Easy Guide On Buying A Tractor – Part 2

Continuing from part 1…

Engine, Horsepower And Torque

The most important factors to consider when looking for tractors for sale is to choose the one with perfect engine performance, horsepower and torque. To determine the horsepower your tractor should have, you need to determine the average weight of load that your tractor will carry. Torque is a measure of twist that a tractor engine can apply to the driving wheels. To explain the affect of the torque, let’s say that two tractors have same horsepower, but one has higher torque. The engine of the one with higher torque will run slower, but will create the same amount of turning action, which means that it will require less energy to perform the same amount of work.

When you discuss horsepower with a tractor dealer, he will mention the three different aspects of tractor horsepower. The first and the most important one is the engine or gross horsepower that represents the amount of produced power. The engine loses a little amount of horsepower through operation and when major tractor manufacturers make a report of their tractors for sale, they usually indicate the horsepower with the number of what is left after engine loses. This is known as PTO horsepower.

In some cases, the actual performance of a tractor may be lower than rated. In fact, those are common cases, because all tractors lose some amount of power at higher elevations. Tractors can also lose power when they operate on wet surface, on terrains with hills or when operating in heavy soils. Over time, the wear and tear takes the toll on the horsepower and causes the engine to lose some amount of power. If you ignore regular maintenance, it may only get worse.

Make A Comprehensive List

You should make a comprehensive list before heading out to local dealers and check out all tractors for sale. List all the work you plan to do with your tractor. Think about all the applications you will use the tractor for and include even the smallest details. For example, think about doing building projects, plowing snow, mowing or cutting grass. If you have in mind to plow the snow in your backyard with the tractor, list how big your backyard is, how deep are snow layers and what can the worst snowstorm bring. It is also recommended to consider the conditions under which you will operate with your tractor and how it will be stored. Then, you can look at the best selling tractors for your application.

Consider A Brand

The last factor is the most important one – the price. It should not be the primary factor, but these economically hard times make us to base all our decision mainly on the price. Indeed there are cheap tractors, but they may not offer high-quality or advanced features. To make the best purchase go for a tractor brand with wide reputation of selling tractors and take all the time you need to compare few brands and models. The tractor is a big investment that will save you lots of money throughout its long service life.