Low hour used tractors

[CloverKnollFarms]

My tractor is low hour... Because it's a compact, not an ag tractor. It sits in a clean, dry barn with a concrete floor. Maintenance done on time. I guess someone could avoid it, but that would be dumb . I'll put 12 hours per day on an ag tractor, tilling acreage. That's just not what a compact is made for

 

[ptsg]

My tractor is low hour... Because it's a compact, not an ag tractor. It sits in a clean, dry barn with a concrete floor. Maintenance done on time. I guess someone could avoid it, but that would be dumb . I'll put 12 hours per day on an ag tractor, tilling acreage. That's just not what a compact is made for

People over here and most Europe would strongly disagree with that statement, given how many thousands and thousands of hours they put on their tractors.

A compact tractor is still tractor made to do tractor work, just in a smaller size. A compact tractor can and will go where the bigger ones can't. They will still stack thousands and thousands of hours.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

That's a double acting cylinder being used as single acting. Usually the non used port gets a breather, instead of an oil cup meant, well, to oil things.

If it's leaking from there, you have bad piston seals in that cylinder.

Sometimes they also route that port straight to the tank using low pressure hose. This way there is no moisture that can possibly get in there and any leaks go straight to tank.

Thanks, that's what I figured it had to be. Just haven't seen a setup like this before.

If I'm lucky the seals are still good, but weren't good enough to keep fluid out while the cylinder was under pressure for several years.

Either way, a filter is probably in order since that vent is low and quite close to the trencher when in operation.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I recently priced a low hour used Kubota cab tractor vs the same model new. A three year old Kubota with three hundred hours was sixteen thousand dollars less.

How things have changed since I got mine in '10.

Was about to buy an ex rental with 300 hours on it, but the rear tires were already half worn and the interior looked like (what I imagine) a NYC bus would.

For $3K more (10%) I got a new one, from the same dealer.

 

[ptsg]

Thanks, that's what I figured it had to be. Just haven't seen a setup like this before.

If I'm lucky the seals are still good, but weren't good enough to keep fluid out while the cylinder was under pressure for several years.

Either way, a filter is probably in order since that vent is low and quite close to the trencher when in operation.

There is usually a residual amount of oil that can bypass even with good seals. Eventually, it accumulates enough oil on the rod side of the piston that when you extend it all the way, it will just gush all that oil out.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

People over here and most Europe would strongly disagree with that statement, given how many thousands and thousands of hours they put on their tractors.

A compact tractor is still tractor made to do tractor work, just in a smaller size. A compact tractor can and will go where the bigger ones can't. They will still stack thousands and thousands of hours.

In the US a 35hp compact with 30-50 hours per year is pretty common to see.

 

[ptsg]

In the US a 35hp compact with 30-50 hours per year is pretty common to see.

Around here is more in the 300 to 500 hours a year.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Around here is more in the 300 to 500 hours a year.

Yeah, in the US you have big ag, and you have homeowners. Not much in between. So a low hour 35hp unit is common. A small farm in these parts is 200-500 acres.

 

[skramer360]

Around here is more in the 300 to 500 hours a year.

I've only put 60 hours on mine in almost 3 years. I bought it used with a bit under 1000 hours on it. It was almost 20 years old when I bought it.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I've only put 60 hours on mine in almost 3 years. I bought it used with a bit under 1000 hours on it. It was almost 20 years old when I bought it.

Yeah, mine basically tills ground. Maybe 15 hours per year. But it's not something that is cost effective to hire out either.