Got Screwed on 1030

So, I bought a 1030 case on craigslist that supposedly just overhauled for $3500 (western style)
Well, the trucking cost me $1200 which I knew, but when I got it I realized it didn't have a drawbar and had all but one really bad tires.
Driving to the tire shop I realized the front axle was totally shot as well as the linkage up there and on the side of the motor down from the stearing wheel.
I brought the tractor to a guy I know, had him take the front axle apart so I could get everything rebushed and pinned.
We put it back on and noticed the steering pump was bad and replaced it.
When the tractor was at this guys place we noticed that the altenator was bad as well as the wiring for the whole rest of the tractor up to the gauges and lights.
After all this was fixed, I brought it to a dealer to get the rear wheels moved in for corn rows and to dyno it.
Turns out the pto clutch was totaly bad as well as the hydraulic pump and valve.
Put a new hydraulic pump on replaced all the filters and took valve apart and still don't have much pressure.
Now we also see that the fuel line is leaking, there is water coming out of the head gasket when it gets hot, a bad rear axle seal and the cast on the main housing under the axle has been J.B. welded.
Point is I have about $12,000 into a $3500 tractor and it still is not in good working shape.
Watch yourselves buying on craigslist!

Did you actually look at it up close before buying it? if not, I'm sorry but I cant feel sorry for you

You bought a tractor that is how old ? Expecting it to be ready to farm without spending any money ? LOL

Whew, whew, whew, hat a mess. Just try to do as much of your own work as possible. When you get to the bottom of it all you'll have a nice tractor.

I'm most woried about that leaky head gasket. Hard to tell what you're gonna find in there. Before you put it in service I'd install a cooling fan with one extra blade.

I have way too much into my DC and my SC, but they're my babies.


Glenn F.

Look at the positive side. When you finish and get everything right, you will have a great tractor.

I saw some pictures and talked to the guy on the phone. He told me they had just overhauled it.

R, I bought a "just overhauled" 630 gas triple range on ebay. While I expected some surprises I at least expexcted new pistons, rings, rod bearings, mains and a valve job. What I found out was that the tractor was knocking so bad they just did the minimum to sell it and all I got was pistons, rings and rod bearings. How do I know this? Pretty good blow by pressure from the breather and after replacing the oil pump (old one was shot) only about 10-12 psi oil pressure at 3/4 throttle. But all I wanted was a starting point restorable tractor that would run and that is what I got. I am not even sure the old parts I got were from this tractor or something the previous owner just dredged up to satisfy my request for the old parts. Never ever believe the "just over hauled" statement as it is most of the time just a ploy to sell something at a price you normally wouldn't pay!! I had been looking and pricing so long that I did OK especially after I called him on the fact that it was advertised as a Case-O-Matic and turned out to be a triple range when I got it. I threatened to turn him in to ebay for false advertisng and got a suitable rebate for the ad discrepency.

That said, most all of the folks I have dealt with through ebay and YT on parts and purchases have been honest people and willing to help with after sale information. There are some on ebay I have learned to watch though.

JG

I went through the same thing with an 870 that the seller said was field ready. If I listed everything I had to do to the tractor the list would be several pages long. I did all the work myself and ended up with over 400 hours in it, and spent about $2000. It is back in the shop now getting the last of the small bugs out. Turns out the tractor was late for boarding the ark some time in its life and spent time completly under water. Wiring harness was a dandy! lots of things siezed up, and none of the small things had been maintained. Best part was that other than the heads walking and needing to replace the head gaskets the engine and power shift seem to be in really good shape. I now have a nice useable tractor and I know what does not need fixing now. Good luck with the 1030. DK

I've [i:654c4848f0]never[/i:654c4848f0] and I mean [i:654c4848f0][b:654c4848f0]never[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0] went to look at a tractor that I was told there was nothing wrong with but what I could point out a dozen things wrong with it in fairly short order. [i:654c4848f0][b:654c4848f0]Always[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0] go look at what you're buying, folks.

Thats tough. Think of it this way. You didn"t buy yourself a tractor, you bought yourself an education.

I've been thinking about your situation all day.

Any time you buy used equipment, you run the risk of getting beat, (just hopefully not too often!).

The 1030 is a very simple tractor. When you get it all fixed up, keep it running cool and you'll have a reliable, fuel efficient 100+ hp tractor for years to come.

Keep your chin up. Like they say, "If you wanna play, you gotta pay."


Glenn F.

Buying on the internet is something like buying at auction.............you win some and you loose sometimes....hopefully more of the former! Nonetheless, when you first laid eyes on the actual tractor, you were out $4,700. At that point, you could have made a decision to part it out or flip it at a consignment sale and likely broke even or at worst, had a minimal loss. Before you started piecemeal fixing things, you should have had an idea of what it was going to take to put it into the condition you wanted and then proceeded accordingly. Having said that, hindsight is perfect and education is expensive. Chalk it up to experience and move on. Good luck,

R Guy,

I know the feeling, almost as bad as your experience with a Super 400, only I knew it was in tough shape, just didn't realize how badly a tractor could be abused and still run.

I'll apologize in advance, but in this area what you bought would be called a "Belgian" overhaul (substitute your own favorite nationality). What that meant was a few cans of spray paint and whatever it took to get it running and loaded onto your trailer. My own personal rule is not to buy anything used without planning to stick money into it, in other words buy it mighty cheap. Good Luck, hope you get it straightened out. Don

Unfortunatly this is what happens buying things over the internet with just pictures and a phone call. I NEVER NEVER EVER buy anything with out looking it over. If its a ways from me, ill get them to send pictures to me. Those pictures are only to help me decide if its worth goin to look at.

And once iam there i go over it with a fine tooth comb, I had one guy tell me if i kept running the tractor and i wasnt going to buy it, i was goin to pay for the fuel i used!

Even if the thing is far away, there are plenty of people who would go look at the boat anchor and tell you to buy or run! I bought my 1030 for $2000. Leaked and peed everything from everywhere. Kind of expected that on a machine with 8600 hours and being 32-35 years old at the time. I got about $3000 in it with a rebuilt front end with one new spindle and bearings, head gaskets, injector lines, power steering overhaul, crank balancer, belts, hoses, water pump, alternator, brakes, front tires, and the list goes on! I would find a cheaper place to get work done, $12000 is absolutely ridiculous!!!!!! even for a deere dealer!