Tips for Buying a Used Tractor

The first question you want to ask yourself is, howusing some extra muscle when operating your
mechanically inclined are you? All vintage tractorstractor the vintage farm tractor is one of the best
need to be maintained and sometimes, likeinvestments and in my opinion probably better than
everything else, the unthinkable happens and theyany built today.
break down. I have been working on John DeereWhen it comes to price of a vintage tractor don't
tractors for over 45 years and I do love the earlythink of buying the cheapest one you see. Many
models.ones. The rest is history since the very firsttractors on E-bay will need work on them to operate
day I have been hooked on tractors. One of the firstproperly and safely. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK THE
things about vintage tractors a newcomer will soonSELLER A FEW IMPORTANT QUESTIONS "BEFORE"
find out is that they were made for work. TractorsYOU PLACE A BID. REMEMBER ITS "YOUR" MONEY
from the early days were some of the best, if notTALKING.
the best, equipment ever produced here in the USA.Here are some not all, good questions to ask:
Something to keep in mind before you buy is how1) Does the motor smoke or have any noise that is
the vintage tractor operates. You will have to usenot normal. 2) Are the tires cracked? 3) How
some muscle to make it work.responsive is the Hydraulics and do the leak down. 4)
Most of these early tractors did not come withHow good are the brakes (both sides). When you
power steering, power brakes, automaticare asking these questions it's always a good idea to
transmission or with remote hydraulics to work orask if you could come by and see it in person, even
adjust the various implements that were available.if you don't intend to. If a seller refuses to let you
Aside from the PTO and lift, most other operationssee it in person, then they may be hiding something.
were preformed manually. For the most part theyMy personal experience of eBay is through my son,
were a Mans tractor not for the Ladies. Because ofand we have never had any problems at all. People
this they are not as easy to operate as their modernselling on eBay rely on a good reputation to keep
counterparts.going and you don't get a good reputation by
Bottom line if you can work on them and don't mindmisleading folks.