implements - buy new or used - brands?

[SJB]

i'm in the market for a couple of implements for a compact 32hp 4x4 kubota. namely a disc harrow and a bush hog. the used market is a little iffy in my area. a lot of what appears to be rusty junk for sale.

it seems to me, the only reason somebody would sell a disc harrow is either they didn't use it or it didn't work.

what's your general MO on buying used implements in this low price range?
do you have a favorite brand, or is it like a lot of stuff, all about dealer support, implement construction, and price?

 

[M.Magis]

Check out local farm or consignment auctions. Around here, either one can be had for no more than $500 in decent shape. For certain things I prefer to buy new. Implements isn't one of them. Worst case scenario, you have to fix something. There's not much on a disc or rotary mower that can't be easily fixed unless it's obvious. But knock on wood, I've never bought a lemon from an auction.

 

[dun]

Brush hogs are problematic when bought used. You know up front you'll have to spend some bucks getting it rigth. Check the gear box for oil and slop/wear, turn the stump jumper to insure it turns feely and doesn;t wobble or grind. Check the pto clutch and the drive shaft for bends/tweaks. The harrow will most likely require a good deal of work. but may be still useable as is. People just don;t seem to realize that those grease zerks are on those axles for a reason other then tearing off when disking crap that shouldn;t be disked.

 

[skyhightree1]

I sell used farm equip from machinery to implements and I will tell you if you don't know the insides and outs of a piece of equip to know if its in good shape or a heap of crap.. Buy new. I will also say 99% of what I buy comes from auctions or craigslist.

 

[M.Magis]

These guys make a good point that I didn't. You do need to have the willingness and ability to spot obvious trouble, and fix things that aren't so obvious when shopping used.

 

[SJB]

So far, that's exactly where I'm at. Not only do I not have he hands on experience, I don't have the time to fool with it.

I'm handy enough to figure out how to fix what I break, just not enough to see what somebody else broke!

 

[skyhightree1]

My friend went to an auction and paid 400 for a box blade that the auction ran up on him just because my friend didn't know what he was looking at. I didn't have any to sell at the time so he went to an auction. He was happy almost like a proud first time papa like look what I got I found about 30 welds and plates on the thing that he overlooked and didn't know what to look for. It has a nice pretty paint job though.