Buying Advice Lower hours, but questionable maintenenace... Purchase?

PatasColo · Sep 30, 2011

Quick question: I see a number of opportunities to buy a tractor about the size for my needs with low hours, but the seller either does not know if fluids have been changed (e.g. they purchased the tractor used and don't know the history), or is dodgy (and so it makes it seem like they have not been changed at the recommended intervals; I figure if someone has been on top of this, they let you know and give you details, since it is a selling point).

How do you decide whether to buy, or do you always just pass it up? :confused3::confused3:
Real Example: 2007 Kubota B7610 with loader and 4 implements, under 200 hours, $10,500. I haven't spoken to seller yet, but what if fluids have never been changed, or perhaps only engine oil was changed "at some point", but nothing else?

Any useful advice from you mechanical or experienced folks would be useful... I know that opinions may vary.

(Not trying to start a battle here... ju's talkin' to friends for their thoughts

)

sweep · Sep 30, 2011

Less than 200 hrs would not bother me in the least..now if it was 1500 hours and no maintence history..

nybirdman · Sep 30, 2011

This tractor is not that old and traded hands twice looking for a third?I would see if the is a dealer sticker on the machine and check with the dealer and see if it had been brought in for service.

PatasColo · Sep 30, 2011

sweep said:
Less than 200 hrs would not bother me in the least..now if it was 1500 hours and no maintence history..

I'd be inclined to agree... except a number of posts indicate that the 50-hour service is the most important one (to clear out metal shavings and other internal gunk from the break-in process). If it is "missed" and the tractor goes to almost 200 hours without that.. seems like the internals might be a concern?

PatasColo · Sep 30, 2011

nybirdman said:
This tractor is not that old and traded hands twice looking for a third?I would see if the is a dealer sticker on the machine and check with the dealer and see if it had been brought in for service.

Good idea nybirdman... and I'll also ask the seller the same (and if he can point me at the dealer). If a seller shows discomfort around that, that'd say something.

sweep · Sep 30, 2011

PatasColo said:
I'd be inclined to agree... except a number of posts indicate that the 50-hour service is the most important one (to clear out metal shavings and other internal gunk from the break-in process). If it is "missed" and the tractor goes to almost 200 hours without that.. seems like the internals might be a concern?

It would be easy to tell if the oil was changed on a 200 hr machine. The drain plug bolts would have paint marred from the wrench and all tractor manufactureres use a different oil filter color on new tractors than the ones they sell over the counter.
My NH when new had a black filter on it and the ones over the counter are white.
I suspect the manufacturers do this to protect themselves so they know if someone did the 50 hour oil change or at least an oil change on a low hr machine in case of a warranty problem.

dodge man · Sep 30, 2011

Less than 200 hours, I'm not sure I'd worry about it.

Diamondpilot · Sep 30, 2011

dodge man said:
Less than 200 hours, I'm not sure I'd worry about it.

I agree but always trust your gut.

Chris

flusher · Sep 30, 2011

PatasColo said:
Quick question: I see a number of opportunities to buy a tractor about the size for my needs with low hours, but the seller either does not know if fluids have been changed (e.g. they purchased the tractor used and don't know the history), or is dodgy (and so it makes it seem like they have not been changed at the recommended intervals; I figure if someone has been on top of this, they let you know and give you details, since it is a selling point).

How do you decide whether to buy, or do you always just pass it up? :confused3::confused3:
Real Example: 2007 Kubota B7610 with loader and 4 implements, under 200 hours, $10,500. I haven't spoken to seller yet, but what if fluids have never been changed, or perhaps only engine oil was changed "at some point", but nothing else?

Any useful advice from you mechanical or experienced folks would be useful... I know that opinions may vary. (Not trying to start a battle here... ju's talkin' to friends for their thoughts )

My first tractor was a new 2005 Kubota B7510HST. I did all the scheduled maintenace myself.

As far as worrying about that B7610:

Engine oil---not to worry, the oil filter will protect the engine for a few hundred hours with no problem.

Engine air filter-check this out before you buy that 7610. If it's filthy and there's a lot of dust in the housing, I'd be concerned about dust getting into the engine. Diesels can be touchy about air quality--a little dust can cause a lot of internal problems.

Hydraulics-IIRC the hydraulic fluid change is part of the 50 hour maintenance. There's a screw on filter, a wire mesh filter and IIRC a magnetic drain plug.I don't think going 200 hours or so on the factory fluid will do any harm.

Be sure to check the radiator for clogging. It's easy to overheat the engine in these little Kubota's when mowing tall weeds if clogging occurs. If the radiator core is filthy with debris, be careful--the engine could have been overheated.

Just test drive the tractor, check operation in all tranny gears, check the pto clutch operation, check the 3pt hitch operation, check the loader operation. If all this stuff works OK, then go for it--the asking price is pretty good. Of course, you need to haggle to show that you're a savvy tractor buyer.

Good luck.