Sell your tractor / Tractor owner guides

Tractor broken? Fix it or sell it.

Your subcompact or compact tractor won't start, is leaking, or came back from the shop with a repair quote you didn't expect. Here's how to figure out whether to fix it or sell it as-is.

From Southern Auction Company, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Check the simple stuff first

A lot of "dead" tractors have a simple problem, especially ones that sat for a season. Before you spend money on a mechanic or decide to sell, look at these:

• Battery and cables. A weak battery or a loose, corroded cable is the most common reason a tractor won't crank.
• Safety switches. Most tractors won't start unless you're in the seat, the PTO is off, the transmission or range lever is in neutral, and the brake is set. A worn seat switch can stop everything.
• Fuel. Old fuel, water in the fuel, or a clogged fuel filter is common on a tractor that's been parked a while. Humid Gulf Coast weather doesn't help.
• Fluids. Check engine oil, coolant, and hydraulic or transmission fluid. A low hydraulic level can make the loader weak or the hydrostatic drive sluggish.

If those don't fix it, have your dealer or a diesel or small-engine mechanic diagnose it. Get the estimate in writing. That number is what you need to make the decision.

When fixing it makes sense

• The repair is small compared with what the tractor is worth.
• The tractor is the right size for your property and the work you do.
• You like it and plan to keep it for years.

When selling it makes more sense

• The repair is a big share of the tractor's value. Many owners use half the tractor's value as their line. Past that, you're putting good money into a machine you could sell as-is.
• It was the wrong tractor anyway. If it was too small to do the job or too big for your property, fixing it just gets you a working version of the wrong tractor. See bought the wrong tractor.
• You want to upgrade. Selling it as-is puts cash toward a tractor that fits. See subcompact vs compact.
• You don't want the project. Some people enjoy wrenching. If you don't, a tractor that needs work is just a headache in the yard.

Who buys a broken tractor?

More people than you'd think. Mechanics buy tractors they can fix and resell. Flippers buy them to repair and sell for profit. Other owners buy them for parts to keep their own Kubota, John Deere, Mahindra, Kioti, LS, New Holland, Yanmar, or Bad Boy running. Loaders, backhoes, and mower decks often have value of their own even when the tractor doesn't run.

At auction, those buyers bid against each other for your tractor. You describe it honestly ("doesn't start," "hydraulic leak," "needs a clutch"), and the price is set by what it's actually worth to them.

Selling a broken tractor in Southwest Louisiana

Southern Auction Company sells subcompact and compact tractors running or not, from Beaumont to Baton Rouge. Here's how it works:

1. Tell us about the tractor, or text a photo to 337-398-6800.
2. Drop it off. If it won't start, we'll help you get it off the trailer.
3. We photograph it, list it, answer every buyer call, run the online auction, collect payment, and handle buyer pickup.
4. You're paid within 15 days after the auction closes.

Our commission is 5% of the winning bid, so you keep 95%. There's no upfront cost.