Why people don't keep older equipment running

[ovrszd]

Ooopppsss,,, went back and reread the first post. OP paid $2,700 for it. So with a $4K repair bill he'll be at $6,700. Still $8,300 ahead.

 

[beenthere]

Ooopppsss,,, went back and reread the first post. OP paid $2,700 for it. So with a $4K repair bill he'll be at $6,700. Still $8,300 ahead.

And a new diesel gator is $13,500... I would have guessed more, but your logic is the same.. still ahead.
TH 6x4 Diesel Utility Vehicle | Traditional Gator™ Utility Vehicles | John Deere US

 

[fried1765]

I look at this from the other end. What would a new 6x4 gator cost? I'll be nice and say $15,000.

So I buy a 20 year old 6x4 Gator. I pay $1000 for it (guessing)? I spend $4K getting everything fixed. I'm in for $5K.

Would I pay an additional $10,000 to have a new one? NO.

Was this one worth fixing up? YES.

Will it serve my needs for many more years? YES.

Now who's spending foolish money? You or the guy that's making payments on his new Gator?

P.S. the fan lasted 20 years.......

Richard: We speak EXACTLY the same language!

George

 

[3Ts]

I look at this from the other end. What would a new 6x4 gator cost? I'll be nice and say $15,000.

So I buy a 20 year old 6x4 Gator. I pay $1000 for it (guessing)? I spend $4K getting everything fixed. I'm in for $5K.

Would I pay an additional $10,000 to have a new one? NO.

Was this one worth fixing up? YES.

Will it serve my needs for many more years? YES.

Now who's spending foolish money? You or the guy that's making payments on his new Gator?

P.S. the fan lasted 20 years.......

I agree with what you've written, but since we're talking about money, you missed an important item. How much time did you spend repairing it and what is your time worth? Most people neglect the value of their time when it comes to repairs, but employers realize the value of time and pay for time. Only when this is done strictly on a hobby basis, then time doing repairs has no value.

 

[Hay Dude]

Good conversation.
Would add that when you have 50 acres or more of hay laying, or footings dug and rains on the way, I will get a tech fixing my baler s with no hesitation while I Ted or have backhoe fixed for me when I have a concrete truck scheduled for next day.
For me, theres a time to DIY and a time to make the call.
On buying new versus used, that depends on how much you rely on equipment to make a living. For hobby or casual farming, I would fix a lot more older used equipment. If it’s for a living, Id prefer to keep moving ahead than stop and fix, so I would buy newer equipment when possible to increase reliability.

Once my kids were born, I stopped the late night fixing and repairs. No repairs are worth missing my kids grow up and Im very happy I did that.

 

[ruffdog]

I agree with what you've written, but since we're talking about money, you missed an important item. How much time did you spend repairing it and what is your time worth? Most people neglect the value of their time when it comes to repairs, but employers realize the value of time and pay for time. Only when this is done strictly on a hobby basis, then time doing repairs has no value.

^^yes...and is the nephew getting paid for his work? In the past, I have done welding, machining, and wrenching for people that were fond of buying "projects". Many years later, I have learned to say no. Those people are not picking up as many projects (for me) to work on.

Now, my time is my time.

 

[ArlyA]

I agree with what you've written, but since we're talking about money, you missed an important item. How much time did you spend repairing it and what is your time worth? Most people neglect the value of their time when it comes to repairs, but employers realize the value of time and pay for time. Only when this is done strictly on a hobby basis, then time doing repairs has no value.

When I'm taking care of snow trails and we'd have some machine break while out there. It took two guys basically 8 hour each, to get it drug into the shop and during this, no trails were being caring for. Not promoting happy customers while this is going on. Off the clock, my personal time does have value.

 

[fatjay]

2000? I think you and I have a different definition of "older" equipment. My newest machine is a 2001!

 

[zzvyb6]

And with 4 TRILLION dollars in unearned, unbacked and freshly printed paper money, inflation will triple or quadruple the cost of everything you buy. And if you should happen to get a Cost of Living Allowance, you will wind up in 2 or 3 higher tax brackets. Glad I'm not going to have to pay those bills or taxes. A $25 Hershey bar is on the horizon.

 

[Captain Dirty]

Another factor is the mechanical "dumbing down" of society. Mechanics are looked upon as second class tradesmen and all the kids are going to college for business degrees. Fewer and fewer people know how to fix anything anymore.

When manufacturing moved off shore the demand for millwrights and mechanics went with the manufacturing equipment. Then the managers wanted the R&D people and engineers to be close to the plants so they could tweak the practice or the product. We lost a great pool of institutional memory and talent. When my neighborhood had a "community building" activity installing new equipment at local playground I discovered many of my neighbors, although they might be financial wizards, did not know which end of a screwdriver to grasp.