antique tractor serial # tags removed?

rustred · Mar 22, 2010

whats with these used serial # tags people are offering for sale. ok to use for wall decoration or key chians, BUT is it ok to install them on your tractor? what if you want to sell it later?i dont know if i like that idea. reminds me of crooks tampering with vehicle serial #s.

BCnT · Mar 22, 2010

all i know is its a federal offense to tamper with a VIN #
whether or not you'd get caught or charged is anybody's guess...aint worth the chance to be Big Bubba's gurlfriend in the joint to have my tractor "look" correct.

Mathias NY · Mar 22, 2010

I'm not sure it matters on a 70 year old tractor. There isn't a title for the machine and I don't know of anyone that heads down to the DMV to register their antique tractor.

I would imagine it would be a similar offense to replacing an engine block or adding a hydraulic pump that wasn't original. The 'correctness police' may find you, but nobody else cares.

PeterE · Mar 22, 2010

I think that fraud would be the key element.

It is illegal to tamper with a motor vehicle's identification number. I can't say whether someone could be specifically charged for this on a farm tractor, but criminal law seems to have a wide definition of "motor vehicle" so it is probably possible.

If someone put on the wrong serial tag to then sell the tractor as rare, that would be fraud.

JICase · Mar 22, 2010

I'd be more concerned about a guy who often sells tractors with serial number tags missing.

Many tractors are scrapped and somebody saves the tag. Thats one thing, but what I don't like are tractors being sold without tags. Stolen property is the first thing to come to mind. I can't think of one good reason to remove a tag from a tractor short of it being scrapped.

On most older Case tractors, the serial number is also stamped into the engine casting which can help you out if the tag is missing and if the tractor hasn't been molested.

Once looked at a late model 1030 with a factory cab advertised as low houred, like new and all original. Funny thing was the back end didn't have the late model changes. The engine was sure enough a 451 with original hood and 1030 decals but the back half holds the serial number tag which said it was a mid production 930. All original ??? Don't think so. Who knows how many hours were truely on that motor.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 22, 2010

Vin numbers are different than serial numbers.
The law protects Vins due to them being registard. After 1980 something ? all Vins had to be 17 digets. On the other hand if one can prove that a Serial number has been defaced to fraud or misrepersent the item ie(gun,tv,tractor) then that is a violation and this may depend on the state.

antique tractor serial # tags removed?

rustred

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BCnT

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Mathias NY

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PeterE

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JICase

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Anonymous-0

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