Buying Advice Questions about potential purchase, not sure where to start

[WinterDeere]

...but does rust matter?

I wouldn't even look at a CUT that's been stored outdoors. Not because of rust, but because the tires, seat, dash cluster, and every bit of plastic on the thing is going to be trashed.

So, that leaves you with buying tractors from prior owners who were not idiots, and actually kept their CUT's in a garage or barn, where they belong. Rust should be a zero issue, I've owned 60 year old tractors with no rust anywhere to be found, and even sometimes original tires (if kept out of the sun).

Note I said "CUT", not "tractor", to keep the big boys from jumping onto my statement. Guys like Hay Dude have big machines that probably do end up sitting outdoors a lot during the season, as they're awful big to haul home and put indoors every night. Different type of machine, different situation.

 

[fattylumpkins]

You are going to love having a tractor for your property. It sounds like this is all very new to you. You are getting a lot of good information on this thread, but you need to really need to see, touch and try to get a better understanding.

There are three dealerships within 20 miles of you. Visit each of them. Tell them about your property, and your plans for using the tractor. Tell them you are a newbie, and ask them to educate you about compact and sub-compact tractors - their features and capabilities. Ask them to give you a demonstration, and ask them to let you operate one (the tractor and the loader). Get some literature.

Do that at each dealership. You will learn more with each visit. That is just step 1. Go back again, and see if any of them are "speaking" to you (ergonomics, price, features, zen.,..). If you make several visits, you will learn more each time.

You'll keep getting advice here, but you really need to get some first hand experience.

Thank you, I absolutely agree at this point. This is the logical first step, and I already asked my dad to come with me when he's back in town.

Also, thank you everyone so much for the insight on HST. I watched the video and now get exactly why I need this.

 

[airbiscuit]

I wouldn't even look at a CUT that's been stored outdoors. Not because of rust, but because the tires, seat, dash cluster, and every bit of plastic on the thing is going to be trashed.

So, that leaves you with buying tractors from prior owners who were not idiots, and actually kept their CUT's in a garage or barn, where they belong. Rust should be a zero issue, I've owned 60 year old tractors with no rust anywhere to be found, and even sometimes original tires (if kept out of the sun).

Note I said "CUT", not "tractor", to keep the big boys from jumping onto my statement. Guys like Hay Dude have big machines that probably do end up sitting outdoors a lot during the season, as they're awful big to haul home and put indoors every night. Different type of machine, different situation.

Uhmmm, just about every tractor at the dealership is stored outdoors.
Yep, over the long term, it's better to keep them under shelter, but lots aren't and still function.

 

[WinterDeere]

Uhmmm, just about every tractor at the dealership is stored outdoors.
Yep, over the long term, it's better to keep them under shelter, but lots aren't and still function.

Yeah, but we're talking weeks or months, versus years.

My life-long hobby is boating, and I've seen first hand how sun eats more materials than salt and water ever will. You want to ruin any rubber or plastic? Leave it out in the sun for a few years.

My tractor indeed has some sun damage to the cowling and dash, probably having sat out for 10-12 weeks prior to purchase. If I had noticed how bad it was, I'd have waited for them to order a new one, as I didn't get any special deal for taking from stock.

 

[rumwrks]

although the list of what to look for (leaks, cracked hoses, smoke color, weird sounding / inconsistent engine sounds) but does rust matter?

I might also suggest this is more of a baseline of a set of questions to ask if you do have someone look over the tractor if you're not comfortable judging for yourself. I've often found asking some of the baseline questions gets you a LOT more useful information than just "is it good". You don't always have to know how to do everything but knowing enough to ask whether someone else does is frequently useful in judging if they're bullshitting you or not

As to rust.. yes but also no but mostly yes. Some surface rust in an of itself isn't really a huge issue IMHO. But it would be a red flag that the tractor possibly hadn't been well stored or taken care of. Also even used I'd steer you towards newer machines which shouldn't normally have a lot of rust unless they were somehow used hard. If there was much rust anywhere other than wear and weather points (a little on the underside of the frame or fenders or where there's a small paint scratch somewhere is fine, significant rust on moving parts or large splotches of rust not so much)

 

[MJZ]

You are going to love having a tractor for your property. It sounds like this is all very new to you. You are getting a lot of good information on this thread, but you need to really need to see, touch and try to get a better understanding.

There are three dealerships within 20 miles of you. Visit each of them. Tell them about your property, and your plans for using the tractor. Tell them you are a newbie, and ask them to educate you about compact and sub-compact tractors - their features and capabilities. Ask them to give you a demonstration, and ask them to let you operate one (the tractor and the loader). Get some literature.

Do that at each dealership. You will learn more with each visit. That is just step 1. Go back again, and see if any of them are "speaking" to you (ergonomics, price, features, zen.,..). If you make several visits, you will learn more each time.

You'll keep getting advice here, but you really need to get some first hand experience.

