Just arrived and hour meter is broken

[paulsharvey]

Do you buy used cars without worrying about the mileage too? Exactly the same. I'm still kind of amazed how many guys on here act like it is not a big deal.

If I'm buying an M Farmall or a Ford 8n. Maybe I don't care as much, I'm spending $3k for it. But if I'm spending $30k for a tractor and I have ill regard for the # of hours, I think I would be the inexperienced one in the conversation.

Don't disagree, the hours do factor into the price, but hour meters go bad all the time, and I don't think it's out of line to ask "are the hours right". Not really different than finding a 25 year old truck, with 80,000 miles. Would you ask, are the miles right? When I see M105s, it seems like hours between 2500-7500 hours, priced between $30-40k. Seeing one at the lower end of the price, and lower end of the hours, I would ask them. Not that it prevents fraud, but worth asking.

If I was going to buy the machine below, I would ask if hours are accurate, and would want to look at the machine before making payment.

For the record, I'm glad for the OP, they got something working.

 

[sixdogs]

You've got to watch yourself dealing in these things and there's not much you can do. I had this happen to me once when I bought a local tractor from a dealer when I lived in New England. They said a local farmer owned it.

They told me something like like 800 hours, easy use and I gave them a bank check when they delivered it the next day. I got to looking and the odometer numbers didn't line up like they should. I called Kubota, they checked what dealer info they had and found it was a median mower and had service records--from that dealer-- at over 4,000 hours.

I immediately called the bank, explained the probable fraud thing and stopped payment on the check. Yes, you can do that. Then I waited.

Next day the dealer called me when the bank check bounced and I told him what I had and to come get it. He begged me to let the check clear to keep his "good name" cleared. I didn't.

 

[paulsharvey]

This isn't unique to tractors/heavy equipment. Let's take my work vehicle; 2021 Ford, only 90,000 miles; But it has over 3000 hours on it. My 2005 Chevy 2500HD also had an hour meter, but somewhere around 100,000 miles, the hours meter reset (not something I did), but odometer kept counting accurately. If the work vehicle where to get sold, and the hour meter wasn't checked, or reset somehow, you would think you where getting something else. Yes, there are signs of heavier then normal use, worn steering wheel foam, buttons on radio, etc.

We have probably all seen equipment or vehicles that make you wonder, hmm, is this right? When I worked for a local county, my county truck was in the shop, so they gave me another county truck as a loaner. It was a 94 F150, in 2012 (so, 18 years old, and only had around 50k miles, worn out seat, dry rotted tires, cracked dash, ect). The fact it was a spare shop truck at the county, explains the milage, but if found in the 'wild' as a private sale, you bet I would question it.

That Kubota I sold had very low hours (maybe 1200-1500, don't remember) for a 1976, but im nearly 100% sure it sat, non running, in a field, somewhere for many of its years.

 

[paulsharvey]

Resetting an odometer isn't as easy as it used too be, but it's still possible. Guess what I'm saying is, you need to watch out for yourself, cause you can't expect someone else too.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

The more I think about it the more I side with the OP, hours are EXTREMELY important. Actually, some good may come of it both Tractor House and any selling dealer. A for sale ad should only state hours IF THEY'RE 100% SURE IT'S CORRECT! I believe newer tractors running hours are stored on the computer as well, so that would verify. Any seller having service records would also verify if hours are correct.
The ad needs to state hours if correct, or "hours unknown", etc.
Years ago I passed a car lot and spotted a 1970 AMX. On windshield big letter "low miles only 30,232 miles". The car looked clean...but something not quite right, but odometer showed 30,232 miles (that's back when odometers went to 99,999.9 then zero). I looked in glove box & a bunch of inspection receipts...lot owner standing right there. I asked "are you SURE it only has 30K miles?"..."Absolutely" was his reply. I said "then how come if I put these inspection receipts in chronological order, mileage goes to 30K, 55K, etc all the way to 97K then starts over???". "Let me see those" he said as he grabbed them, taking into his office to burn (I saw through window). That lot was gone soon afterwards.
So yes...hours matter as well as use! An honest dealer would state that as well as if it was a rental, bought at auction, belonged to highway department, etc. If they're aware of any major repairs, etc that should also be stated.
Maybe some positive changes will result and it's a good discussion.

 

[Chewwy]

The more I think about it the more I side with the OP, hours are EXTREMELY important.

So yes...hours matter as well as use! An honest dealer would state that as well as if it was a rental, bought at auction, belonged to highway department, etc. If they're aware of any major repairs, etc that should also be stated.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

That would be a more perfect world. But as your own experience indicates, it’s not the one we live in or are not likely to on this side of the pearly gates.

Assuming the best of someone you don’t know well will often lead to disappointment.

 

[D&D]

This isn't unique to tractors/heavy equipment. Let's take my work vehicle; 2021 Ford, only 90,000 miles; But it has over 3000 hours on it. My 2005 Chevy 2500HD also had an hour meter, but somewhere around 100,000 miles, the hours meter reset (not something I did), but odometer kept counting accurately. If the work vehicle where to get sold, and the hour meter wasn't checked, or reset somehow, you would think you where getting something else.

Good one. Hour meters and pto equipped trucks can run quite different from the odometer.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

That would be a more perfect world. But as your own experience indicates, it’s not the one we live in or are not likely to on this side of the pearly gates.

Assuming the best of someone you don’t know well will often lead to disappointment.

True...however a reputable dealer shouldn't hide things in an ad. They should not state hours unless they're sure of accuracy.
That car experience you know the dealer destroyed evidence then sold car unscrupulously to someone.
If seller isn't sure simply state it!

 

[Fixastuff]

I've seen many ads that state "hour meter reads then the number" guess that's way to put it.

Let's face it on older machines/mowers/anything without the meter made into the cluster the hour meter could have been replaced a couple times and there is no way of knowing.

 

[paulsharvey]

I've seen many ads that state "hour meter reads then the number" guess that's way to put it.

Let's face it on older machines/mowers/anything without the meter made into the cluster the hour meter could have been replaced a couple times and there is no way of knowing.

That's probably the best way to say it, 'shows 1555 hours'. That way, they aren't responsible for inaccuracies.

I think people overestimate how detailed a dealer 'preps' used machines/vehicles. They buy at an auction or take a trade in, detail/wash, and sell. Yes, on giving a price for trade in value, it gets a once over, but that is normally a salesman, and a mechanic probably never touches it. If they buy it at an auction, they pretty much don't get a chance to 'examine' it, till they load it on their trailer, too late to change their mind.