Just arrived and hour meter is broken

   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #184  
I've seen many ads that state "hour meter reads then the number" guess that's way to put it.

Let's face it on older machines/mowers/anything without the meter made into the cluster the hour meter could have been replaced a couple times and there is no way of knowing.

It would take more effort but the entire cluster could be replaced. On a newer machine that stores hours in the computer changing the computer would reset the hours. I’m not sure about the details but my mini x was traded into the dealer as non operational or at least not running properly. It got a new computer and I think new injectors and the hours ended up being reset to zero. I had a 2004 GM vehicle and the dash cluster died. The dash cluster apparently stored the miles not the computer and the new dash had to be reset to display accurate mileage. As far as I know there’s no way to correct the mini x hours.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #185  
I had a tachometer/hour meter cable break about 10 years ago on a tractor at 556 hours, I ordered another one and installed it and it worked for about 5 minutes and it quit as well, that tractor still has 556 hours showing on the hour meter, it's about 17 years old now with probably an additional 100 hrs added every year and if I ever sell it that is what I will tell any interested buyer.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #186  
Just stating facts. I am not real sensitive, I leave that to the sissies.
Well that's a great 2nd grader response. You and my seven year old grandson would get along great.

Plenty of guys making a living off of buying and selling equipment, site unseen, all of them would be bothered by the scenario posted by the OP.
 
Last edited:
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #187  
A dealer will know that you only list the hours on the machine, if you know the meter works. Cmon. Also, if it doesn’t, a dealer knows to state hours are not actual. That’s not rocket science.

Selling a vehicle, claiming it has 50,000 miles, with a disconnected odometer isn’t any different. Value is correlated with use and residual life of the equipment. If not, why would that be a central part of a listing?

If the dealer did, as the OP states, post a video of them operating the tractor in the ad, and the tachometer wasn’t working, it’s hard to believe they didn’t know.

Glad the dealer is accepting they had a misleading ad and are working to resolve it. My FIL bought a JD mower years ago with ONLY 500 hours on it, as advertised. He isn’t mechanically inclined. I stopped by to take a look… holy crap. Maybe 3000 hours. That mower didn’t last a year! It was so worn out. Yes, hours matter, usage claims matter, and if the meter isn’t working, that is central to the sale of a vehicle or tractor.

Side note, I doubt Id spend $30k on a 2008 tractor, sight unseen.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #188  
Well that's a great 2nd grader response. You and my seven year old grandson would get along great.

Plenty of guys making a living off of buying and selling equipment, site unseen, all of them would be bothered by the scenario posted by the OP.
Some have replied here they have they have an 184 I.Q., then others are perfect, knowing exactly what to do.
That's more interesting than a broken hour meter!
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #189  
Do you buy used cars without worrying about the mileage too? Exactly the same. I'm still kind of amazed how many guys on here act like it is not a big deal.

If I'm buying an M Farmall or a Ford 8n. Maybe I don't care as much, I'm spending $3k for it. But if I'm spending $30k for a tractor and I have ill regard for the # of hours, I think I would be the inexperienced one in the conversation.
As I explained earlier, it's not even remotely close to "exactly the same". Mileage on a car is a decent indication of how much wear and tear that car has received. Hours on a tractor is not. It's something to consider, but it's very far from the best indicator.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #190  
Yeah, this thread has defiantly had some interesting comments and perspectives put out there. I guess you could just change your tagline to "I'm smarter than you so there, you big stupid head!" .. and then run off to jump on the monkey bars.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #191  
As I explained earlier, it's not even remotely close to "exactly the same". Mileage on a car is a decent indication of how much wear and tear that car has received. Hours on a tractor is not. It's something to consider, but it's very far from the best indicator.
So, what is the best indicator of how much usage a tractor has had?
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #193  
So, what is the best indicator of how much usage a tractor has had?

