Deal or no deal--farmpro

[EE_Bota]

I am going to look at at tractor in an hour, but I don't know a lot about it.

It is a Farmpro, has 40 hours, and is a 2006 model, claims 35HP, with a FEL, backhoe, and the lift links. He was into house rehab, but the economy crashed on him, and the tractor has been parked for a year...apparently outdoors.

He claims the engine runs great, but there is a leak in a fuel line, the seat is damaged, something wrong with the starter switch, and he suspects something is wrong with the FEL hydraulics. He wants to throw in a trailer large enough to haul it with electric brakes, and want $11000, but admits he will take $10500 over the phone.

I don't have much time, and I am taking my check book, but if anyone can say something positive or negative about the deal, I'd like to read it....but hurry if you can.

My needs...none...it's a want. Want a bit stronger loader than on my BX2200, want a better 3pt hitch stance than on my 2200, and want a backhoe. I have nothing to pull the trailer, but not opposed to buying something...honestly...I think I would value equipment higher than cash at this point in time.

Edit...just for grins...I will take a camera and snap some pics of the tractor in case someone else wants the deal. He sounds like a Civil Engineer trying to continue to work for himself...but needs the cash.

 

[EE_Bota]

Bump...have to leave soon...anyone think a Farmpro 35HP is a great tractor or a lousy tractor? Does it sound like a good or bad deal generically?

 

[Jinma284]

My thoughts, if you can't crank it and run it, leave it sit.

Pat

 

[greg_g]

Problems sound minor, often reported and inexpensively fixed. But the asking price sounds a bit steep if the loader and backhoe are Chinese. If they're American or Korean aftermarket, that's different. And I picked up my tandem trailer w/brakes for $900, so you're not gaining much there.. Find out more about the origin of the loader and hoe before proceeding.

//greg//

 

[teg]

So how did it go??? Seems like a bunch of problems for only 40 hours... maybe the hour meter is broke too Did it look like it had 40 hours on her?

 

[EE_Bota]

My thoughts, if you can't crank it and run it, leave it sit.

Pat

Your thoughts were the only ones I saw before I left to see it. I thought "that sounds like good advice.":thumbsup:

 

[mrmikey]

Depending on the chance you want to take and how desperate he is to get rid of it, offer him $8K. If it starts after doing a bit of work, you're the winner, if it doesn't, he is. Sounds like he's not interested in getting a good price for it, if so he would get it going.
It all depends on who wants to gamble......Mike

 

[EE_Bota]

So how did it go??? Seems like a bunch of problems for only 40 hours... maybe the hour meter is broke too Did it look like it had 40 hours on her?

It just now got safe enough here to fire-up the laptop. I drove through hail coming home from seeing the tractor. (That'll buff right out) We had a gully washer here.

First, the batteries are bad. But it started pretty quickly, with no ether, no glow plugs. Just using long jumper cables. Battery showed 6.31 volts before the attempt.

The good...it really does seem to have only 40 hours. The tires look brand new (ag tires all around.) All the other rubber looked kaput...such as on ball joints, etc.

The backhoe runs off of a pump in the rear. I thought, and he thought too, that it runs off the PTO...but no, we found the PTO shaft still available under the pump.
The backhoe (Chinese, as is the loader) looked OK. The boom doesn't rotate 180 degrees, like many backhoes. I'm guessing ~140+. But it seems fine, and rated to dig 7' deep.

The loader did not work. We spent most of the time trying to find out why. I'm used to being able to make hoses "dance" but I never got any movement out of a single hose on that tractor except the backhoe.

The tractor seems to have three total hydraulic pumps. One in the rear that only drives the backhoe, but is intimate with the tractor, as in has a gear shifter built into the gearbox to start and stop that pump. I think it is the MAIN pump for tractors without a backhoe, but becomes only the backhoe pump if the loader is added. The loader pump is mounted on the engine near the power steering pump, and the loader pump drives the lift (I think.) I could be totally wrong, but that was my best figuring.

