[TheForge] Buying a tractor

Thu Jan 22 20:32:01 2004

With the picture I see, the things that imediately come to mind are the
tires look scant.  The front ones over here cost $100 each.  The rears are
$300 each.  I also see two things I don't like right off.

1) the front right tilt cylinder has no yellow paint on it......it looks
burnt?  what's the deal, does it leak when used?

2) Why is the front of the tractor where the radiator gets it's air blocked?
Are they selling this due to it's overheating, warped heads, blown head
gaskets from the radiator running blocked?  Check the oil fill cap........if
it looks milky........walk away from this tractor as happy you did.

        Other than that - does it start hard? Diesel injection starts hard
before it fails.  Major leaks are obvious they need fix, the ones near
castings are the ones to be concerned with. If you have a cracked housing on
a valve bank on a tractor that old.......you can sometimes pay what you did
for the tractor to get a new valve body.
        Does it have a PTO shaft to run accessories off the rear?
        Listen for raps in the engine, make sure it drives in ALL gears!
these tractors will usually have high and low ranges.  Does the clutch work
reasonably, and above all do the brakes work?  Tractor brakes are not cheap
to fix like your pickup.
        Most of the tractors of this age have front pumps off the engine,
check the coupling tube to the pump and see if it's about to fall off/apart/
or wobble it's way to a major vibration your noticing.

        Checking the brakes means testing left and right rear.......those
are used for grading or steering in the mud.  See they both work.

        My guess on a tractor like that in good mechanical shape would be
$5,000

Good luck.

Ralph
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shannell Sugrue" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 7:08 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Buying a tractor

> Im looking at going to an auction and bidding on this tractor
> http://www.pickles.com.au/servlet/Auction/VehicleDetail?item_id=500192379
> Im thinking it might be more useful than a forklift for my work and around
> our small block. Im pretty good with cars but diesels and hydraulics are
> something I havent had much hands on with. Anyone got any tips on what to
> look out for when inspecting one of these. I guess I should get it started
> up and move the bucket up and down, what else do I need to look at?
>
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