Hour meter tampering?

[Karl in NY]

I'll be looking for a recent (2-8 years old) compact or sub-compact Kubota to purchase. I expect that my decision will be heavily influenced by the number of hours on the "clock".

Now I'm wondering how reliable that figure will be. Is hour-meter tampering common among tractor resellers? Is it technically simple (or, even possible) to do a roll-back as is done with car odometers? Is the practice even illegal with tractors?

My strategy will probably be to inspect service records and hopefully the numbers of hours will be noted on each receipt along with the date. But, what if there are no records, as when a seller has done all maintenance himself rather than at a dealer?

Thoughts?

 

[Taiser]

I'm sure tampering is possible. I've never seen it around my parts but it's usually pretty easy to tell if the machine does not match the hours showing. Most private machines will have less than 1000 hours in many cases and I don't think too many private sellers will roll back the machine at 1000 hours to get an extra 100 bucks. Not illegal in a lot of places unfortunately but I know some states and provinces are passing/working on legislation to make it illegal.

A good inspection would reveal any signs of abuse and should be done regardless. A machine with 200 hours could have been through 200 hours of **** with no oil/fluid changes and a 2000 hour machine could have been babied and still be like new!

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Don't know about Kubota, but on my JD 3320 the hour meter is integral to the whole instrument cluster. JD had to replace my cluster under warranty for another problem. I was told there was no possible way for them to reset the hour meter to reflect the approx 70 hours that were on the tractor at the time of repair.

 

[D7E]

It is common for people to disconnect the hour meter for a few years of a tractors life or just not replace a broken cable for na while or to go to a wrecker for a clock with more acceptable hours on it is very easy .

 

[timswi]

Take the hour meter for entertainment purposes. In an ideal world, the machine wouldn't run with the meter disconnected...Just ain't that way.

Buy for condition and maintenance.

This is why I suck it up and buy this kind of stuff new.

 

[Karl in NY]

I appreciate all the replies.

With low Kubota depreciation, used recent machines are not generally fantastic bargains compared to new ones.

I think I will concentrate on finding a recent machine still under warranty, or an older machine with very detailed service records, or, buy a new machine.

 

[sandman2234]

My 1981 Ford was advertised by the auction company to have 2700 hours on it, which is what the hour meter said. Probably needs the decimal moved over one more place, in reality.
It was owned by a major company, and nobody was told to alter the meter, or disconnect it, but if it broke, why spend the money to fix it was their practice.
David from jax

 

[ultrarunner]

I've found hour meters of the type on my Kubota to be an aid for scheduling maintenance...

A friend took his boat in for service... the shop put the boat on a battery charger and turned the key on to listen to the stereo... long story short... his low hour boat had more than doubled in meter time because the key was left on over a 3 day weekend.

 

[crazyal]

I appreciate all the replies.

With low Kubota depreciation, used recent machines are not generally fantastic bargains compared to new ones.

I think I will concentrate on finding a recent machine still under warranty, or an older machine with very detailed service records, or, buy a new machine.

Unless you have cash buying low hour couple year old used tractor really doesn't make much sense since Kubota (and others) are offering 0% financing for 60 months (they also have a 0% for 72 but I haven't looked into it). That kind of means a used tractor in the $20k range really needs to be about $5 off of new to break even.

 

[Kays Supply]

Look at some of the grey market Yanmars being sold. There are several advertised as 10 to 15hrs. They are over 20 years old.