Auction

However the flip side is that you can find diamonds in the rough. We got a farmall 460 diesel for $1400. Took some things apart and gave it a good cleaning and now that thing purrs like a kitten(and can do some growling too.)

One of the most wild things to watch is fast hitch equipment. Theres so many items like carryalls that go for 5-600$. I'd love to get a blade, but i've seen them go for 800$, probably much much more than they were new.

Remember, test out what you are looking to buy. Look at all the grease points, check the oil, radiator hose and connections(as long as its not hot) brakes, tires, anything that you think might need replaced. Thats what makes the deals at auctions not the deals you think they are.

Anyways have fun and try not to make the wife too mad. They hate it when tractors follow you home.

I try and watch the machinery jockeys and see what they bid. When they quit, that's what the wholesale price is. That is what you should pay at an auction because all sales are final and there is no warranty.

You just paid more for the item then everybody else there thought it was worth.

Consigment auctions are a good place to pick up equipment cheap - but there is a lot of stuff being "unloaded" that needs to be carefully checked out first. I know of one local consignment auction that it seems at least half the equipment selling has major problems of some kind or another and the owner just wants out from under it. A consignment auction is not a good place for a "novice" to try and buy a tractor. Way to many dealer shysters that know how to conceal problems or dress up a sow's ear to prey on the innocent.

one other good thing to say about buying from and individual is that if they have nothing to try and hide you can actually get out and run the equipment where as at an auction you can start it up and see how it runs but not get a feel of it.
plus at auction you gotta make your mind up then, no sleeping on it

dont get me wrong i LIKE to got to auctions but sometimes after its all said and done and i get what i bought home i've ended up wishing that i'd kept my mouth shut.

some of the things i look for are basic stuff check the fluids (burnt or milky oil)and look at grease fittings to see if some of the maint. has been done. I dont know what size tractor your looking for but when we bought our MF35 we didnt think (KNOW) to check the weep hole to see if it was plugged up and it ended up costing $500 to put new seals in the trans. but we still ended up with a fairly good deal in it.

2. Do your homework and decide what your top dollar is BEFORE you get there. Most reputable auction companies will let you look the equipment over a few days before the sale.

3. Leave your wife at home. Auctioneers have been known to take bids from either husband or wife and sometimes even have them bidding against one another.

4. Be aware that some auctioneers have shills in the crowd to run up the bid. They know what they want to item to bring and even if they do get the winning bid, no big deal; it will sell again next week.

5. Go to a number of farm auctions with no checkbook and just watch how things go. You will know when its time to buy.