Buying Used for Beginners...

[ning]

Good info. I am barely mechanically inclined. I am better with technology.

Honestly there's not a lot of difference between a tractor and functional programming; just the tools are different

 

[RjCorazza]

1) How many hours per year would be considered low-medium-high usage? (obviously, this is only one aspect of value, but it is a quantifiable one)
2) What things can a novice look for on a used vehicle that are signs of misuse or neglect?
3) Are there any bits of sage advice you have for someone looking at a used tractor to reduce the risk a bit?
4) With a car, it is not uncommon to have an independent mechanic look over a vehicle before a sale. Is this a reasonable approach with a used CT?

Thanks in advance for all of your help. Y'all have been outstanding and patient with my questions so far.

1) With reasonable maintenance, tractor hours are not necessarily a primary factor in evaluating a machine. But to your question, I would say under 100h per year is light personal use and 400h would be heavy yearly use. I put about 100h a year on my tractor and over 500 hours per year on my diesel mower.

2) As others have mentioned I would look at filters, grease zirks for recent service, oil stains from leaks, run all gears or transmission ranges, PTO operation, 3 point and fel functioning, oil, hydraulic fluid, coolant, ask to see maintenance records etc...
Cleanliness counts for me personally, and signs of clear abuse are a major red flag. I have personally seen a neighbor totally ruin a John Deere Cut in under 100 hours. I have also seen machines with several thousand hours that were well cared for and maintained that had thousands of hours left in them.

3) I don't know about sage advice, but the honesty of the seller means a lot. It doesn't take much to detect a dishonest seller face to face. Learn a little about the machine and it's MFG maintenance schedule prior to meeting.

4) Certainly reasonable to bring a mechanic or knowledge person with you. Run away from a seller that balks at the idea.
Happy shopping!

 

[wolc123]

One thing to consider when shopping for a used tractor, is that the older ones (pre 1970 or so) tended to be grossly overbuilt. As such, they were well equipped to literally last a very long time.

With the advent of computer aided design, etc., "safety factors" on all components were able to be greatly reduced. In a "perfect design" of today, all of the tractor's parts will wear out and fail simultaneously. Therein lies the danger in buying a "newer" used tractor.

Another advantage of those real old tractors, especially those that were sold in great number, is that the parts that tend to fail early are still readily available. For that reason, I will never part with my 1951 Ford 8n. I used it yesterday and i am really looking forward to using it on its 100th birthday.

 

[IndyJay]

Honestly there's not a lot of difference between a tractor and functional programming; just the tools are different

Both are for the most part "object oriented"...

 

[ning]

Both are for the most part "object oriented"...

Idk what kind of stuff your tractor is made of but I've yet to make a fuel pump that's a subclass of another fuel pump lol

 

[Torvy]

Coding jokes aside, the hardware of computer is, to me, much easier to diagnose and repair than mechanical stuff. Earlier in my life I worked in both software development and in computer hardware manufacturing. I can code well enough to know I am not smart enough to be really good at it. Replacing a chip or a board is a couple of small screws or, at worst a little solder.

 

[jeff9366]

Another advantage of those real old tractors, especially those that were sold in great number, is that the parts that tend to fail early are still readily available. For that reason, I will never part with my 1951 Ford 8n. I used it yesterday and i am really looking forward to using it on its 100th birthday.

TRACTOR IMPROVEMENTS SINCE 1951​

Improvements in approximate order: 4-WD, Industrial Tires, Power Steering, "live" then "independent" PTOs, Loaders, Diesel Engines, heavier tractors with Category 2-3-4-5 TPH, Landscaping tractors of <2,000 pounds bare tractor weight, hydrostatic transmissions, shuttle shift gear transmissions, Cabs with heat and AC. And, continuously, shields separating operator from moving parts.

 

[Torvy]

Meh. I have a lot of nostalgia for my grandpa's old Alice and MF tractors. Also his 1948 GM pickup. As a history teacher, I have an interest in old things because of their impact on humanity. There are a lot of things in modern life that have poorer quality than way back...I cannot say that about vehicles in general. 1965 Mustang was a cool car. I would not want to drive one cross country though. I am not a fan of the modern version. If I had the money, I would like the old body with modern engines and comforts. I am sure I am in the minority on that.

 

[wolc123]

Another advantage of those real old tractors, especially those that were sold in great number, is that the parts that tend to fail early are still readily available. For that reason, I will never part with my 1951 Ford 8n. I used it yesterday and i am really looking forward to using it on its 100th birthday.

TRACTOR IMPROVEMENTS SINCE 1951​

Improvements in approximate order: 4-WD, cons: not needed for many tasks, costs more, and more parts to wear out

Industrial Tires, cons: no where near as good as r1s for field work or turfs on turf

Power Steering cons: more parts to wear out

, "live" then "independent" PTOs cons: not needed for non pto work like plowing

, Loaders, cons get in the way for any non loader work

Diesel Engines, cons: harder to start in cold weather, usually significantly more expensive than gas

heavier tractors with Category 2-3-4-5 TPH cons: overkill for smaller jobs,

, hydrostatic transmissions cons: not good for ground engaging work

Cabs with heat and AC. Cons: I would spend more time at the office or in the house if I wanted to be "inside"

 

[Williy]

JD is given credit for being a good tractor however they
don't tell you that Yanmar made JD tractors for over
20 years and JD still uses Yanmar diesel engines.
Yanmar has been making tractors for many years.
Yanmar diesel engines are known to be very dependable
I would suggest if you have a Yanmar dealer near by
check out the tractors. Get in the seat and check out
where all the controls are and how easy or difficult they
are to use this will give you a good idea of what you want
so its up to you to decide which tractor would be something
that you would want to be operating. You will find that
all tractors have their problems and when someones
tractor is running its a great tractor but when its not its
a piece of junk! Some smart tractor manufactures are
quick to rectify the problems at hand and some are not!


willy