Because you are reading this article, then its obvious that you have an interest in vintage tractors. Buying and reconditioning vintage tractors from years ago has grown over the last few years. There are numerous reasons for this; firstly they are relatively cheap to purchase, and look after and in some cases they cost less than the tax on a new tractor. In addition, . They are easy to understand and simple to maintain. Every tractor comes with its own history and can be restored to become a major source of pride and enjoyment to who ever has taken the time and effort to restore it. But how do you know how to avoid the many pit falls when you are buying an antique tractor?There is an antique tractor to suit every collector's needs and budget. As with other collectible items, you should understand your needs as this will determine what you look for. have a clear understanding of your needs before you start then you will have to translate them into a list of requirements this will then enable you to make a better decision when it comes to buying your antique tractor.Depending on whether you need an antique tractor for your or you are planning to begin reconditioning for pleasure you will obviously choose select a different type of vintage tractor. For Certain some of the most sought after antique tractors make very poor work tractors because of their age or maintenance requirements and on the other-side painstaking renovation of an extremely popular tractor could not be worth the many hours (not to mention the cost of getting hold of parts no longer manufactured). The first thing you should do is detailed research when thinking about investing in an antique tractor. Research manuals are available that contain this information providing nearly a century of specifications and pricing on tractors.While collect ability, engine size, hitch system, etc make up the criteria for choosing what type, size, brand, or model of tractor you want are looking for, a more basic list of factors must be used for choosing the specific tractor you will invest in. As covered earlier in this article, reconditioning an vintage collectible tractor will have a completely different checklist.Antique Tractors Bought for WorkingIf you are looking for a day to day tractor then you will find what you are looking for easily, but be careful not to buy the first tractor you see as people often become disillusioned with antique tractors if they have not bought the right one for their needs. One of the first things you should look at is the layout of your fields, how hilly is it and also what type of farm machinery you will need to use. If you plan on using the tractor for tillage, such as barley or corn, then you should consider a Nuffield 342, a Massey Furguson 97 because other machines may be too low to the ground and cause damage to your crop. On the other hand if your fields are mountainous, you may need to consider something like a Massey Ferguson 35 or a Massey Ferguson 135 . If you pan on using machinery, you should look at the horsepower requirements of this implement and make sure the tractor model you select has the 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 Power Major Thorough research should ensure you don't make any of these basic mistakes.Once you have selected your antique tractor make sure the first thing you focus on is the mechanical operation of the tractor not its cosmetics.. Many good day to day tractors will not have seen paint in years and will have been maintained with lots of different stuff from around the farm. Test all the basic functions of the tractor, PTO, steering, gears, lift, lights, indicators and hydraulics. Even if you plan to work on it straightaway, you probably won't be interested in a complete refurbishment for sometime and need to reduce the number of initial maintenance tasks. You should have a detailed check list which 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 partial checklist for a simplistic preview of a working tractor:·Does it start easily from cold? - A tractor that starts easily from cold may eliminate several particular problems in one shot Good Battery, compression, ignition wiring / magneto, tune up, fuel flow, Carburetor can be assured (not guaranteed) by this. If it doesn't start quickly 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.. ·How well does it run when warm - Make sure you get it hot, as you will want to ensure it doesn't€™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 involve a lot of effort to replace. You can check out 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 indicates many potentially difficult problems like rings, pistons, or valve guides. Black or white smoke can often be corrected with carburetion or ignition changes but still means work. ·Does the engine run smoothly - A simple ticking from the top of the engine may be a simple valve readjustment but a deep thunk from the bottom or middle of the engine would indicate very serious and expensive repairs. The clunk should be more pronounced under load. This may be an indication of problems with the piston, bearings or crankshaft rods. And mean a very expensive repair job. ·What color is the oil - After you have run it for a little while, cut the engine and check the oil for foaming or presence of water. This is a show stopper. ·Is there head leaks - look for signs that oil are leaking out the head gasket. If the tractor is drenched with grease and oil, it may hide obvious signs of seepage. ·Is the clutch in good working order - the clutch is not that expensive to fix but splitting the tractor in half is beyond what most collectors want get involved in. ·Investigate the Dynamo - There should be a small charge indicated on the ammeter when the engine is running and a change in the charging level when the lights are switched on (this indicates that the regulator or resistor switch and cutout is operating). At normal running speed, no release should be shown. #·Work the hydraulics - Check the full range of the rams by extending them with a load. Let the load stand in the hold position for a while to be sure that there is no leakdown. 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 ready to fail. ·Look for structural cracks - It takes a bit of time but it is well spent. Look out hairline cracks in all the cast and steel components. While not expensive to repair, its€™s just another time consuming job. In addition it means that your tractor can not be used until this problem is fixed.. 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 point you must determine if you have the time to fix what you discovered... and make some savings in the process. If your tractor needs are time-critical, run a mile from this tractor.The best situation for investing a day to day tractor is either to buy one that is still in use (but the owner needs to upgrade) or from a reputable dealer. The first category is usually someone just like you who needs a tractor on a day to day basis. These dealings are normally enjoyable and can even spark a long term relationship that goes beyond the buyer/seller relationship. This type of person will probably even let you try the machine with on your farm and tell you all those things they would repair if they were keeping the tractor.Purchasing from dealers can also be a good idea but even at a dealer you should be armed with your rating criteria rather than depending on "the warranty". Even if your dealer includes warranties, hauling a tractor back for even free maintenance will list you a lot of time and effort. Also remember that the dealer is there to make a profit and may not have your best interests at heart. So buyer beware!While many of the above experiences may sound a bit negative, you should do your background research make sure you are aware of the specific issues a tractor may have before you invest.
