Purchasing a tractor

Last night a guy in my local tractor club called about buying his first tractor (a few m"s and h"s ) are gonna sell this week at auction. He wanted some advice and price expectations,I gave him the obvious and explained as best as I could over the phone. There are so many variables and it is hard to relate when your not looking at a tractor in person. This brings me to my question what do you look for when buying a tractor,and how have you been burned possibly by not looking to close at a particular place or part. In my case I bought a super c with what I thought was a valve lash adjustment tick that turned out to be in need of a new rocker shaft ( ware in shaft to support stanchion) something could not have known until I got it home. I thought this would be a good topic for tractor vets to impart wisdom to new comers, also share things learned at the school of hard knocks. Thanks Rob

Friend of mine buoght a Super-C, used it for a while and discovered yep, the decals sure said "Super-C". But it was a "C".

Talk about "school of hard knocks". I puchased a Cub off the internet {many miles from home},looked good sitting on the trailer from a pic.,but only showed one side. Asked seller many questions,paid before I picked it up,what a piece of crap it was. Seller not around when I picked it up. He had my $$$$.

don't feel bad I learned that too almost bought a 9n or 8n from ebay guy said it ran get there no battery motor stuck and so other stuff good thing I bought cash so that stayed in my pocket and I just backed up and left

Helped a friend of mine buy an 88 oliver last fall. Had to do the deal quick over the phone to get it before someone else did. Said it ran "great" and had no issues. Told him specifically, it needed to be ready for a 30 plus mile drive home. Got there and started it up, No oil pressure. Got to checking and it was out of oil, a gallon of oil later we discovered a huge leak on the valve cover... it ran on about 4 cylinders, charging system didn't work, and neither did the power steering. it was 2 gallons low on antifreeze and the bucket cylinder for the loader was shot... I almost walked away there... but my buddy really needed something to move snow and we were running out of time looking. almost made it home on popping along on 4 cylinders before the fan belt gave up about 3 miles from home. Got it home and pulled the plugs and put a new set in... still had a miss... pulled the valve cover and found out that it had both valve springs on no. 3 cylinder broke... the power steering pulley fell off the pump, and had to custom make one... charging system worked after we got a new belt on and got it tight. exhaust manifold was shot... ended up also needed a new starter drive... and still has a power drain on the battery that I haven't found yet... suspecting the one wire alternator.... Seems to be a decent runner now that the problems are fixed, and does what he needs... but I know we jput another 500 into it already... And I ma sure the guy was just playing dumb with us... Kinda ticks me off when people aren't up front about crap like that.

Well when I buy a tractor Ive never been mis-informed,Its got to be stuck,rusted, no tires,rims falling off,and parts missing,and older than 1939.Its a act of love

jimmy

I know EXACTLY what you mean, James!!! Most of my tractors were in that condition when I bought them. :lol:

(quoted from post at 08:27:27 02/02/14) Friend of mine buoght a Super-C, used it for a while and discovered yep, the decals sure said "Super-C". But it was a "C".

Click to expand...

Just the opposite situation happened here. At a recent auction the guy said it was a 1951 C he had restored, and sure enough, it had C decals, but was actually a Super C. Ended up selling I think for $1500, so I someone probably knew it was a Super... I didn't stay for the sale. the guy that went with me to see it asked how I knew... said clutch and brake pedals, disc brakes, hydraulic temp gage and water pump were the easiest "tells".

You just never know. I sold a tractor on CL and the guy rented a car and drove 6 hours one way to look at it. He talked for about 15 min. drove the tractor about 10min. payed me in full and said he would pick it up, never heard from him for three weeks, he said he had truck trouble, guess he trusted me after the visit.

James, As you stated! The only thing I can say when I get one in the "runing when parked" condition as yours. I know I got it for a good price! oldiron29

You can look all you want, but 99% of the problems can't be found by looking.

After the obvious looking for broken/bent/leaky/rotten/worn things on the outside, you have to take the seller at his word.

You pays your money, and you takes your chances.

Every used tractor is a crap shoot.

Sometimes you're the windshield. Sometimes your the bug.

The only rule I have is that I won't buy a tractor for more than the value of its parts. So far I have not had to part out a tractor.

(quoted from post at 06:15:56 02/03/14) You can look all you want, but 99% of the problems can't be found by looking.

After the obvious looking for broken/bent/leaky/rotten/worn things on the outside, you have to take the seller at his word.

You pays your money, and you takes your chances.

Every used tractor is a crap shoot.

Sometimes you're the windshield. Sometimes your the bug.

The only rule I have is that I won't buy a tractor for more than the value of its parts. So far I have not had to part out a tractor.

Click to expand...

I totally agree.......Some people who come to buy are such a pain in the butt. They know nothing and nit pick about meaningless stuff. I don't ask big bucks for anything. I buy tractors at a reasonable price and get them running . I sell them at reasionable prices and let the buyer have the "thrill of doing a total restoration". It doesn't matter how good my price is though, there is always someone who shows up wanting them for next to nothing. I have had to ask a couple of people to leave, becuase I just don't need the agravation..

(quoted from post at 18:48:22 02/03/14)
I totally agree.......Some people who come to buy are such a pain in the butt. They know nothing and nit pick about meaningless stuff.

Click to expand...

Oh yeah....that is a whole nother rant!! About 98% of the callers/emailers/lookers.

Thing that aggravates me is ppl jacking up the tractor price after they spray painted it. Thinking it's worth more now they oversprayed all over the rim and tires! I'd pay more for it rusty worn red.

I look at condition of tires. also if it runs (how good it runs). I also look at completeness (nothing missing) and for it being original (no make shift or not correct parts). is what I do to insure I dont get burnt is I wont pay more than what I think I could re-sell it for. I did have a bad experience. I bought a tractor that I knew the engine was froze. The guy was set on his price and wouldn't budge a nickel. I asked if he had an idea of had bad it was froze up. he said he was sure it wasn't froze that bad. I agreed to his price. after I got it home and tore it down, I found out it was the worst froze up engine I had ever seen. Its the only tractor I never fixed up. ended up parting it out, but didnt get hurt to bad cause the good parts were pretty much worth what I paid for it.