It’s not so much the overall usage as the quality of use. A well taken care of 2000 hour tractor would be much better than a 500 hour one that’s been beat it’s whole life.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #194  
So, what is the best indicator of how much usage a tractor has had?
Overall wear, leaks, smooth controls, blow-by, exhaust color and smell, transmission noises, tire condition, rust, paint fade, cutting edge wear, slop in bushings and bearings on loader, 3PH and steering, etc. etc. A tractor that spent it's life on a golf course pulling a finish mower multiple times a week is likely to have more hours than one that spent it's life at a masonry supply center, but which one is likely to be in better shape?
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #195  
All of that is true, but all things being equal, hours matter… especially when you are using them to support the value you are attaching to it.
I have a hard time believing most of you would buy a 15 year old tractor with unknown hours, over one with accurate hours and service records. I mean, cmon man.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #196  
It’s not so much the overall usage as the quality of use. A well taken care of 2000 hour tractor would be much better than a 500 hour one that’s been beat it’s whole life.
I don't disagree with this, but I think this could be said of any piece of equipment with an engine. I won't buy a used vehicle any longer without seeing a clean carfax with oil changes. I care about maint. as much as I care about the mileage, often a little more. I'm guessing that is what you are saying.

I still do care about the mileage though.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #197  
Overall wear, leaks, smooth controls, blow-by, exhaust color and smell, transmission noises, tire condition, rust, paint fade, cutting edge wear, slop in bushings and bearings on loader, 3PH and steering, etc. etc. A tractor that spent it's life on a golf course pulling a finish mower multiple times a week is likely to have more hours than one that spent it's life at a masonry supply center, but which one is likely to be in better shape?

Fair points, all true. I still like to see low hours though since, the longer someone who isn't caring for their equipment has been using it, the more damage they have done. If they have had it for 300hrs. and neglecting it, the damage is less than if they have owned it 2,000hrs.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #198  
All of that is true, but all things being equal, hours matter… especially when you are using them to support the value you are attaching to it.
I have a hard time believing most of you would buy a 15 year old tractor with unknown hours, over one with accurate hours and service records. I mean, cmon man.

I actually did buy a truck sight unseen from out of state once but I’d be more hesitant to do the same for a piece of equipment. I definitely wouldn’t have the same mindset the op has that since it’s from a dealer it must be good. I only bought the out of state truck because it was the height of Covid shortage and I was wanting a rare truck and there weren’t better options available. I’ve bought several pieces of used equipment from my local dealer. I’ve also bought some on marketplace. Maybe the dealer isn’t the best value I could find but not driving hundreds or possibly thousands of miles looking at equipment and the fact he lets me haul it home for a demo is worth something.
 
   / Just arrived and hour meter is broken #199  
Fair points, all true. I still like to see low hours though since, the longer someone who isn't caring for their equipment has been using it, the more damage they have done. If they have had it for 300hrs. and neglecting it, the damage is less than if they have owned it 2,000hrs.
The last USED M9 I bought 600 miles from here had 5500 hours on the meter btw and was used on a diary farm and run pretty hard but I know it had a pretty good maintenance life as I checked not only the unit close up and personal and put it through it's paces (in a Sunday while the dealer was closed (all M9's use the same key) and I'd nhever buy any tactor, big or small, sight unseen from any dealer because dealers tend to ovber state good condition and understate poor conditions as they want to move equipment, how that works in the real world...

So I went and looked at it, ran it and bought it, not for what they were asking, but what I felt it was really worth and knowing full well what I needed to put into it to make it whole and yes, I checked the engine and powertrain over carefully, remember, I know M9 hydraulic shuttle tractors quite well, I've owned one (cab model) since 2002 and bought that one special order, new plus working at the Kubota dealer part time gives me a good insight as to what can be issues and what isn't. So I offered the dealer (was a JD dealer btw), 16 cash for it with the stipulation that they deliver it to my Kubota dealer so Dennis could go through it and make it 100% whole again, which he did and I made it clear to do everything to it to make it 100%. Cost me an additional 6 grand, so for 22 grand (and no note or payment), this is what I got back and that included a new hood and grill because the previous owner put a huge dent in the hood and I don't like dents... 100% now and I was just offered 30 grand for it. I had Dennis button the pump too, so it's making 98 pto horsepower on their dyno....
 

Attachments

  • 100_0013 (1).JPG
    100_0013 (1).JPG
    1.3 MB · Views: 138

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

Volvo L306 (A57148)
Volvo L306 (A57148)
2022 FORD E350 BOX TRUCK (A58018)
2022 FORD E350 BOX...
MARATHON 20KW GENERATOR (A55745)
MARATHON 20KW...
2013 PETERBILT 389 (INOPERABLE) (A55745)
2013 PETERBILT 389...
2018 Husqvarna 21in. Push Mower (A59231)
2018 Husqvarna...
Toyota SR1-BET35 3,500 LB Stand-On Electric Forklift (A59228)
Toyota SR1-BET35...
 
Top