[AT] Kubota followup

[szabelski at wildblue.net]

1) Contact local and state police to see if they have any record of the tractor being stolen. 

2) Call the local Kubota dealership and see if they can help determine the original owner, then give them a call if you can. You may be able to call Kubota’s main office and see if they can help.

3) Does the current seller remember who he purchased it from? If so, call them and see if they have a bill of sale, or can tell you which dealer they bought it from, then call that dealer.

There is no state registration for tractors since they aren’t driven on highways and roads like cars (except between fields). Tractors are designed to be driven in the fields. The state can’t force you to by a license plate to drive on your own land, just like having an old pick up that you drive around only in the fields, you don’t need a plate.  You also don’t need to have insurance on them like a car. Never seen a tractor pulled over and the police ask for registration and proof of insurance.

Could you imagine a state trooper pulling over a farmer in his field because he was plowing too fast. 

Carl

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Thomson <macowboy at comcast.net>
To: Antique <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sun, 28 Jun 2020 10:08:04 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [AT] Kubota followup

We took some time yesterday to go and view the Kubota 2301. It was located right in the heart of Providence, RI and the last place you would expect a tractor. The tractor is a 2017 B2301 with 154 hours on it. The initial impression was that it looked good. Closer inspection showed some scratches on the hood and the holes in the radiator screen. One of the headlights was also cracked. It looks like someone ran into some sharp brush which cracked the head light and poked holes in the radiator screen. The bucket was straight and the loader had no slop in it . The loader picked up the tractor with no issues. The three point worked as it should. Some negatives I saw. The loader pins did not have much visible grease out of the fittings. The next thing I noticed is that the oil filter was still the original Kubota grey color. I have been lead to believe that replacements are white in color. The new owner states that the original owner had the 50 hour service done but I am suspicious. The bi
 ggest item I saw was that when I asked for a title/certificate of origin, he said that he didn't get one from the previous owner. I am almost positive that you have to have some type of documentation for a machine like this to prove ownership. Is there a way to determine if this tractor was stolen?  The new owner was also concerned that he may have a "hot" tractor. If there is a method or web site you can point me to it would be greatly appreciated.


Jim Thomson
Rehoboth, MA