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Should I take a loss

winky

Active Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2010
Messages
26
Location
va
Occupation
Retired Waterman/Floorlayer
I bought a 1999 JD 250 with unknow hours but very clean other than a sloppy bucket and badly torn seat. I paid 11,500 6 months ago. Looks like I need to put around 2,000 or more in it to get it right . Is the 250 a good machine to keep. Personal use only. should I take a loss and get a newer unit.Only other tractor I have is a 3203 JD and its only a 32 horse and wont do what I need done.
 

frogfarmer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
234
Location
South East Missouri
Alot of those machines had problems. 11.5k is a high price for that machine around here. Your loss would be excessive in my market. You state it needs repairs to the tune of 2k. I just had a bucket mount rebushed and new pins made for less than $200 at a local machine shop. For personal use it may be fine due to no lost revenue and no cost for down time.
 

winky

Active Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2010
Messages
26
Location
va
Occupation
Retired Waterman/Floorlayer
Thanks for the info Frogfarmer. Think I better find someone other than the local Deere dealer for repairs , they charge way too much. I notice parts cost me more also over like a BC . That is why I want to know if they are worth putting more money in verses getting something different . Probably cheaper to keep her at this point
 

nobull1

Charter Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2003
Messages
198
Location
Nova Scotia Canada
Occupation
Same as interests
$2000.00 more and you know what you have, instead of taking a loss, purchasing another machine and still don't know what you have. Seems easy to me ....no sarcasm intended.
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,321
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
I think you paid too much for it to start, as stated these machines were problematic to say the least. That foray Deere took into building their own skid steer cost Deere a lot of money. If it gives you an idea, when Deere released the Series II version of your machine their advertising slogan was "over 100 improvements made over the series it replaces" kidda gives you an idea of how jacked up they were.


Moral of the story, while I agree that normally you might be better off to keep it (the knowing what you have verse trading again for something you don't), I don't think that is true in this case. I would at least try and resell it. If you can sell it for close what you paid without doing the 2K in repairs I would send the buyer the machine and a Christmas card. If you cant move it then maybe resign yourself to the result of not properly researching a purchase and keep it. These things are a money pit, poorly engineered and built (the newer machines are much better). Good luck.
 

DGODGR

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Messages
1,062
Location
S/W CO
What's the 2000 bucks going to fix? The seat, bucket bushings and pins? Is that it? I can't imagine the (4) bearings and pins costing a whole lot. You can make that repair yourself with a welder and some dry ice. It won't even take but a couple of hours. I bet the seat is more expensive, by far, and an aftermarket replacement can probably be found at a vastly reduced cost. If the pins and bushings are worn out so bad that the bucket and/or loader arms need to be repaired then you will need some expert help, and of course, this comes at a price. If not than you can fix tighten up the bucket for a couple hundred bucks, or less, and sell it if you are not confident in the machine. I am surprised to hear the negative comments, in the above posts, about the Deere skid steer line. It's the first time I have heard anything bad about the 200 series units. I have run some, and know some people who have owned some 200 series Deere skids, and again, no complaints. I have, however, heard some negative comments about the early 300 series skids. This was from a dealer mechanic, and was directed towards reliability issues.
 

winky

Active Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2010
Messages
26
Location
va
Occupation
Retired Waterman/Floorlayer
Thanks DGODGR , Yes the dealer wants 600 bucks just for the seat thats not even installed. I can live with a boat cushion on the seat just like to have it right. Tomorrow I am going to check around other than the Deere dealer. There is a very good welding shop close . Before I bought it I asked a Bob Cat mechanic about it and he said it was a perfect size for what I need and that they were good machines and that parts would cost more than BC parts. I will post the outcome
 

MXZ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
117
Location
minnesota
That machine could possibly be a good machine for your purposes with the minor issues you mentioned. The problems were predominantly component and supplier issues, not overall design, and most should have been corrected by now. Lots of those machines still going strong. That said, unless the thing is loaded and in excellent condition ( doesn't sound like it is) you probably paid too much. The unknown hours part is what kills you. I'd just run it and see if you get any bites on getting your money back. If not, keep it and work on addressing the couple of fixes as you have time / money.
 
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