What to look for in an old second hand tractor

em14 · Dec 4, 2004

You might be interested in this site ... sometimes it has what you may be looking for about a certain model year tractor.
http://www.tractordata.com/
Leo

em14 · Dec 4, 2004

and this one if you want to see prices or maybe find a tractor .... http://www.ironsearch.com
Leo

Mith · Dec 4, 2004

thanks for your help leo some good sites
cheers mith

Soundguy · Dec 5, 2004

Look for the 'usual' stuff.

Oil in water, water in oil, leaks under tractor, or evidence ov leaks in the paint. Look for evidence of repair.. Good repairs are ok. Bad or questionable repairs are a warning sign... for instance.. RTV extruded out around a casting mating surface may mean a proper gasket wasn't used.. etc.

Check whgeel hubs for play by rocking the tractor side to side. Look for play inthe steering members and linkages/steering box. Look at the wear or scuff patterns on the tires.

Drive tractor in all ranges and all speeds. Run it long enough to see it's hot idle oil pressure. Start it when it is could to see how easy it is to start. Verify that it charges, and that instruments work. Check clutch pedal travle, and even the wear on the clutch pedal itself. Check the brakes. Check the lift.. make sure it is strong. Try to test it with an implement on it, lift it, and then turn the tractor off and see how long the lift stays up. If possible also try out a PTO implement with it.

If a private seller.. look at other things he owns as a 'guide' to see how well he maintains things.

Good luck.

Soundguy

Mith · Dec 6, 2004

thanks for all you help - i have a friend who is going to give me details of a tractor being sold by one of his customers. he says he knows the tractors history and that it is good
so hopefully it will work out
thanks for all your help now i feel better prepared to judge a tractor
thanks /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif mith

Johndeere3720 · Sep 22, 2009

I was wondering if this tractor was worth it and if it is A good deal? - TractorByNet.com
Would this be a good compact tractor?

Soundguy · Sep 23, 2009

Mith said:
by old i mean early 1990's

awe.. that's still smelling new !

Mith said:
most suff before that is totally trashed or is to be found at the scrap yard

not hardly.. lotsa older machines earning a days keep out there..

Mith said:
-what kind of hours is old but realistically is going to be in good condition? 1000hours? below? more?

1000 hours is just getting broke in good..

look for the usualy problem.. leaks.. repairs.. etc.. drive the amchine in all gears and ranges cold and hot and see how it starts cold and hot.. do the hyds work.. does it charge.. will it pull ( clutch).. does the pto work under load and does the 3pt hold a good load....

soundguy