The choice of which tractor to purchase is crucial in guaranteeing that your farm works effectively and the wrong choice of tractor could result in loss of productivity and efficiency. In the current economic climate, many farmers and collectors are turning to vintage tractors as a way of providing cost effective farm machinery for their farming business. Collectors clubs and associations are a great way to talk to other collectors and learn from their experiences. People who are interested in antique machinery have formed clubs and occasionally paraded their new found wares through the streets of small towns through the country. These acts as a big incentive making folks in the farming community buy an antique agriculture tractor to use and cherish instead investing lots of capital in their more modern counterparts.

Most vintage tractors for sale are still in full working order and will prove to be a great investment as well as a working machine for the farm. However, don’t be blinded by good value, you need to carry out a full investigation of the machine before you lay out any of your investment money. Over the years I have found that there are 4 main areas of concern that you should pay attention to when purchasing a vintage tractor, these are:

1. Does it start OK? — A tractor that starts simply will eliminate many items in single shot. Good Battery, compression, ignition wiring / magneto, fine-tune, fuel flow, carb are implied (not assured) by this. If it does not start simply, it may be a good machine but you won’t escape some work on it. If the tractor is out and heated up prior to your arrival, you lose a crucial checklist item, namely the cold start.

2. Does it run well when hot — Getting it hot is a total must if you’d like 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. Plan on spending a half-hour running it. Finally after heat up, shut it down and see whether it will start.

3. Do the brakes work fine — although the brakes are cheap to replace, they are inaccessible on many tractors and will require intensive teardown to get the new ones in. The tractor should spin and the wheel should not revolve.

4. Does it make clunking noises from within the engine — An easy ticking from the top of the engine could be a straightforward valve adjustment but a deep thunk from the bottom or middle of the engine would indicate quite serious and expensive repairs. This may be an indication of problems with the crankshaft, bearings, or piston rods.