How to tell how used a tractor is other then the hour meter

Carl Bert · Jun 4, 2012

Just bought a 2004 X595 with only 70 hours on the meter. Pictures show the tractor to be in super nice condition, but I am still curious as to whether the hour meter was just disconnected . Are there any ways to tell for certain that it only has 70 hours on it? I am picking it up this week and want to make sure I am getting what I paid for.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

JoeBuyer · Jun 4, 2012

When buying used cars I always looked at things like wear on the rubber brake pedal, wear on the seats, look at the paint where the key fits in the door and such to see that those wear points matched the miles. You can't easily hide these things. You can do similar things with a tractor. Is the paint worn on the floor pans, are there small dents, has the paint faded, etc. Evidence of recent paint is a concern to me. Besides that, a good mechanical check will tell a lot. Other things I look for have nothing to with the item I am buying. I look for other mistruths, body language. etc. If a person is going to not tell the truth about small things, they will likely not tell the truth about the tractor.

cooper99 · Jun 5, 2012

On the older 400 series tractors, it is possible to buy a 1 piece dash panel, complete with the gauges and new hour meter- like this one on ebay. It's probably just as easy to do the same with the newer x500 series.

Maybe the previous owner somehow damaged the original dash and had a new one installed 70 hours ago? I really hope no one would go through the hassle of tampering with the hourmeter in order to increase a lawn mower's resale value by a couple hundred dollars.

moored4 · Jun 5, 2012

Does the hours meet the useage indicators! If the yard of the man you bought it from could be mowed in 30 minites then that would be 140 mowing spaced out at 2ish week intervals = 280 weeks compared to someone having 5 acres being mowed and taking several hours per time! You get the ideal.

AOW162435 · Jun 5, 2012

I purchased a 2003 x595 a few weeks ago with 300 hours on the clock. Apart from fairly normal fading on items exposed to the sun over 9 years, the underside looks like it's less than a year old.

To date, I have replaced most of the decals, repaired a crack at the front of the hood (using fiberglass underneath) and worked my way through a baseline maintenance cycle.

Based on how the tractor looks underneath, and how smooth and solid it runs, I'd say the hours on my meter were correct.

Post some pics of your NOS x595.

Andreas

beenthere · Jun 5, 2012

Carl Bert said:
Just bought a 2004 X595 with only 70 hours on the meter. Pictures show the tractor to be in super nice condition, but I am still curious as to whether the hour meter was just disconnected . Are there any ways to tell for certain that it only has 70 hours on it? I am picking it up this week and want to make sure I am getting what I paid for.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

If already purchased, then I wouldn't worry about it. Likely cannot take it back.

For dealer repair and records, you can visit you Deere dealer and ask them to do a check on that serial number. Any work they've done will be recorded there, including any warranty parts (if the service mgr is keeping his records up to date).

Carl Bert · Jun 5, 2012

beenthere said:
If already purchased, then I wouldn't worry about it. Likely cannot take it back.

For dealer repair and records, you can visit you Deere dealer and ask them to do a check on that serial number. Any work they've done will be recorded there, including any warranty parts (if the service mgr is keeping his records up to date).

Thats a great idea, I would have never thought of it. Now I just have to find out which dealer he bought it from. I'm not picking it up til Sunday. Thanks

beenthere · Jun 5, 2012

The information is stored on a Deere site that the dealers can all get onto. So any dealer willing to take the time for you, should work to find that info. Good way to get to know your dealer early in the game. He could look at you as a potential customer.

Carl Bert · Jun 6, 2012

beenthere said:
The information is stored on a Deere site that the dealers can all get onto. So any dealer willing to take the time for you, should work to find that info. Good way to get to know your dealer early in the game. He could look at you as a potential customer.

Turns out that my dealer said there isn't a system like that in place as of yet, but he thinks it's a great idea. I called the dealer where he purchased it and unfortunately they had a new system installed in 2005 and this tractor is a 2004, but he did say that it has never been brought in for any servicing. Not sure if that's good or bad. He also stated that it's not a simple disconnect of a wire to stop the hour meter on that tractor. He said it takes much more then that and would be very surprised if someone would actually go through the trouble of doing it, plus the fact that they would have a hard time keeping track of their own maintanence .
Anyway I am going to pick it up on Friday. It's a 2 1/2 hour trip. I hope it has a good outcome.

I will post some pics when I get it home. Thanks for everyone's input.

Carl Bert · Jun 6, 2012

Oh I now have a very nice and well cared for GX345 with a 54" deck, 42" snowblower, Curtis cab, weights and chains, with only 280 REAL hours to sell. Any offers? Here are some pics.

Who knew tractors were so addicting. I own a Kubota B26, a JD GX345, and now an X595. Did I mention that I only own 1 acre of land? My wife thinks I may need help, she may be right.

I forgot to mention, the snowblower has electric Shute rotation and Shute deflection (did I say that right? You know what I mean) that I have not yet installed.