JD 4310 w/ loader

[Mitch B]

Just sold my 8N of 21 years, now I'm looking at a used JD 4310 w/loader (2003). It has 1085 hrs and is out of a rental fleet, It has some cosmetic damage, hood is cracked, needs new grill, adjustable top link is bent. I priced everything from the local dealer at around 750.00. I drove the tractor and operated the bucket, it all seems to work fine, however both front and rear rims on the inner side and on the right side of the tractor (looking from the rear) had what appeared to be dirty grease up around the axles. Is this leaky seals and why would it be on one side, this also is the side the link is bent on. My main use is cutting a 3 acre pasture with a 60in. BEFCO mower deck and moving gravel and mulch around the house. Its priced at 10000 or should I look for a 790, I'll put around 300 hrs a year on what I get. Just wanted some advice.

 

[buickanddeere]

"Top Link" usually refers to the upper attachment point of the three point hitch.
Assuming the "top link" is the tie rod for the front steering axle. If it's bent and the axle seal on that side is leaking. Odds are some yahoo piled the tractor into a solid obstacle while traveling at high speeds.
Check for front axle pivot point and casting damage. Is the rim bent, been replaced or any unusual marks on the tire? Any cracks in the front axle casting near the seal?
The selling price would have to allow for at the very least a new front axle shaft & seal.

 

[Gun guru]

I would not buy that tractor. A rental tractor means abuse and hard work. For $10k you could get something better IMO. For $13k you could get a compact with loader new, JD or AGCO. Look at the JD2305. A sales guy quoted me a new 2305 with $9750 + $2700 for a loader.
I have used 2 rented tractors and they were both in rough shape one was a Kubota and the other was a New Holland- both compacts with loaders, this was several years ago. They ran but the tires were in bad shape, beat on with dents in the body panels, bent linkage, rough steering.

 

[ericlb]

run, dont walk away from a tractor thats been in a rental fleet, you wont believe what idiots will put these things thru, i saw a good kubota in a rental fleet shop in pieces, when i asked what in the world happend to it, it turns out it was rented the week befor by a moron who was trying to remove a stump- by running at high speed into it with the corner of the bucket! it gete even better, this tractor had the backhoe on it! apparently the guy wasnt smart enough to operate the backhoe, most of these tractors are almost worn out befor they are sold in spite of the fact they may look decent cosmeticly, your N probably has more life left in it than one of these

 

[Mitch B]

Thanks for the response. It is the 3 pt hitch adjustable link. I guess they could have backed into something, but its bent bad. My fear is that it was turned over on that side and that it did something to the bearing seals. I do not know anything about the new tractors, so I'm not sure what to look for. It did run fine, no smoke, except when it first started, steered fine, maybe I'm just paranoid, but this is a big investment for me.

 

[Mitch B]

Boy after reading this, I guess I better haul a_ _, thanks for the info. I guess I'll go for a new 790, what do you think?

 

[Mitch B]

Thanks, you verified another reply!

 

[Allan in NE]

Hey Mitch,

Help me understand. How in the heck do you manage to put 300 hours a year on maintaining 3 acres?

Or, did I read it wrong?

Allan

 

[Mitch B]

Allan, thats a good question, my math was off, it is more like half that. This tractor thing has me wacked out. I'm thinking used tractors are not the way to, unless you know the seller.

 

[buickanddeere]

http://www.deere.com/en_US/homeowners/specialoffers/specials_cut.html?link=yrv_special

Purchasing a 4105 tractor new with a loader may cost about about the same as purchasing the used rental unit and repairing the damage.