As I have got so much useful information and tips from this message board, I would like to give something back and share my tractor story. It s also an opportunity to keep all my questions and solutions in one place.
I work as a welder /(sheet) metal fabricator and run my own small workshop on my property where buildings are almost 100 years old and there is always something to build-repair-improve-maintain, then some kind of machine is really needed. I had an old, partially home-made tractor with FEL that I got from my relative about 15 years ago. It was a great help but this machine had so many small problems and issues, it was out of service half of the time and when the clutch went out I gave it up and got rid of it.
Since then I have missed some kind of loader but somehow managed without it, hired someone to do the work, rented small loaders or had a chance to use some friends equipment- small kubotas with loader, bigger tractors with FEL and heavy-duty telehandlers. As you see, some kind of loader or lifting device is a must, a tractor without it is pretty much useless to me.
I have searched around for some machine once in a while but nothing has really got my attention, of course money is also an issue cause all building and home-projects take as much as you can earn..
Then one day, June 2023 I was visiting a customer and just before I was leaving he showed me to roll down my window and said: "Hey, You live in the countryside, dont you need a tractor?".....
I was like " what tractor, do you have one?".
We went to his backyard where I have never been and there it was... 2017 Branson 3625cx with a front end loader! Sat there all dirty, dusty and with not enough air in tires.
He bought it brand new in 2017 to maintain his huge property and start building solar-farm etc but then got some health issues and these projects stalled. Since then he has used the tractor only a few times. It had 46 hours on the clock and he said there already was 22 when he bought it cause it was a dealers demo-tractor. Anyway, this thing was new, always stored under the roof. Smelled like new inside, no dents, rust, anything, only some bird-boop and lots of dust.
His wife has told him two years to get rid of that "old red thing" so she can park her car on that place and dont have to look some iron-junk every day...
As it has really no use he finally agreed.
I was pretty shocked as you can imagine. It took him some minutes to find the keys...and it fired right up. I tested all the functions very briefly, everything seemed fine. My heart has already made the decision... just the one I have been looking for: right size, in top shape, basically new, loader with bucket...
But I didnt know the price and I heard the name Branson for the first time.
Price he was asking was a steal.... less than half the price of the new... and small tandem-axle dump trailer and decent flail mower are included in the deal. Both brand new, never used, the mower was still strapped to the pallet. He didnt want to sell anything separately, only the full package. He had not put up any ad jet, was kind enough to give me a week to think and decide.
I did lot of research, also here in TBN, planned my finances and as you already know, bought it!
One odd thing for me was that the VIN of the tractor was 000001, same on the engine an cab. Is it really the first 25 series or what...?
Couple of days later one of my friends had to deliver some machine to the same area where the tractor was located, with his work-truck and on the way back, we picked up the Branson.
To be continued...
I work as a welder /(sheet) metal fabricator and run my own small workshop on my property where buildings are almost 100 years old and there is always something to build-repair-improve-maintain, then some kind of machine is really needed. I had an old, partially home-made tractor with FEL that I got from my relative about 15 years ago. It was a great help but this machine had so many small problems and issues, it was out of service half of the time and when the clutch went out I gave it up and got rid of it.
Since then I have missed some kind of loader but somehow managed without it, hired someone to do the work, rented small loaders or had a chance to use some friends equipment- small kubotas with loader, bigger tractors with FEL and heavy-duty telehandlers. As you see, some kind of loader or lifting device is a must, a tractor without it is pretty much useless to me.
I have searched around for some machine once in a while but nothing has really got my attention, of course money is also an issue cause all building and home-projects take as much as you can earn..
Then one day, June 2023 I was visiting a customer and just before I was leaving he showed me to roll down my window and said: "Hey, You live in the countryside, dont you need a tractor?".....
I was like " what tractor, do you have one?".
We went to his backyard where I have never been and there it was... 2017 Branson 3625cx with a front end loader! Sat there all dirty, dusty and with not enough air in tires.
He bought it brand new in 2017 to maintain his huge property and start building solar-farm etc but then got some health issues and these projects stalled. Since then he has used the tractor only a few times. It had 46 hours on the clock and he said there already was 22 when he bought it cause it was a dealers demo-tractor. Anyway, this thing was new, always stored under the roof. Smelled like new inside, no dents, rust, anything, only some bird-boop and lots of dust.
His wife has told him two years to get rid of that "old red thing" so she can park her car on that place and dont have to look some iron-junk every day...
As it has really no use he finally agreed.
I was pretty shocked as you can imagine. It took him some minutes to find the keys...and it fired right up. I tested all the functions very briefly, everything seemed fine. My heart has already made the decision... just the one I have been looking for: right size, in top shape, basically new, loader with bucket...
But I didnt know the price and I heard the name Branson for the first time.
Price he was asking was a steal.... less than half the price of the new... and small tandem-axle dump trailer and decent flail mower are included in the deal. Both brand new, never used, the mower was still strapped to the pallet. He didnt want to sell anything separately, only the full package. He had not put up any ad jet, was kind enough to give me a week to think and decide.
I did lot of research, also here in TBN, planned my finances and as you already know, bought it!
One odd thing for me was that the VIN of the tractor was 000001, same on the engine an cab. Is it really the first 25 series or what...?
Couple of days later one of my friends had to deliver some machine to the same area where the tractor was located, with his work-truck and on the way back, we picked up the Branson.
To be continued...