going to be in good condition? 1000hours? below? more?)
This really varies with manufacturer, but most diesel engines are usually good for thousands of hours. I've heard many say that heavier maintenance is not necessary until at least 1000 hours or more. I've read that many CUT owners only put less than 100 hours/year (maybe really only 40-50), so most won't have really high hours. A tractor used in a residential setting should probably only have 500 hours or less in 10 years of use. Of course that varies, but it's a good rule of thumb based on 100/year. Excessive smoking after the tractor is warmed up can be a sign that the engine needs a rebuild. I'd steer clear. Always try to check out a tractor when it's cold. If it's been warmed up already before you get there, they may be trying to hide that it's a hard cold starter, which may indicate compression problems. ( is rush a real big problem - you say about the fresh paint but as i plan to paint it uniquely toi deter theft anyway is there a big issue with having a rusty tractor or is this a sign of a deal to stay away from? how much play in the PTO is usual? )
Rust is not a huge problem, but can tell you a lot about how the tractor was maintained. Some unscrupulous sellers paint the tractor only to make it look more appealing and to cover up that the tractor remained out of doors most of it's life and may not have been maintained well. Most tractors can rust for a long time without any problems, I'd just be more suspicious with one that's freshly painted unless it's a restoration tractor, a special model or something like that.
There should be no wobble in the PTO, an indication of extreme wear. There also should not be any unusual noises when the hydraulics are operated. There is usually some amount of an operating noise, but bumping sounds, unsteady movement, or really high pitched whines and the like may indicate hydraulic problems. John

SteveM · Dec 3, 2004

Before buying a used Kubota check with the Kubota website for the list of grey market (non US models) tractors - you mentioned a B7001 which is not a US model, and will not be able to get parts or service from a Kubota dealer. Just want you to be sure of what you are buying...

Mith · Dec 3, 2004

thanks Jihn again some really sound advice
you say after 1000 hours you get into the serious maintenence - can you give me a 'such as' as im probably going to be running a tractor into that area myself.
there shouldnt be a problem with looking at them in the cold - its around 1oC right now /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
thanks again Mith