2040 buying decision

ratface

Member
Hello everyone, trying to decide about buying a 1982 2040 with about 4000 hrs. on it. I think I can get it between $3500 and $4000?? It runs well and all the gears shift fine. Hydraulic arms go up and down and PTO spins. It has been sitting for almost ten years in a carpet factory of sorts where they bought it to plow snow but discovered a heated truck was better. It's kind of a disheveled tractor with some panels removed and never put back, looks like the battery cover is missing. The cab is in terrible shape as well as the seat. Probably better just removing cab as it makes it hard climbing in and out. It has turf tires all around and I would need to replace all the tires my hilly property. It has 16.9 on 24 inch rims in the rear. The muffler is completely shot and will need replaced. The batteries and cables look ancient and never cleaned. The oil looks like it hasn't been changed in some time and it has a hydraulic leak from somewhere in the brake cylinder housing underneath, just some constant dripping. The good news is the price, what looks like a fairly new injector pump, no fuel leaks, and it just runs real strong. So I need tires all around, new exhaust system, batteries, cables, cab removal, and maybe a seat. Additionally I need to transport it about 100 miles which will cost me around $300. I'm sitting on the fence on this, thinking I should grab it and just do the work or does it need too much work and I need to hold out for a better tractor that fits my needs better? It would be mostly a brushhog machine on steep terrain in Northern Illinois. Sorry but can't figure out how to turn that picture. Your thoughts?
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We have one here at the college. It has been a dependable machine. They are built like tanks so as you see from your photo, they can be beat around a bit. Just in case you need to know, they also made a backhoe that fits on this tractor, we have one and use it often. I don't think you will have trouble finding parts.

Larry
 
Believe there are two versions of the 2040 when it comes to hydraulics. The more desireable is closed center hydraulics. Others hopefully will chime in on how to identify.
 
I do not think that is a 1982 2040. From the pic that looks like an early 2040 which was last produced in 1977 or 78.The later 2040's have a different hood and decals like the bigger 40 series often refered to as a tiger stripe. Dad had three brand new 2040's and we still have the last one here on the farm with over 7000 hours. The early ones had a different hyd system up untill 1977 then they had the larger hyd. pumps. We never had problems with any of the hyd pumps. The 2040 started out life in 1968 as a 820 then became the 830 before becoming the 2040.They were built in Germany but to US specs and in no way are they substandard tractor. They are great on fuel and handle very good. It should make you a good little tractor. Tom
 
A good question is your intentions for the tractor....I can tell from experience if you plan on pulling anything of substance...better figure on another set of rear tires....the front have an R4 tire for some reason...looks like it was being used on concrete and the tires would have held better weight...I suppose they must have had a carpet pole on the front. My unit was a late model, German made...the only area of concern is cooling and the quality of the pumps...there is one on the front of engine and one in the transmission...mine inside the transmission made a slight chatter...in advise I would opt to pay more money and get an agricultural setup with the remotes....currently I run a 990 and 4400 compact utility and prefer them much more than the agricultural tractors....but you're looking at more money....
 

Iirc there was a three cylinder 2040 and a turbo four cylinder that was the high HP version of the 1640 & 1840 chassis line.
 
(quoted from post at 16:13:30 02/07/17) Believe there are two versions of the 2040 when it comes to hydraulics. The more desireable is closed center hydraulics. Others hopefully will chime in on how to identify.

3 cyl model 2040's below serial number 266,750 were open center hyd's & above that SN are closed-center hyd's. For general purpose use such as mowing I'd rather have the open-center hyd style. Serial number should be on RH frame just above frt axle. There should be a tag plus SN should be embossed in frame
 

I took the liberty to rotate the photo & I hope OP doesn't mind. I also think from viewing the shape of the hood that the tractor serial number is below 349,999.

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What's wrong with the open center pump if OP is just going to be mowing with the tractor? IMHO OC gives less trouble with internal hyd leaks than CC systems.
 
Don't put a loader on it. FIL has a 2040 with open center, and the loader is unacceptably slow. I have it here on the farm sometimes during the summer, and everyone who drives it, loves it. Turns on a dime and makes change. It'll definitely make a good mowing tractor with about a 5 foot mower. I've been wanting to buy a flail mower for his 2040, but haven't yet.
 

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