Simple farm tractors are history

[Hay Dude]

This right here is why we run John Deere at the farm. My newest tractor is a 2004 JD 2210 which is really just my lawn mower. Everything else is late 70's/early 80's 30 and 40 series JD. Never had any issues getting parts and normal, routine maintenance will keep them running for 10,000+ hours.

That would be great if I could do that, but with the volume of farming we are doing, and the speed it takes to get it done, those tractors wouldn’t be able to get 1/2 the work done.
But I understand and support the basic fundamentals of what you’re saying.

Although the bells & whistles and all the electronics seem silly or overcomplicated (and they are), the newer tractors are also much faster, safer and more comfortable, which can make you more money, prolong your life as a farmer or keep you in the field longer.

Can’t ignore that, either.

 

[johnnies07]

That would be great if I could do that, but with the volume of farming we are doing, and the speed it takes to get it done, those tractors wouldn’t be able to get 1/2 the work done.
But I understand and support the basic fundamentals of what you’re saying.

Although the bells & whistles and all the electronics seem silly or overcomplicated (and they are), the newer tractors are also much faster, safer and more comfortable, which can make you more money, prolong your life as a farmer or keep you in the field longer.

Can’t ignore that, either.

Yeah, I'm probably kind of unique. My dad, grandpa, and uncle farmed together for many years and I grew up driving these types of tractors. I moved away from home, went to college and have had a successful career outside of farming but always stayed close enough to home that I could help during planting and harvest time. After they decided to retire, I slowly took over. I took the "no payments, repair as much as I can myself, and bank whatever I've got left to upgrade as I can" model. Eventually I'd love to have those new fancy Fendts, but I'm right in the heart of JD country. I've got 5 good JD dealers within 35 miles of me so that's what I've stuck with until I can get something newer.

Some of my neighbors have the newer stuff and it sure is nice to drive those but sometimes it reminds me too much of my office at work with all those computer screens. There's just something relaxing about working the gears on an old tractor and feeling that power under your feet. Of course that relaxation quickly goes away when you spend the day replacing a clutch that went out but it's all part of the life .

 

[Hay Dude]

Yeah, I'm probably kind of unique. My dad, grandpa, and uncle farmed together for many years and I grew up driving these types of tractors. I moved away from home, went to college and have had a successful career outside of farming but always stayed close enough to home that I could help during planting and harvest time. After they decided to retire, I slowly took over. I took the "no payments, repair as much as I can myself, and bank whatever I've got left to upgrade as I can" model. Eventually I'd love to have those new fancy Fendts, but I'm right in the heart of JD country. I've got 5 good JD dealers within 35 miles of me so that's what I've stuck with until I can get something newer.

No worries, Deere makes great stuff. Fendt is just the newest & greatest thing sweeping the Ag community right now.

Some of my neighbors have the newer stuff and it sure is nice to drive those but sometimes it reminds me too much of my office at work with all those computer screens. There's just something relaxing about working the gears on an old tractor and feeling that power under your feet. Of course that relaxation quickly goes away when you spend the day replacing a clutch that went out but it's all part of the life .

It all depends on the volume of farming. If you’re talking 50 acres or something, I’d be happy with slower & older to get the benefit of less complexity. Once you start getting into 500 or more acres, you need the speed and comfort to get you through the season.

 

[ultrarunner]

Fendt is 95 years old and started with a 6 hp diesel in 1930 marketed to replace draft horses.

It was German until AGCO bought it in 1997.

Known for comfort and innovative transmissions it is very popular in German speaking countries.

 

[Mike1955]

Todays farm tractors are packed with electronics and gadgets.
This is the dash of a Massey Ferguson today:
View attachment 2796821

And you can’t even row crop with them

 

[5030]

New tractors and new cars and trucks have a lot in common as in loaded with electronics, electronics that are made by the lowest bidder and incorporated into them (cars, trucks and farm machinery) because none of them actually build the electronic components but buy them and install them and lowest bidder stuff, when it breaks (and it will) always are expensive to replace, always.

Why I keep both my Kubota M9's. Mechanical injection, no emissions stuff to fail and minimal electronics and they are the perfect size for my forage operation. Maintenance basically consists of checking fluids and air pressure in the tires and changing fluids and filters at the required intervals and I have no issue with replacement parts, never have. My 2 year old bailer is all electronic and candidly, it scares me because I know when the solid state parts take a dump (and they will at some point) it will cost a ton to get repaired.

I'm a long way from, wearing either of the tractors out so I'm not concerned with them as they both will outlive me.

Barring electronics, timely maintenance is the key to longevity in my book.

Told my wife, when I die and she sells the equipment (all paid for) to demand top buck for all of it. All of it has complete maintenance records and I keep all the receipts of everything renewed and replaced.

 

[ultrarunner]

See it in medical equipment all the time… end of support means junk status…

Number one item is circuit boards and equipment required to program/calibrate.

They also get funny about it.

I pulled a steam sterilizer to storage and when a floor sterilizer board went out and no parts available I pulled board from storage and installed…

Manufacturer said I made unauthorized repair with third party parts.

I nipped that in the bud quickly… said the third party is you because I bought the machine new from you and by repair do you mean plugging in circuit board into the slot… end of discussion.

 

[bmaverick]

Neat!

But I’m talking for heavy farming. Like 150-400HP.

We actually have a few paces that do half decent restorations on big stuff, but they want crazy money for them.

The machine for power are diesel, 13hp SCUT to CUT at 18Hp thru 70Hp.

Many are gear or PowerShift/PowerShuttle machines too.

Here is the current pricing on both NEW Yanmar or the restored like new vintage machines.

All Inventory | Fredricks Outdoor

Fredricks Outdoor is a powersports and agricultural dealership with locations in Decatur and Hartselle, AL, near to Decatur, Hunstville, Florence, Birmingham, Guntersville, and Scottsboro. We sell new and pre-owned Tractors, Mowers, Boats, Outboards, Off-Road, UTV, and ATV from STIHL®...

www.fredricksoutdoor.com

 

[bmaverick]

This here is one of the most popular models they sell, thus the price point is attractive for homesteaders.

Add 4WD and a loader,

These come with a full 1-year warranty.

You save $10K or more vs a new machine with computers, limp mode and the emission crap.
To work on these machines, basic home garage tools are all you need. They are so simple.
Much of the items like starter, alternator, radiator, coolant hoses, battery size, voltage regulator, etc can be had at any auto parts store for Nissan-Datsun models from the 70s and 80s.

These machines have all the diesel parts of fuel tank, fuel filter-bowl, fuel pump, injectors, thermo-start, etc, with Satoh, Mitsubishi, Kubota, Deere, Ford New Holland, Perkins, etc.

 

[jyoutz]

This here is one of the most popular models they sell, thus the price point is attractive for homesteaders.

View attachment 2880577

Add 4WD and a loader,

View attachment 2880822

These come with a full 1-year warranty.

You save $10K or more vs a new machine with computers, limp mode and the emission crap.
To work on these machines, basic home garage tools are all you need. They are so simple.
Much of the items like starter, alternator, radiator, coolant hoses, battery size, voltage regulator, etc can be had at any auto parts store for Nissan-Datsun models from the 70s and 80s.

These machines have all the diesel parts of fuel tank, fuel filter-bowl, fuel pump, injectors, thermo-start, etc, with Satoh, Mitsubishi, Kubota, Deere, Ford New Holland, Perkins, etc.

The problem with those old Yanmars is they only made compacts, not utility sized machines. And this thread is about farm tractors.