10 Things to Know Before Buying a Used Tractor
The appearance of a used tractor alone is not enough to determine whether it’s suitable for purchasing! Anyone in the market for a well-maintained used tractor should be looking out for these key factors for making any big purchases:
- The Safety Features
Any modern used tractor worth its chops should have a roll bar, seat belt, and safety switches installed. If the tractor you're looking for doesn't have any of these, ask the seller if and why they were removed. Sometimes you may be able to get some of these features by visiting Reliable Aftermarket Parts.
- The Looks
You should always look out for rust, dents, and missing paint on a used tractor. If it seems like it's had plenty of wear and tear, that could be a sign that some of the interior parts aren't up to scratch either!
- The Tires
Give the tires a good kick to make sure they're sturdy! You should also look at the depth tread, damage, and any signs of wear and tear. If you want to invest, you may want to replace the tires with newer ones from Reliable Aftermarket Parts.
- The Fluids
Be sure to check the hydraulic oil, engine oil, and power steering pump for any issues when the engines are off. Engine oil should be black unless it’s fresh, and hydraulic oil should be mostly clear!
- The Pedal Condition
You can often tell if the clutch and brake are up to scratch through how worn down the paint and bumps on them are. If they are pretty worn down, it’s a sign that the previous owner may have been using them poorly.
- The Exhaust Smoke
Time to get this tractor running! Clear exhaust smoke is ideal, and black smoke means a fuel issue that will be cheap to fix. On the flip side, if the smoke is white or blue, you could be looking at a more costly issue like worn rings or a problem with the head gasket.
- The Lights
Make sure everything lights up, from the headlights to the flashers!
- The Steering
The wheel on the tractor should turn with ease; if it’s jittery, you could be looking at a fluid issue that may be pricy to remedy. You should also be sure to raise the lift lever and check it comes up easily too.
- The Brakes
Be sure to check the brakes work properly by using the tractor in a low gear. If the brakes can’t keep the tractor in place, then something has gone very wrong!
- The Hour Meter
Tractors should have an hour meter that tells you how long the tractor has been used. This is the perfect indicator of how used the vehicle is, and you'll never truly know if the tractor doesn't have one.
Hopefully, this guide will assist you in locating the perfect used tractor! If you find any issues with your used tractor, be sure to visit Reliable Aftermarket Parts for top-quality replacement parts for your tractor!