fair value for a used CK25 TLB

Gary Fowler · Apr 14, 2012

I found a 2005 CK 25 TLB (635 hours) with extras like QA forks and 5 foot bush hog listed for $12500. I dont know if this is real or a scam as the owner wont give phone number, prefers to call me.
What do you think? It is about 300 miles from me in Tyler Texas.
I am looking for a small TLB and have been concentrating on Kubota B21 for about the same price but with 1750 hours which is a smaller rig with almost triple the hours.

IslandTractor · Apr 14, 2012

Not a bad price. Two things concern me. 1) Tractor and BH condition. This is not a 100hr unit where you can assume even with no maintenance that the tractor is ok. At 600 hrs you'd like to know it was properly maintained and is in good shape. Can the owner document service via filter purchases or other receipts? Were the FEL and BH properly greased?

2) Second concern is why he won't give you a phone number. If he is just being cautious that is OK but should become clear well before any deal is finalized. If he is making sure you cannot track him later that is a problem and he might be hiding something. Give him a cellphone number to call a couple of times and see if the calls come from the same number. I sure wouldn't buy from someone who was so suspicious that he didn't give you his address and wanted to meet in a public place for something like a tractor purchase.

Gittyup · Apr 14, 2012

That price is a little too good for my liking, unless he's really hard up. That rig should be asking $16K and accepting $15K or so. $14K would be a great deal. A new one is like $24K.

If it's real (and it's his to sell), I'd be all over that deal if the tractor hasn't got something wrong with it. But, smells fishy to me.

Also, 2005's did not have QA buckets for the forks. Ask him about the QA setup. This would have to be after market (or a later year Kioti retrofit).

Gittyup · Apr 14, 2012

A friend of mine just bought a B21 TLB with 900 hours. Paid $12K for it. I used it today. It seemed a little light, and very basic. Crappy seat. Not as powerful as my CK25. Float has to be held active by hand or it returns to "lift". Nice little tractor. Fast loader cycle times. Will do a lot of work. But not as nice as the CKs. Didn't try the backhoe.

VictorW · Apr 14, 2012

That's better than a fair price. It seems to good to be true but might depend on the owner's situation, but do some checking like condition, any liens/loans, stolen. It might turn out well but strange you can't call the owner. If he dropped the price that low because he needs a fast sell, you would think he would be happy for you to call him. Gittyup advised what would be a fair price. If you take a look, take a friend(s), don't end up in the middle of nowhere, and have some reinforcements.

IslandTractor · Apr 14, 2012

A little research on the CL list for Tyler shows the photos of the tractor. Looks used but not beat up. Bucket does look a bit beat up. Forks are pin on and ?homemade. Mower looks in excellent condition. Tractor looks fine and I note rust on the BH bucket which means it hasn't been used for a while (mine rusts like that every winter). One error in the listing which could be just a misconception on the owners part is that he says it has a Mitsubishi diesel. Not likely.

I dunno. Could be a legitimate deal and the seller is just tired of A holes scamming Craigslist sellers. No hint of scam in the text as the guy even talks about how the sunshade needs paint.

I agree with Gittyup that if the tractor is for real and doesn't have some serious undetected problem then the asking price of less than $13,000 make it a steal.

Worth a cautious look IMO or at least further interaction via email or phone with the seller. If he has a Nigerian accent you know to hang up!

Gary Fowler · Apr 16, 2012

I did get a reply to my email and and explanation somewhat plausible on phone that SHE has bad reception in her area and would prefer to call me. I cant do that as I am still in Algeria and I doubt she would want to spend the $$$$a minute for a call. I finally gave her my brother in laws number and see if she will call that.
Most of the scams want to ship you the tractor and if they give you a location in the area where listed it is usually genuine. I suppose a call to the sheriffs office in the county with the serial numbers would be in order prior to shelling out the cash.
The photos look very good and the BH doesnt look like it was used much based on the paint scarring. There is evidence of greasing at the pivot points from grease accumulation in the photos. I would for sure look for some maintenance records. The really big problem is that it is about 300 miles from me and I would have to go prepared to pick it up which means pulling a trailer(borrowed as I dont have one big enough to haul all that stuff)and if it doesnt pass the smell test, would have to backtrack back so I would be out a few hundred in gas and wear and tear on my truck for nothing. Hopefully the Kubota B21 is worthwhile in Hotsprings (20 miles away) and this is from a dealer (not Kubota) so he may negotiate a bit on the price. I prefer the Kubota as it holds its value better than anything on the market, but that Kioti has some good features that I like like the telescoping 3 point arms which I see in the bushhog photo and I am not sure the Kubota even comes with lift arms as I think they are extra on the TLB and might not have been bought. Anyone know details on the B21 hook up, do you have to remove the lift arms to put on the backhoe?

Gittyup · Apr 16, 2012

Yes you have to remove the lift arms on the B21. The B21 is lighter than the CK, and isn't as powerful as my CK25 gear. Being gear vs HST combined with less HP, this seems as expected. Any sort of heavy load while in motion will require low range on the B21. I do like how tight the hoe fits on the B21. Seat isn't too good. The B21 is very vanilla, with no real bells and whistles. I don't believe the CK deal is real. Your best bet is the B21 right now.

IslandTractor · Apr 16, 2012

The CK25 and even the CK20 in TLB configuration are more versatile and less expensive new than the B21. The B21 shines however in a commercial small construction setting as it is simple and bullet proof. The CKs are excellent reliable tractors but I'd rather submit a B21 to constant employee abuse.

I still think the CK25 deal might be real. Easy to find out for someone closer to Dallas or Houston. It is an excellent value if real.

Gary Fowler · Apr 17, 2012

The deal either went down or went south. THe ad disappeared yesterday afternoon.
I have looked extensively for slightly used TLB and they are hard to find when reasonably priced. I am about to the point of just looking at new. Been comparing specs and the CK 20 TLB looks pretty impressive in power. I have no idea what a new one would cost though. I have just about given up on finding any Kubota's reasonable on the price and began thinking that maybe the GC model Massey Ferguson would work or the CK20. They both have more impressive stats than the Kubota's of similar size with the Kioti having them all beat. I think I will continue to surf the web looking but may just have to go look at the Kioti dealer when I get home and see what he offers. Maybe trade my old Yanmar 4220D in on it.