Keep or ditch my tractor

Jstpssng · May 2, 2018

I used to run pickups which were about what you describe. For every thing that you fix, two more go wrong. There comes a time when you need to cut your losses and start over.

BrokenTrack · May 2, 2018

Jstpssng said:
I used to run pickups which were about what you describe. For every thing that you fix, two more go wrong. There comes a time when you need to cut your losses and start over.

Myself I would rather fix equipment then operate it, but what really bugs me...is when I have to fix the SAME thing over and over. I had a bulldozer like that. It had a starting issue when I bought it, and 2 years later it had the same starting issue with it when it left. How bad could a start circuit be...stupid thing, kind of glad to see that thing leave...

4570Man · May 2, 2018

BrokenTrack said:
Myself I would rather fix equipment then operate it, but what really bugs me...is when I have to fix the SAME thing over and over. I had a bulldozer like that. It had a starting issue when I bought it, and 2 years later it had the same starting issue with it when it left. How bad could a start circuit be...stupid thing, kind of glad to see that thing leave...

Too bad we don’t live closer together. I’d operate all your equipment and you can fix mine. I hate working on stuff, but view it as a necessary thing.

mercdv · May 2, 2018

If it were me, I'd get rid of it. Check with the local dealers first for a trade-in. My dealer has a couple of nice used ones on the lot right now or at least he did a week ago. A good dealer goes over the tractor really well and offers a 90 day to 1 year guarantee on a used one (depends on the dealer and tractor age). Now that you know a little more I bet you can find a nice tractor out there that is in good shape and it won't bust your budget. IF you really do not want to go that route, I'd buy a new one that can handle the attachments you have. I'd rather have too much tractor and not use all of it than to have too little tractor needing more. As long as your attachments are in good shape, I'd get a tractor they fit. That is just me personally.

CajunRider · May 3, 2018

MickeyDBC said:
Probably won't stay in gear because the tranny got full of salt water and everything rusted and got real stiff and the shift forks got bent from trying to get everything to move. If the transmission is eat up on the inside the motor may not be far behind. My suggestion would be to try and find another DK45 and use the existing one for spare parts (has to be something good left on it). The salt is bad but the silt that got in is probably even worse. I would not sell it to anybody else unless it is just in bits and pieces, some shade tree tractor dealer will get it, make it run and repaint it with Krylon and then push it off on some other poor soul.

It will be sold for scrap metal at my friend scrap yard. I don't want to inflict this on anyone.

CajunRider · May 3, 2018

BrokenTrack said:
I would suggest getting rid of it, but not for the reasons others suggest, but not that they are wrong either...

You dislike the tractor.

With wives and children it is a bit different, you cannot just get rid of them because they bug you, but with tractors, it can be like acid on a piece of steak, it just kind of eats at you. Maybe in the future the tractor is decent to own, but guaranteed even the littlest thing will bug you about it.

A guy once told me, "If you have to ask the question, you probably already know the answer."

Not true. I love the tractor. I've gathered and burned or dumped more than 11,000 cubic yard of hurricane debris (mostly swamp canes, trees, and broken lumbers from docks and houses) with it. Without that tractor, I could not have done it. After each hurricane, I have debris almost 3 ft deep on my 7 acres of land. I've hung on to it. Tried to fix it, spent way too much money doing so.

pmsmechanic · May 3, 2018

The fact that the transmission slips out of gear tells me that most likely the bearings in the transmission are corroded from the salt water. The reality is that the transmission is most likely due for a major overhaul. Frankly with that and the other problems you've mentioned.....start shopping.

Another Kioti that your front end loader would fit onto would maybe be a good idea. Tractors without a fel are more rarer and harder to find but are certainly a lot cheaper too. Maybe your budget can handle that situation.

Now I know that you've said you don't want another used tractor. I also know what it's like to be on a budget! Instead of scrapping the tractor could you part it out to improve your budget? Just throwing out ideas.

kebo · May 3, 2018

CajunRider said:
It will be sold for scrap metal at my friend scrap yard. I don't want to inflict this on anyone.

Just a thought, but if you could find a decent used tractor of the same make/model, you could keep the old clunker for a parts tractor.

aczlan · May 3, 2018

pmsmechanic said:
Now I know that you've said you don't want another used tractor. I also know what it's like to be on a budget! Instead of scrapping the tractor could you part it out to improve your budget? Just throwing out ideas.

I would say list it on Craigslist for $1500-3000 and list that it has been flooded several times, full disclosure that way and if someone wants to rebuild it or part it out, they can't say that they weren't warned.

Aaron Z