Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Driveway Erosion Control, ETC.

What is that, mountain lion?

 

Just about got Version 2 of my Swisher bucket done. Just have to connect the ATV chassis to the midpoint of my frame. It currently connects the front pivot pin to the rear hitch plate.

 

That looks great

 

Thanks duder!
This fixes several problems I had with V1, mainly no dump height. I had to raise the other setup 24" to dump flat on the ground. I can raise the bottom of the bucket to 40" curled, 35" flat, and dump at 31" and load my dump trailer with it now.

Also had wicked bucket flop due to poor dump cylinder angle geometry and weak curl(it wouldn't curl a full bucket of dirt). This one is solid as a dozer and the curl cylinder will lift the tractor. No flop in sight

 

So where do you guys go to buy used tractors? Craigslist?

 

Snagged my MF35 Utility with the loader for $1000 in non-running condition. Put about $500-600$ into it and it’s been pretty reliable ever since. My dream tractor is an International 484, 584, or 784 diesel 4x4. They’re just awesome and well built machines.

My Massey is 35-40hp and nearly the same at the PTO. It’s been well worth the investment, I don’t use it all the time but frequently enough that it’s paid for itself countless times over the past five years since I got it on Craigslist.

 

FB marketplace is much better than CL

 

Did you already know what the problem was when you bought it or were you blindly throwing 1k at it hoping you could get it running for less than you paid?

 

Almost all the ones we own or have bought and resold have been by word of mouth. I’ve only bought one on c-list and resold it. It had a lot of equipment with it too. I’m not on FB but have sold several on c-list.

 

Here's a box blade I built for my Kubota 4200D. I cleaned it up and painted it orange to match my tractor since that's the rules I guess. It turns out I can't weld to save my life, but it works well and didn't fall apart. I was pleasantly surprised. I do need to add some weight to it though, I figured it would be heavy enough, but more would be better.


And here's a pic of my tractor stuck in a ditch lol. I smoothed out the transition after my Taco rescued it.


And yes, those are Tacoma drum hats on the front for some extra weight lol.

 

It was worth what I paid in parts so I threw a grand at it and hoped for the best. It had major wiring issues, but there’s only like 5 wires on these old things, and the owner told me the three point hitch didn’t work. I had ZERO knowledge about tractors when I bought it, posted a pic on TractorByNet forum asking a few questions and was told BUY IT!

So I did, turns out they were all correct. I could sell the loader off it for about $800.

I’ve since acquired a brush hog/rotary cutter, and a flail mower for it.

 

I've bought all of mine on CL, but the FB marketplace has a lot of listings as well. Obviously scams abound, so shop warily. Don't buy used equipment from a dealer; you're paying their markup for a '30 day guarantee' or whatever they offer that usually isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

 

I also use FB marketplace, but I also check local dealers. The real old stuff they sometimes have good prices on, especially if it needs repairs.

 

Love the looks of the older kubota tractors

 

Around here at least the really old stuff is either twice as much as it would be if you bought it private-party or it's sat on their lot forever. Sitting's not a big deal if it's an implement, obviously, but for a tractor...

YMMV, but the equipment dealers in my area mark everything up, old or new.

 

Yeah, I recently looked at my local Tractor dealer's used inventory listed online. It was almost exactly double the price of similar used tractors on FB Marketplace.

 

There's a small dealer near us and they have some of the same combines and tractors I remember being there from the 1980's. My brother said the only way they'll ever move again is if a tornado comes through.