Tractor hours

JWinIndiana · Aug 28, 2023

When buying (looking at) a used tractor, it shows 4316.6 hours. I know when looking at a car under 20,000 miles should be like new, 50,000 broke in, over a 100,000 miles best of its life could be behind it. That is my generalization. But I have no idea/experience buying a used tractor that the hour meter is usually correct. I am told I would be third owner. What do I look for or anticipate when buying a 4,000 hour White 2-70 gas. Yes, I still prefer the gas engine on my farm. Approx. $10,000.00 delivered to my farm.

Janicholson · Aug 28, 2023

A 2-70 is a desirable White tractor. But for that price and hours it should have very straight metal/good paint with few leaks. All systems should be operational. Modern autos are just broken in at 100,000 and had one spark plug change. Look at the pedals and controls for wear and looseness that could mean the hour meter is under reporting. Jim

timcasbolt · Aug 28, 2023

Looking forward to additional responses. I would think that after 5000 hours you'd be evaluating the cost of a rebuild vs. the cost of a replacement.

JWinIndiana · Aug 28, 2023

(quoted from post at 10:53:23 08/28/23) A 2-70 is a desirable White tractor. But for that price and hours it should have very straight metal/good paint with few leaks. All systems should be operational. Modern autos are just broken in at 100,000 and had one spark plug change. Look at the pedals and controls for wear and looseness that could mean the hour meter is under reporting. Jim

Pedals are smooth, no paint on portion foot hits. Seat not ripped. Metal straight, has a loader, 80% tires. Will be putting eyes on it tomorrow evening and hearing it and getting to run it.

JWinIndiana · Aug 28, 2023

(quoted from post at 10:56:27 08/28/23) Looking forward to additional responses. I would think that after 5000 hours you'd be evaluating the cost of a rebuild vs. the cost of a replacement.

That is my question exactly, I don't need another project tractor. My Oliver started gushing hydraulic fluid from somewhere on top of the rear end raking hay last week. Need a loader to move round bales off of about 20 acres of hay. Will this be a dependable work horse on a small hobby farm without heavy tillage, mostly mowing, raking, pushing snow, moving manure?

Tgrasher · Aug 28, 2023

A lot depends on how well it was maintained
and how often the oil was changed. If there
are quick fixes and band-aids on the
tractor, it's not a good sign.

DanielW · Aug 28, 2023

That seems a little steep for a gasser 2-70 with 4000 hours, but location, condition, and maintenance are huge factors. The 2-70's are good tractors - I like them more than the 85's and 105's (unpopular opinion), but $10,000 around here would by a Ford
6600 or a similar Massey with a Perkins. I love my Olivers (and thus White's by extension), but something like a Ford 6600 is a tractor you can put 8000+ hours on no problem, whereas you definitely could be in rebuild territory on the 2-70 after 5000
hours.

But if it's been babied for all of its 4000 hours and also given that delivery is included, it might be a good price. Condition is everything. As a comparison, I bought an Allis 180 gas last year for $3000 Canadian (about $2300 US) delivered. 2600 hours
on it. Mechanically in superb shape, but rear tires were rough (I already had a set to put on it), and it wasn't too pretty because it had sat most of its life in a lean-to open to the sun on three sides. The 2-70 is a slightly newer, slightly more
powerful and (in my opinion) slightly better tractor than the 180, but I'm not sure it would be worth over 4X the price with more hours on it. Not to me, anyway. But I'm a cheapskate, so take that with a grain of salt.

Look at condition of steering and clutch linkages, how well it starts & idles cold, tire condition, and shift it through the over/under a few times to make sure it's working well. If it's a loader tractor, the clutch might be a concern: Put it in a higher
gear and let out on the clutch somewhat quickly and see if there's any sign of slipping.

INCase · Aug 28, 2023

does seem a bit high $

make sure to check and see if the tach/hourmeter is working seems like more don't than do so hours could be north of 4300. of course since many don't work it could have been replaced as well.

ask for maintenance records. check the loader for abuse. if its abused the tractor is as well.

is the Oliver you're replacing it with a 1650 or 1655? if so you'll be able to share parts.

GaryinKs · Aug 28, 2023

2000 hours on a tractor is about equal to 100,000 miles on a car , 2000 hours at 50 mph

flying belgian · Aug 28, 2023

The only thing wore out at 4000 hrs from a loader would be the clutch. If the engine had hard pulling that will show up on the hole in the draw bar so look at that.

Buckhammer · Aug 28, 2023

I wont even look at a tractor that has spent its life living outside. If it has not been under cover i dont care if the owners grandma only drove it to the grocery store, I am not interested.

JD Dave · Aug 28, 2023

Four thousand hours isn't bad if it's been serviced and not had a bunch of cowboys using it. Two thousand hours is better. Make sure the hour meter is working. Think years and hours. Look at the
wear and how clean it is. A dirty, crummy tractor does not present well if that's how it's not been taken care of over the years.

ss55 · Aug 28, 2023

Mechanical hour meter or electric hour meter?

Texasmark · Aug 29, 2023

I too use that metric when buying used tractors....but cars and trucks built when I was a teen starting out and cars and trucks built today are apples and oranges.....back then 45k meant a valve job and 100k meant an engine overhaul. Today start worrying about either at 250k mi.

