How to buy a GOOD Tractor?

[cabu]

Hello,

I have searched the Forum and the Articles, but haven't found an answer to my question:
I will buy a B7001 in two week's at a local dealer. He is doing this business as an part time job as a full time farmer. He will get a delivery of a few tractor's. At what position's should I look to figure out, what's good or not. Are there some indications that are pointing to a deeper problem.

As fare as I know, I should check the following things:

All switches
All handles
All lights
Cooling and Oil
Sound of the engine/gears
The rubber of the hoses (brittle?)
The voltage at the battery with engine running (alternator?)
Oil leaking (sealings?)
Power of the hitch (hydraulic pump?)
Hitch keep lifted (hydraulic piston/valve?)
Everything screwed fiexed tide e.g. exhaust
Steering good (gears?)
Fuelfilter (broken?)
Airfilter (working?)

Can you add some hint's what should be checked (and why)?

Thanx for Your help

From Germany
Carl

maybe you can add somtimes a video at youtube, walking around a tractor pointing out where to look and why.

 

[elsnipo]

If possible b4 hand, take them for a spin and put them tru the paces...rev the engine, change the gears, raise lower an implement, look at engine smoke, colour of engine smoke,, how good/responsive is the steering, and funny or odd noises

 

[cabu]

Thanx elsnipo.

The list is now:

All switches
All handles
All lights
Color of coolent and oil
Sound of the engine
Smoke of the engine (Burn coolant or oil?)
Sound and handling of the gears (shifting easily?)
The rubber of the hoses (brittle?)
Condition of the belt (brittle/tide)
The voltage at the battery with engine running (alternator?)
Oil leaking (sealings?)
Power of the hitch (hydraulic pump?)
Hitch keep lifted (hydraulic piston/valve?)
Everything screwed, fixed tide e.g. exhaust
Steering good (gears?)
Fuelfilter (broken?)
Airfilter (Dust inside?)

Can somebody add some hint's what should be checked (and why)?

Thanx for the help

From Germany
Carl

 

[helpo]

Hello Carl,

because this is an International forum, I shall reply in English. If you prefer a response in German, then please let me know.

I have recently bought a B6001, and in addition to your list here are some checkpoints based on my experience.

- Check the oil pressure light. It should come on when you turn the ignition switch, and it should go off as soon as the engine starts.

- Check that the securing pins for the rear wheels are fitted. Sometimes they are missing.

- Check the glow indicator. After about 20-30 seconds the wire should glow red. But in the daylight it might be difficult to see, so best to check this when it is dark.

- The front axle/drive assembly has 4 separate oil reservoirs! Check them all.

- The shaft for the front axle drive runs in a metal tube. Make sure that this is fixed properly to the front axle/drive assembly and that the rubber cover at the lower end is not damaged.

- Check the clutch, the differential lock and the proper working of each of the brakes.

- The lever for 4WD is ecured into position with a ball and spring. Check that this clicks into position properly. (Years of working in mud may clog up the spring, and then there is a risk that the 4WD might suddenly jump in or out, damaging the gearbox.)

- To check the generator, carefully disconnect the plus wire from the battery while the engine is running and check that there is about 12.7 volts between the disconnected plus wire and the minus wire.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Regards from Cyprus

Helmuth

 

[cabu]

Thanx helpo.

Mybe I should give some structure to the list.
(This list in concentrating to the smaller Kubota B-Type's)


Before starting the engine:

-Color of coolant and oil
-The rubber of the hoses (brittle?)
-Condition of the belt (brittle/tide)
-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-The front axle/drive assembly has 4 separate oil reservoirs! Check them all.
-The shaft for the front axle drive runs in a metal tube. Make sure that this is fixed properly to the front axle/drive assembly and that the rubber cover at the lower end is not damaged.
-Everything screwed, fixed tide e.g. exhaust
-Check that the securing pins for the rear wheels are fitted. Sometimes they are missing.
-Fuelfilter (broken?)
-Airfilter (Dust inside?)
-PTO easy to turn (broken ball bearings?)

