old cookie jars presents Buying your very first Vintage Tractor Choosing the right one

Because you are reading this article, then its obvious that you have an interest in vintage tractors. Maintaining, collecting and refurbishing vintage tractors from days gone by has become extremely popular recently. There are numerous reasons for this; firstly they are relatively low-cost to invest in, and look after and sometimes they cost less than the road tax on a new tractor. Also, they are still of use when it comes to doing work. They are simple and understandable. Each tractor has its own history and can be restored to bring pride and a great deal of enjoyment to the restorer. But how do you know how to buy the right tractor and how do you go about it?

Antique tractors come in many shapes and sizes. , you should understand your needs as this will determine what you look for. You first need to know your needs you then need to convert this 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 intending to begin restoring as a hobby you will choose different machines. Many people will tell you that some of the most sought after vintage tractors make poor day to day tractors and on the flip-side painstaking restoration of an very popular tractor may not be worth the effort (not to mention the cost of that perfect original paint mix).

No matter which type of tractor you are looking for, you should always start your search with some detailed research. Many research books are available that have this information giving you endless details about any tractor model you wish.

While collect ability, , hitch system, etc make up the criteria for choosing what size, type, manufacturer, or model of vintage tractor you want, a more straight forward set of factors must be used for selecting the specific tractor you will purchase. As always, restoring an antique collectible tractor will have a completely different list of criteria.

Antique Tractors Bought for Working

Those that need a machine for working their farm are in a better position to get what they need quickly but it is amazing how many people buy the wrong type of tractor and become disillusioned with old machines. One of the frst 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 M4, a Nuffield 1060 because other machines may be too low to the ground and cause damage to your crop. On the other hand if your land is mountainous, you may need to consider something like a Massey Ferguson 35X or a Massey Ferguson 168 Orchard Tractor . If you are going to use machinery, you should first understand the horsepower requirements of this implement and make sure the tractor you select has the right weight and the correct horsepower to do the job. If, for example you will be using a ten foot disk harrow, then you will need more power than a Fordson N Thorough basic research will ensure that you don't make these basic mistakes.

Once you have selected your model, don't pay much attention to the look of the tractor, the basic mechanics of the tractor should be the first thing you focus on.. Many good day to day tractors will not have seen paint in years and will have been patched up and mended with a range of strange materials.

Make sure that your tractor performs all the basic tasks properly, so check the steering, gears, forward and reverse, PTO, lift, lights, indicators and hydraulics. Even if you plan to work on it straight off, you may not be interested in a complete restoration for sometime and need to keep to a minimum the number of initial jobs. 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 are not lucky enough to have access to these tools, as many dont 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 planing to buy. 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 inspect so you are familiar with its operation and basic specs and what to look out for.

Here is a basic checklist which you can use with any vintage tractor:

?,?? Does it start easily? - A tractor that starts easily may rule out several items in one go Good Battery, compression, ignition wiring / magneto, tune up, fuel flow, Carburetor can be assured (not guaranteed) by this. If it doesn't start easily 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 does it run when warm - Getting it hot is a must if you want to find out how it will work after you plowed the first row. There are simple and complex problems that can cause the tractor to run poorly after it warms up. You should run it for al least half an hour. After running look for leaks, antifreeze and both oil. Then, shut it down and see how it starts up again.

?,?? Are the brakes working well - Although relatively inexpensive to replace, they are difficult to get at on many tractors and will require extensive teardown to get the new ones in. You can test 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 - like rings, pistons, or valve guides. Black or white smoke can oftentimes be sorted out with carburetion or ignition changes but still represent work.

?,?? 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 indicate very serious and expensive repairs. The clunk should be more pronounced under load conditions. This may be a sign of problems with the crankshaft, bearings, or piston rods. And mean a very expensive repair job.

?,?? What condition is the oil in - After you have run it for a while, turn off the engine and check the oil for foaming or presence of water. This is a big problem.
?,?? Is there head leaks - look for signs that oil are seeping out the head gasket. If the tractor is encrusted with grease and dirt, it may cover obvious signs of seepage.

?,?? Is the clutch working well - a clutch is not that costly to fix but splitting the tractor in half is beyond what most collectors want to do.
?,?? Check the Dynamo - There should be a little charge indicated on the ammeter as the engine is turning over and a change in the charging level when the lights are switched on (this shows that the resistor or regulator switch and cutout is working fine). At normal running speed, no release should be displayed.

?,?? Work the hydraulics - Check the full range 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 breakdown. Chattering noises from the pump while lifting indicate the pump is not getting enough flow of hydraulic oil. 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 for hairline cracks in all the steel components. While not expensive to repair, it's just another time consuming job. In addition it means that your tractor can not be used until this problem is fixed..
IF initially the tractor fails some of these areas, you may be able to knock down the price (since you found all the problems). At this point you must determine if you have the time to correct what you discovered... and make savings. If your tractor needs are time-critical, run a mile from this tractor.

The best option for buying a working 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 commonly someone just like you who needs a tractor on a day to day basis. These transactions are usually enjoyable and can even spark a long term friendship that goes beyond the buyer/seller aspect. 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.

Buying from dealers can also be a good idea but even at a dealer you should be armed with your evaluation criteria rather than relying on "the warranty". Even if your dealer includes warranties, hauling a tractor back for even free repairs will list you a lot of time and effort. Also remember that the dealer is there to make a profit for his business 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 and understand the particular issues a tractor may have before you invest.

Asker Dough is an established media entrepreneur and has founded YouTractor.com which offers only tractor videos of antique tractors and modern power tractors.

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