slugranchoregon
New member
Hi, new member, buying a tractor for the first time,
The used tractor buying checklist I got off this site is a good thing.
So here's some story, and pics at the end.
I looked at a gas JD 1020. I have to say at first glance I probably would have bought it, $3200. Then the checklist kept me on track and in the end it had cloudy oil down at the fill line after it ran awhile, the owner "didn't know how that happened, must be condensation?" then I noticed the only shiny part on the whole tractor was a brand new oil filter, (I think he just got done changing the oil), and the plugged radiator and loose fan belt that may have help cause the problem were left unfixed but I saw those because I had a checklist in hand.
I looked at an International 424 "runs great" over the phone but forgot to mention, key switch broken, no battery, no seat, rear tires slashed, lots of blowby out the vavle cover vent, no brakes, lol. $3500
I looked at a JD 2240, it was in good shape, mismatched front tires, two places on the hydraulics with small oil leaks, fresh paint, $6000, pretty good, I may still buy it, funny thing happened when I asked if we could look at the air filter, he said, "sure but I don't know why,, I know it's clean" when he took the cover off it was loaded with stuff, dirt, grass seeds, cottonwood fluff, etc., he mumble something about "those guys!, I told them to,, they said they were going to,," then inner filter was spanking clean though, so I let it pass, I googled his name and second phone number he gave me, it turns out he owned a heavy equipment/dirt rock sand/ land leveling operation and he also had 11 really nice looking old classic cars for sale on a classic car sales website, I'm not real sure if that should affect my decision making on buying the tractor or not. I can't decide if he's just trying to flip this tractor fast because there's something wrong with it or if he honestly has just stopped using it, it seems like to me, he got it on trade, in not so good condition and then he sent it in to his heavy equipment mechanic (who missed the air filter) and got fresh paint at the paint shop he uses for his cars (probably cheap paint). I just don't know, let me know what you think, or if you've ever had similar experiences.
Lastly, a JD 2155, the only one I haven't seen in person yet, the guy didn't know a whole lot about it, he gave me the engine serial number and I searched and figured out it's a 92' (last year) and using three pictures he emailed me, I compared it with images online and figured out it has independant PTO option and the creeper gear option (for 16 forward and 8 reverse), he said it runs and moves when he puts it in gear, $3250 is the price, the downside is pretty big though, so hold on, rear rims are rusted out and one tire won't hold air, (thus he doesn't know if all gears work or if the engine runs well under load), fresh paint with dent-putty cracks showing, +11111 plus hours on the meter, no head lights, no side screens on radiator, no side panels covering battery, no foot boards, no lift arms, now, this guy fully admits he got this tractor on trade from someone that had tried to fix it up and then didn't get fixed up and didn't get it all reassembled, that person got it from a dairy farm, (where I suspect it was rode hard and put up wet), knowing all this I am still considering this tractor, I like the size, hp, independant PTO, 16 gear option, newer year model, but is that price low enough?
Anyone with experience on a tractor like this in similar condition?
Is that price low enough? Should I even bother going the 4 hours to see it?
I looked up the missing parts on JD's website, and they are marked as available, does that mean I can get the parts for sure?, I'll call the dealer to make sure.
Is that price low enough? or is the 2240 a good enough deal?
Or should I just be patient and wait for more straight forward sales. It just seems like if it's enough tractor to do what I need to get done and it's in my price range there's drama surrounding it.
I know you guys love pictures so attchd are the 2155
The used tractor buying checklist I got off this site is a good thing.
So here's some story, and pics at the end.
I looked at a gas JD 1020. I have to say at first glance I probably would have bought it, $3200. Then the checklist kept me on track and in the end it had cloudy oil down at the fill line after it ran awhile, the owner "didn't know how that happened, must be condensation?" then I noticed the only shiny part on the whole tractor was a brand new oil filter, (I think he just got done changing the oil), and the plugged radiator and loose fan belt that may have help cause the problem were left unfixed but I saw those because I had a checklist in hand.
I looked at an International 424 "runs great" over the phone but forgot to mention, key switch broken, no battery, no seat, rear tires slashed, lots of blowby out the vavle cover vent, no brakes, lol. $3500
I looked at a JD 2240, it was in good shape, mismatched front tires, two places on the hydraulics with small oil leaks, fresh paint, $6000, pretty good, I may still buy it, funny thing happened when I asked if we could look at the air filter, he said, "sure but I don't know why,, I know it's clean" when he took the cover off it was loaded with stuff, dirt, grass seeds, cottonwood fluff, etc., he mumble something about "those guys!, I told them to,, they said they were going to,," then inner filter was spanking clean though, so I let it pass, I googled his name and second phone number he gave me, it turns out he owned a heavy equipment/dirt rock sand/ land leveling operation and he also had 11 really nice looking old classic cars for sale on a classic car sales website, I'm not real sure if that should affect my decision making on buying the tractor or not. I can't decide if he's just trying to flip this tractor fast because there's something wrong with it or if he honestly has just stopped using it, it seems like to me, he got it on trade, in not so good condition and then he sent it in to his heavy equipment mechanic (who missed the air filter) and got fresh paint at the paint shop he uses for his cars (probably cheap paint). I just don't know, let me know what you think, or if you've ever had similar experiences.
Lastly, a JD 2155, the only one I haven't seen in person yet, the guy didn't know a whole lot about it, he gave me the engine serial number and I searched and figured out it's a 92' (last year) and using three pictures he emailed me, I compared it with images online and figured out it has independant PTO option and the creeper gear option (for 16 forward and 8 reverse), he said it runs and moves when he puts it in gear, $3250 is the price, the downside is pretty big though, so hold on, rear rims are rusted out and one tire won't hold air, (thus he doesn't know if all gears work or if the engine runs well under load), fresh paint with dent-putty cracks showing, +11111 plus hours on the meter, no head lights, no side screens on radiator, no side panels covering battery, no foot boards, no lift arms, now, this guy fully admits he got this tractor on trade from someone that had tried to fix it up and then didn't get fixed up and didn't get it all reassembled, that person got it from a dairy farm, (where I suspect it was rode hard and put up wet), knowing all this I am still considering this tractor, I like the size, hp, independant PTO, 16 gear option, newer year model, but is that price low enough?
Anyone with experience on a tractor like this in similar condition?
Is that price low enough? Should I even bother going the 4 hours to see it?
I looked up the missing parts on JD's website, and they are marked as available, does that mean I can get the parts for sure?, I'll call the dealer to make sure.
Is that price low enough? or is the 2240 a good enough deal?
Or should I just be patient and wait for more straight forward sales. It just seems like if it's enough tractor to do what I need to get done and it's in my price range there's drama surrounding it.
I know you guys love pictures so attchd are the 2155