Best I can tell, the circuit is this...large line from the lift housing to the pump...out the pump directly the to loader, from the loader back to the lift housing. I took off the outlet banjo fitting of the loader pump, and when the engine turns over, I get gross flow of fluid. But when I reattach the banjo fitting loosely, even when working the loader valve, I can't get a strong spurt or spray of fluid, and the loader never moves, and the hoses never dance.

I didn't make him an offer, although I was fairly confident I would when driving over. I was hopeful the loader and backhoe were US made, and only the tractor was Chinese. But best I can tell, all of it is Chinese.

I got as much of it going as possible, because he seemed like such a great guy, and whether I want it or not, I wanted him to be able to sell it faster, and do fine on it.

Turns out...nothing was wrong with the main switch, it was just a bad misadjustment of the clutch safety switch. The only gauge that didn't work was the fuel gauge, and I am pretty sure a wire is off. The charging circuit works. The engine seems fine and strong.

OH...almost forgot ....we wanted to test that loader pump by cutting out the loader (with the attached quick connects) to test it only with the 3-pt lift ( desperation.) We couldn't get the lift arms to go down, go up, or move at all. I tried everything. I found a twist valve that is in the same place as my Kubota's "lowering speed control," but it had no effect. I found a bolt on the left side of the lift housing, but it had no effect, and I had no real idea what that valve or the bolt was supposed to do. He had the manuals, but you would have to study those disorganized Chinese manuals a long while to get that kind of info sorted, but if one took the time, I'm sure the manuals can be of some use.

As for the PTO, 540 x 720 but I couldn't detect that the clutch is 2 stage, and since two stage may have been optional, I couldn't tell you what the PTO characteristics would be on that machine.

Bottom line...his 7000 GVW trailer looked fine. The tractor needs batteries, someone smart enough to figure out why the lift won't go down, and probably a new hydraulic pump. Someone could do wonders on the faded paint too.

Here is the ad...

2006 30HP 4WD Farm Pro w/BH & Loader

If anyone finds this deal interesting, please feel free to make a move. I have not ruled it out, but if one of you got it, I'd be fine with that for sure.

 

[Affordable]

If the loader and 3- point are not working the hydraulic pump is prob.gone, under $ 200.00 to replace it with a brand new pump ,battery $ 80.00 . The chinese rubber is not the best but easy and in expensive to replace ( including the rubber on the tie rods) Not sure where you can get a new trailer with brakes for $ 900.00, we sell new 16'- trailers ,new tires, brakes 1- axle for $ 1,899.00 so used maybe $ 900.00. I don't like the chinese backhoes much but I think the package would be a pretty good deal at $ 10K with the trailer. I have not seen any Jinmas in the USA with a single stage clutch they all have dual stage.

The 3- Hydraulic pumps, 1- Steering, 1- 3-Point & loader, 1- Backhoe

If you decide to buy it we keep all the parts in stock, and can help you work out any of the other issues with the tractor

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales
"Your Jinma Parts Superstore"
Home of compact Jinma, Foton, and Koyker Tractors and Parts, Wood Chippers, Backhoes - Affordable Tractor Sales Company

 

[EE_Bota]

Depending on the chance you want to take and how desperate he is to get rid of it, offer him $8K. If it starts after doing a bit of work, you're the winner, if it doesn't, he is. Sounds like he's not interested in getting a good price for it, if so he would get it going.
It all depends on who wants to gamble......Mike

While I was there, I was trying to come up with a price I would feel comfortable giving, and coincidentally, that is about where I settled. But it seem so far off from what he wanted, I was reluctant to make the offer.

I may yet, but there are right many tractor choices that look good for that kind of money.

Kubota L4630 Tractor w/loader

Anyway...I'm glad I got to meet the guy. And I enjoyed seeing an unfamiliar brand and working on it a bit.