eBay/Craigslist Bad Ebay Purchase 1500D?

[VABill1500D]

I recently purchased a Yanmar 1500D 2TR15 019004 on Ebay for what appeared to be a good price at $1912. The seller told me that they bought 200 of these tractors a few years ago and that they had been reconditioned in Japan ( I doubt this). He said that this tractor had belonged to him personally but now he wanted to sell it and it only has 28 hours on it. He advertised it as needing absolutely no work and in very good condition with very very good rubber, but the minute I received it, the left front knuckle gears were grinding and tore up within 10 minutes! I took off the knuckle and it's peppered with shavings and needs to be rebuilt. Also, the diff. fluid was milky and full of sludge and rust. I checked the trany too and it was also old and milky so I changed with UTF. The tractor also overheats and boils over and the yellow panel light comes on after about 10 minutes of running at 2000 rpm’s but it's probably just the wrong AF ratio. The Af looks new and thick.

Otherwise, the tractor starts quick and easy and runs good. The hydralics and PTO seam very good. The tires are Bridgestones with "For Japan only" molded in on them. The rubber looks to be at least 90% but looks very old and dry and has very small reticulated cracks everywhere becuase of age. The transmission and clutch seam good but right brake does not work very well. Left brake good.

Now, if the seller fixes the front end and boil over, should I be afraid to keep this tractor because it runs great but what else can go wrong? Also, he painted it Deere green over the red paint, does that devalue it? The paint is starting to crack and needs touch up work. Even though the rubber has a lot of tread left, are they going to last without blowing out since they are so old. How can I tell where the tractor was reconditioned if at all and it's age?
Please reply because I need to do something fast with the seller! The seller has 100% positive feeback selling lot's of equip. on ebay and resonds fast to email and telephone.

 

[shvl73]

If it were mine, I'd return it. It was represented as needing no work and that is far from the case. It was also stated that it was his personal tractor, well, he obviously never personally ran it. Get rid of it and buy something from a reputable Yanmar dealer, there are some here as members.

 

[mark777]

VABill,

Get him to fix everything. To replace the FWD components could easily cost half as much as the price you paid for the tractor. All the sludge and rust is a very good indication that the tractor hasn't been serviced since it's import from Japan. Also if the hour meter indicates 28 hours...it may not be directly imported from Japan.

Tires you can live with...if the rubber is good but weather checked, chances are they will wear for a long time.

Good luck and welcome to TBN, Mark

***EDIT*** Can I change my mind?? I think I agree with the first reply...(shvl73)..get your money back and start over.

 

[cfoxmd]

Likely a vietnam rebuild. Sounds like it wasn't as advertised, so I doubt it was someone's personal tractor for a number of years. If it was, it wasn't taken care of. There is a place that "rebuilds" yanmars and paints them up like deeres. Really old yanmars are pea green though.

You might get the stuff fixed and get a written warranty because it wasn't as advertised or just start over. Was the tractor shipped far? If so, then options may be limited.

 

[LMTC]

Mark, I hit "Reply" to your post randomly....I am replying to the thread, not you personally. Why oh why do folks continue to believe there is a golden fleece out there, a deal that is everything for nothing. If GOOD QUALITY 1500Ds could be sold for under $2,000, wouldn't the majority of credible dealers be doing that? C'mon, you now KNOW he lied to you big time, and you still want to hang on to the hope that you might yet still salvage a bargain out of this??? If you can get your money back, count yourself lucky, and RUN, don't walk, to the nearest credible dealer (ask around on this board) and pay the reasonable market price and get a tractor that will serve you well. Yes, it will cost you a lot more money. Even if the seller fixes what you have FOUND to this point, what is waiting to happen? It's obviously a POS tractor from a similar seller. The only thing that amazes me more than some people's willingness to lie is some people's willingness to accept the lie.

Good luck, and get out if you can. It's a money pit.

 

[California]

Buying anything used is a gamble. You win some, you lose some.

You have to stay objective and be prepared to bail out if you recognise you didn't win the gamble this time.

That thing you bought isn't worth $1912 - it reflects neglected maintenance to a degree that is already causing expensive damage.

Return that one and throw the dice again. You might pay slightly more, but by the time you have owned the replacement a year, you will be many $ ahead.

 

[cfoxmd]

The more I actually read your original post, the more problems I see. This is not one small or even one large problem. It is a misrepresented sale that is $5k of repairs waiting to happen. No way with the sludge that anything had been changed in recent history. Milky fluid is water in the fluid. Even if he can get everything running, quit this game and get one that starts as represented.

 

[arthr31]

having bought greys, id walk away from this one..... take pictures of what you've found, write up a report, tell the dealer what you want to make it right... & that might be $$$ back.... & btw, who's the dealer, if you dont mind?? -arthr

 

[thegreatrandini]

DITTO!

 

[thegreatrandini]

????????????????WHAT? LIKELY VEITNAM REBUILD? WHAT? NOT REBUILT. NOT RECONDITIONED! NOT MAINTAINED AND IT IS GREEN OVER RED! THINK BEFORE U TALK DUDE!!!