Challenger MT555D tractor heading my way

[Torvy]

Big is always relative. Your 1st kid seems awfully small until the 2nd one is born. Then the 1st one seems like a giant.

My tractor is a frame size bigger than my neighbors', but it's tiny compared to this:

 

[tacticalturnip]

That old IH is so striking.

 

[Hay Dude]

Back of tractor looks clean and dry for 12 years old

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[hayden]

Good luck with it. My used purchase has been mostly good with few surprises, but a few.

What dealer did you buy it from?

And on a slightly different topic, you mentioned BKT tires. What’s your experience with them, if any? I have them on a smaller tractor and am frankly disappointed in the wear rate.

 

[Hay Dude]

Good luck with it. My used purchase has been mostly good with few surprises, but a few.

What dealer did you buy it from?

BTI
Great Bend, Kansas.

And on a slightly different topic, you mentioned BKT tires. What’s your experience with them, if any? I have them on a smaller tractor and am frankly disappointed in the wear rate.

Different size tires can be made in different ways. I’ve mostly had good luck with all tires except Goodyear.
I am kinda neutral on BTK. Better than economy tires, but they aren’t as good as others like Firestone, Michelin, Trelleborg et al.

 

[LouNY]

Just picked up a 2012 Challenger MT555D with an ML78 loader & grapple bucket.
It should be here in 3-4 weeks.



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173HP
33MPH CVT

Nice machine

 

[Hay Dude]

Update:
Looks like it’s being picked up in Kansas on Wednesday. Going directly to my dealer in Leola, PA for hopefully, just a reflash.
Then I can go and pick it up.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Has your new tractor arrived yet ? Did the dealer it went to get it all sorted out ?

 

[Hay Dude]

Has your new tractor arrived yet ?

Yes, but also to be clear it’s not “new”, it’s a 2012. You probably mean “new to you”.

Did the dealer it went to get it all sorted out ?

They haven’t taken it into service yet. Should hear something today or this week.
Needs programming and probably a pump seal.
I hope that’s all it needs. If that’s all, it will be a real nice deal. If it needs a lot more work than that, I will do some of it and it’ll still be a good deal. I paid about $25,000 less than similar units with similar hours & condition.

 

[Hay Dude]

First wave of information came in. Visually, tractor is in very good conditions.

1. programming is done and was a very simple fix. She is now 50Km/hr (33 MPH) again.
2. What we thought might be a seal between CVT and hydraulic system was actually a broken bleed screw. Simple fix. It would have been $3,000 to fix seals.
3. CVT will get new filters and AGCO CVT fluid. Normal maintenance.
4. Hydraulic system will get new AGCO hydraulic fluid & filters. Again, normal maintenance.
5. Actual hours on ECM are 3,200. Dealer told me ~2,200. This doesn’t surprise me and doesn’t really bother me either, as 3200 hours is still very low for a 14 year old AG tractor, so I will just leave that alone. I’m a little annoyed, but dealer did not have the software to get actual hours and I knew this.

Now for the “unknowns”:
1. Engine has slight tap under valve cover. There was a know issue with the AGCO Power 6.6L breaking a stud or could be a valve lash issue.
If it’s a simple fix, I would still be at or about the $4-$5,000 I estimated it would need in repairs.
2. Both front suspension accumulators show leaking and are probably both flat. Both accumulators are $1,400.

Right now Parts are 15% off, so I can apply that to all AGCO parts.

So far, I’m actually still feeling pretty happy. Most units like this with more hours were selling for $95,000-$115,000 (and may have needed any number of repairs, too).
I hope to get all repairs and including trucking and be under $85K

5 years ago, I bought my smaller, older 535B with a loader & trucking for ~$75,000. But it had 5,500 hours and needed brakes & other repairs, too.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Haydude, Nice to hear you are getting all the bugs out of it, and some nice easy and cheap fixes are always a pleasant good surprise.

 

[Hay Dude]

Haydude, Nice to hear you are getting all the bugs out of it, and some nice easy and cheap fixes are always a pleasant good surprise.

Let’s hope so. Hope the “tap” is manageable.

 

[Hay Dude]

Got another update.
The tap under the valve cover was a typical valve job. Little on the early side at 3,200 hours (I’m more used to every 5,000 hours). The valves were adjusted and new set of rocker studs were installed. It was a suggested update when valve covers are off. Tapping is reduced 90% according to my tech.
Instead of replacing front suspension accumulators, we are going to recharge them.
Seat needs a bushing and cab suspension accumulators are shot, so we are pulling them off and installing springs in place of the hydraulic cab suspension cylinders.

I will hit 4-5K with all that and the previous list I revealed a few posts ago. I am about to say “uncle” and settle with that. I have only bought one larger Ag tractor that didn’t need some repairs in the low-mid single thousands and this one looks to be no different.