Buying Advice Buying used, how many hours are too many?

[mikester]

3000 hours on a well maintained Kubota diesel CUT isn't a lot of hours, you would probably get up to 5000+hrs on that machine before running into any issues.

5000+ hours on used construction equipment diesels isn't unusual, at 10,000+ hours things start getting worn.

It all depends on the maintenance and degree of abuse the machine gets during it's life.

This guy's SCUT will likely NOT last 3000 hours
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/426034-play-ssqa-frame-loader-normal.html

 

[bdog]

My tractor has over 8,000 hours. I bought it in 2014 and have had to do nothing to it but oil and filter changes, grease, and replace the battery this year.

 

[crashz]

My father has a Cat 912 Loader with just over 24,000 hours. Looks like all original drive-train. Runs decent. Looks OK. Was used in a saw mill. Equipment can last a long time if taken care of.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Forty years ago I operated a Hyster 225 wirh a GMC V6 propane engine. It was about 6 years old when I started operating it. I put close to 1000 hours a year on it as had the operators before me. When the mill shut down a few years later it had over 10,000 hours and ran great. A metal fabrication shop bought it and later sold it to another shop. In 2010 it was still running just fine.

Worked for a gravel company and got talking to one of the mechanics. He said the average dump truck operated at the rate of approximately 22 miles per hour of engine service. Most of those trucks, Macks and Kenworths went over a half million miles without any major problems. That works out to over 22,500 hours. Heavy duty industrial engines are built for the long haul, ag engines have to be close behind. I can't imagine any tractor manufacturer staying in business if their tractors were all worn out junk at 1000 hours. As others have said, it's more about maintenance than it is meter hours.

 

[Hay Dude]

Another consideration: I think heat is the most common killer of all moving parts. I try to find equipment with bigger displacement engines whenever possible. Mechanics constantly tell me to buy the bigger motor.
My M126 and M135 Kubotas have the bigger 6.1L engines. The smaller M105, 110, etc have enough size for what I do, but they have a smaller 3.8L diesel. That engine will have to work harder, hotter and wear out faster.

Look at what tractors you are buying, and if they are pretty much dead even, see if one has a larger engine. Even if they are the same HP, given equal maintenance, I would bet the larger displacement will last longer because the block and pistons dissipate heat better and heat kills. Also, usually larger displacement engines can accomplish same work output with lower RPM and lower RPMs (not lugging) will also cause less wear & heat.

 

[finn1]

Medium truck Diesels are typically designed for a b10 life of 500000 miles at a 25 mph average road speed, and a 25% - 30% duty factor. Ag engine’s used for commercial tilling are more like 50% duty factor, and I suspect these small cut and scut tractors are more like 10%.

Hours are only part of what goes into defining machine life. If you’re concerned, buy new with a warranty. Useful life is a sliding scale, with hours, time, and maintenance, as well as duty factor ( amount of fuel burned over life/ full load fuel) determining the slope of the curve.

 

[bdog]

Another consideration: I think heat is the most common killer of all moving parts. I try to find equipment with bigger displacement engines whenever possible. Mechanics constantly tell me to buy the bigger motor.
My M126 and M135 Kubotas have the bigger 6.1L engines. The smaller M105, 110, etc have enough size for what I do, but they have a smaller 3.8L diesel. That engine will have to work harder, hotter and wear out faster.

Look at what tractors you are buying, and if they are pretty much dead even, see if one has a larger engine. Even if they are the same HP, given equal maintenance, I would bet the larger displacement will last longer because the block and pistons dissipate heat better and heat kills. Also, usually larger displacement engines can accomplish same work output with lower RPM and lower RPMs (not lugging) will also cause less wear & heat.

This is really good advice. Running a business and having lots of diesel equipment I can tell you that when you use anything at or near its maximum capacity it doesn't last long. Things that are used lightly with regards to their capability seem to last forever.

 

[bdog]

Another consideration: I think heat is the most common killer of all moving parts. I try to find equipment with bigger displacement engines whenever possible. Mechanics constantly tell me to buy the bigger motor.
My M126 and M135 Kubotas have the bigger 6.1L engines. The smaller M105, 110, etc have enough size for what I do, but they have a smaller 3.8L diesel. That engine will have to work harder, hotter and wear out faster.

Look at what tractors you are buying, and if they are pretty much dead even, see if one has a larger engine. Even if they are the same HP, given equal maintenance, I would bet the larger displacement will last longer because the block and pistons dissipate heat better and heat kills. Also, usually larger displacement engines can accomplish same work output with lower RPM and lower RPMs (not lugging) will also cause less wear & heat.

