tractor inspection day. Shoulda had a camera.........

Hey folks,
Got my tractor inspected and license renewed on Friday. Inspection place is about 10 miles from the house, so it was a nice little road trip for me and Jack (Australian Sheperd Puppy on his first tractor ride). Just figured to get the inspection and pick up a dump container for the 3pt and come home. Hilight was Jack's first ride. Got there and couldn't believe it. It's harvest time, so there is an inspector that is dedicated to travelling around and doing house (field) call inspections, and all the hobby folks go to the central location (saves about 80 bucks). I have a D series IHC diesel. Mine is a D326 (26HP), there is also a D 320, 322 (20 HP), 324 (24HP), 430, and 432 (30-32HP) all built the same style. There were one or two of each in different condition (appearance). 3 of the little Fordson Dexters, and 3 sizes of the old Lanz Bulldog that looked brand new, and a home-made tractor from the DDR (Former East Germany). Turned out to be a nice day, these folks were all part of an Old-Timer Club that met and paraded to the inspection shop and there was Beer and Bratwurst for lunch (my favorite lunch). And Jack got spoiled. Wish I'd had a camera.


Dave

What do they inspect? is it like a motor vehicle inspection for a car where the lights, brakes etc are checked for road worthiness?

lights, turn signals, brakes, horn, steering linkage, first aid kit, warning triangle, and overall condition (no sharp edges, rust holes, loose parts, etc). Get to do it every 2 years.

Dave

Is this so you can drive it on the road, or you still need it for your own property.Do you also have to register it with Plates? what does all this cost if you don;t mind me asking.

You're in Germany? Do they require anything that isn't normally part of the tractor or would be an upgrade? (Some things in your list)

You can't do much here without going on a road. Inspection costs 33 euro and you have license plates that you buy up front once then pay tax each year. If you use the tractor for farming, you get green plates (low taxes) if not, you get black like a normal vehicle and pay tax based on HP and weight. I pay the 33 Euro for inspection every two years and 45 euro each year for tax.


Dave

Requirements are what I mentioned and ROPS . If the tractor goes more than 25 KMH it needs brake lights. Most of the machines came with this stuff new (except ROPS was added later). First aid kit and triangle is required on any vehicle that runs on the road (even carry them on my quad)
Here's a link to the IHC models (just click on the number).

http://www.ihace.de/01_schlepper/schlepper_index.htm

Dave

Hello dave2. This summer my family made a "heritage tour" thru German. Left Berlin and headed into Poland toward Breslau (<1946). Went to Niemojow where we visited our family farm and the families church. Crossed the boarder in Czeck Republic and visited Rokytnice. Then north to Deseden, and then back to Berlin. In Berlin I went on a Traby Safari, really neat. We ate supper one nite atop the TV and comunication tower. Daughter and family live near Teir Garten, what a historic walk to go from her apt. thru the Teir Garten and down to the BBgate and Reichstag. If the economy does not total go to H, I would like to do the "under ground tour" in Berlin next July. Son in law grew up in Potsdam, and he and his grand mother would spend their days at Sans Souci. He dance on the wall in 89.

I live about 400 km south of Berlin. The border was about 30 miles from where I live. Czeck isn't too far off either. We keep promising ourselves a trip through the Berlin area, but haven't been able to get that direction.
Someday though.

Dave

If you dont lisence that, can you just not legally use it, or not use it on roads or what??

As long as you don't leave your property. Can get pretty pricey driving an unlicensed vehicle on the road. Police have a 6th sense for stuff like that too. You won't see them for months unless you're doing something wrong.


Dave

Wow! If they instituted that here I think the farmers would be headed for the gun safe.

Real farmers don't really feel it because they just deduct it from taxes. Hobby folks and people like me with horses and don't call it a business just get to live with it. The key is to convince them that you need the farmer plates so it's not so expensive.

Dave

You say the police have a "6th sense" about this stuff. No offence, but their grandfathers in the SS tracked down jews with the same methods.

Gene

Hard to find a connection between Nazis, Jews, and tractors, but if you find one it's OK with me. Folks over here seem to have put that stuff behind them. Not forgotten by any means, just left where it belongs.