Top tips for purchasing your first Vintage Tractor

As you are looking at this article, then its clear that you have an interest in vintage tractors.

Its very important they you test all the basic mechanics of the tractor, so take time to test the steering, gears, forward and reverse, PTO, lift, lights, indicators and hydraulics. Even if you are willing to work on it straight off, you may not be interested in a complete refurbishment for some time and need to reduce the number of things to do when you get the tractor home. 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.. If you don't have these tools, don't panic as these tools can end up costing more than the tractor itself.. You should in this case rely on your own common sense and your own observation skills.

Does it start from cold? - A tractor that starts easily will rule out several items 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, it still may be a good tractor but you will need to spend some money on it . One key thing to watch out for is if the tractor is out and warmed up prior to your arrival, 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 does it run when warm - Make sure you get it hot, as you will want to ensure it doesn't overheat. When warmed up you should watch out for a number of problems. Plan on spending a half-hour running it. Look for leaks, both oil and antifreeze. Lastly after warm up, shut it down and see if it will start.

Are the brakes working well - Although inexpensive to replace, they are difficult to get at on many tractors and will require a lot of work to replace.

Does it generate a lot of - Blue smoke indicates many potentially difficult problems like rings, pistons, or valve guides. White or black smoke can oftentimes be corrected with carburetion or ignition changes but still means work.

Does the engine make unusual noises - A simple ticking from the top of the engine may be a simple valve adjustment 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 bearings, crankshaft or piston rods. And mean a very expensive repair job.

Work the hydraulics - Check the full extent of the power rams by extending them with a load. Let the load stand in the hold situation for a period to be sure that there is no leakdown. Clacking noises from the pump while lifting suggest the pump is not getting enough supply of hydraulic fluid. The pump will have experienced excessive wear when run this way for long periods of time and may be about to fail.

While some of the above examples may sound a bit negative, you should do your background research make sure you are aware of the particular issues the model of tractor you are looking at before you invest.