If you are reading this article, then vintage tractors are clearly of interest to you.

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 plan to work on it straightaway, you may not be interested in a complete restoration for some time and need to minimize the number of initial maintenance tasks. 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 don't then don't panic. 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 from cold will eliminate several items at once Good Battery, compression, ignition wiring / magneto, tune up, fuel flow, Carburetor can be assured (not guaranteed) by this. If it doesn't start quickly 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..

Does it run well when hot - Getting it hot is a must if you want to find out how it will work after you plowed the first row. When warmed up you should watch out for a number of problems. Plan on spending a half-hour running it. After running 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 extensive teardown to get the new ones in.

Does the tractor smoke - Blue smoke indicates many potentially difficult problems like rings, pistons, or valve guides. White or black smoke can frequently be fixed 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 readjustment but a deep thunk from the bottom or middle of the engine would point to very serious and expensive repairs. The clunk should be more pronounced under load conditions. This may be an indication of trouble with the crankshaft, bearings, or piston rods. And mean a very expensive repair job.

Work the hydraulics - Check the full extent of the rams by extending them with a load. Let the load stand in the hold position 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 flow of hydraulic fluid. The pump might have experienced excessive wear when run this way for long periods of time and may be ready to fail.


While many of the above experiences may sound a bit negative, you should do your background research make sure you are aware of the specific issues the model of tractor you are looking at before you buy.

About the Author:

Patrick Malloney is an internet entrepreneur who founded Youtractor.com which offers 1,000 of tractor videos showing Farm Tractors. Visit Investing in your first Antique Tractor: How to spot problems.