I finally bought a Deere 6120M

[hayden]

How many acres are you mowing? With my 70hp Massey and 12 foot batwing, I'm mowing about 30 acres with $68,000 worth of lawn mower. It makes no sense, but it works and I'm happy with what I have.

About the same. And in the winter 1/2 mile of road plus a big barn yard. And never ending loader work. I'm just starting to build a steel building and will be able to use the tractor to lift all steel into place, so no need to rent a crane or telehandler.

It's still very expensive for all that, but I expect my kids will recoup a bunch of that when they sell it off. I had a Cat D5 dozer for a few years. It seemed like a crazy indulgence (it was), but when I look back at what I got done with it, and what it cost me after re-sale, it was worth every penny. And the same is true for my two excavators and L5740 tractor. Priceless in terms of what I can do that would otherwise be impossible, or I'd be driven crazy chasing other people around trying to get it done.

Again, it's a really big step from the L5740 to the 6120M, but that's how far you have to step to get an IVT. Otherwise I had decided to just stick with the L5740 and keep going really, really slow.

 

[LHF2019]

Anyway, much is personal choice, and I'll be the first to acknowledge that controls that "make sense" and are "intuitive" to one person are non-sense and confusing to others. My brain took to the Deere controls much more than the Fendt controls.

That statement makes a lot of sense to me. While I have not been on any thing "new" I know my old Deere tractors whether row crop or utility compared to other brands of same time period are just more comfortable. The controls just are in the right place and no searching. They are just there. My 2007 NH hydraulic controls are basically on the floor. I would have to lean over to reach them every time I dumped a bale. 2007 and you can't have ergonomically correct controls?????? I had extensions built so they are at my finger tips.

 

[RichardMeyer]

Great post and I love your tractor. I’ve been looking at the same ones, 5m125 and 6120m. I also want the ivt but I want the front 3pt and pto. Very hard to find used.

 

[Hay Dude]

That statement makes a lot of sense to me. While I have not been on any thing "new" I know my old Deere tractors whether row crop or utility compared to other brands of same time period are just more comfortable. The controls just are in the right place and no searching. They are just there. My 2007 NH hydraulic controls are basically on the floor. I would have to lean over to reach them every time I dumped a bale. 2007 and you can't have ergonomically correct controls?????? I had extensions built so they are at my finger tips.

I have never been a fan of NH tractors, although they have modernized them pretty well.
Although one of my all time faves is the NH 8670

And the 8870

If I remember, they were one of the first tractors to hit 28MPH and offer the Funk 18 speed full powershift

 

[hayden]

Great post and I love your tractor. I’ve been looking at the same ones, 5m125 and 6120m. I also want the ivt but I want the front 3pt and pto. Very hard to find used.

I recall seeing at least one 6120M with the front PTO & 3PH. Also keep in mind that it can be added. You just need to account for the post-purchase cost.

 

[LightningCamaroGuy]

Nice tractor OP! Very pretty and hoss looking machine!

 

[hayden]

Thanks, and a quick update.... The loader is all installed, and they finally fixed the connector for the mid SCVs and got all the error codes cleared. Now it's waiting for the trucker. I expect it to arrive at my place mid next week.

In the mean time, I have been gathering various parts to get it the way I want. One thing I found Deere offers is a guard plate for the mid SCVs, so I have that on order. If a road side mowing crew knocked that cable off, so will I. I'm also adding the tool box, which this tractor doesn't already have.

Then I have wheel weights on order since it currently has no ballast. Neither I nor the dealer can tell whether the orderable number for the weights is for one weight or for two (one for each wheel). If it's two then the cost is high, but not crazy and I'll get a second set. But if it's only one weight then the cost is kind of crazy high, and I'll only install one set and then fill the tires.

Also on the ballast front, I have assembled most of the parts to make a 1200 lb 3PH counter weight, and can add steel to it if needed. Deere says they want 3300 lbs, but I'll start with 1200 and add weight as needed. I got the weight off Facebook Marketplace for $100 which was a great deal - cheapest ballast I'll every buy. I got a Cat 2 draw bar that I'll weld to it, then I'll need to come up with something for the top link attachment point. To what ever extent I need to add more weight, I have found that used road plates are a reasonable cost per lb, and I can cut them to size and stack/weld together to add weight as needed.

On the rear SCVs, I was a bit surprised to find that the 6M series doesn't come with the flip-door covers over the SCVs. I really like those for keeping out crap, plus they have a drip catchment built in so you don't end up with (or end up with less) caked up oil, dirt, grime all over the back of the tractor. The parts book shows them, so I ordered one plus the catch bottle to see if they all fit and work. If they work, I'll order the rest.

 

[LHF2019]

On the rear SCVs, I was a bit surprised to find that the 6M series doesn't come with the flip-door covers over the SCVs. I really like those for keeping out crap, plus they have a drip catchment built in so you don't end up with (or end up with less) caked up oil, dirt, grime all over the back of the tractor. The parts book shows them, so I ordered one plus the catch bottle to see if they all fit and work. If they work, I'll order the rest.

Can you post the part numbers for those. I'm assuming they are Faster TA12? I've been trying to find them through an OEM and have just been ordering them aftermarket. They are not cheap and sometimes you luck out and OEM has a better price. I've just never been able to track down a tractor of any brand that has them from factory

 

[JTKub]

Congrats on the new JD. She's a beaut!

I believe that Fendt dealer is about 15 miles from me. I would have been happy to take one for a spin on your behalf!

 

[hayden]

Can you post the part numbers for those. I'm assuming they are Faster TA12? I've been trying to find them through an OEM and have just been ordering them aftermarket. They are not cheap and sometimes you luck out and OEM has a better price. I've just never been able to track down a tractor of any brand that has them from factory

View attachment 3877750

This is for the first SCV. It may be based on the Faster parts, but it's a single unit for the two couplers, is green to match the color code for SCV 1, and have the oil capture drain fittings on the bottom. I won't know for certain if it even fits until the tractor gets here.

AL226179: Hydraulic Quick Coupler Socket Cover | AL226179

Cover

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