A sinking feeling in my stomach

[284 International]

I picked up a YM240D last weekend. I needed a fuel tank and some odds and ends for some of my other machines, so called Wayne at LMTC. He was helpful and careful to make sure that I was ordering parts for the correct machine, and told me to check the serial numbers to make sure I really had a YM240. I own a YM2000 and a non-D YM240, and had seen before I purchased it that the engine is a 2TR20A, so I had already recognized the tractor as being a match to those machines. Wayne encouraged me to check anyway, just be certain.

I went and looked, and couldn't find a serial number. I searched and searched, and couldn't find a serial number on the transmission casing, but the data plate on the left fender had a serial number (though it lacked the model ID). I called Wayne back and told him I couldn't find the serial number, but that I was confident enough to have him send me the parts anyway. Wayne was considerate in dealing with someone he had to presume was rather inexperienced and incompetent, and told me exactly where to look, and suggested using a piece of paper and pencil to get a rubbing.

Short version: I couldn't find it. I knew where it was supposed to be (since it's in the same place as my other two tractors, on a raised, flat area on the side of the transmission) and couldn't see a number. The paper trick didn't work, nor did wiping and cleaning the fluid off, though there was black paint on the plate. Exasperated, I took a wire brush and took the plate down to bare metal. Here is what I found:

You can see the tell-tale grind marks and uneven surface of the plate. Spelled right out, the serial number had been ground off and painted over. The paint had been on there a LONG time, and was coated in the same layer of crud as the rest of the transmission housing, clearly years worth.

The simple thing is to do nothing and keep the tractor. However, I'm going to call the local police department and see if I can talk to their stolen vehicles specialist, and see if they can recover the serial number by other means. I don't think the seller had any clue the serial plate has been ground down, and was not in any way misled. However, in hindsight I should have checked to see if the serial number was intact and correct.

It was NOT a happy thing to discover the ground serial number. The only reason for that is to disguise stolen property. I'm still kind of nauseated.

 

[brin]

I know a lady that bought a nice SUV for $15,000 and when she went to get her license plates it turned out it had been stolen and they had put a different VIN plate on it from a chop shop...the cops came and she lost the SUV and her $15K...I hope that does not happen to you. good luck.

 

[k0ua]

Acid or Ferric Cloride, may be able to bring it up.. yep. I feel for you man.. Sorry.

James K0UA

 

[284 International]

Yeah, I could mess with it and try to get the serial number out, but then what? I'll let the law enforcement agency guys deal with it, that way there's no suspicion on me, and I won't mess anything up.

 

[redsox1]

Cars have several duplicate SN's at various and secret engine and frame locations for this reason. I'd be suprised if tractors didn't have the same feature. I bet your local PD theft specialist could help you locate one.
Good luck.

 

[California]

I don't think the seller had any clue

Clued or not, the guy who sold it to you stands responsible to return the money you you paid him.

I doubt he wants to face charges of selling stolen property.

There's no reason for you to take the fall on this.

 

[284 International]

Clued or not, the guy who sold it to you stands responsible to return the money you you paid him.

I doubt he wants to face charges of selling stolen property.

There's no reason for you to take the fall on this.

I agree. And, I want to make sure it's not in the records as being stolen. If I call him and give him back the tractor and get my money returned, the root situation still hasn't been resolved. He's not going to report it.

If the tractor is clean and on record with CHP as being mine (especially since there IS a serial number on the fender plate) once it has been investigated, then I have no real issues with the deal. I can re-stamp the serial number in the location, and the incident report I'll get from CHP will cover me otherwise.

If it is stolen and its serial number comes up reported missing, then I've done the right thing, and the guy is still on the hook for my money.

On the plus side, I at least can explain to Wayne at LMTC why I was so dense that I couldn't find a huge, embossed serial number on my tractor after he painstakingly explained exactly where and what to look for! :laughing:

 

[California]

I would keep track of the seller so long as that tractor exists.

So far, you likely own a fender off a legal Yanmar....

 

[rmully]

I would inform the CHP because if it is found out later that the tractor was sold to you then you get yourself in the middle of a mess. As long as CHP investigates and the tractor comes back clean you are good. I bought a small horse trailer from SC and tried to register it in NC and it took months to get a title and i had to buy title ins for $200 ...SC does not require a title on trailers but it was old and first purchased in NC and later sold in SC. Good luck, you are doing the right thing.... Best of Luck !!

 

[tmajor]

There is no good way to tell how recently the number area had been painted over. I've seen some antiques, which you would swear were 300 years old, ... made last month. They are good!