L5450 - What to look for?

[franticvike]

Hi all,

I'm going to have a second look at an L5450 this week. Tractor is being sold by the father of my wife's good friend. I don't suspect any hijinx, but he's an "operator only" kind of guy, didn't know much about it mechanically when we first spoke, despite having owned it 15-20 years. Aparently it's been dealer maintained, but it has a fair few hours on it (4200).

I know these were a low production machine, but with a very good reputation. I don't see much information on them, only a couple YouTube videos of them running and few forum threads here and there.

I'll be using it on a small property, bit of tilling, loading, fence building, driveway maintenance etc.

Are there any specific areas I should focus on when looking at this machine? Any input/advice appreciated.

I'll try to link to some photos. Oh, asking price is $18,000 Canadian, but it's a package deal with the Massey Ferguson MF30 loader/backhoe. I'd say the seller is really asking $15,000 for the L5450, including regular bucket and the grapple bucket, no other implements.

http://imgur.com/a/rixn0wH

http://imgur.com/a/0jvVqIX

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

My 2 cents.

18K seems like a lot of coin for 30 year old machines. A lot of post purchase expenses will add up fast.. 8K seems closer to sanity for both machines.

18k is halfway to a brand new Kubota L or LX with some new implements!

IMO, That Kubota is almost worthless. The MF is a different story.... a commercial unit. I think the MF backhoe is the better deal.... with a complete go thru, new hoses, etc. It is a workhorse. You'll put 10K into the MF to get it to tip top shape. Decline the Kubota.

Unless you WANT to work on tractor repairs.

 

[franticvike]

Thanks Northwoods, appreciate the input. I'm sadly located on an island in Canada so pricing around here is nothing like you might find in a big farm area down in the states. $18k CDN is about $13k USD.

Clapped out 70s and earlier small tractors even 2wd up here still command $6-10,000 CDN. I've been scouring local listing, marketbook, equipment trader and it's slim pickings.

Anyway, curious why you think the MF30 is more worth looking at? I was quite fearful of being able to find parts and keep that kind of machine going. I was thinking of running it for a year or two to finish up some heavier work on our property and then selling it on.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

I am sorry but I don't know much about your island situation.

The MF is a commercial TLB from years ago. I operated one for years in the 80's and 90's in the US. I would guess that parts availability for the MF is better than the Kubota in the US. MF probably sold 5 or 10 times as many units as Kubota did in the timeframe. But IDK.

The bottom line is that you know your geographical location and the local trends with tractors far more than I.

Disregard my posts regarding your situation. Island life, in another country than mine, changes everything.

Good luck finding what you want at a good price. I can't help you.