Why would someone file off...

Chris in MO · Jan 10, 2009

I just bought a tractor. Didn't look at the serial number when evaluating it. I just noticed that someone had filed it off. I can barely make out the shadow of a couple of the numbers, but that is all. I bought this tractor off the used lot at a large tractor dealership.

Other than the obvious reasons, why would anyone want to file the serial number off?

Christopher

bodid1998 · Jan 10, 2009

I believe you might want to worry more about the obvious and contact the dealer about it !!

Dustin IL

Walt Davies · Jan 10, 2009

You might want to contact your local police also they can use some special stuff to pull the serial # out for you.
there is a very good chance that its stolen.
Walt

plow hand · Jan 10, 2009

It's hot.!!!maybe stolen at one time or another.It's probably cool by now though.

plow hand · Jan 10, 2009

Chris my brother bought a skidsteer from a dealer with the ser.#ground off it was all legit.The dealer bought it from an insurance co. long after the owner was paid off.(stolen property)

moonlite 37 · Jan 10, 2009

If it is a really old like made during WW2 it may have been a black market tractor. Several were sold to unapproved buyers at increased prices and the numbers were ground off.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 10, 2009

Didn't the dealer give you a bill of sale with a serial number on it ? Numbers can be brought back out and if it a stolen tractor you lose it with no refund, possibly maybe even charged with possession of stolen property.

Spook · Jan 10, 2009

I'd sure ask the dealer about it, before going to the police. But I would probably talk to the state police 2nd. I say the state boys, because it might be from another jurisdiction, and they are better at that. Maybe there is a good reason for it, maybe not. Was it a too good to be true deal?

msb · Jan 10, 2009

Most tractors have a hidden serial number othem . Call the cops. They know where they are.

ericlb · Jan 10, 2009

first just what kind of tractor did you buy? you know fords back in the day had a very weakly hand stamped serial number when new and it wasnt always readable even when fairly new it hasnt improved with 60 plus years of work and repaint on the tractor, im also sure ford was not the only manufacture to do this, also if your tractor has been sand blasted and repainted in its past that could also have removed some of the serial number too, several ligitimate reasons for the condition other than being a hot tractor

Mark - IN. · Jan 10, 2009

Hold on a minute. Let me go down to the barns and take a look. If they aint all there, I'm gonna come lookin for you, guaranteed.

Mark

Lanse · Jan 10, 2009

id say that mabey someone parted out his tractor, and the tractor you boughts last owner bought whatever the serial number was on, but mabey the parts guy diddnt want it traced back to his name if the tractor got involved in legal stuff. Just thinking out loud.

Mark - IN. · Jan 10, 2009

No, you're ok here. Hold on a minute and let me call around to the neighbors and such after I warm back up. If they aint all there, they'll come lookin for you, guaranteed.

Mark

kyplowboy · Jan 10, 2009

also some of the old fords had a bad habit of leaking battery acid down over the number

plow hand · Jan 10, 2009

Chris, don't worry it's ok the dealer could spend time in jail for knowingly buying stolen goods.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 10, 2009

The obvious reasons yes.. I wouldn"t proceed with this post if I were you.. thinking out loud.
May be innocuous but do you want to take the chance.??
The downside is losing the tractor, your money and/or being charged with receiving stolen goods.
Don't tell the World where you live or the make of tractor.

NEsota · Jan 10, 2009

As a tractor person, I encourage you to not just do nothing. At the very least you should CYA by getting complete written documentation of this transaction from the seller. If they will not provide this, ask them to undue the deal. If they will not do this, get the law involved and maybe a lawyer to represent you. As buyers, owners and sellers of tractors, it is not in our best interest do nothing about equipment that may be hot.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 10, 2009

