Searching for a good used tractor for sale, don't get scammed

Because you are reading this article, then vintage tractors are clearly of interest to you. Refurbishing, collecting, and maintaining antique tractors from from years ago has exploded over the past number of years. The reasons for this are many; firstly they are relatively cheap to buy, and maintain and in some places they cost less than the road tax on a new tractor. As Well, they can still be used to do some work. They are simple and understandable. Every tractor comes with its own history . But how do you know how to buy the right tractor and how do you go about it?

There is a surprising number of machines available in every shape and size imaginable. As with other collectable items, you should understand your needs as this will determine what you look for. You first need to know your needs then you should translate this into a clear list of what you are looking for that will help you to make a better decision when it comes to buying your antique tractor.

Depending on whether you need an Looking for youtube tractor for your to work on your holding or you are intending to set about restoring as a hobby you will clearly choose select a diferent type of vintage tractor. Certainly some of the most collectable vintage tractors make very poor work tractors and on the other-side elaborate renovation of an very common machine may not be worth the effort (not to mention the cost of getting hold of parts no longer manufactured).

No matter which type of tractor you are looking for, you should always start your search with some detailed research. Research books are available that hold this information providing a vast aray of detailed information from prices to maintanance costs.

While collectability, , hitch system, etc make up the evaluation criteria for determining what type, size, brand, or model of tractor you want, a more straight forward set of factors will be used for choosing the exact tractor you will invest in. As mentioned earlier, restoring an antique collectable tractor will have a completely different list of criteria.

Antique Tractors Bought for Working

Those that need a machine for working their farm are in a better position to get what they need quickly but it is amazing how many people buy the wrong type of tractor and become disillusioned with old machines. The first thing you should look at is the layout of your farm, also how hilly is it and what type of farm machinery will you be using. If you plan on using the tractor for tillage, such as barley or corn, then you should consider a Nuffield 342, a Nuffield 1060 because other machines may be too low to the ground and cause damage to your crop. On the other hand if your land is mountainous, you may need to consider something like a Massey-Harris 44 Diesel or a Massey Ferguson 135 . If you want to use farm machinery with your antique tractor, you should first understand the horsepower requirements of this implement and make sure the tractor model you select has the right weight and power to do the job. If you need to use a ten foot disk harrow, then you will need more power than a Fordson Major TVO Thorough research will make sure that you don't fall into these basic traps.

Once you have selected your tractor the first thing which gets your attention should be the mechancis of the tractor not how its looks. Many good working tractors haven't seen paint in years and will have been repaired and maintained with a range of strange materials.

Test all the basic functions of the tractor, PTO, steering, gears, lift, lights, indicators and hydraulics. Even if you wish to work on it straight off, you probably won't be interested in a full renovation for sometime and need to keep to a minimum the number of initial jobs. Your check list should included at a minimum the following: does it start easily from cold, run well when hot, all the electrical components work well, does it have good traction If possible you should go to your test armed with a toolbox containing a compression tester, expensive Fluke digital multimeter, hydrometer, and other specialty tools. or bring somebody with you who has these tools.. However if you don't own a set of these tools or have access to them then don't panic.. You should in this case rely on your own common sense and your own observation skills.

However, having said this, you should still be armed with the a basic knowledge on the operation of the tractor you are previewing. You should, at a minimum beg, borrow or steal a copy of the owners manual for the particular model of tractor you are planning to review so you are familiar with its operation and basic specs and what to look out for.

Here is a basic list that applies to every tractor:

· Does it start easily? - A tractor that starts easily will eliminate several items at once Good Battery, compression, ignition wiring / magneto, tune up, fuel flow, Carburetor can be assured (not guaranteed) by this. If it doesn't start easily from cold, it still may be a good machine but you will have to spend some time and money on it. One thing you should be watch out for is if the tractor is out and warmed up when you arrived, you lose an important checklist item, namely the cold start, because as we all know a warm engine starts much more easily then a cold one..

· Does it run well when hot - Make sure you get it hot, as you will want to ensure it doesn't overheat. There are simple and complex problems that can cause the tractor to run poorly after it warms up. Plan on spending a half-hour running it. After running look for leaks, both oil and antifreeze. Once warmed up, stop it restart it again..

· Do the brakes work well - Although relatively inexpensive to replace, they are inaccessible on many tractors and will require extensive teardown to get the new ones in. You can test the brakes by locking one wheel and cranking the steering to that side. The tractor should spin and the wheel should not rotate, do this for both wheels.

· Does it generate a lot of - Blue smoke means a repair job like rings, pistons, or valve guides. Smoke that looks black or white can oftentimes be sorted out with carburetion or ignition changes but still involves your time and also money.

· Does it make clunking noises from inside the engine - A simple ticking from the top of the engine may be a simple valve adjustment but a deep thunk from the bottom or middle of the engine would show very serious and expensive repairs. The clunk should be more pronounced under load. This may be a sign of problems with the crankshaft, bearings, or piston rods. And mean a very expensive repair job.

· What condition is the oil in - After you have run it for a little while, trun off the engine and check the oil for foaming or the presence of water. This is a show stopper.
· Is there head leaks - look for signs that fluids are leaking out the head gasket. If the agriculture tractor and machinery is drenched with grease and oil, it may hide obvious signs of seepage.

· Is the clutch good - a clutch is not that expensive to replace but splitting the tractor in half is outside what most collectors want get involved in.
· Investigate the Dynamo - There should be a slight charge shown on the ammeter as the engine is turning over and a change in the charging level when the lights are switched on (this means that the regulator or resistor switch and cutout is operating). At normal running speed, no discharge should be displayed.

· Use the hydraulics - Check the full extent of the power rams by extending them with a load. Let the load stand in the hold situation for a while to be sure that there is no slippage. Chattering noises from the pump while lifting suggest the pump is getting insufficient flow of hydraulic fluid. The pump may have experienced excessive wear when run this way for long periods of time and may be about to fail.

· Look for cracks in the structure - If you dont do this you may live to regret it. Look for hairline cracks in all the steel components. Again, this is not expensive to correct but extremely time consuming to fix, also it would be unsafe to use a tractor with such flaws.
If, on first inspection the tractor fails some of these areas, you may still find that the seller is willing to move on price (since you found all the problems). At this time you should decide if you have enough time to fix what you discovered... and make savings. If you need the tractor today then, don't touch it with a barge pole.

The best situation for buying a working tractor is either to buy one that is currently being used (but the owner needs to upgrade) or from a reputable dealer. The first is usually someone just like you who needs a tractor on a day to day basis. These dealings are usually pleasurable and can even spark a long term friendship that goes beyond the buyer/seller relationship. This type of individual will probably even let you try the machine with on your farm and tell you all those things they would fix if they were keeping the tractor.

Purchasing from dealers can also be positive but even at a dealer you should be equipped with your evaluation criteria rather than relying on "the warranty". Even if your dealer offers warranties, transporting a tractor back for even free repairs will cist you a lot of time and effort. Also remember that the dealer is there to make a profit for himself and may not have your best intrests at heart. So buyer beware!

While many of the above examples may sound a bit negative, you should do your research and understand the specific issues a tractor may have before you invest.