Is it rude to seek proof when buying a used tractor?

Is it rude to seek proof of claims regarding buying a used tractor?

Example: Looking at a 1971 Allis Chalmers 170, 7000+hrs. on it. Owner claimes tractor went in and was split in a shop 500 hrs. ago and the engine rebuilt and new clutch bearings put in.

Can you ask straight out to see the paperwork on repairs?

How can this be verified without coming across as untrusting?

If I was selling something like that I would have the paperwork readily available to show prospective buyers.Why not? If the seller can't back up his claims its been my experience he may not be lying but is getting extremely reckless with the truth(LOL)

I try to keep receipts for work/parts purchased and service done on all tractors because work that is verifiable is worth a lot more than work that is not. If I were you I would seriously discount unsubstantiated claims and instead go by tests such as compression and vacuum.

If I were selling the tractor I would gladly show you the papers or if I didn't have the papers I would gladly give you the contact name and number of the person that did the work. Only an honest seller with nothing to hide would be willing to give you your requested information.

If the seller refuses to release any information and tells you your rude in asking, I suggest you run fast and far.

Would you think it is rude if someone you didn't know asked the same of you? It's a business transaction, just like buying a use car. Good records of repairs and maintenance enhance it's value. Lack of records means the buyer has to be more wary and less willing to take risk.

there ain't nothing rude when spending your hard earned money. ask, and look all you want. drive it and use some implements if there are some avaliable. do all you can to check it out to your satisfaction. if a seller balks at giving proof, then don't buy.

if I was selling that tractor I would have the papers readily available to help recover part of my investment

if seller will not document the repairs then the price should reflect no work being done to it

If they have adjusted their price to reflect the work done, why not? When the shop asked for their money the owner expected documentation of the work done before he paid them.

You can ask... but why?
Around here that would be a 5000 dollar tractor at most. It doesn't matter if it's had 7000 worth of work... and I don't care if the front end is rebuilt. The back end still has 7000 hours on it.
The only way the tractor is worth more money to me is if it's been COMPLETLY gone through and everything checked and renewed up to spec. Then you could justify paying more for it because you know it will last for a while. That said, doing that will cost the owner more than he'll ever recover from the tractor.
So.... get there early and see how well it starts cold and how much blow by it has. If it seems OK, stick it in a medium to high gear, give it half throttle, stand on the brakes and let go of the clutch. That'll tell you how the clutch is...
Even if he did a pile fo work to it 500 hours ago, it may not be any good now. It's for sale for a reason. You just need to find the real reason.... paperwork won't help with that.

Rod

Around here (NC), most people think they they should get back EVERY bit of money they put into a tractor, including those items which fall under routine maintance, i.e. belts, hoses, brakes, etc. Pretty screwed up logic in my not so humble opinion.

The seller should be happy to provide paperwork documenting repairs. Otherwise, if its not on paper, assume it didn't happen. I've been screwed one time by the claim of work that didn't happen.

Around here too. Heck, even I expect all costs paid off if i've restored a tractor for resale.

Lots of questions on about any subject can be asked if asked in a casual manner,and softly spoken.

My area seems to have 3 tractor prices. When I'm trying to sell one anyway. 1- not running = junk price 2- running poorly = very little over junk price 3- running great everything works = about half market value.

I've bought and sold alot of tractors and never have been able to get extra $$$ because I had to rebuild the engine to be able to sell it. Alot of people try to do it that way but I see them with the tractor a long time after I sold mine. Quick nickel or slow dime mentality.

Personally I would not care to ask for paperwork but if he's trying to justify his price because the engine has been built recently he should provide you with the paperwork.

People expect it here too... but one has to look realistically at things. Just because you dump a pile of money into dealership work on an old tractor (like say 8 grand for an engine) that was worth 6 grand, it doesn't mean that the tractor is any more field ready today than it was yesterday. It might take another 15 grand to accomplish that. Quite often when one starts adding those numbers up they find they can go buy a lot newer, less worn machine for less money.
Personally I have no reservation about dumping a heap of money into an old tractor that still fits into my operation if it extends it's life another 20 years, but that doesn't fit if I went to sell it.
I can think of a couple tractor here that are going to require over 20 grand worth of work in the not so distant future. Even if they shined like the day the left the line at Romeo in 1985 the still won't bring much over 20 grand. It's just life... and to be quite honest, I don't know that I'd want to buy such a tractor from someone else because you still don't know what they've done to it or the quality of the work that was done. A heap of parts invoices doesn't mean much.

Rod