Trying to find a good used Tractor

[hornett22]

Bearing in mind that most, if not all of the smaller, lighter Mahindra compact tractors are private label machines produced under contract for Mahindra by LS of Korea.

The up and coming compact tractor brands are Korean: Kioti, LS and Branson. There are other Korean brands. You have to critically assess dealer stability while shopping minor brands.

You sound like a brochure. I'm not aware of any Mahindra made by LS. not saying there aren't but this is the first I've heard of it. TYM and Mitsubishi, yes. John deere doesn't make all of its own stuff either.

The 16 series Mahindra is made in Japan by Mitsubishi. It's a well established model that has proven itself over time. Mine has had two minor issues in 1040 hours. I had the part in less than a week. Neither time was the tractor itself not usable. Just the tachometer PTO.

I've worked on JD, Kubota,and Massey Ferguson tractors that were more difficult to get parts for. On multiple occasions. JD can't even seem to remember how many filters there are on their tractors.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I would go with the 990 also just for the hours and years differences, none of them are a bad choice tho... although I am not a fan of industrial tires but for what you want to do with it, it might be better for you the AG tires...

 

[rScotty]

This is a friends 5310. It’s a little over 20 years old and roughly 2000 hours. It’s roughly the same age just a slightly larger version of the 990. It’s been a very solid tractor for him.
View attachment 774142

Well... that's a whole different level of tractor than a 790/990 JD by Yanmar.
The 5310 is a utility size with a much larger everything, and 2000 hours on it is just getting into late adolescence. A dandy. Probably with a 12 speed shuttle transmission - best of all worlds.

And built with iron and steel before the tier 4 emissions came into being. That is one very sought after machine. It's a real good 100 year argument for why JD is still right at at the top of the list for quality Utility and Ag tractors.

But it isn't a compact tractor. like the 790/990
And is it for sale? I doubt it. And if so, for how much?
If the dealer had one of those he would be on the phone, not writing an adv.

rScotty

 

[rScotty]

Oh, back to the OP's question. It's the 990 of course. There is a lot of difference between 600 and 2500 hours on a compact. It's a little more tractor and still small enough to do compact work.

This tractor all depends if the owner likes an old fashioned standard shift. On a tractor with a sliding gear transmission you start out in the gear you will stay in - all of the gears are low enough and the engine torque high enough - to make that work.
It's a find transmission & bulletproof....but not popular.

IMHO, the price is about $2K high - but the dealer will get it because of the times. Ask instead for 4K in used implements to come with the deal.

It's happens, but still it is rare for anyone to be disappointed with a JD.

 

[dodge man]

Well... that's a whole different level of tractor than a 790/990 JD by Yanmar.
The 5310 is a utility size with a much larger everything, and 2000 hours on it is just getting into late adolescence. A dandy. Probably with a 12 speed shuttle transmission - best of all worlds.

And built with iron and steel before the tier 4 emissions came into being. That is one very sought after machine. It's a real good 100 year argument for why JD is still right at at the top of the list for quality Utility and Ag tractors.

But it isn't a compact tractor. like the 790/990
And is it for sale? I doubt it. And if so, for how much?
If the dealer had one of those he would be on the phone, not writing an adv.

rScotty

His 5310 is a regular stick shift, three forward and 1 reverse with three ranges. I always told him how much he’d like a hydrostatic. After working with him and his tractor a few times you’d swear it is an HST. He’s pretty good with it and I’m sure it’s for sale, I’ll help negotiate a price for you but it’s going to be way overpriced for sure. In other words he’s not selling it.

 

[rScotty]

His 5310 is a regular stick shift, three forward and 1 reverse with three ranges. I always told him how much he’d like a hydrostatic. After working with him and his tractor a few times you’d swear it is an HST. He’s pretty good with it and I’m sure it’s for sale, I’ll help negotiate a price for you but it’s going to be way overpriced for sure. In other words he’s not selling it.

Yes, now that I look closer I see that the sync shuttle sticker is still on the side. That identifies the transmission as being like a stick shift automobile rather than the sliding gear type that required stopping to shift, or the power shuttle type where the clutch was optional.

In the sync shuttle JD transmission he would select a range when stopped, and then can clutch and shift on the go between 3 speeds and reverse in that range. Its fully syncronized like any automotive manual shift one might buy today - except that it has extra ranges. And known to be very fuel efficient.

Nice solid transmission and a good match for a lifetime tractor. I'm spoiled by my HST+ Kubota transmission with it's power shifting Hi&Lo ranges. But 25 years from now when he does decide to sell it I wouldn't be surprised if that syncronized manual transmission added value to the tractor.

People ask "how do I find a good used tractor?". They're out there.
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

People ask "how do I find a good used tractor?". They're out there.

Just thinking.....I mean, they must be out there somewhere. Right? Especially those 20 to 40 year old pre-emission utility size John Deeres. People really liked those 30 to 65 hp machines.

They can't swim, don't tend to wander off, and rarely break - even if they did, people seem to fix them.

Tractor Data can tell us how many were made. Anyone have any idea how many that would be? It wouldn't surprise me at all that most are still working. That's a lot of used tractors.

rScotty

 

[dodge man]

In the case of my buddys 5310 his mom and dad bought it for him. He had purchased acreage for hunting and has what his father thought was a dangerous old tractor. In the picture that’s his dads name on the side, his mothers name is painted on the other side.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Well... that's a whole different level of tractor than a 790/990 JD by Yanmar.
The 5310 is a utility size with a much larger everything, and 2000 hours on it is just getting into late adolescence. A dandy. Probably with a 12 speed shuttle transmission - best of all worlds.

And built with iron and steel before the tier 4 emissions came into being. That is one very sought after machine. It's a real good 100 year argument for why JD is still right at at the top of the list for quality Utility and Ag tractors.

But it isn't a compact tractor. like the 790/990
And is it for sale? I doubt it. And if so, for how much?
If the dealer had one of those he would be on the phone, not writing an adv.

rScotty

I agree, a very different size and class of machine.

 

[DaBear3428]

Says you. Plenty of happy JD owners in the world with good dealers. I have no idea where your statement “side hustle” comes from.

from walking in and talking to the dealers! they want to sell you construction equipment or a big agg tractor or charge you that amount of money for a lawn mower with a FEL attached made in large part by some one else.