Buying a tractor

I am looking to buy a used tractor. What are some tips on what to look for to try to ensure that is in good condition? Also auction versus craigslist? Any recommendations? Thank you very much!!

My Old farmer friend tells me if the clutch pedal looks wore down, it's been used a lot, and it the draw bar hole ( if it has one) is worn into a oval shape, then it has done a lot of hard pulling. I always look at tires, rust, sheet metal condition, and if the tractor runs, does it smoke?

I prefer buying from a retirement farm auction. Reason for selling? He retired. From Craigs list. Reason for selling? Unknown.
As far as what to look for? Same as buying a used car which you probably have done in the past. It's a crap shoot.

Retirement auction, yes, auction yard, EH? At a retirement auction you can usually find a relative or neighbor that knows the history.

You are pretty new here and you have posted a very VAGUE question, and I hope you are not a TROLL!

If you are for real, you might start off by telling us what you are looking for... a big tractor, a little tractor, something old and classic or a newer machine, etc., etc., and what you intend to do with it... mow an estate, till and plant a couple of hundred acres of land, show it at local shows, etc..

Once you have cleared that up for the group, there's a wealth of folks here that can help you with advice on what you are looking for.

Beware of new paint. Quite often paint hides real problems but looks good. A rusty tractor on the other hand reveals its battle scares.

Do what I did ... find an old retired IHC mechanic that sells Farmalls he puts together, and go look at them, and when he says "I believe that's a good one" buy it.

Hope you have mechanical skills. Many who don't buy new.

(quoted from post at 23:18:39 03/16/16) You are pretty new here and you have posted a very VAGUE question, and I hope you are not a TROLL!

If you are for real, you might start off by telling us what you are looking for... a big tractor, a little tractor, something old and classic or a newer machine, etc., etc., and what you intend to do with it... mow an estate, till and plant a couple of hundred acres of land, show it at local shows, etc..

Once you have cleared that up for the group, there's a wealth of folks here that can help you with advice on what you are looking for.

Click to expand...

Especially with a handle like rickeyha, ya think?

Agreed. Anything from a consignment auction should be viewed with a high degree of skepticism. Even then finding a problem the first time you use the equipment is more the rule rather than the exception.

When I was getting started farming I took my dad along to look at a 1955 Oliver. I asked Dad how a person knew if a person was getting a good one. he replied "do like I did with milk cows, buy them and find out!" I did buy it and used it for 20 years with very little trouble.

In general you need to try to run and drive it, so that makes C-list and private sale a better choice. Otherwise contact the auctioneer to see if a preview and test drive can be arranged, preferably not the day of the sale. At a local consignment auction he often gets tractors to sell that he's either sold new or has worked on (he's a dealer and service shop) and knows some of the history. If there's one you are interested at a sale you have to bid expecting some issues to crop up, I wouldn't bid top dollar for an unknown tractor.

Keep an open mind on price. If you look for something for nothing, you may end up with nothing. The guy that only buys bottom dollar tractors at auctions to turn a profit will get a mix of some good ones and some lemons.

Don't fall in love with a tractor before you've checked the condition, just like real love it will leave you blind to its faults.

Check hours against wear
Ignore new tires or paint at first, they don't fix a worn out machine
Ask seller if he's owned it long and history, if they haven't be extra extra skeptical.
Ask for cold start, if tractor is already running before you get there or its obvious they had it running recently and its not because it was in use at the farm, walk away from the sale. Understand some tractors in cold weather are going to start hard or batteries are dead but that cold start will reveal clouds of oil being burned up or antifreeze or ether use in warm weather etc.
Operate all the functions of the machine, check for leaks, check for noises clunks etc.
From there you can start to talk prices with the owner.

I'm just coming off turning down a tractor advertised with the powershift being on the way out and the price was really good, but I didn't need a project. The next week it was for sale by a new seller 2 hrs drive away for more that double the price. I spoke with new seller and no mention of clutch packs, says its in perfect shape ready for work. Mentioned I had already looked at it once and knew about the clutches and he says oh I don't anything about mechanical stuff. Fellow had a dozen tractors for sale.

I agree 100%

I feel most all of these tractors from the 60's to the present, be it MF, Ford, JD, etc - are pretty good - if not trashed by the owner.

When I bought my JD - it wasn't based on color. I made a list of features I wanted, list of the features each tractor I was interested in buying. Completely color blind decision.

In the end JD won out, but I'd have been just as happy with NH, MF, etc.

Good luck,
Bill

I'd never buy a tractor to keep and use that I don't 'love' or really like because I won't mind spending $$$ on it,if I hate its looks and how it operates I'll never like like it.Bought a 1550 Oliver gasser last year, that thing has nickle and dimed me to death
but I still love to get up on it and do a job with it so I don't mind.Of course I don't don't have as much in it as buying something in the shape its in now so that helps.