Should I say something

[ededic]

You already did the right thing. Since you don’t know for sure, casting doubt for this guy will only provide anxiety and worry every time he bids a job or uses the tractor that this time the tractor will fail him. If it was fixed his sense of security is in tact. If it was not fixed and the tractor keeps on working he is way better off mentally. If it breaks down it is just life happening, nothing more.

 

[coaster]

I'm with the let it go gang. Informing the current owner at this point will likely just cause him to worry about the future of the Kubota and create angst between him and the seller. Cross your fingers and hope that the dealer had enough integrity to correct any problems before selling it again.

 

[workinonit]

It's definately not on you but I would call the guy and at least find out what his deal was with the dealer you sold it to. If it were me I would want to know. Who knows, maybe he got a warranty with it. I know when I traded my tractor the dealer put the new buyer in touch with me and he bought a warranty with it so that a few things would be covered. If I'm selling a "parts" machine I can assure you the buyer won't be able to turn around and sell it as a running machine.

 

[dusty3030]

Here’s my take - approaching this person who bought it has no upside.
1 It’s kind of creepy. You sold it. Let it go.
2 The new owner may be very well satisfied with his purchase. All you will accomplish is make trouble for him.

 

[hube2]

Even though I feel the same way as the OP, I have to agree with the others when they say to leave it alone. I might actually loose a little sleep over it, if he was local I would probably keep on eye on what happens, but there really is nothing but bad that can come out of saying anything about a possible issue.

If I knew guy, if he's local to me, I might strike up a conversation with him if I found a chance, tell him I was glad that my old tractor found a good home and maybe let him talk about the deal he got, but I would say nothing about any potential issues. It might still seem creepy to approach him without a good reason, people can be funny that way.

 

[Grandad4]

You sold that tractor to some kind of salvage/repair outfit, right? What did you think they were going to do with it? You didn't KNOW exactly what was wrong with the transmission, unless you caused the damage. Maybe it was easily fixed, maybe not. Either way, the tractor was evidently good enough that this new fella is using it, evidently with some success.

But that is none of your business at this point and you need to move on. Anything you do to raise doubts about that tractor sets you up for the salvage outfit to come after you like the opening night of Desert Storm for meddling in their private business affairs.

You wouldn't go around passing unflattering details about an old girlfriend to her new flame, would you? Maybe you REALLY liked that old tractor, but c'mon, man!

 

[therrien]

You sold that tractor to some kind of salvage/repair outfit, right? What did you think they were going to do with it? You didn't KNOW exactly what was wrong with the transmission, unless you caused the damage. Maybe it was easily fixed, maybe not. Either way, the tractor was evidently good enough that this new fella is using it, evidently with some success.

But that is none of your business at this point and you need to move on. Anything you do to raise doubts about that tractor sets you up for the salvage outfit to come after you like the opening night of Desert Storm for meddling in their private business affairs.

You wouldn't go around passing unflattering details about an old girlfriend to her new flame, would you? Maybe you REALLY liked that old tractor, but c'mon, man!

Thank you all for the replies. I will just leave it alone with the hope that the issue was repaired and the tractor run many more years.

 

[repete]

Read carefully the agreement, and all the fine print, when you sold it to the dealer. If the agreement says anything about contacting a future owner I would be very careful.

I say let it go.

 

[rScotty]

I would take a middle route. Tell him you are the old owner and are curious how it is holding up. That's certainly reasonable. No need to tell him your fears - but you may have information he could use.

Frankly, I like to hear from people who buy machines that I have owned. It's nice to compare notes and see how they are doing with the old iron. I don't think that people do that enough.

If I see an old machine of ours I go out of my way to offer to help with advice or information and always have.
Yes, I used to have a repair shop.

That's how I'd like to be treated so I treat people the same way.
rScotty

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I just traded a compact tractor for a new machine. I had told the dealer everything I knew to be wrong with it. A friend who works at the shop has now told me that it went out to auction, as there was more wrong than I'd thought. I feel a bit guilty; but am assured by the dealership that they still made money and anyone buying at auction understands the pig in a poke situation they're getting into.

 

[ed1978]

thats why there is filter on it.

 

[dzoller]

Be true to yourself and to how you would like to be treated.

If you were the new owner, what would you want the previous owner to do?

The golden rule is set aside all too often these days.

 

[Jstpssng]

thats why there is filter on it.

That's what I was thinking. I once had a truck tranny serviced, and he tried to sell me a rebuild because "there was metal in the pan."
I told him to put it back together, and although he warned me that I might not make it home, I put another 100K miles on it, then sold it with the original tranny.

 

[orezok]

That's what I was thinking. I once had a truck tranny serviced, and he tried to sell me a rebuild because "there was metal in the pan."
I told him to put it back together, and although he warned me that I might not make it home, I put another 100K miles on it, then sold it with the original tranny.

Thirty some years ago I used to own a transmission shop. When you are in the business, you get to know how other shops operate. There was one that played that game and would add some filings to the pan before they showed it to the customer. Sad.

 

[DieselBound]

It's one of those go with your gut feelongs.

My litmus test: are you able to sleep soundly?

 

[varmint]

Sadly, the guys who do bad stuff don't seem to worry about sleeping soundly. It used to be fairly common for tire shops that wanted to make a little more money to squirt some oil on a shock or two, and point it out to the customer who came in for tires. "Gee, thanks for showing me that- sure, go ahead and replace those bad shocks." Metal filings in the pan doesn't surprise me.

 

[k0ua]

Here’s my take - approaching this person who bought it has no upside.
1 It’s kind of creepy. You sold it. Let it go.
2 The new owner may be very well satisfied with his purchase. All you will accomplish is make trouble for him.

Exactly. NOTHING good will come from putting your nose back into this ABSOUTLY NOTHING. There is NO upside. ONLY downside. "Even if" the tractor is about to fall about tomorrow. NOTHING good will come of you causing trouble between him and the dealer. Let him fight his own battles with the dealer. DO NOT cause trouble.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Call the handyman. Tell him you're happy to see your old tractor still hard at work, that it had been a good tractor for lots of years, you'd sold it for parts due to issues with metal filings in the transmission fluid, and you're glad it's been fixed or that he's going to fix it when the transmission goes bad. Maybe offer him your records file so he'll know when it next needs service, or so he can see that the tractor was well maintained. Be a friend, not a tattle-tale.

All that will do is potentially get you stuck in the middle of a legal battle and probably a libel suit from the seller.

 

[Big Barn]

All that will do is potentially get you stuck in the middle of a legal battle and probably a libel suit from the seller.

Agreed!

I firmly agree with those who said say "NOTHING"

Not because you're not a nice guy. It's just none of your business.

 

[oosik]

I bought my first tractor - brand new - in 1982. Traded it in on my current tractor in 2009. About two months after I traded it in - got a call from the owner. Guess he got my name, phone number out of the owners manual that I gave the dealer.

I was surprised. Had nothing but good news for the new owner. Made a new friend.