If you are reading 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 wish to work on it right away, you may not be interested in a complete refurbishment for some time and need to keep to a minimum the number of upfront jobs. Your check list should 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.
Does it start easily from cold? - A tractor that starts easily from cold may rule out 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 easily, it still may be a good machine but you will need to do some work 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 well does it run when warm - Make sure you get it hot, as you will want to ensure it doesn't overheat. There a number of problems to watch out for that can cause the tractor to run poorly after it warms up. Plan on spending a half-hour running it. Look for leaks, both oil and antifreeze. Once warmed up, stop it restart it again..
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 spells trouble like rings, pistons, or valve guides. White or black smoke can often be fixed with carburetion or ignition changes but still costs time and money.
Does it make clunking noises from inside the engine - 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 show very serious and expensive repairs. The clunk should be more pronounced under load. This may be an indication of problems with the crankshaft, bearings, or piston rods. And mean a very expensive repair job.
Use the hydraulics - Check the full range of the power rams by extending them with a load. Let the load sit in the hold position for a period of time to be sure that there is no slippage. Chattering noises from the pump while lifting indicate the pump is getting insufficient flow of hydraulic oil. The pump may have experienced a lot of wear when run this way for long periods of time and may be ready to fail.
While some of the above experiences may sound a bit negative, you should do your background research and understand the particular issues a tractor may have before you buy. About Author: Patrick Malloney is an internet entrepreneur who founded Youtractor.com which offers 1,000 of tractor videos showing Farm Tractors