Good call. Just go get on 'em and at the dealer. Find a dealer that is patient and willing to coach you. Shoot, I just picked up a tractor this summer and there was/is a learning curve. The ROPs confounded me getting in and out of shop. Bushing had to be swapped out on my box blade so it seated in quick hitch. Learning to connect the implements to the pto...many things to learn. It's fun, but be patient with the tractor and yourself as you learn.

 

[California]

Comments on a couple of points:

HST vs gear drive. Classic gear drive on a tractor is about the same as manual transmission in a car. But gear drive has one very important limitation. You have to remain in whatever gear you started in. You can't shift after you get moving because that would grind and destroy gears, there aren't synchronizers in the transmission. Maybe some modern models have synchro rings, I don't know. While HST automatically provides whatever gear you need

Straight gear drive is ok for plowing or something that will run at constant speed. But my example shows its limitations: My orchard is all slopes. I need to start in a low gear uphill, then full stop and choose a higher gear when I reach level ground. That's not very productive. I bought the second Yanmar for its low height to get under orchard trees, and also for its PowerShift. That's about the same as a car A/T except its direct drive after each clutchless shift.

Loader forks: I have clamp-on forks to attach to the front loader bucket. Under $200 for the pair. This avoids the cost, complexity, weight of a quick-attach front bucket used alternately with quick-attack front forks. I'm not convinced that a homeowner tractor needs the quick attach feature. Quick hitch on the rear, and rear loader forks, sure!

 

[airbiscuit]

Forks are handy, but they can wait. It sounds like the wood she wants to carry are chunks that can be thrown in the bucket. Clamp on forks might be handy later for hauling brush.

 

[WinterDeere]

Forks are handy, but they can wait. It sounds like the wood she wants to carry are chunks that can be thrown in the bucket. Clamp on forks might be handy later for hauling brush.

Agreed. Aside from that, forks really aren't very useful on a machine of the size she is likely shopping. My forks and frame, even totally empty, would be eating something like 70% of the max capacity of the loader on a 1-series or that Bobcat machine that was recommended earlier.

I wouldn't bother with forks on any machine that small, unless I had some special unique need for them.

 

[rScotty]

Looking to purchase my first tractor. Have decent lawn tractor (JD x350) but it's proven inadequate for any projects beyond cutting grass.

There is a John Deere dealership nearby, and a Kubota dealer even closer, so I would like to limit my search to these brands.

I currently live on a 3.8 acre property in Washington. It's slightly hilly, very rocky soil (sometimes boulders), there's several trees but it's mostly a meadow, and it's constantly on the verge of being swallowed by blackberry. The property was neglected prior to purchase, so I'm in the process of restoring it and transforming it into my sanctuary. Use cases are moving wood, I would love to get a brush hog (as I've paid for this several times now and it's baffling how quickly blackberry grows), moving sod, filling holes, evening out land / tilling, and as a helper for ambitious gardening plans.

I think it's time for me to start considering a tractor. My budget is probably around $20K with some wiggle room.

Additional considerations: I've never used a tractor before, I'm not very mechanically inclined, and as such, I would love to have something user friendly and reliable. I don't know if this matters, I'm in my 30s and a woman, so I want to come prepared to any dealer so I don't get taken advantage of.

To be honest, I'm not 100% sure a tractor is the right thing for me. The anonymity of the internet will allow me to admit I'm sorta an idiot and in over my head, and maybe I should just stick to hand tools and manual labor.

Either way, thank you for any insight you can provide, I sincerely appreciate your help and advice.

.....Just back from a camping trip. Lets see what I can add, if anything.

Limiting your search to those two brands...Seems wise to me. Both are good. Kubota would be my first choice in the small/medium size tractor just because that is their area of concentration.

Dealer New vs Nice but Used? It all depends on the person doing the selling. You absolutely need to have someone you trust on your side to give you advice and help with this search. And that person needs to to be there in person. If you have such - neighbor or relative - and that person understands mechanical things, I would have no qualms about buying used.

You should be able to find an excellent machine in your price range. That is a reasonable price and should get what you want. You want something wide and stable. It should have a front end Loader, 3pt hitch, 4wd, power steering, and be in nice condition with under about 1500 hours and not over ten or so years old - though he age is less important than the condition. HST would be a bonus because HST makes a tractor so easy to use. A well maintained used tractor like that should last a lifetime with little or no repairs. Maintenance and condition are the keys.

If looking at used, make price secondary. What you want is one that the previous owner appreciated and enjoyed.

I don't know anyone who faithfully follows all the maintenance in the owner's manual. But try not to get too far behind. Frankly if I keep to half the factory recommended schedule that feels about right to me.

BTW, weather is hard on tractors. A shed is best, though I use a lightweight treated tarp covering the tractor down to about half way down the tires. Not perfect, but sufficient. It keeps sun and moisture off while letting it breathe. Cover it every evening and tie it at the corners so it doesn't flap.

Yes, you can get by without a tractor. We did on our place for years. Almost anything a tractor can do you can do with hand tools and manual labor. It just takes longer.
The big exception is picking up something heavy and moving it. That is what the front end loader does, and for us that was the most important labor and body saver.

Good luck,
rScotty