Protocol for used tractor from a dealer?

[Post Carbon]

Hello folks,

My husband wants to buy me a tractor. Really! I'm the market gardener, and he thinks I work too hard. It has taken me awhile to get to this point, but he's convinced me with the reasoning that we can backfill around the basement/house we're building and apply that $$ to the tractor.

I'm quite a noob here--not scared of tractors; just never much had need of them. I'm wondering, if we purchase a used tractor from a dealership, should we have a mechanic check it out? We are looking at a JD 2305 with FEL and backhoe. Where we are located (on an island) it would be really hard to return the tractor to that dealership for maintenance, so I want to be careful and not get a lemon, or something that has a problem I wouldn't know to look for (not being mechanically inclined).

We have 3 acres and I farm as organically as I can, without getting certified (meaningless these days anyway). So I'm looking at a tiller also, although at least one review I've read is that the tiller beats up the aluminum casting of the JD2305.

Backhoe I know is a bit of overkill, but I personally hate digging holes by hand, and if this machine is for a girl, then that girl shouldn't have to dig holes anymore. I'd need to grub out blackberries regularly.

I suspect the husband will play with this machine too, but mostly it's for me.

Any advice is welcome.

 

[bigbull338]

you can question the dealer about the tractors maintance.an ask them if its ok,an dont have any known probs.an yall can service the tractor yourselves.

 

[Deere Dude]

I think a tractor like that will come in very handy while building a house and also for years to come. I have a hard time believe a roto-tiller will be any harder on that tractor than any other tractor, unless someone is tilling up a rock field, and then the tiller would go first. It sure wouldn't be any harder on the tractor than a backhoe.

As long as it will be so difficult to return for repairs after the fact, I would try to find an independent knowledgeable tractor mechanic to take a look under the hood and give you some advice. Over the years I have bought very few new tractors or cars or trucks where they never have to go back for some tweaking.

At least someone might be able to catch a few little things for you especially since it had a back-hoe on it. They should know many little trouble spots to look for. I would get one.

 

[RoyJackson]

First, Welcome to TBN!!

How do you normally get to your home? Is there a bridge? A Ferry?

If either a bridge or ferry, I don't see a problem. Transport costs would still be per mile (or kilometer).
However, if you have to make special plans (rent a barge or something like that), you could be in a bit of a quandry. Transport costs would be your responsibility...price of ownership.

Deere tractors are pretty reliable so the odds are, you'd get a good tractor if you bought that 2305.
The folks who use tillers can give you better answers then I can, about your concerns using a tiller. But there are a lot of Deere tractors with aluminum castings that have suffered no failures.
If the dealer is willing to offer a warranty, I think you'd be OK without having an experienced person look it over. If he's not willing to warrant the machine, do you have someone that can look it over and try it out?

 

[IndyIan]

I found in my tractor search that used tractors just didn't make a whole lot of sense for me to buy used, unless I took a chance on a eastern european brand. Like you I don't have a lot of tractor experience either other than what I read here. For your market, it might be a bit different but get some quotes on new tractors too. With some of the rebates available you can a new one for 5% more than the used one with little or no warranty left and you get exactly what you want.

Taking along a tractor knowledgable friend to the dealer is always allowed, and I considered even hiring a real mechanic for an hour to check out a private sale tractor. A seller that won't accept that is a que to look elsewhere.

Also I would trust your gut at a dealership, some will try to pass off old junk they can't get rid of to a newbie and talk down to you. The dealer I bought from took me through their shop which was clean and organized to sell his dealership as a place I want to do business with, not just the shiney tractors out front.

 

[TripleR]

We own a JD2305 as well as a BX2660 and personally would not want either for what you describe due to the low ground clearance, exposed HST fan and lack of position control on the 3 PH. I would go the next step up to a CUT.

As recommended by others, get a knowledgeable friend to check it out or you will just have to trust your dealer. Try to get maintenance records and/or speak with the prior owner.

Check some threads by bp fick as he is doing a lot of what you envision or so it seems.

My wife and I do all of our maintenance for the most part.

Good luck.

 

[MarkV]

Welcome to the forum. Is the tractor being sold by a John Deere dealer? Is it the same dealer that sold the tractor new? How many hours are on the tractor? If it is a JD dealer and a low hour trade in I don't think I would worry about an independent mechanic. They can't afford to be passing off lemons when it is the brand they represent. Now if the tractor is at the local used car lot that may be different.

These little diesel tractors are amazingly dependable. One of mine is 14 years old and has never had to go to the shop. Just routine maintenance such as oil and filter changes.

TripleR does make a good point about ground clearance. That tractor sets pretty low to the ground which will limit cultivating of row crops.

Good luck,
MarkV

 

[Post Carbon]

Our island has tractor dealers, but because it's an island, there are very few used tractors available, so we go to the mainland for these larger type purchases. And yes, a ferry is how we go, and transport back is a big hairy expensive deal.

However, I have a John Deere dealership less than a mile from my place--just nothing used on their lot and I have a budget. So the ongoing maintenance isn't something I'm worried about--just don't want to be stupid and buy something that has something wrong with it.

The dealership we're considering is not a JD dealer, and is about five hours away.

Interesting about the low clearance. Let me ask a noob question: you say it's low for cultivating row crops. Do you mean going through the rows after planting, or the basic preparing seedbed? Reason I'd like that clarified is because the way I plant is intensively, in large blocks about 4 feet wide and would not bring a tractor into the field during the growing cycle. I would use it to spread amendments, turn them into the soil, and till under green manures (along with all the other dirt / compost / snow / fencepost / butchering / hauling duties). Is low clearance a problem for the way I plan to use it in the field? I will be cultivating regularly at most about 1.5 acres.

Thanks so much for all this advice. And thanks for the forum welcome.

PCP

 

[firejunkie]

Tractor data list the ground clearance of the machine as 7.7 inches at the front axle, that may be an issue later when it comes time to re-cultivate your rows. As TripleR stated I may step up a notch or two to a CUT sized unit in the 20-30 hp range, That 2305 is awful small to be tilling and working alot. Sticking with a John Deere is smart as well as you have a dealer near to you on the island, that will come in very handy down the road as parts and or service is needed. What may I ask is your budget range ? are you strictly going to buy out-rite cash? The 2320 looks to be more your size, a bit larger but still a small frame tractor, 12" of front axle clearance, just a more robust machine without getting crazy, a probably still within budget.

 

[oldballs]

Again, as others have said, I'd move up to the Compact size tractor versus the Sub-Compact size machine due to the low clearance aspect for plowing. And I'm not even sure some Compacts have enough HP to run a tiller. Maybe somebody else can elaborate on that. If you get some expert advice on the condition of a used tractor or even a new one, it may need transport sometime unless such a mechanic makes "house calls". Even then there may be occasions when the tractor has to go back to a shop for repair. Good luck....Today I worked in my garden all day using a rake and hoe on ground that I plowed and tilled (walk behind) with my BX tractor. But my garden area is only about 1/4 acre. Good luck on your island.