Buying a good second hand tractor can be daunting, we look at a few questions prospective used tractor buyers might be asking themselves.
1: How many hours is good?
Used compact tractors will show a varying range of hours from as low as 50 hours to as many as 8000 hours. While hours can be used to indicate lifespan of engines and transmissions, they aren’t always a good indicator of condition.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a good brand tractor with 3500 hours so long as it's been well cared for.
Below is a general guide on what is low and what is high in regards to Japanese, Korean or American compact tractors. This guide would change if we were looking at remanufactured or Chinese tractors.
Below 500 hours - Very Low
500 - 1500 hours - Low
1500 - 3000 hours - Average
3000 - 4500 hours - High
Above 4500 hours + Very high
2: Does tractor age matter?
In the car industry a model's platform will change every 10 -12 years- new engines, transmissions, safety technology etc. Compact tractors are much the same although engine and transmission technology changes move a lot slower, as compact tractors aren’t beholden to global emissions and safety standards. This is in contrast to the high horsepower ag-tractors which are in an arms race for fuel efficiency and greater operator comfort and control.
Often tractor manufacturers will change things like model names, feature names, bonnet styling, dash styling, lighting etc, but the underlying power train will remain unchanged for a very long time.
A 2019 shuttle shift 40 HP Kioti shares much the same components underneath as a 2009 model, but from the outside look completely different.
Tractors are also not stamped with a build date like a car, but rather they are dated from the year they are sold at the dealership.
All these factors are the reason that good second hand tractor values remain quite buoyant, as a 12 year old tractor in good condition will perform much the same as a new one sitting at the dealership.
So don’t be afraid to dip into the naughties when looking for a second hand tractor, the results will surprise you.
3: What transmission should I go for?
The two most common types of transmissions in compact tractors are hydrostatic and shuttle shift.
A hydrostatic is like an automatic in a car, you have a forward pedal for forward and a reverse pedal for reverse. The learning curve is very fast and operation is easy. These are a good option if your confidence is low around machinery or you just want to be less ‘busy’ on the machine.
A shuttle shift is a manual transmission with an easy shifting forward and reverse lever, some tractors you need to use the clutch when shifting and some are self modulating.
These are a good option for those who like full control over the machine and are prepared to learn the many ranges and gear ratios available to them. You also get an accelerator pedal with this type of tractor transmission which I find rather nice.
Another option is a fully manual transmission which is exactly the same as in your manual car. For those who love no fuss, simple technology these are ideal.
Whichever transmission you choose, with enough hours on the seat you will become an expert of your machine.
Happy hunting out there.
