powershop
Bronze Member
Something's wrong! You say a 1988 model with 3 hrs and warranty work in 1999 with 11 hrs??
Too good to be true? Need help
- Thread starter petrops
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JATO_RaT
Veteran Member
You can always figure that there will be slop in both the loader and hoe if it has any amount of hours on it. When brand new, there is very little slop in all the various joints. Even after 200 hours there will be slop in the hoe and in the loader bucket joints in particular. Its an easy test to make, I'd start there and proceed to the other high wear areas. Tires, new or old, stratches on the underside, joints in the steering, is the alternator belt the stock belt or is aftermarket, just a few of the telltale signs if the tractor has had a life. Rat
Darren
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That discrepancy is why I'm saying he needs to look at the tractor in person. The hours (11) might have been falsely or mistakenly reported.
If that's a high hour machine, there should be plenty of evidence. Until someone looks at the machine carefully you can't tell. After I'd been told the B model Kubota at the dealer was new, I went back and looked it over.
The paint was really faded and there was surface rust in some spots, but when you looked at the seat, the pedals and other spots where you should see wear there wasn't any. The tractor had just been sitting outside year round for four or more years.
A truck dealer in Florida recently had an older low hour Kubota with a boom mower. After talking to a salesman who went outside with his cellphone I was fairly sure the hours where correct. The boom mower because of parts availability and the expense of those you could get wasn't worth much.
My guess is the municipality that bought the setup either speced it wrong and it wasn't as useful as they thought it would be or for some other reason it just never got used much. The tractor didn't sell until the dealer chopped the price to reflect that the boom mower was almost worthless. Someone got a deal if the hours were correct.
It doesn't happen often but you do find low mileage or low hour stuff occasionally. Some of it can be a real bargain. You just have to be careful not to get snookered.
If that's a high hour machine, there should be plenty of evidence. Until someone looks at the machine carefully you can't tell. After I'd been told the B model Kubota at the dealer was new, I went back and looked it over.
The paint was really faded and there was surface rust in some spots, but when you looked at the seat, the pedals and other spots where you should see wear there wasn't any. The tractor had just been sitting outside year round for four or more years.
A truck dealer in Florida recently had an older low hour Kubota with a boom mower. After talking to a salesman who went outside with his cellphone I was fairly sure the hours where correct. The boom mower because of parts availability and the expense of those you could get wasn't worth much.
My guess is the municipality that bought the setup either speced it wrong and it wasn't as useful as they thought it would be or for some other reason it just never got used much. The tractor didn't sell until the dealer chopped the price to reflect that the boom mower was almost worthless. Someone got a deal if the hours were correct.
It doesn't happen often but you do find low mileage or low hour stuff occasionally. Some of it can be a real bargain. You just have to be careful not to get snookered.
Thanks for the details Darren.
So what is the secret password?
The record of service at 11 hrs is the only concerning info that I have to resolve.
I actually contacted the local Kubota dealer who, for a modest fee, went and spent over an hour on the machine running it and looking for indications that it might have more than 3 hrs. He told me that it was absolutely new and ran perfectly. He also offered to buy it from the owner and to sell it and ship it to me for less than I was able to negotiate with the current owner directly. I will feel much better buying directly from a Kubota dealer who has been paid to appraise the machine.
The thing I am having a hard time with is the inconsistency between the 3 hrs on the meter and the record of service at 11 hrs. Even more strange is the time line:
Sold May of 1999, Returned for service months later with 1 hour, and 20 days later with 11 hrs.
Does this time line make sense to anyone? Looks like this thing was accumulating use at less than 15 minutes per month !!! ...Could the 11 hrs really be 1.1?
So what is the secret password?
The record of service at 11 hrs is the only concerning info that I have to resolve.
I actually contacted the local Kubota dealer who, for a modest fee, went and spent over an hour on the machine running it and looking for indications that it might have more than 3 hrs. He told me that it was absolutely new and ran perfectly. He also offered to buy it from the owner and to sell it and ship it to me for less than I was able to negotiate with the current owner directly. I will feel much better buying directly from a Kubota dealer who has been paid to appraise the machine.
