Buying Advice JD 4720 with high hours - what's it worth

[mjcvette]

I'm looking at a 2005 JD 4720 with FEL and 72" mid mount. Looks in great condition and either well taken care of (that's the claim) or recently refurbished with all new cosmetics. Only challenge is the hours at slightly over 6200. Claim is tractor was used primarily for acreage mowing and chicken feed lot distributing - lots of idling while operator hops on and off to shovel feed. Certainly doesn't look like it was used to move manure as I've seen those before. Local JD says regular maintenance and repair. Nothing major other than starter and water pump.

So - what's it worth (he's asking $15K) and more importantly will it last 10 years with relatively light mowing and FEL work on 80 acre hobby farm - maybe 50 hours a year tops. I've heard motors are mean to fail at around 8000 hour and should see 10000 if cared for. What do you guys think and does anyone have experience with a high hour unit?

 

[jloven]

I don't know if I am qualified to render an opinion on what is too many hours. I think a lot of it is going to depend on how well the original owner took care of the machine. Buying anything used is a gamble, but that's why u can save big bucks versus new. I love my 4720 that I purchased a year ago with 600 hours on it. It needed a good cleaning and I lubed everything, changed the oil and serviced the transmission. I also added backhoe mounts and even purchased a new cruise switch since the emblem was worn off. It's been a solid tractor with zero issues.
There will be a lot of folks that will walk away from a tractor with 6000 hours but if you feel like it has been well maintained and your test drive shows no issues with hydraulics or transmission, make him a low offer. Find out what the trade value would be worth and start at $10k or so. You can always come up.
If you only use it 50 hours per year, it will last a long time. These tractors are really well built.