Starting the engine:

-Check the glow indicator. After about 20-30 seconds the wire should glow red. In the daylight it might be difficult to see.
-Oil pressure light. It should come on when you turn the ignition switch, and it should go off as soon as the engine starts.
-Sound of the starter

Running engine:

-Sound of the engine
-Smoke of the engine, burn coolant (white) or oil (black)?
-The voltage at the battery with engine running (alternator?) Can also be checked by carefully disconnect the plus wire from the battery while the engine is running and check that there is about 12.7 volts between the disconnected plus wire and the minus wire.
-All lights/switches working?
-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-Power of the hitch (hydraulic pump?)
-Hitch keep lifted (hydraulic piston/valve?)
-Check gears of PTO (any suspected sound's?)

Driving the Tractor:

-Sound and handling of the gears (shifting easily?)
-Check the clutch, the differential lock and the proper working of each of the brakes.
-The lever for 4WD is secured into position with a ball and spring. Check that this clicks into position properly. (Years of working in mud may clog up the spring, and then there is a risk that the 4WD might suddenly jump in or out, damaging the gearbox.)
-Steering good (gears?)

Stopped engine:

-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-Color of coolant (mixed with Oil?)


Can somebody give as a hand and add some hint's what should be checked (and why)?

Thanx for the help

From Germany
Carl


Helping Hands: elsnipo, helpo

 

[helpo]

Obvious, but not yet on your list: check the grease points (8 on B-type). If they are dry, clogged with dirt or painted over, then check for wear and tear.

And check the decompression valve. (Bx000 engines are switched off by pulling the decompression lever. But this should not be done on Bx001 models! Instead, pull the lever under the dashboard.)

Maybe it is a good idea to get an Operator's Manual before you buy a tractor. I got a manual for the B5100/B6100/B7100 series (which are quite similar to the Bx001 models) as a free download from http://www.kubotabooks.com

 

[cabu]

Helpo, you've got a private message.

 

[cabu]

Hello,

(This list is concentrating to the smaller Kubota B-Type's)


Before starting the engine:

-Color of coolant and oil
-The rubber of the hoses (brittle?)
-Condition of the belt (brittle/tide)
-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-The front axle/drive assembly has 4 separate oil reservoirs! Check them all.
-The shaft for the front axle drive runs in a metal tube. Make sure that this is fixed properly to the front axle/drive assembly and that the rubber cover at the lower end is not damaged.
-Everything screwed, fixed tide e.g. exhaust
-Check that the securing pins for the rear wheels are fitted. Sometimes they are missing.
-check the grease points (8 on B-type). If they are dry, clogged with dirt or painted over, then check for wear and tear.
-Fuelfilter (broken?)
-Airfilter (Dust inside?)
-PTO easy to turn (broken ball bearings?)
-check the decompression valve. (damaged?) B-Type 2Cyl are stopped by decompression, but the B-Typ 3Cyl (e.g. 7100/7001) ) are stopped by pulling the lever under the dashboard.

Starting the engine:

-Check the glow indicator. After about 20-30 seconds the wire should glow red. In the daylight it might be difficult to see.
-Oil pressure light. It should come on when you turn the ignition switch, and it should go off as soon as the engine starts.
-Sound of the starter

Running engine:

-Sound of the engine
-Smoke of the engine, burn coolant (white) or oil (black)?
-The voltage at the battery with engine running (alternator?) Can also be checked by carefully disconnect the plus wire from the battery while the engine is running and check that there is about 12.7 volts between the disconnected plus wire and the minus wire.
-All lights/switches working?
-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-Power of the hitch (hydraulic pump?)
-Hitch keep lifted (hydraulic piston/valve?)
-Check gears of PTO (any suspected sound's?)

