Buying Advice Steps to take on buying a used tractor

[dwitt]

I have found a low hours tractor that fits my needs. Want to make sure I do my homework:

If I get a vin can I call the manufacturer and see if there been warranty work done? Want to make sure it's not a lemon.

If they have a title, can anyone still have a lien on it?

Anything else I should be considered about? This is a private sale still under warranty.

 

[jeff9366]

Tractors have serial numbers, not VINs. This is the reason tractors are frequently stolen. There is no quick way for law enforcement to trace serial numbers.

Tractors do not have titles. All you get is a receipt/bill-of-sale when your factory new tractor arrives and you pay.

If tractor was purchased from a dealer for cash, get a copy of the receipt.

If tractor was purchased on credit, and seller claims it is paid off, get of copy of final payment letter.

If tractor is not paid off BUYER BEWARE.

 

[sweettractors]

I have found a low hours tractor that fits my needs. Want to make sure I do my homework:

If I get a vin can I call the manufacturer and see if there been warranty work done? Want to make sure it's not a lemon.

If they have a title, can anyone still have a lien on it?

Anything else I should be considered about? This is a private sale still under warranty.

What jeff9366 said and in addition call the clerks office in the county the seller lives in and tell them you will be buying the tractor and is there a lien on file on that exact make and model. You could also carefully ask questions about marital status. If the answers you get are ambigious, you may want to make the check to both husband and wife. Ken Sweet

 

[PILOON]

I always suggest hiring a tractor mechanic to do a once over for you. (unless you are one)
An hour or 2 of wages could prove the be the best $$s you'll ever spend on it.

\That is besides what others have suggested as to financial issues.

 

[dwitt]

The no vin and title doesn't surprise me because my old one doesn't have one. That said I figured the finance companies would have insisted on titles by now to keep things clean. Even my single axle trailer has a title. He said he paid cash so as long as he can prove it, we are getting closer.

 

[dwitt]

Still a little unsure of a few point:

1 Does a factory transfer to new owner?

2 Can I call manufacture with the vin to check on warranty work perform?

3 Lets say I went out and bought a 50,000 dollar tractor cash. 2 months later I decide I'm sort on cash and I go to a bank get a 30,000 dollar loan and use my tractor for collateral. 2 weeks later I sell the tractor to you and show you the bill of sale saying I paid cash. Can this happen and if so how do I know it's clear.

I saw the reply about checking with the county clerk but thats really only going to cover a judgement or maybe taxes.

 

[varmint]

Good example of what could possibly become a bad deal! Can't think of a way to ascertain the truth in your example.

As for warranty transfer, I would check with original manuf. once you have a model and serial number, but generally, if it is within years and hours, you should be good. I know that Kubota will tell you the day the tractor was made, but not when it was sold. Looks like some due diligence homework is in order. Getting a sense of the seller is always important to me- sometimes you just know a person is on the up and up, based on their equipment and property. Hours and dates on filters, as well as the basic appearance of fluids is another indicator. If a tractor looks to be well cared for, it likely is.

 

[CADplans]

In the last two years, a dozen times I have seen 1 or less year old tractors for sale on tractor forums.
With zero down financing,, I swear these tractors look like a way to get more $$$$$ in your pocket,,,
as you go to bankruptcy court!!

Who would buy a tractor, run it less than 20 hours,,, then sell it??

 

[kevinjd]

I had the JD dealer give me a certificate of origin on my 3033r. It was titled and registered in Massachusetts for SMV road use, one of the few legal ways you can legally drive on a public road in my state. The strange thing is, JD is financing the tractors, but they did not want the titles held until paid off. I actually have the titles, so; I guess I could sell them and JD would not know nor would the buyer know, because the titles have no lien on them. Maybe there is a UCC filing somewhere that can be looked up? BUYER BEWARE

 

[newbury]

In the last two years, a dozen times I have seen 1 or less year old tractors for sale on tractor forums.
With zero down financing,, I swear these tractors look like a way to get more $$$$$ in your pocket,,,
as you go to bankruptcy court!!

Who would buy a tractor, run it less than 20 hours,,, then sell it??

The same guy who would buy a [boat, motorcycle, hang glider, sport car, etc], find out they don't use it and is getting nagged by SWMBO for tying up that a big chunk of cash for something not being used.

And TIME?? What is time?

The average Harry Homeowner probably uses their tractor for less than 100 hours a year. AND THEN consider what is an "hour of usage".

I drive my B7610 across my property at 1,000 rpm for 15 minutes w/ my little trailer and my tools, 2 chainsaws, axe, machete, jug of water, fuel etc. I shut down the tractor, spend several hours cutting down trees, clearing trail and enjoying the outdoors, put the stuff back in the trailer and bucket, drive back.

Loading, unloading, working, cleanup, sharpening the saws etc. I've spent 4 hours. My tractor has been run for 30 minutes at half PTO speed and registers 15 minutes of use.

SO - did I use my tractor for 4 hours? The time it was an essential part of my "work" day? For half an hour? The time I was driving it back and forth? Or 15 minutes? The time it registered on it's clock?

I darn sure would not have wanted to lug all that stuff into the woods and back by hand but If I did that weekly over the course of a year the tractor would only show about 13 hours of usage. But I would consider that I used it for over 200 hours.