I look at easy starting for diesels which are the only things I buy, drawbar hole shape, clutch and brake pedal wear, and letting the clutch out with the brakes applied and speed of 3 pt lift....preferably with a load.

JWinIndiana · Aug 29, 2023

(quoted from post at 11:28:06 08/28/23) A lot depends on how well it was maintained
and how often the oil was changed. If there
are quick fixes and band-aids on the
tractor, it's not a good sign.

From the pictures, the loader and loader bucket are not tweaked or patched. I would expect the loader adds $2,000.00 to the buy meaning the tractor is at an $8,000.00 mark.

Am planning on visiting the tractor tonight after my bus route.

JWinIndiana · Aug 29, 2023

(quoted from post at 11:36:26 08/28/23) That seems a little steep for a gasser 2-70 with 4000 hours, but location, condition, and maintenance are huge factors. The 2-70's are good tractors - I like them more than the 85's and 105's (unpopular opinion), but $10,000 around here would by a Ford
6600 or a similar Massey with a Perkins. I love my Olivers (and thus White's by extension), but something like a Ford 6600 is a tractor you can put 8000+ hours on no problem, whereas you definitely could be in rebuild territory on the 2-70 after 5000
hours.

But if it's been babied for all of its 4000 hours and also given that delivery is included, it might be a good price. Condition is everything. As a comparison, I bought an Allis 180 gas last year for $3000 Canadian (about $2300 US) delivered. 2600 hours
on it. Mechanically in superb shape, but rear tires were rough (I already had a set to put on it), and it wasn't too pretty because it had sat most of its life in a lean-to open to the sun on three sides. The 2-70 is a slightly newer, slightly more
powerful and (in my opinion) slightly better tractor than the 180, but I'm not sure it would be worth over 4X the price with more hours on it. Not to me, anyway. But I'm a cheapskate, so take that with a grain of salt.

Look at condition of steering and clutch linkages, how well it starts & idles cold, tire condition, and shift it through the over/under a few times to make sure it's working well. If it's a loader tractor, the clutch might be a concern: Put it in a higher
gear and let out on the clutch somewhat quickly and see if there's any sign of slipping.

Of the 10,000, give the loader a value of 2,000 drops the tractor to 8,000. Is that more in line? You are preaching to the choir about being cheap. This is a major purchase for my little hobby farm. I have around 20 acres of hay rolled up laying in fields. I am back at school and need to get the hay bales up as well as have a dependable tractor for winter feeding. My Oliver 1650 has been a trusty tractor until this. Being a gasser is a positive for me. Have never had a diesel.

Checking linkages is a great hint and will do so tonight. Thanks.

JWinIndiana · Aug 29, 2023

(quoted from post at 13:38:36 08/28/23) does seem a bit high $

make sure to check and see if the tach/hourmeter is working seems like more don't than do so hours could be north of 4300. of course since many don't work it could have been replaced as well.

ask for maintenance records. check the loader for abuse. if its abused the tractor is as well.

is the Oliver you're replacing it with a 1650 or 1655? if so you'll be able to share parts.

The Oliver is a 1650. It has been my main tractor for 15 years plus. The loader is beyond worn out and was that way when I bought it and the 770 it was on. If he will give me 2,500 for the Oliver without the loader, I will send it on. Anything less, I'll keep it and tear it down next summer. Have never had a tractor that the hour meter works on.

JWinIndiana · Aug 29, 2023

(quoted from post at 14:56:26 08/28/23) The only thing wore out at 4000 hrs from a loader would be the clutch. If the engine had hard pulling that will show up on the hole in the draw bar so look at that.

Another great idea I hadn't considered. I will check the drawbar hole. Plan on talking to him about clutch tonight.

JWinIndiana · Aug 29, 2023

(quoted from post at 06:21:43 08/29/23) I too use that metric when buying used tractors....but cars and trucks built when I was a teen starting out and cars and trucks built today are apples and oranges.....back then 45k meant a valve job and 100k meant an engine overhaul. Today start worrying about either at 250k mi.

I look at easy starting for diesels which are the only things I buy, drawbar hole shape, clutch and brake pedal wear, and letting the clutch out with the brakes applied and speed of 3 pt lift....preferably with a load.

No rubber on pedals I assume from factory. Floorboards shiny behind pedals but not entire floor. Will check speed of loader to my 1650.

JWinIndiana · Aug 29, 2023

Thank all of you for the tips and tricks to looking a used tractor over critically. I also will look at filters to see if any dates or rust on them. I will try to take some pictures tonight of the critical areas. It is a lot of money, but also am seeing gas tractors with loaders on FB for 12-16,000 regularly. They also say they need some TLC or "little" things fixed. This tractor is at a dealership, I realize they can't warranty a used trade in, but am going to talk to them about the clutch and if it goes out within 6 months if they will eat the labor and I pay for parts. Is this reasonable or not?

Thanks all for helping me try to make an educated decision about this purchase. When I was still making little square bales and farming with my team a loader tractor wasn't even on the farm, but with big round bales, it has become a necessity.

Tractor hours

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