I'd be getting a legal document from the dealer saying that you bought the tractor free and clear and that it was the dealers property to sell. If they won't do that, I'd be thinking about returning it with a full refund. If it was in fact stolen, I don't think you'd be on the hook at all. You would have had to bought the tractor knowing it had been stolen. The fact you bought it from a dealer would help to confirm this. Maybe the dealer can give you a good explanation. You could also check with the better business bureau about complaints with the dealer. We had a big Cat repair and parts shop up here get shut down quite a few years ago. A bunch of machines were being stored in a farmers field. They were of course stolen for parts. The farmer had no idea they were stolen but I think still got 2 years for harboring stolen property. I knew a guy that knew the farmer. The shop told him that they didn't have enough room at the equipment shop to keep the machines there and that's why they were stored in his field. Dave

kyhayman · Jan 11, 2009

It could be hot, could be an ins recovery sometime back, or could have been a faint number that someone sanded off inadvertantly when repainting. I would try to locate the number somewhere else, they are usually stamped in more than one place. Could even be ground off from a component that was mixed in. I"ve seen more that didnt match than those that did. The decal on one of mine isnt right for the 3 pt cover, I got it off a burn out at the salvage yard, another has a head that isnt supposed to have ever been used on one that model. Parts get mixed on old stuff after multiple trips to the boneyard.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 11, 2009

Could have been ground when someone was cleaning for paint or maybe its a replacement block i sure would not worry about it. Tou didnt say what model it is or brand. Quit worrying about it.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 11, 2009

Aint no hidden place for a #. Cops dont even know how to get on the seat or startit so why would they know where a secret # would be.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 11, 2009

Stamped metal is less susceptable to acid attack so etching the numbers should make them readable. Maybe a gunsmith knows how.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 11, 2009

Well, if you hadn't written this post, you could have done nothing and not ever worried about it. But now, you have shown that you have doubts about the tractor being stolen, which makes you legally responsible to resolve the question. In other words, you have now opened a can of worms. You can bet, that the minute you put this thread in writing, you multiplied your risk by 10 fold. Tom

John B. · Jan 11, 2009

Any reputable dealer will give you a receipt with the serial number written on the receipt. I would definately check into it.

Serial numbers are used on auction fliers instead of putting the year the tractor was built. This is so customers can research how old it is and the auctioneer won't be sued for false advertising a tractors' age.

Leroy · Jan 11, 2009

You say file of so that would eliminate it beeing a tractor like a Ford that was hand stamped as theywould be lower than they surface they were stamped in and also bodels that had a serial number plate. If the number was ground out of the surface or a raised number was ground off then somebody was delibertly trying to cover up the past of the tractor ond only way anybody would want to do that is if it was stollen; a plate pulled off from age not to worry but deliberately altered, yes worry; if just from changing parts they would not want that number removed to facilate future repairs. Call an atturny first then with him in hand contact the law and do not wait. Even if the dealer got it legit and you got it legit you can still loose it back to the owner that had it stollen and you being out the money you paid for it.

Leroy · Jan 11, 2009

I would contact the law first and not talk to the dealer till after I talked to the law incase he was involved in the orignal theft so that he could not attempt a cover up. If after talking to the law if he is clear then he will be verry helpful in tracing the tractor, if not clear he will want to give you a runaround.

Ray · Jan 11, 2009

The worst thing might be in a few years if you decide to sell it.Then you will have to go through this again with a new buyer who might think you stole it.In some states it's illegal to own anything with the serial number removed.

tiresntracks · Jan 11, 2009

I would ask around about the dealer's reputation. If he's known for being honest, I'd talk to him about it first. If not, going to the police would be the right thing to do. If it turns out to be stolen, there's a good chance that you will loose your money and the tractor.

plow hand · Jan 11, 2009

now,now, Joe be kind

buicanddeere · Jan 11, 2009

Find every little bit of info on the person who sold it to you.
The tractor is hot and you will be on the spot for it.

relaurain · Jan 11, 2009

You did not knowingly buy stolen property so you don't have to worry about being prosecuted but you would loose the tractor to the rightful owner and then have to go after the lot where you bought it. This is interesting and please let us know how this turns out.
You can tell if numbers are scratched off on purpose vs something close rubbing on them.

Larry59 · Jan 11, 2009

I found some use many parts to make a tractor work. So like they add on a new front end and call the tractor a later model then it really is. ..Since no title on it. They don't care and someone comes along and buys it. A bit crooked but is done on tractors here and there. Seen it first hand myself.

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