The thing I am having a hard time with is the inconsistency between the 3 hrs on the meter and the record of service at 11 hrs. Even more strange is the time line:
Sold May of 1999, Returned for service months later with 1 hour, and 20 days later with 11 hrs.
Does this time line make sense to anyone? Looks like this thing was accumulating use at less than 15 minutes per month !!! ...Could the 11 hrs really be 1.1?
Darren
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It wasn't sold in 1999. That was when the only warranty claims were made. As for the 11/1.1, I think you're right.
That tractor won't be for sale long. I'd get over there fast. Now that a dealer is on to it, are you sure they won' deal for thenselves?
The secret is to ask for the department you want. In this case it was warranty. Never futz around with the operator with a long explanation so they can direct you to customer service or put you off. Tell them what you want.
When the operator answered, I asked to be connected to warranty. Bingo!
That tractor won't be for sale long. I'd get over there fast. Now that a dealer is on to it, are you sure they won' deal for thenselves?
The secret is to ask for the department you want. In this case it was warranty. Never futz around with the operator with a long explanation so they can direct you to customer service or put you off. Tell them what you want.
When the operator answered, I asked to be connected to warranty. Bingo!
Mark_in_NH
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Darren,
If I am understanding correctly. The tractor being a 1988 model, wasn't sold by the original dealer untill 1999. Which is why they allowed warrenty work on a 11 year old tractor.
If I am understanding correctly. The tractor being a 1988 model, wasn't sold by the original dealer untill 1999. Which is why they allowed warrenty work on a 11 year old tractor.
Darren
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I don't know what the warranty said for a 1988 model. If it was expressed only in hours with no time limit that would make sense. Especially with a TLB, Kubota might have figured the warranty hours would be exceeded within a couple of years max thus no time limit.. This is speculation on my part.
FWIW, If it was me, I'd have been there yesterday checking the tractor out. If the hours are correct, that tractor is a helluva deal.
FWIW, If it was me, I'd have been there yesterday checking the tractor out. If the hours are correct, that tractor is a helluva deal.
Sorry for the mistype. It is a 1998 not a 1988 tractor.
I don't plan on letting it sit very long today. I will be calling the original dealership (Thanks Daren) and the financing company that sold it at auction just to be sure. I really like the fact that the Kubota dealer that inspected it for me offered to buy it and to sell it to me as a tractor with 3 hrs on it.
It would be great if the warranty did not specify time. Although the dealer that inspected it told me that it was sold in May of 1999, I am amazed that it took 5 months (10/99) to accumulate 1 hr which is the first instance of recorded warranty work. I wonder if this might have been the original dealer doing the work to the tractor before it was sold and getting paid for the work under warranty. Maybe it was never actually sold and is eligible for original owner warranty.
I'll keep you all posted including any (gulp) humble pie I have to eat!
I don't plan on letting it sit very long today. I will be calling the original dealership (Thanks Daren) and the financing company that sold it at auction just to be sure. I really like the fact that the Kubota dealer that inspected it for me offered to buy it and to sell it to me as a tractor with 3 hrs on it.
It would be great if the warranty did not specify time. Although the dealer that inspected it told me that it was sold in May of 1999, I am amazed that it took 5 months (10/99) to accumulate 1 hr which is the first instance of recorded warranty work. I wonder if this might have been the original dealer doing the work to the tractor before it was sold and getting paid for the work under warranty. Maybe it was never actually sold and is eligible for original owner warranty.
I'll keep you all posted including any (gulp) humble pie I have to eat!
art
Super Member
There are times in every dealers yard that a machine might sit for extended periods. Maybe the year before he sold seven and the next year the market was flat and he only sold three and the area couldn''t absord it.
DarinRay
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Ive kinda been following this thread because I have been wondering what kind of price you are looking to spend on this that makes this a good deal. If you already disclosed that then I'm sorry for asking again. If you don't want to disclose the price then I understand that too but am curious because it should be a heck of a deal or I wouldn't even bother with this one and go for new if there are any questions about the hours. I mean just think if you go and sell it after a time and the new possible owner does his research and questions all this again. LOL
Darin
Darin
