Potential Dangers of Purchasing Online

[MasseyWV]

It looks like the tractor is broken in the middle.

BINGO! It's back is broken.

If you look closely, you can see the middle of the tractor moving up and down as the FEL is moved, which is especially evident when it reaches the end of it's travel. It's also noticeable when the operator very briefly lifts the front of the tractor with the FEL.

Less obvious but quite pronounced, if you know what to listen for, is the sound of the tractor as it is operated. Notice how it sounds "trashy" or "loose", as if gears are grinding or something is broken inside. If you compare the two video examples, the difference is very obvious.

Another huge red flag, is the fact that first video of the broken tractor starts with the tractor already running and the operator never increases the RPM's above idle and goes very slowly when driving it. The operator of the tractor in the second video starts the tractor, immediately revs the RPM's above idle so the hydraulics will operate properly, then drives and operates it in much the same way as anyone might do.

 

[dfkrug]

Did you spot the problem? I watched the video after reading about the problems the tractor had and didn't see it right away myself. You have to watch very closely.

Great post, MASSEY.

On first view of your video, it looked like the BushHog loader frame
was loose. Going back to it, I can see the whole tractor bending.

What also struck me was the gear noise and I have never seen OEM
rear tires from Kubota like that. Replaced rear tires indicate a LOT of
hours on the tractor. If the stated hours are less than 2000 or so,
I would wonder why they were changed.

As a buyer of many project tractors, I would certainly want to inspect
them myself. I HAVE bought one car sight-unseen on eBay, but I
paid an inspector $100 to look at, drive, and photo it first.