Driving the Tractor:

-Sound and handling of the gears (shifting easily?)
-Check the clutch, the differential lock and the proper working of each of the brakes.
-The lever for 4WD is secured into position with a ball and spring. Check that this clicks into position properly. (Years of working in mud may clog up the spring, and then there is a risk that the 4WD might suddenly jump in or out, damaging the gearbox.)
-Steering good (gears?)

Stopped engine:

-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-Color of coolant (mixed with Oil?)


Can somebody give us a hand and add some hint's what should be checked (and why)?

Thanx for the help

From Germany
Carl


Helping Hands: elsnipo, helpo

 

[lovely09]

Choosing your tractor as a whole requires a complete checking from internal to external.As you have listed,check every little parts and know how you can maintain its good quality.

 

[cabu]

Hello,

(This list is concentrating to the smaller Kubota B-Type's)


Before starting the engine:

-Color of coolant and oil
-The rubber of the hoses (brittle?)
-Condition of the belt (brittle/tide)
-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-The front axle/drive assembly has 4 separate oil reservoirs! Check them all.
-The shaft for the front axle drive runs in a metal tube. Make sure that this is fixed properly to the front axle/drive assembly and that the rubber cover at the lower end is not damaged.
-Everything screwed, fixed tide e.g. exhaust
-Check that the securing pins for the rear wheels are fitted. Sometimes they are missing.
-check the grease points (8 on B-type). If they are dry, clogged with dirt or painted over, then check for wear and tear.
-Fuelfilter (broken?)
-Airfilter (Dust inside?)
-PTO easy to turn (broken ball bearings?)
-check the decompression valve. (damaged?) B-Type 2Cyl are stopped by decompression, but the B-Typ 3Cyl (e.g. 7100/7001) ) are stopped by pulling the lever under the dashboard.

Starting the engine:

-Check the glow indicator. After about 20-30 seconds the wire should glow red. In the daylight it might be difficult to see.
-Oil pressure light. It should come on when you turn the ignition switch, and it should go off as soon as the engine starts.
-Sound of the starter

Running engine:

-Sound of the engine
-Smoke of the engine, burn coolant (white) or oil (black)?
-The voltage at the battery with engine running (alternator?) Can also be checked by carefully disconnect the plus wire from the battery while the engine is running and check that there is about 12.7 volts between the disconnected plus wire and the minus wire.
-All lights/switches working?
-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-Power of the hitch (hydraulic pump?)
-Hitch keep lifted (hydraulic piston/valve?)
-Check gears of PTO (any suspected sound's?)

Driving the Tractor:

-Sound and handling of the gears (shifting easily?)
-Check the clutch, the differential lock and the proper working of each of the brakes.
-The lever for 4WD is secured into position with a ball and spring. Check that this clicks into position properly. (Years of working in mud may clog up the spring, and then there is a risk that the 4WD might suddenly jump in or out, damaging the gearbox.)
-Steering good (gears?)

Stopped engine:

-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-Color of coolant (mixed with Oil?)


To stay happy with your new 'member of the family':

-If the seller tells you he will deliver some parts later (manual, spare oilfilter, etc), ask him to write it down in the contract.
-If he give's you a kind of warrenty but he want to limit the warrenty, for example electric faults (battery, bulbs, switches etc), depend to have warrenty on the alternator and regulator. Limits on things that get used up is OK, but don't let him limit on essential parts!


Can somebody give us a hand and add some hint's what should be checked (and why)?

Thanx for the help

From Germany
Carl


Helping Hands: elsnipo, helpo

 

[cabu]

( I just wanted to update the threat, that some newbies see the list ) carl

 

[Kytim]

well what about the hub to axle shaft play, this can sometimes be a problem on these.

Color of hydraulic oil, white = moisture.

you mentioned the lift staying up but, needs to use implement of some kind for weight, or stand on it then jump on it or use a friend that weights 200 kilo's!

kytim

 

[meanjean]

Don't let a bad belt or hose change your mind when it comes to buying a machine.
They are easy to replace, not very expensive either.
You can point it out and ask that he drop the price based on the price of the new parts.

