Should I be leary of buying a tractor that has not been used/very low hours?

Happy Gilmore · Jul 20, 2014

I bought my 03 BX1500 in 2010 with 80 hours, it had sat around a lot, but it was only $5700 and with a cab, not a B, just my experience. It's all in one you can afford and what you're comfortable with.

kebo · Jul 20, 2014

My thinking on this is the seller should be able to get a "premium" for the tractor, because it is in "like new condition". However, I think this premium should only be about 5-10%, at most, above whatever the going rate is for the same tractors that are also 8yrs old, but with more hours and not as nice of condition. However, if this seller really wants to sell it, the market will ultimately decide it's value, not the seller. It all comes down to HOW MUCH premium a potential buyer is willing to pay for it.

I definitely would not go $15k, when for that same amount of money, or a little more added in, you COULD get a brand NEW one WITH a warranty.

What he's trying to do might work if he was selling an 8yr old ZR1 Corvette or a Cobra Mustang with 20 miles on them, but it doesn't work in the world of tractors. Sorry, but 8yr old Kubota's are just not collectible!

swines · Jul 20, 2014

I think this premium should only be about 5-10%, at most, above whatever the going rate is for the same tractors that are also 8yrs old, but with more hours and not as nice of condition.

Smartest thing that's been said in this entire thread.

You can easily get used prices for pieces of equipment to show the owner from websites like "The Official Tractor Blue Book," "Tractorhouse.com," Machinefinder.com," etc. - and then add the 5-10% for "premium condition" to the price as you see fit. You can go to Machinery Pete's Farm Equipment Value Calculator
for a quick valuation and then do additional research.

Seems like a workable approach as you can use the established market value as the starting point.

swines · Jul 20, 2014

If no one has mentioned it.....If the tractor has been sitting for 8 yrs. I would think the gaskets, o rings etc would all be dry and brittle...I would expect leaks with use and maybe having to split the tractor to replace many gaskets, seals etc....I'm not sure I'd want the tractor ...I would talk to a dealers service manager about it....for sure...Good Luck.

Nah...there was the 1992 John Deere 4960 with 14 hours on it that was found in 2012 and that was started with new battery and is now in daily use.

If the tractor starts and doesn't leak oil on startup and running until it's warmed up - it's not going to develop leaks later.

brin · Jul 20, 2014

swines said:
Nah...there was the 1992 John Deere 4960 with 14 hours on it that was found in 2012 and that was started with new battery and is now in daily use.

If the tractor starts and doesn't leak oil on startup and running until it's warmed up - it's not going to develop leaks later.

Huh? Are you serious....? So you are saying seals and gaskets don't wear out ...ever and don't develop leaks...? You must also be suggesting "if a tractor starts up and runs until it's warmed up ..it's not going to develop leaks later " Just crazy.....I completely disagree.:thumbdown:

mguitas · Jul 20, 2014

swines said:
Nah...there was the 1992 John Deere 4960 with 14 hours on it that was found in 2012 and that was started with new battery and is now in daily use.

If the tractor starts and doesn't leak oil on startup and running until it's warmed up - it's not going to develop leaks later. That's why they say "NOTHING RUNS LIKE A DEERE"

Tractorrr · Jul 20, 2014

I'm not sure about the mechanics or seals and such but the price is very high. I would think even if it was in good working condition that you would be talking about $10,000 or so. Would be nice to have a mechanic check the tractor out in this situation also.

john_bud · Jul 20, 2014

brin said:
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Huh? Are you serious....? So you are saying seals and gaskets don't wear out ...ever and don't develop leaks...? You must also be suggesting "if a tractor starts up and runs until it's warmed up ..it's not going to develop leaks later " Just crazy.....I completely disagree.:thumbdown:

I doubt he ment "ever", just not unuaually soon. And I agree with him. If seals are dry, which I doubt, they will leak. If run for an hour and not leaking, it won't suddenly start leaking next week or next month. They will still wear out normally.

I'd be more concerned about internal corrosion as it's unlikely it was ever run long and hard enough to burn out combustion gasses / moisture from the oil. Certainly not from the trans fluid, which gets condensation moisture and takes at least 8 hours of hard running to dry (or use water absorbing filters). Also nearly certainly the rings are not set. Potentially cylinders could be glazed too. I would want to drag a heavy disc or bottom plow for 4-8 hours with it and check compression, leakdown and blowby before and after.

Threepoint · Jul 20, 2014

Larro Darro said:
[snip]
I would run the tractor for 3 or 4 hours, then give it a good once over. And if all looks good, offer about $12K for it. If he sticks to $15K, let him sell it to someone else.

Larro

Now there's a plan, Larro! If the seller's nice enough to let him run it for 3-4 hours and it checks out fine, the OP can offer him 20% less than his asking price because it has 20% more hours on it than when they started!