Used 420 rancher questions before buying

[loudsubz]

Looking at a project rancher/foreman

 

1. I saw one today in person that is an 2008. It is having an issue where it will die after running for a little bit. At first I thought it was only when you shifted into gear but I left it in N and eventually it died out as if it was being starved of fuel. When you startd it after it started right back up though?

2. The unit has a tick sound (metalic). It's definitely there as I have a 2021 machine and don't have that tick. It seemed to mellow out a bit after it warmed up. The owner said hew top end was done awhile back, could it be a valve adjustment or would this mean something more?

3. The steering column was welded near the bottom where it connects into the knuckle part at the bottom. It almost looks like it snapped at one point and they welded it back together?

 

Just trying to decipher if these issues sound like they can be worked out fairly easily or if this is a basket case

[spock58]

There's a pretty good chance that the dying out problem is a failed fuel pump. Pretty common on those older 420's and not hard to repair.

Of course a ticking sound could be many things, an oil change & valve adjustment would need to be done first.

As for the steering being welded? Sounds like impact damage, not unless it turns out to be the factory weld??

With the issues that you noticed it does sound like a crap shoot - the price would have to be pretty cheap to consider it.