Compact tractor brands that have bit the dust.

[TSO]

Cub Cadet is part of MTD.
I know LS is making compact tractors for New Holland but I don't see any sub-compacts at my dealer. Is the Boomer series not around anymore?

LS makes the entire Boomer series, with the exception of the "SuperSuite" Boomer CVT models. LS also makes the smaller WorkMaster units, and I recently heard that all the WorkMaster units will transition to LS builds as well.

 

[bdog]

This is why I will only buy major brands now. When I made my last tractor purchase is was going to be either Deere, Case or Kubota. They will be around. Not saying other companies don't make good tractors but I don't want to worry about if they will be there in 10 years.

 

[GManBart]

This is why I will only buy major brands now. When I made my last tractor purchase is was going to be either Deere, Case or Kubota. They will be around. Not saying other companies don't make good tractors but I don't want to worry about if they will be there in 10 years.

What if you buy a Case or Deere that they don't actually build? Just because the brand is around doesn't mean they'll be able to get parts if the companies they outsource to are gone (this is already a problem with some earlier Deere machines now).

I don't know if any Case tractors are made in the U.S. now....they outsource from LS, Iseki, Shibaura, and a facility in India that uses Fiat Powertrain components (good chance that one is a CNH facility there). In short, they're all over the map (literally), and that can't be good for long-term parts support.

 

[bdog]

What if you buy a Case or Deere that they don't actually build? Just because the brand is around doesn't mean they'll be able to get parts if the companies they outsource to are gone (this is already a problem with some earlier Deere machines now).

I don't know if any Case tractors are made in the U.S. now....they outsource from LS, Iseki, Shibaura, and a facility in India that uses Fiat Powertrain components (good chance that one is a CNH facility there). In short, they're all over the map (literally), and that can't be good for long-term parts support.

I guess we take chances with anything. I think the odds are better with the big three though.

I don't think I will ever buy a new tractor again anyway. For one the size of tractors I like are over 100k new and two I like the simplicity of older ones.

The ones I like are popular models that are still popular 10,20,30 years after they were made. Parts are no problem. Heck I bet I have over a dozen John Deere houses within 100 miles of my house.

 

[ultrarunner]

What if you buy a Case or Deere that they don't actually build? Just because the brand is around doesn't mean they'll be able to get parts if the companies they outsource to are gone (this is already a problem with some earlier Deere machines now).

I don't know if any Case tractors are made in the U.S. now....they outsource from LS, Iseki, Shibaura, and a facility in India that uses Fiat Powertrain components (good chance that one is a CNH facility there). In short, they're all over the map (literally), and that can't be good for long-term parts support.

Good point...

My CAT D3 is actually made in Japan by Mitsubishi... thing is CAT had every single part for this Dozer 35+ years after they sold it... really amazing from a customer point of view.

It use to be this way with Ford to some extent... In the 70's I would go to my local Ford Dealer and buy parts for my Model A that was 40 years old... bought a brand new carburetor, ignition parts, bearings, gaskets and water pump kits.

 

[Cherokee140]

What if you buy a Case or Deere that they don't actually build? Just because the brand is around doesn't mean they'll be able to get parts if the companies they outsource to are gone (this is already a problem with some earlier Deere machines now).
.

The same thought came to me with my last buy. I have JD 650 of mid 80's vintage and you hit my problem on the head....they don't make some parts for them. The center clutch they could not find. A rear rim I had to have custom made. This really put a sour taste in my mouth to the little john deere tractors. And sales people got testy and evasive when I was asking about the 3-4 series machines. This is one reason I bought the Kubota....they are very vocal about them making the entire machine head to tail.

I know me and I know I will abuse the machine. I will take care of it but I know I will make it do stuff it was not made to do....I will bust stuff. I want to get parts for a long time to come.

 

[Guesseral]

Heck I can still get almost every part I need for the old Jubilee, the 612, and the 841. Now granted most of them are made in Turkey but I can still get them new. The only parts I have had any trouble getting are some of the hydraulic pieces for under the top hydraulic pleat on the Jubilee, but then again they only made that (the NAA) for two years so the need isn't as plentiful as the 600, 800 series or even the 8's they made these for many years so that are far more. I guess my point is that if it keeps up the way it is then someone someday after the manufacturers quit making or handling will or should make then.

 

[GManBart]

Good point...

My CAT D3 is actually made in Japan by Mitsubishi... thing is CAT had every single part for this Dozer 35+ years after they sold it... really amazing from a customer point of view.

That is pretty impressive. I can only wonder if that might be due to the fact that Mitsubishi has been making heavy equipment nearly as along as CAT has? Even still, it can't be easy for any company to keep spares on hand indefinitely.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

As far as I know Montana quick attach was not proprietary it is the same as everyone else's or at least mine (2009 R4944) is. I have bought forks and a grapple and they fit like a glove, I used the neighbors attachments (Quick attach Kubota) and they fit fine. Your loader should have been made by amerequip
Design, Engineering and Manufacturing Solutions for OEMs, and Custom Equipment, Tractor Attachments and Backhoes - Amerequip (ARPS)
If you type in Montana Tractors in your search box it should come up as a parts and service company Montana Tractors: Parts, Service and Warranty
go to contact us and there is a form you fill out and send in questions or a phone number to call. I just filled out the form over the summer looking for one of the handles for the quick attach received an email the next day. They had the part in stock gave me a price, I called gave him a credit card number and had the part in a day or two real easy. I have emailed them and talked with them several times not for parts really once I just wanted the paint code so I could get some mixed up, another I was just asking who made the loaders they have been real helpful each time. The only reason they shut down is because they irritated LS when they bought the farmtrec factory and they stopped selling tractors to them. I really haven't had any trouble with the Montana and I really like it, even had warranty work done at the end of the warranty period and I bought it new in 2010 so that warranty work was done just last March. Oh well I am just rambling now hope this info helps.

I recently replaced some syncronizers, and transmission gears on a used Montana 4540, that I sold a couple of year ago. Last summer I got some electrical parts for it from the Montana site, but when I went to get the trans. parts the website seemed to be non existent. In the search I found a LS dealer advertising Montana parts and that is where I purchased them. LS dealers can get the parts if they can cross the part numbers, but the Montana numbers are no where similar to the LS numbers, so the dealer needs a cross reference. I don't think most LS dealers have that cross reference.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

What if you buy a Case or Deere that they don't actually build? Just because the brand is around doesn't mean they'll be able to get parts if the companies they outsource to are gone (this is already a problem with some earlier Deere machines now).

Best post in this thread!

There is a clear trend here, where the products with the best parts support (and even product support while in production) are the ones build by the company who's name is on the hood.