Maltpop

I'm new to the forum and wanted to pic your brains as to a Challenger Cat that is for sale in my area. The description is it's a 44 hp diesel, 4x4 drive, new rubber, 3 pt. pto, 2002 year, low hrs. Was $9950 now $7950. My question is that this seems kinda of a low price for what seems to be a pretty robust tractor. Doesn't seem to come with implements like a FEL which might justify the lower price. I haven't contacted the owner yet but would like to know some things like:

why they are selling it?
how many hours is low hours?
what problems does it have if any?
hydraulics?

Can you all tell me what else might I investigate?

Thanks in advance. Really enjoy the forum.

Kurt

tractor beam

Welcome to the forum Kurt. Low hours for something like that would be something on the order of 400-500 hours or so, but then that's pretty subjective. The price suggests to me that it might have issues or "an issue". Is it being sold through craigslist or is in it someones yard or what? Tracked vehicles are certainly hard on finished lawns and all, and if you have pavement and do hard turns, it's hard on the tracks. Impliments could be very expensive.........I would certainly advise taking someone with you who has an eye for large equipment mecxhanics, even if you must pay someone, as an expert nose can sniff out things you'd probably never see until it was on your place and giving you troubles. Good luck and hope you give us some photos of it if you do in fact get it.

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RC Wells

The Challenger tractors in that horsepower range are very robust and manufactured by Iseki of Japan (one of the best of the Japanese manufacturers and used to make the small Ford diesels before Ford was bought out by the spaghetti junk manufacturer. The only glitch that I know of is in the hydraulic controls for the loader option. They tend to blow the OEM O-rings on the tilt side of the control if the bucket or forks are driven into the ground while moving. It is a simple fix and only seems to occur once.

Most also have a hydraulic reverser, and if the owner runs it in high range the clutch pack can wear prematurely (just like any other tractor). So, try it.

They are current models, so part are not a problem.