Ran when parked

BIG RUH · Dec 12, 2013

Went and looked at a tractor this morning. Advertised as ran when parked, always parked inside. Got there engine is stuck, pulled spark plugs, cylinders full of water. Guy is either lying about being shedded or his roof leaks very badly. Asked how much? Guy says he didn't know what it's worth, make an offer. This is a Massey Harris 30 standard, not common for St. Louis area. Offered $500 for it. He suddenly knows that it's worth $3000. Didn't bring it home with me

DeltaRed · Dec 12, 2013

Ya,New tires,fresh paint,fresh OH.....

David G · Dec 12, 2013

Run away, good choice.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 12, 2013

I like the one where they say it ran when I started it.

jimg.allentown · Dec 12, 2013

The most common fraud that I see is the one that has an engine that doesn't run quite right.....
Seller says it just needs a "tune-up"!!!
My reaction to that is to walk away....no, RUN!!!

If the tractor/car/truck/engine powered device was in top running condition, it would be worth more. But for some reason the seller doesn't want to spend any money on it, but will "sacrifice" it for a lower price as it needs repairs. A good way to disguise the need for a major expensive repair. And one of the oldest scams around!

Ken Macfarlane · Dec 12, 2013

I've sold lots of stuff that only needed minor repairs. When you have too many projects ad your heart isn't in something anymore that little work is major barrier.

ShadetreeRet · Dec 12, 2013

Did you hand him a large jar of petroleum jelly and tell him where to put it?

da.bees · Dec 12, 2013

It's called selling a pig in a poke. "Don't know much about it other than the man I bought it from said the new engine has only 50 hours on it". "All it needs is a starter". Who in thier right mind pulls a key component before selling something? I did hear about a hustler being beat at his own game. Truck supposedly needed only a pcm because he had used it on another truck. Buyer said he would take it and would have cash in hand when seller delivered it. Delivery address was a garage were a new pcm was waiting. Seller signed work order permitting shop to work on it. When the bad transmission was revealed and buyer refused to buy because seller misrepersented,the seller was on the hook for a new pcm,labor and tow bill. Had the truck been in as good condition as he said,he would never have disabled it or would have bought a used pcm from wreacking yard and had truck running before selling it.

Wheat Farmer · Dec 12, 2013

I have two tractors that ran when parked and turned over since then, but now stuck. Gave one to DeltaRed in good faith, but was stuck when we unloaded it. There is that moment they are not stuck and then stuck.

jimg.allentown · Dec 12, 2013

But, the potential for fraud is ENORMOUS. Best way I know to disguise a major problem. I have been fixing engines and transmissions for my entire life. One thing that I KNOW is that misdiagnosis is very common. You never really know what is really wrong until you roll up your sleeves and dig into it. Most engine powered equipment that is sold with a declared defect is wrongly diagnosed.

My friend bought a car that had a miss in the engine. Used car dealer insisted that it needed a tune-up. Diagnosis revealed a blown head gasket. No way will I believe that the dealer didn't know this beforehand, and lied to make the sale.
I was at an auction. A car came through with an engine noise. Many years of experience told me that it was a rod knock. Auctioneer insisted that it needed the valves adjusted. Some sucker paid too much for it. I left in disgust.

Sorry, I don't buy the "one project too many" idea. This is the oldest cheat in the book.

Ray · Dec 12, 2013

Craigslist has turned thousands of people into
jockys with no sense of shame and will say anything to sell something.Some don't even know the correct model of the tractor there selling.
Some can't even spell the name of there home town correctly.Some don't know any better,bought an oddball tractor with problems and there looking for someone else to stick it to.Some get mad when you ask them questions,like your a big bother and should just buy it.I've seen tractors at farm auctions sell and that evening there on craigslist advertised as one owners.

David G · Dec 12, 2013

Everything ran when parked, otherwise it would say "towed".

John B. · Dec 12, 2013

I read the posts below. Makes me think of when people ask if I'll accept a personal check. I Say "No" but if you want to make out the check to yourself, cash it then bring the cash that is fine. I never hear back from them. LOL

Russ from MN · Dec 12, 2013

We bought a cub cadet for $50 this fall, turned over with a pair of channellocks but nothing with the key. guy said it needed a starter. Wife got on the internet, found the most common problem was the headlight wires shorting out and blowing a fuse. Bingo, started right up, have to get lucky once in awhile!

Robert Major · Dec 13, 2013

Hi there is a guy on our local buy and sell site advertising a 1955 ish fordson major as a major 3000, has loader no power steering dead drive trans, and new tires, wants $5000 .
The advert says no low ball offers, do your research don"t waist my time. Kinda looks like research starts at home.
He doesn"t know what he has, and he won"t ever sell it for that money. The new tires are worth the most in this deal at $1600 as they fit better working tractors than they are on now.
Regards Robert

Ran when parked

BIG RUH

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DeltaRed

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David G

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Anonymous-0

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jimg.allentown

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Ken Macfarlane

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ShadetreeRet

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da.bees

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Wheat Farmer

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jimg.allentown

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Ray

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David G

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John B.

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Russ from MN

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Robert Major

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