 

[cabu]

Hello,

(This list is concentrating to the smaller Kubota B-Type's)


Before starting the engine:

-Color of coolant and oil
-The rubber of the hoses (brittle?)
-Condition of the belt (brittle/tide)
-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-The front axle/drive assembly has 4 separate oil reservoirs! Check them all.
-The shaft for the front axle drive runs in a metal tube. Make sure that this is fixed properly to the front axle/drive assembly and that the rubber cover at the lower end is not damaged.
-check the play of the hub to axle shaft
-Everything screwed, fixed tide e.g. exhaust
-Check that the securing pins for the rear wheels are fitted. Sometimes they are missing.
-check the grease points (8 on B-type). If they are dry, clogged with dirt or painted over, then check for wear and tear.
-Fuelfilter (broken?)
-Airfilter (Dust inside?)
-PTO easy to turn (broken ball bearings?)
-check the decompression valve. (damaged?) B-Type 2Cyl are stopped by decompression, but the B-Typ 3Cyl (e.g. 7100/7001) ) are stopped by pulling the lever under the dashboard.
-Color of hydraulic oil, white = moisture

Starting the engine:

-Check the glow indicator. After about 20-30 seconds the wire should glow red. In the daylight it might be difficult to see.
-Oil pressure light. It should come on when you turn the ignition switch, and it should go off as soon as the engine starts.
-Sound of the starter

Running engine:

-Sound of the engine
-Smoke of the engine, burn coolant (white) or oil (black)?
-The voltage at the battery with engine running (alternator?) Can also be checked by carefully disconnect the plus wire from the battery while the engine is running and check that there is about 12.7 volts between the disconnected plus wire and the minus wire.
-All lights/switches working?
-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-Power of the hitch (hydraulic pump?)
-Hitch keep lifted (hydraulic piston/valve?), test it with weight connected
-Check gears of PTO (any suspected sound's?)

Driving the Tractor:

-Sound and handling of the gears (shifting easily?)
-Check the clutch, the differential lock and the proper working of each of the brakes.
-The lever for 4WD is secured into position with a ball and spring. Check that this clicks into position properly. (Years of working in mud may clog up the spring, and then there is a risk that the 4WD might suddenly jump in or out, damaging the gearbox.)
-Steering good (gears?)

Stopped engine:

-Oil leaking (sealings?)
-Color of coolant (mixed with Oil?)


To stay happy with your new 'member of the family':

-If the seller tells you he will deliver some parts later (manual, spare oilfilter, etc), ask him to write it down in the contract.
-If he give's you a kind of warrenty but he want to limit the warrenty, for example electric faults (battery, bulbs, switches etc), depend to have warrenty on the alternator and regulator. Limits on things that get used up is OK, but don't let him limit on essential parts!

A lot of points can be repaired easily and with small money, but they help to the lower the price a little bit.


Can somebody give us a hand and add some hint's what should be checked (and why)?

Thanx for the help

Carl & "12 friends"

 

[5thhorseman]

Don't let a bad belt or hose change your mind when it comes to buying a machine.
They are easy to replace, not very expensive either.
You can point it out and ask that he drop the price based on the price of the new parts.

Totally agree. You're buying a tractor, not servicing one. Don't miss major problems because you're looking at minor details.

Check that the previous owner hasn't warmed up the tractor before you take a look at it!

 

[LRP]

on top of the list should be , make sure your man cave, dog house or whatever u
call it is well stocked up. i can,t beleive all the pussy wipped guys on this list.
LOL. running and ducking for cover. LOL
Louis

 

[cabu]

...LOL. running and ducking for cover. LOL
Louis

If someone is looking forward to buy his first tractor and was not born on a farm, he is maybe happy to have a list of ideas, what he should be aware of...

But if you grow-up in the forest at your hairy parents and run all day long dieselengines and chainsaw's, then you might know how to repair everything with a big hammer and used-up srewdriver...

Standing tall !!

Carl