Hi, I am in the market for a secondhand tractor and I am looking for advice. I am a livestock farmer and want the machine to do general farm work, including loader work, slurry and fertiliser spreading, as well as being able to bring cattle to the local factory. I have a budget of €25,000. What should I be looking out for?

Thanks for your query. While farm incomes are under pressure, farmers still need machinery to carry out essential work around the farm. Your query is also very common.

For your budget and farm system, a tractor in the range of 90hp to 100hp is the most appropriate for you. There are plenty of good deals out there at present, but there a few common things you should look out for.

If you are competent with machinery, then feel free to buy from another farmer. However, if you do not feel comfortable, it is hard to beat the security of a dealer’s guarantee. The first thing to look out for is if the hours on the clock match the general feel and look of the tractor. Is there too much wear on the seat for a tractor with only 500 hours? Occasionally, tractor owners try to inflate the price of a machine they are selling by having the hours on the clock reduced. If a tractor looks and feels older than the hours suggest, there is a chance that the clock has been tampered with.

After you take the tractor for a test drive, let it sit running in the one place and check for any oil leaks and check if the blow off pipe is emitting very smokey emissions. While still running, remove the dipstick and place your finger, there should be a spattering of oil. This ensures that there is good pressure in the engine.

Also, check for frothy, white substance on the dipstick as this could be the sign of a head gasket on the way out.

Other items to check include slap in the hitch and play in the steering wheel – you should see neither of these things. If you want the tractor to do loader work, then make sure that it is capable to do so and if possible, has done loader work in the past.

As always, ensure that you are getting the paperwork with the purchase and the best of luck with your new tractor.

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