Advice on JD 5210 price

Hjalbert · Jun 27, 2015

Hello, My first post, and thanks in advance for any help, and sorry for the lon post. I have been reading as much as I have time. Mostly relying on google. But I find there are too many variables!

Here are the details.
1999 jd 5210 with 540 loader and #49 backhoe.
1040 hours, mfwd, Topshaft syncro. Tractor, and backhoe work great. Clean engine oil, good ag tires.
He priced the tractor with loader and two buckets, one of which is a clamshell at 16k. With the backhoe 19k.

Upon finding leaking rt loader lift cylinder, leaking clam shell cylinders, two bad hoses going to loader, and loader not working rt, we are at 17500.
We are at 20000 Including mx6 mower, 6ft box blade, 6 ft frontier root rake, 6 foot leinbach disc harrow, and a 24 and 18 inch bucket, all of whice are around the sam age as the tractor, and nother used as much. Then I found the dual joystick was broken. I have read about this problem. 20k was my upper budget (a little beyond) but I feel I am still getting a fair deal because of implements. The only one I don't know if I need is the disc. What is yalls opinion? Thanks again

JD5210 · Jun 27, 2015

Hjalbert · Jun 27, 2015

He says he is the original owner and that those are original hours. It was used in digging footers and grounds work for a few new construction jobs in town. Was not a farm tractor. The mx6 mower has maybe been used 10 times. But thanks for the heads up on the gauges, I will check that out. I agree about the wear and the hours. I will read up on those links. Thank you.

JD5210 · Jun 27, 2015

Sounds like it was used a little more like a bulldozer than a farm tractor. I would strongly suggest you check the clutch free play and insure that there is still some adjust left. When bulldozing one often rides the clutch. A clutch replacement means having to spilt the tractor, not hard to do if you have the manual, tools, a cement floor to work on and some help.

On the 540 loader make sure you get the parking stands. They are needed to talk the loader off. I have seen a number of people who take them off. Must admit I have because they rattle.

Ask when/if he replaced the hydraulic fluid and filter. Sometimes with those low hours people do not.

Check out selectmanuals.com for a manual on the tractor.

Hjalbert · Jun 27, 2015

I read the tractors manual and it didn't call for hydraulic fluid replacement until 1200 hours, I did not read that part of the loader manual. I was going to go ahead and flush/fill the hydraulics when doing hoses and the cylinders. There's a hydraulic shop in town that does the cylinders for 100 per inch in diameter plus the cost of seals. I hope that is rod diameter. I am a little concerned about the amount of wear,and definitely do not want to be doing a clutch anytime soon. I will check the wear. Thanks

JD5210 · Jun 27, 2015

My point on the hydraulic fluid is that most likely it has never been changed and after 16 years most likely it needs it, with condensation and maybe bad shifter boots water has gotten in to it. One way to test it is to do the crackle test. You maybe a quicker study than me, but it took me a while to figure out that the pickup screen is located back by the PTO shaft.

I included a link to JDparts, you can look up what parts are inside the cylinder. I would try and repair the cylinder myself. You might post a question to see, if anyone else has repaired the cylinder. I would think the hard part is getting it open. Also once you have loader off the tractor, it is easy to get the cylinder off the tractor and test your repair, before putting the loader back on the tractor. I attached a picture of mine off the tractor.

I will say there is a lot of JD equipment out there with 3029 engine and I have never seen a post with it having problems, the only comment is the 3 cylinder is noisy.

Good luck let us know what you do and consider posting some pictures if you purchase it.

John Deere - Parts Catalog

Hjalbert · Jun 30, 2015

We made a deal. Thank you JD5210 for the advice. It was invaluable for my peace of mind. Everything checked out ok. I went by the dealership and confirmed what I already suspected about the "joy stick" and I will be ordering the kit tomorrow after I take possession of the tractor. I will post pictures and more details tomorrow, actually today. I am excited.

Wagtail · Jun 30, 2015

Well done 'JD5210'! That was solid advice and truly in the spirit of TBN.

Good on'ya! (as we say here in Aus)

wmonroe · Jul 1, 2015

Congrats on your new machine! As you can see there are quite a few very knowledgeable members here that are a tremendous resource. Be sure to take the time once you get the tractor to go over it thoroughly and become familiar with it. Lots of very good info can be found using search, I sometimes get distracted reading threads that aren't related to my original search but are worth the read. Good luck.

Hjalbert · Jul 1, 2015

I do appreciate the advice. This is the only picture I have right now. I will post more of everything. For 18.5k I ended up with a leinbach 6ft disc harrow, the mx6 mower with extra new blades, a united 7 foot box blade, the 4in1 loader bucker, the jd loader bucket, a 2' backhoe bucket and a 3' backhoe bucket. He had all the manuals for the JD stuff which was awesome, a new 5 gal bucket of JD hydraulic fluid and a half full one, new airfilter, and lots of various extra pins and bolts, and 2 extra front tires. I feel like I am leaving something out. Oh, and he delivered everything to my property about 20 miles away from where he kept it.
I have to replace the joystick controller rebuild the 4 loader cylinders due to leakage, and at some point the 4 in one cylinders, and also replace 4 hoses. Going to do all the other maintenance require at 1200 hours and any other interval not included in the 1200 hour, since it has 1040 hours and I don't know what has or hasn't been done. There's a story behind that, I believe it was maintained and very well because of extra grease on fittings, the Super clean brand new smelling motor and hydraulic oil, and the general condition, but it hasn't been used more than 40 hours in the past few years, and jot at all for six months.
The seller was a super nice, honest and easy to deal with guy,