Buying my first tractor.....need help

[Jerod_Kitchel]

Hi, I'm looking at a 1985 Ford 1510 with a front loader and box scraper. This tractor has 3000+ hrs on a 3 cyl diesel. Couple of questions.
1. Does this seem like an excessive number of hours? At what point does a diesel need a rebuild?
2. After further research it looks like this tractor was manufactured by Shibaura, which is a gray market tractor brought over from Japan. Should I just go forward with the gray market tractors to save a few bucks?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[jinman]

Hi Kitchel, and welcome to TBN.

The tractor seems to have not been used very much. If it's a 1985, that 3000 hours is less than 200 hours per year. That's not many hours at all. If the tractor looks and drives like it has had regular maintenance, don't worry about those hours. Diesel engines can last easily past 10,000 hours if maintained properly and not abused.

All Ford and New Holland compact tractors have engines made by Shibaura. The assembly plant is in Georgia. Even if the tractor was built by Shibaura, it's not a gray market tractor and has complete parts and service support by your New Holland dealer. If you buy a true gray market Shibaura, you will have to search until you find someone to work on it or get parts and your New Holland dealer will probably avoid it like the plague. If someone tells you that you can get parts for a Shibaura at your New Holland dealer, just one trip to the parts department will convince you that is not true.

Good luck with your tractor purchase. Just remember that owning a gray market tractor is only a bargain until it breaks. When it breaks, you'll find out what "shade of gray" you have. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[hazmat]

As Jim Mentioned, Shibarua builds engines & whole tractors (the smaller ones anyway) for New Holland.

Suggest having your local New Holland dealer give it a once over inspection. Well worth the $100 +/- that it will cost you. The tech should be able to give you an assesment of the health of the innards of the machine.

Is the service history available for the machine? Was it a private owner or business concern? Why is the tractor for sale? What is your general impression of the machine - faded paint, dent, loose loader pins, etc. ?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

3,000 hours on a diesel seems reasonable to me.

I just sold a very strong running mid-50's Oliver with a diesel that never had a rebuild. And a rebuild every 10,000 hours might be necessary, depending on the overall maintainence of the machine.

 

[Jerod_Kitchel]

I appreciate everyones thoughts. I plan to use this machine on my 5 acres to grade, move dirt and odd jobs. I was told by the seller of the Ford 1510 that it has a 3 cyl Mitsubishi engine. The one thing I've always valued in a seller is the appearance of their cars, home, yard to see how they care for the things they own. This particular person seems to be open and honest about the tractor. The front wheels are rusted in the center......is that an issue or just use? I drove it and it seemed as though everything works well.....it started in the cold easily. He's knocked a couple hundred dollars off the price to get the Hyd fluid changed. He's asking $6700. Does that seem to be a fair price? Obviously I could go gray for much cheaper, but I am never really comfortable buying from a dealer unelss I know good things about the dealer. Some of the Gray tractor owners have good things to say about the product. This Ford is the first tractor I physically looked at and drove although I've been shopping for sometime now. Overall it seems to be in good shape. I do want to look at some others including Grays, but don't know exactly what to look for especially with the Grays since I'm sure the dealers cover up alot prior to selling.

Thanks!
Jerod

 

[AndyMA]

I had a Ford 1710 for a number of years before I traded it for a 2120. The 1510 is one size smaller than the 1710. Grading with a 1510 will take time. The 1510 was from the 10 series compacts. Ford had 1500 before and 1520 after. 3000 hours is Ok, but it may be near needing some service. Does it smoke after starting when cold and for how long. I'm also not sure of the price. It may be a little high because of the hours. When ever I have a question on the value of a tractor I am considering, I give my local dealer a call and he tells me whether the price is ok or not. He will probably even know the exact tractor. Just tell him you're buying Mr X's tractor and see what he says.

Andy

 

[Soundguy]

I'm guessing that is high on the price... and the engine is a shibarau.. not a mitsubishi... ( unless he's done some kustom' injunearing on it.

I only paid 9500 for my 1997 NH 1920... in cherry condition.. rebuilt engine w/ 4 hours on it, and 700 on the tractor itself.
4wd, etc. From waht I ve seen, the 10 series generally has less options than the 20 series.. though they are not bad tractors.. etc.

Keep looking. No problem with keeping his tele number.. just keep looking. 3k hours, and the price.. on that small of a machine.. etc...

 

[heith]

Sounds like a fair price to me and 3000 hours ain`t nothin.Heck it didn`t break in until 1000 hrs,But if your still not sure,then having it checked over by an experienced pro is worth it.As for as grey market tractors goes,you`d be better off buying a new Jinma from Homier or Northern Tool and the like, so parts are`nt a problem. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif