Buying a Same Silver 130, need advice

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Evening
I'm looking at a Silver 130 in the morning, it's a trade in at a local NH dealership and is being sold as traded, as is and with no warranty. The price is right which is why I'm looking at it so seriously.

I'm having it checked by my local SDF dealer before I purchase it, but is there anything in particular I should know or look out for?

Hours : About 6,000
Transmission : Syncro (6 speed?) with 3 power shifts and a shuttle on the steering column

Other stuff:
Cab with working A/C
Manual hydraulic remotes but electronic 3 point hitch
Stoll loader (always had a loader & has been used as a loader tractor)
Rear dual wheels

Stuff the salesman has told me over the phone:
It has "the usual" water marks on the roof lining (water leak? rain water? coolant?)
It had been sitting in the yard for 3 weeks and when I asked him to start it he said it had a blue haze coming out of the exhaust, it cleared after about 20 seconds
It has come off a large corporate sheep & beef farm and has spent its life crawling around on hills. Known to look after their gear reasonably well - no service history available as it's been serviced elsewhere.

Thanks!

 

[Lincs Lass]

The blue haze would suggest it's got glazed bores from lack of hard work .

 

[DrWazzock]

I can only speak from experience of a Lamborghini 105 which is from a similar stable but not quite the same.(4 cylinder).
It’s normal to smoke on a cold start but it soon clears.
Watch for cylinder liner porosity. Warm it up and check for coolant vapour or droplets coming from the sump oil breather pipe.
Try all the gears against the brakes and listen for any knocking or tapping noises which could signify bearing failure.
I have had both of these issues at just over 4000 hours but 25 years old.
Electrics aren’t the best but are manageable.
SDF back up is good in my experience with parts readily available.
I’d say it will be as good/bad as any other tractor at 6000 hours.
I like them. Generally low budget horsepower.

 

[ploughman1963]

We had 4 of them late 90’s, early 2000’s. Good simple tractors that are no better or worse than other brands. Blue haze would be normal on later ones - something to do with emissions if I remember correctly? As long as it clears in a minute I wouldn’t be worried. Check 4wd propshaft splines on front diff and transfer box - potentially expensive if worn but same for other makes.
Ours would be gone at 3 years/4500 hours so can’t comment on roof lining.

 

[speedy]

We had a 130 from new in 2002, cracking tractor, pulled like a trooper and fairly simple. we had no problems with roof lining and ours roof lining with imaculate when sold in 2017, it did suffer from rust on wings and other tin work more than other tractors

 

[robo]

we had a Lamborghini 1300 from new put 11000 hrs on it , very reliable tractor. allmost the same as a 130 Same

 

[startinghandle]

Whenever I go to view a machine I turn up early then I can see how it starts from cold . There will be wear in front axle and steering being a loader tractor. I don't know if the SDF dealer is anything like the dealer I worked at in the 70's ! They could invent problems to charge for missing out on the deal

 

[daveydiesel1]

What it them same tractors like on diesel? I thought they were air cooled but earlier posts suggest they are water cooled?

 

[ploughman1963]

Air cooled at that age

 

[speedy]

The early ones were air cooled, ours was a 2002 and was water cooled. It was identical to the Lambo exept colour, It was good on fuel and a lot better than the deere we replaced it with

 

[box]

Thanks for the tips, heading out to see it shortly. This one is water cooled and has grey wheels and a grey roof. Year unknown at this stage. Just had another look at the ad and it's only done 4300 hours (apparently).

 

[box]

The blue haze would suggest it's got glazed bores from lack of hard work .

Oh yup, my Explorer 80 was bad for this when I got it and went through sh!t loads of oil. Turning up the fuel, slapping a turbo on it and working it hard every day that I've owned it has fixed that problem.

 

[box]

I can only speak from experience of a Lamborghini 105 which is from a similar stable but not quite the same.(4 cylinder).
It’s normal to smoke on a cold start but it soon clears.
Watch for cylinder liner porosity. Warm it up and check for coolant vapour or droplets coming from the sump oil breather pipe.
Try all the gears against the brakes and listen for any knocking or tapping noises which could signify bearing failure.
I have had both of these issues at just over 4000 hours but 25 years old.
Electrics aren’t the best but are manageable.
SDF back up is good in my experience with parts readily available.
I’d say it will be as good/bad as any other tractor at 6000 hours.
I like them. Generally low budget horsepower.

Good post, thanks. When you say bearing failure, do you mean engine bearings or trans bearings?

 

[Mur Huwcun]

If it’s a Silver 130 and with power shuttle is it after 2002 ish? If so the tier 2 engines had a very odd pre heater setup for cold starts where you want to flick the switch once before starting, it then keeps a grid heater on in the inlet manifold intill it’s warmed up a bit. If it’s not used ir not working it will smoke a lot!! Re the P/S is it the paddle type with a neutral or a rocker type affair? The later shiftable paddle was much better. As said check front axle bush for wear (easy with a loader) as that is what wears out the prop splines although 130 types were not as prone as smaller models. You say it’s got a loader well it’s only got a smallish hydraulic pump so wont be lightening fast. Check which type of pickup hitch it has and how worn it is. Hydraulic push out type is a better hitch than the swing out

 

[box]

@Mur Huwcun it's got an orange forward neutral reverse paddle. You're right about the loader & hydraulic pump, not much quicker than my Explorer II which was surprising. Can you enlighten me on the two types of hitch? Arms and joints looked to be in very good nick, I don't think it's done a lot of 3 point hitch work.

Alright, so I've just come back from checking this machine out. The SDF mechanic got busy with a baler breakdown but said he'd check it out for me this afternoon. I didn't get a chance to put the ART on it and check for faults.....I'll touch base with him on Monday.

I took it for a quick drive down the road and checked it over myself in the mean time, initial thoughts:
-Cab is tidy, does have some very slight water marks along the LH side of the roof lining but nothing major. Everything else is immaculate, interesting considering the machine hasn't even been groomed
-Overall it's a very tidy machine (apart from paint falling off the guards and bonnet)
-It feels "tight", not all worn out and floppy. No obvious wear noticed in the steering or front axle bushes (but I didn't actually get in there with a lever and check it)
-Engine breather was pretty clean, wasn't wet with oil and didn't seem to be breathing too heavily for a 6 cylinder
-Coolant was full and clean
-It has a dealer service sticker on the windscreen so has hopefully been well maintained (same dealer network as the one doing the check but a different workshop), hopefully they can shed some more light on the history
-There's a panel or cover missing on the rear of the cab above the back window, there is a cooler of some kind there with two small electric fans mounted on it and aircon/hydraulic fittings that go into the cab roof What's this for?

Cons:
-I found it very hard to find gears but 6 speeds are definitely in there somewhere. I imagine it's something you'd get used to.
-The clutch was very slow to re-engage when changing gear - calibration issue? I was using the foot pedal when changing up and down, should I have been using the button on the gear lever instead?
-Aircon isn't that cold but is still working, didn't take my guages to check it unfortunately but assume it's slightly low on gas and has a slow leak somewhere. It doesn't look like the system has been worked on and the service valve caps are still in place so it may last years with a top up.
-I'm still a bit worried about all the electronics, SDF mechanic said they have occasionally seen problems with the hitch, shuttle and engine ECUs but have successfully had them repaired (dry joints?). I've got to take the leap in to the electronic tractor world at some stage, fully mechanical machines just don't come in the size I need


TLDR: Comparing it to anything I've driven before, it's massive, it's got a cab like a space ship and I love it. We'll see what the mechanic can find wrong with it, if there's nothing major I'll be bringing it home with me.

 

[wdah/him]

was once told the gear linkages on sames need to be kept well oiled. think it might be right as i got the lend of a explorer 90 once and couldnt get a gear but owner said was always stiff, bit of wd40 around it for a few loads and it was like shifting a car, could get every gear first time with no force maybe try that, i quite liked the explorer anda same silver 100.6 i drove, but bothe were ilder than the model you have manuel shuttle and air cooled

 

[box]

Plan A was to get a cheap, all mechanical air cooled 100.6 and turbo it..... sadly I just cant find any good ones down here. All the loader ones are horrendously over priced, Agroshift, Hydrive & with electronic 3 point hitch. For the same (actually less) money I'm able to get this 130.

Out of curiosity, did the Explorer 90 have the 5 speed box with a splitter? If so, do you remember how fast it went?

Love me a good air cooled Same, brilliant little tractors.

 

[wdah/him]

5 speed, but ony 2 splitters i think as in high and low, was 40km. not 100% sure on the splitters but nearly certain it wasnt 3

 

[Mur Huwcun]

@Mur Huwcun it's got an orange forward neutral reverse paddle. You're right about the loader & hydraulic pump, not much quicker than my Explorer II which was surprising. Can you enlighten me on the two types of hitch? Arms and joints looked to be in very good nick, I don't think it's done a lot of 3 point hitch work.