This is really good advice. Running a business and having lots of diesel equipment I can tell you that when you use anything at or near its maximum capacity it doesn't last long. Things that are used lightly with regards to their capability seem to last forever.

 

[newbury]

Looking to buy a used Kubota or whatever comes up in my price range. I see a bunch with up to 900 hours on them. Considering I'll use it clip around 10 acres once a month, maybe disc a garden, and scrape the road . I have a 1974 Ford 3000 that I'm tired of patching, no idea how many hours it has, but past it's prime, looking for something to just climb on and go. What is your cut off?
Thanks,
Pops

What's your price range?
And how much do you want to use it? about 100 hours per year? 200 hrs?

If your present tractor is working well I'd recommend just getting another Ford 3000 if you can find one.

Like others have wrote you can have an unrepairable mess at 1,000 hours or a garage queen.

My '95 M4700 bought in 2012 had about ?1300? hours on it, fairly well maintained by Fairfax County, Va but stored outside

I put less than 100 hours (often way less) a year on it, but when I need it I need it's capacity and power. So I don't mind the repairs (Just this year I had to replace the valve cores on the rear tires, about $18) generally about $100/year.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I bought my 2010 M6040 2 years ago with about 1100 hrs, lightly used and supposedly stored inside. I average 150-200hrs per year.
Other than changing all fluids and filters and keeping up on PM, it has been trouble free and like Newbury, I don't mind the repairs if it needs them someday. knock on wood.
The more you know about the machine you want the better.

 

[Arthur Douglas]

I have over 700 hundred hours on my L3800 still runs like new.......It depends on how hard the hours were put on it could be junk in a couple hundred hours...I start mine and let it warm up and cool down before shut down always change the oil and air filters......900 hundred hours is not much if taken care of.....

Peter, I understand you want to allow time for the oil to circulate, but for summer start-ups, do you typically warm-up longer than it takes to release the brake, raise the attachment/implement, buckle up, and put in gear?

How long for "cool down," and does this have more to do with the fuel than oil? Thanks.

 

[Peter 315]

In the summer 5 minutes warm up when I first start it , and at least 5 minutes or more to the cool down the engine before I shut it off ,a diesel will cool down a lot just idling.......

 

[Arthur Douglas]

In the summer 5 minutes warm up when I first start it , and at least 5 minutes or more to the cool down the engine before I shut it off ,a diesel will cool down a lot just idling.......

Peter, I just want you to know: I now warm up and cool down my new tractor. Dealer never said anything about that, never read it anywhere else, knew nothing about diesels before this purchase but it makes sense. Thank you.

 

[aczlan]

Any thoughts on a Ford 345c with around 7000 hours?
Looks to be in decent condition with the expected wear and tear.

Aaron Z

 

[popsx3]

Thank you all for the input, I have learned a lot. Ran the 3000 today and the only thing that broke this time was the cutter.

 

[Hay Dude]

Peter, I understand you want to allow time for the oil to circulate, but for summer start-ups, do you typically warm-up longer than it takes to release the brake, raise the attachment/implement, buckle up, and put in gear?

How long for "cool down," and does this have more to do with the fuel than oil? Thanks.

When hot, You want to cool the oil in a turbocharged Diesel. If you don稚, the oil can coke and ruin the turbochargers bearings. After hard running, throttle down and let it run 5-10 minutes.
I don稚 do much warm up in summer, but in winter I like a 5-10 minute warm up.

 

[3gunr]

I have over 1100 hrs on my 2810 and it starts and runs like new . I have already put over 100 hrs brushhogging on my 2538 this yr alone, Things are growing like crazy here this year.

 

[d413ai]

That is a lot of hours, there are many others available with far fewer hours. Unless the machine has been well maintained with service records I would look elsewhere.

 

[LD48750]

I have no idea how many hours my 75 year old Ford 2N has but it keeps on working every week around here.

Finish mowing, brush hogging, chipping, everything involved with gathering firewood.... and anything else that comes up.

 

[sandman2234]

I bought a JD 2555 in 2004, upgraded from a Ford 1100. It was about 6500 hours. It is now in excess of 7500 and still kicking. Has it's issues, but still starts and runs fine.
2015 I purchased a 2013 Kubota with 700 hours on it. It has 1100 on it now. Needed a bigger mower, the forks, grapple, bucket, trailer, 15 batwing, M7040 came with the 8 foot Bushhog mower I wanted.
David from jax