Compact tractor brands that have bit the dust.

[ultrarunner]

Don't let the greene fans hear you say that! Many will point out that they can get parts for any older green tractor, and that's a significant reason for going with a Deere. I've seen others say the same thing about most brands, and even some older orange machines are hard to get parts for now. In reality, companies are only going to support their products for so long, and it gets more complicated when you're outsourcing parts (everybody is). The best you can probably do is buy a model that they sell a lot of, with the hopes that sheer numbers will make it a model they support for a long, long time.

I've found Caterpillar to be excellent when it comes to parts for older equipment...

 

[TimberXX]

Caterpillar is the best for parts. We had a 1981 D9 that went down on site last year. Cat had us parts the next day. And according to our mechanic it was something random, he was shocked they had it on a shelf.

 

[GManBart]

Caterpillar is the best for parts. We had a 1981 D9 that went down on site last year. Cat had us parts the next day. And according to our mechanic it was something random, he was shocked they had it on a shelf.

How many compact tractors do they make a year?

 

[ultrarunner]

How many compact tractors do they make a year?

Just in case anyone brought that up...

Cat | Compact Wheel Loaders | Caterpillar

 

[GManBart]

Just in case anyone brought that up...

Cat | Compact Wheel Loaders | Caterpillar

Okay, the question remains...how many compact tractors do they make a year?

Compact wheel loaders aren't tractors.

What does any of this have to do with compact tractor brands that have bit the dust????

 

[ultrarunner]

Okay, the question remains...how many compact tractors do they make a year?

Compact wheel loaders aren't tractors.

What does any of this have to do with compact tractor brands that have bit the dust????

Caterpillar sold Challenger to AGCO in 2002... so in some ways it bit the dust to be reincarnated...



http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/all-other-brands/12880-caterpillar-compact-tractor.html

 

[art]

I've found Caterpillar to be excellent when it comes to parts for older equipment...

Cat makes their construction equipment. The ag part is from agco. That is built by someone else!

 

[DFB]

So is there AGCO support for the Challenger compact tractor...my neighbor has one.

 

[DavesTractor]

As the owner of a Bobcat compact tractor, I know they are no longer available. Montana is history. Century I think has transitioned to Branson maybe ? Any other companies started or stopped in the last couple of years?

Kukje made Century and Branson. Then as Branson started expanding a little in the USA, Kukje bought most or all of Branson and started selling them directly. They quit supplying to American Jawa, or perhaps Jawa just quit buying. I do not know the dynamics or what caused those agreements to end. But in the end, Branson prevailed as the Kukje tractor. Rumor is that Kukje will soon be sold in the USA through an additional channel, but that is not official yet.

Scorpion was a TYM tractor I think, but that ended. Montana bought Farmtrac and then they both folded.

Some tractors have come and gone and might even be back again. Cub Cadet was built by Mitsu, then pretty much faded away, then came back as Yanmar made, now that is done. Who knows if they will come back again. Yanmar has sold through their own sales channel twice now in the USA, and of course made a ton of tractors for JD, like all the 650/750/850/950/1050 and also the 70 series and many more. I think Yanmar is better at building tractors than selling them, at least in the USA.

What seems clear is that success in the USA market is not only about having a quality tractor. It's more complicated than that. It is not an easy task to set up a dealer network, parts network, financing arm, etc. It takes a big commitment and some deep pockets.

 

[perks1018]

I know that Montana is no longer viable, but I am miffed that I can't even find INFO about the brand. For instance, I have a 2009 Montana 3040 with FEL that has their proprietary quick attach (not SSQA) and ALL I WANT TO KNOW is what implements are (were?) available for it. Otherwise, I am going to swap it out for a pin-on SSQA adapter. I mean, seriously, why is there such a lack of information, much less parts or implements, for a five year old tractor? Anyway, that off my chest, does anyone know the answer or know where such implements exist? I am looking mainly to get a hydraulic auger and maybe a tree shear for my 3040.