Alright, so I've just come back from checking this machine out. The SDF mechanic got busy with a baler breakdown but said he'd check it out for me this afternoon. I didn't get a chance to put the ART on it and check for faults.....I'll touch base with him on Monday.

I took it for a quick drive down the road and checked it over myself in the mean time, initial thoughts:
-Cab is tidy, does have some very slight water marks along the LH side of the roof lining but nothing major. Everything else is immaculate, interesting considering the machine hasn't even been groomed
-Overall it's a very tidy machine (apart from paint falling off the guards and bonnet)
-It feels "tight", not all worn out and floppy. No obvious wear noticed in the steering or front axle bushes (but I didn't actually get in there with a lever and check it)
-Engine breather was pretty clean, wasn't wet with oil and didn't seem to be breathing too heavily for a 6 cylinder
-Coolant was full and clean
-It has a dealer service sticker on the windscreen so has hopefully been well maintained (same dealer network as the one doing the check but a different workshop), hopefully they can shed some more light on the history
-There's a panel or cover missing on the rear of the cab above the back window, there is a cooler of some kind there with two small electric fans mounted on it and aircon/hydraulic fittings that go into the cab roof What's this for?

Cons:
-I found it very hard to find gears but 6 speeds are definitely in there somewhere. I imagine it's something you'd get used to.
-The clutch was very slow to re-engage when changing gear - calibration issue? I was using the foot pedal when changing up and down, should I have been using the button on the gear lever instead?
-Aircon isn't that cold but is still working, didn't take my guages to check it unfortunately but assume it's slightly low on gas and has a slow leak somewhere. It doesn't look like the system has been worked on and the service valve caps are still in place so it may last years with a top up.
-I'm still a bit worried about all the electronics, SDF mechanic said they have occasionally seen problems with the hitch, shuttle and engine ECUs but have successfully had them repaired (dry joints?). I've got to take the leap in to the electronic tractor world at some stage, fully mechanical machines just don't come in the size I need


TLDR: Comparing it to anything I've driven before, it's massive, it's got a cab like a space ship and I love it. We'll see what the mechanic can find wrong with it, if there's nothing major I'll be bringing it home with me.

It's pretty much the same hydraulic pump as your Explorer!! With the hitch the Hydraulic push out type is a nicer hitch than the Swing out version. The swing out version needs greasing a lot and the hooks can stiffen up if not well lubricated.

Gears will be stiff and need oiling, there's quite a bit of linkages above and behind the fuel tank. it's a two person job really, one wiggling and the other spraying everything with oil in till it moves nicely. Personally I wouldn't use the switch on gear lever too much as it has a slightly longer delay which for the mechanically minded just doesn't feel right. If it's got a powershuttle fault it will flash a code on the panel on dash and same for the electric throttle on the side panel. Count slow a and fast flashes to make up a two digit number. You seem to know a bit about them anyhow. Electric wise is nothing to be afraid of, they're actually pretty pre historic compared to last ten years of tractors and that era were built with super seal plugs on every connections and not the white plastic spade connector blocks. I wouldn't be too worried about ECUs either, I can't remember changing a Silver / premium type one and the PTO has a module somewhere as with them you need to hold button for 3 seconds. Never changed one of them either but I think I remember it's in the side console there somewhere. If you man has an ART he can calibrate everything for you, powershuttle, linkage, foot throttle and handthrottle. The electric hydraulics are actually more simple to work on than the manual version!!

The panel missing on the roof most probably covers the air conditioning condensor and fans etc. Factory fitted they were there to avoid overloading the cooling capacity and space in front of radiator. When working it's a very good aircon so hopefully yours only needs a top up and service. The matrix is quite easy to access at front of cab to give it and the fans a clean. Heater is separate in the dash. i wont preach that they're the best ever tractor or I will be shot down by somebody but they're far from the worst and if you have dealer backup and technicians who know them you won't be dissapointed. They're easy to work on and pretty straightforward.

 

[box]

It's arrived! It's a 2007 according to the paperwork.

Dealer check went well and it's been given a clean bill of health (except the A/C), they even put it on the dyno.

A/C condenser fans aren't working & the system was very low on gas. Added 400g of gas & the system cools and functions correctly (apart from dangerously high hi side pressure), I've just unplugged the pump for now until I get time to fix it properly. Guess I'm going to be mowing with the back window open.