Used tractor

A friend of mine wants me to go with him to look at a used tractor
Its a Zetor 4340 with 4400 hrs on it.
Curious on anything to look for on a used tractor. We both grew up in the city and know almost nothing about tractors. But he inherited a 230 acre farm plus 70 acre woods. Doesn't plan on farming. Gonna lease the the fields to neighbors. So it would be for maintenance on the woods.

 

Never heard of brand.. diesel motors taken care of can last 10k hours easy. Parts and dealers support on older units until you figure it out are helpful

 

My advice is to look for something easier to find support for. (steer clear)

 

Support and parts could be an issue. Needs to have a loader on it.
TractorData.com Zetor 4340 tractor information

 

It comes with a loader, bale spear, brush hog, and back blade

 

25+ year old machine built in Czech Republic (is that still a country) keep looking

 

TractorData.com Zetor 4340 tractor information

https://machinerydealer.co.uk/before-you-buy-a-thorough-examination-checklist-for-used-tractors/

 

I'd have to believe that getting parts for that machine would be difficult, at best. (Other than basic maintenance stuff, that are available after market)
That would be enough to make me keep looking!

 

Knocking around in the woods is hard on equipment, and stuff will break. Add in the rookie operator thinking it can do more than it can, and you have a recipe for a parts order. Problem is, probably can’t find what you need.

 

NOT a tractor to purchase for use. You need to be a tractor enthusiast to support that machine.

 

Hard pass. Get a brand you've heard of before.

 

What lukem said. Find a neighbor where his property is and see if they may have a lead on a preowned tractor or are willing to go with you to look over any prospects you find. Best resource is someone who knows and has operated machinery!

 

I think I'd get a ~30HP kubota with a loader at 0% financing. Kinda of a no brainer.

 

Ok calling the FHC guru of buying & selling tractors
If I was gonna buy a used one I pay him for advice

ohhh

Gasifier

 

Ohio dave what's your budget? How much do you like working on equipment?

There are usually a lot of low hour machines available, but they aren't that much cheaper than new and are going to require very little care and feeding.

Higher hour used machines in good condition are much harder to find and may require a lot more fixing. You could find yourself fixing a hydraulic line a month (once you repair one the next weakest one will go), old tires and the woods don't always get along well, wiring gremlins, etc.

I had a 30 year old Kubota and dealt with all that stuff...the motor and trans were bullet proof but all the old rubber bits were pretty shot.

I got tired of it and bought a 4 year old one and it is a lot less hassle....but I had to pay a lot not to deal with it.

For woods work, I would HIGHLY consider a grapple capable machine. Bare minimum you will want a set of forks. This would mean you are going to want a quick-attach on the loader and either a diverter valve or 3rd function kit for a grapple.

If your woods lies wet most of the year you are going to want a lighter machine with R4 tires for lower ground pressure. If it is high and dry get the biggest, heaviest machine you can navigate through the woods...and get R1 tires. Even if your woods is dry and wide open, a 60HP tractor is probably a lot bigger than you would want.

Horsepower doesn't matter much unless you are running a ground engaging attachment (disc, plow, tiller, etc) or want to run a wider mower (5HP per foot of mower).

 

Is it necessary to consider the size of your proposed tractor when you consider the width of the trails in your woods? If you are going from a smaller tractor to a larger one, you may have to allow for time to widen your woods road.

 

A quick google shows Zetor N. America with parts shipped same day. Depending on price I would go for it but I enjoy keeping things running.

 

For this 30 year old model?

 

Not enough information here for me. How does the Zetor he is considering look? By that I mean cosmetically AND maintenance wise. I can usually stand back and walk around a machine and see by what it looks like and learn a lot. Then move in and look at the belts, hoses, grease zerks, non-factory welds(?), oil, hydraulic, and transmission fluid. Radiator, leaks underneath, etc. Be very careful with no experience. If he thinks he likes it. Find someone who IS very experienced to inspect it.

What is his maximum budget for his woods maintenance tractor? I like what has already been said by others. Now. Since neither of you have no tractor experience……If he can afford it, find a brand that is sold AND supported by a dealer that is close by and has been around a long time. One that has a good reputation for good service.

I have been around tractors since I was a kid, about 45 years. But, I am NOT a tractor mechanic. NOR do I want to be. I know and do some basic things. So I buy a brand that I know I can get worked on at the dealer that sells them within a 20-40 minute drive. For me, that is Kubota first, because they seem to have the least problems. New Holland and Deere are good machines too (depending on the year and models.)

Can you get us any pictures of said tractor? Budget for potential woods tractor?

 

To clarify we have not seen the tractor in person yet. I was asking what to look for when we do look at it tomorrow. Also my friend spent 25 years working on ship diesel engines. Not sure how much overlap there'll be