Can Hours Be Rolled Back?

[Git-R-Done]

Just curious while looking at a used tractor. Is there a way that someone could roll back the hours or stop the hours from reading accurately on unit? If YES what should I be looking for or at??

Git-R-Done

 

[sea2summit]

On old tractors it's pretty possible. Sometimes the hour meters broke and were replaced.

I know my BX needed a new gauge console and installing it changed out the computer as well so all the data went back to zero.

How old are you thinking?

 

[warrendeere]

Yes, there is always a potential for it, but unlikely for something thats new. If it has a onboard Computer system you can check that way. I see that you are in Process of buying a 1025r. Chances are they havent tampered with it, but its easy to tell by common wear items, and general items like that. I have a New Holland TC35D, and its easy to tell even without an hour meter that it has approx 1800 hours, which is what the meter reads, but i am able to tell just by common wear issues. Same thing with My 1985 John deere 650

 

[crashz]

Even my newish L2501 has an instrument panel that looks easy to crack with dials for the hours. So a sleazy salesman could do it. Would they? Egh - I don't know. People are reliability lazy.

Many tractors base the hours of running at engine speed off the tachometer. So hours are counted at a 1:1 ratio only when running at PTO speed. Faster or slower affects the accumulation of hours. A tractor that Idled for 9 hours might our accumulate 3 on the meter.

Hours are just a consideration. A rig with 5000 hours may be in much better shape than one with 500 hours depending on maintenance, storage, usage, etc. Gotta look at the whole thing.

 

[4570Man]

The short answer is yes.

 

[ruffdog]

What to look for? Has the dirt on the hour meter wires been recently rubbed off? Maybe they just replugged the wires in before trying to sell it.

 

[TractorGuy]

Yes. This is how my 3000 hour backhoe arrived from tractorking54 on ebay.

 

[ruffdog]

Ha! Looks like the "hammer and screwdriver" gauge adjustment method.

 

[dragoneggs]

On old tractors it's pretty possible. Sometimes the hour meters broke and were replaced.

I know my BX needed a new gauge console and installing it changed out the computer as well so all the data went back to zero.

How old are you thinking?

Same here... I replaced my gauge console on my BX at 330 hrs. Auto reset to zero.

 

[/pine]

IMO the actual hours don't mean that much as far as the general condition and state of the machine and all its working parts etc...

IMO the most important reason to have an accurate hour meter is for maintenance...

 

[dragoneggs]

IMO the most important reason to have an accurate hour meter is for maintenance...

Exactly why I was a bit disappointed when mine went back to zero. I have to mentally add the 'other' hours.

 

[Cycledude]

Untruthful hours on used tractors has been a big problem for many years here in Wisconsin.

 

[Git-R-Done]

Untruthful hours on used tractors has been a big problem for many years here in Wisconsin.

Here in Texas we treat them varmints all the same as horse thieves. If you watch any westerns you know what the punishment is???

 

[dragoneggs]

Here in Texas we treat them varmints all the same as horse thieves. If you watch any westerns you know what the punishment is???

If punishment were stiff regardless of the offense, I am convinced crimes would be much less and we would all feel safer and more trusting.

 

[oosik]

I had to have a speedometer replaced on a previous motorcycle. The dealer was able to "rack up" the exact mileage on the new instrument prior to installation.

 

[4570Man]

I had to have a speedometer replaced on a previous motorcycle. The dealer was able to "rack up" the exact mileage on the new instrument prior to installation.

I changed the dash cluster in a nearly 300k mile vehicle. I gave them the correct mileage to go back on the cluster and it still came back like 20k short. My mini excavator had computer problems and got changed. The 1300 hour excavator currently shows 40 hours.

 

[Williy]

If the hour meter is like an electric meter on the pole yes just reverse
the wires and it will run backwards or just pull one wire off is something
don't work with the wire off use a jumper wire

willy

 

[devodad]

You can check where the tractor has been serviced in the past. Dealers usually keep track of the hours the unit has whenever it goes in for any service. So you’d at least know what was on it the last time it was in for any kind of service. Just a thought.

 

[sportscarclinic]

Yes, it's easy enough to change the reading. But the reading on the hour meter doesn't tell you how the tractor was maintained, or how hard it was worked, only that the key was in the "on" position for so many hours. Personally, I'd rather buy a tractor with 3000 hours that had the oil changed every 50 hours, than one with 500 hours that had the oil changed twice, for example. If you're concerned the hour meter might not be accurate, look at the wear points, like pedal bushings, 3 point link bushings and pivots, etc., they shouldn't show noticeable wear on a 500 hour tractor, unless it's been treated like a rental. In my experience, you get more information by weighing the words of the former owner, than by looking at the tractor.

 

[LD1]

Agree with most of the others here. Hours are just a baseline and just one piece of the puzzle when deciding on a purchase.

Back 15 years ago when I bought a bran new L3400, the hour meter stopped at 0.9hrs. (so did the tach cause its an analog meter with a tach cable).

Tach cable twisted off at the governor. They sent me a new one under warranty (talked them into that so I didnt have to take tractor back). Probably put 10-15 hrs on in the week or so it took the part to arrive. Alot of the economy kubotas are still the same way I think. One could very easily just unhook the tach cable to keep the hours down