Comparison Help me decide...?

[jorswift]

Hey all.
So I recently came a 2 tractor owner. I currently have a 2005 Massey Ferguson 1528 28hp compact tractor with loader. Machine is great and a beast with around 1800 hours. I have only had it for about a year. It is starting to have some things wear down, leak and needing items replaced. But it doesnt stop its operation or abilities. Here this weekend I was able to get my hands on a cherry '96 or '98 John Deere 955 33hp with a 70A loader, 72" belly mower and 42-46" snowblower with around 1400 hours. The JD is a one owner and mainly was used for just mower and throwing snow. It really looks new except for the paint where from your boot heels and a cracked/weathered seat. I am going to be able to only keep one of the tractors. What would you keep and why?

 

[scootr]

They are similar in size. You didn't give the year on the JD?
I would keep the one that operates the best, is in the best condition...you got the new one for a reason right

 

[jorswift]

They are similar in size. You didn't give the year on the JD?
I would keep the one that operates the best, is in the best condition...you got the new one for a reason right

I think its a '96-98. I will have to match the serial #. Very true.

 

[2manyrocks]

Unless there is some major difference in parts availability and dealer service, I'd lean towards keeping the JD because of the yanmar engine and lower hours.

 

[5030]

As with any older model, things will either wear out or fail. If I were you, I'd keep them both actually. That way, if one becomes inoperable for any reason, you have a spare. Be apprised that any JD parts will be expensive and JD like most other manufacturers are discontinuing older parts. I will say Kubota isn't going down that road...yet. I can get genuine Kubota parts for both my getting 'vintage' 2000 and 2002 Kubota tractors. Inventorying parts for older machines is a major expense for any manufacturer.

 

[jorswift]

As with any older model, things will either wear out or fail. If I were you, I'd keep them both actually. That way, if one becomes inoperable for any reason, you have a spare. Be apprised that any JD parts will be expensive and JD like most other manufacturers are discontinuing older parts. I will say Kubota isn't going down that road...yet. I can get genuine Kubota parts for both my getting 'vintage' 2000 and 2002 Kubota tractors. Inventorying parts for older machines is a major expense for any manufacturer.

I wish I was able to keep them both. But it’s not in the books. If I made my living using them, then it could be justified. But at this point they are just a very “helpful” tool at maintaining our property.

 

[rScotty]

I would keep the Massey unless you have a need for the snowblower and midmower on the JD.
I understand the appeal of condition, but the Massey is little heavier tractor, a nicer transmission, and is more familiar to you.
In any case, I'd keep them both for a year and that should tell the story.

 

[jorswift]

I would keep the Massey unless you have a need for the snowblower and midmower on the JD.
I understand the appeal of condition, but the Massey is little heavier tractor, a nicer transmission, and is more familiar to you.
In any case, I'd keep them both for a year and that should tell the story.

Yeah I’ve only had the Massey for about a year. I had a Jd4300 before the Massey and a jd2240 with loader as well. I sold the JDs and found a steal on the Massey, so picked it up. It is a good little tractor though.

 

[mapper]

As with any older model, things will either wear out or fail. If I were you, I'd keep them both actually. That way, if one becomes inoperable for any reason, you have a spare. Be apprised that any JD parts will be expensive and JD like most other manufacturers are discontinuing older parts. I will say Kubota isn't going down that road...yet. I can get genuine Kubota parts for both my getting 'vintage' 2000 and 2002 Kubota tractors. Inventorying parts for older machines is a major expense for any manufacturer.

Massey parts are rather dear as well!

 

[jorswift]

Massey parts are rather dear as well!

That’s truth. And harder for me to get. No “friendly” dealers close by.

 

[bearthebruce]

There is now an online Massey dealer where I have purchased parts. If you want that web address, PM me and I will get it for you.

As you will see, I operate a 2005 1533... pretty much the same machine you have but perhaps a little larger engine.

 

[5030]

Other than imported parts from you know where, all parts are expensive today and I'm patently curious as to how the tariff's will impact those 'made in China' parts as well.... Myself, I prefer to avoid those parts in general as often they are substandard replacements, especially carbs and spark plugs.

 

[arrow]

So basically you have a 20 yr old tractor and about a 30 yr old tractor to choose from.
Sell them both and with the proceeds from these sales, use the money as a down payment for a new machine.

Life’s too short to keep nursing and chasing parts for old machines imo.

 

[rScotty]

So basically you have a 20 yr old tractor and about a 30 yr old tractor to choose from.
Sell them both and with the proceeds from these sales, use the money as a down payment for a new machine.

Life’s too short to keep nursing and chasing parts for old machines imo.

There's other ways to look at that thought:

We know tractors are much more reliable than cars, trucks, and most other mechanical things.

So if manufacturing 20/30 years ago was as good or better than today, then any reliability difference between an old tractor and a new one is easily made equal by any reasonably mechanical owner.

It seems to me to be a worthwhile gamble that the time and energy invested in an old one is going to be less than the time spent making money to pay for a new one. But even if the time spent is equal, money spent on the old one is an investment rather than an obligation.

Life's too short to trade away just paying off debts.

rScotty

 

[bigtiller]

So basically you have a 20 yr old tractor and about a 30 yr old tractor to choose from.
Sell them both and with the proceeds from these sales, use the money as a down payment for a new machine.

Life’s too short to keep nursing and chasing parts for old machines imo.

That's what I would do.
Also, with a cab tractor, you can enjoy the "new-tractor" smell.

 

[jorswift]

That's what I would do.
Also, with a cab tractor, you can enjoy the "new-tractor" smell.

Looking to add a skid steer with the profit from selling one of the tractors.

 

[arrow]

There's other ways to look at that thought:

We know tractors are much more reliable than cars, trucks, and most other mechanical things.

So if manufacturing 20/30 years ago was as good or better than today, then any reliability difference between an old tractor and a new one is easily made equal by any reasonably mechanical owner.

It seems to me to be a worthwhile gamble that the time and energy invested in an old one is going to be less than the time spent making money to pay for a new one. But even if the time spent is equal, money spent on the old one is an investment rather than an obligation.

Life's too short to trade away just paying off debts.

rScotty

I had a 1985 jd cut. Kept it for 28 yrs. Parts became almost impossible to get thru jd and had to use old tractor junk yards to find what I needed.
I sold it to a guy who owned a machine shop and when I told him of the parts situation, he had no worries as he felt he could make any part he needed.
Now I’ll tell ya what makes life shorter. Stress.
So you’ll either stress out for payments made on a new machine and I don’t care how much possibly better older iron was made, new is new and new stuff has a much better life chance than anything 25 yrs old.
Or you’ll stress out on not getting a job done because your old iron may give up the ghost.
Or you’ll stress out about any costs involved with fixing your old machine and not having it when you need or want it….. so pick your poison.
I work on these things and what I see ppl spending money on to fix up old crap is ludicrous to me.

 

[Joe Batt]

My MF1250 front hubs are starting to leak. The o ring is $100, which seems ridiculous to me. The PTO seal was $75 a few years ago. The tractor is functioning fine, but the stupid custom parts are just awful. They could have used a common seal in both cases, instead of a custom seal. I couldn't even get lower lift arms and had to fabricate my own.

 

[rScotty]

SNIP
Life's too short to trade away just paying off debts.

rScotty

SNIP
Now I’ll tell ya what makes life shorter. Stress.
So you’ll either stress out for payments made on a new machine and I don’t care how much possibly better older iron was made, new is new and new stuff has a much better life chance than anything 25 yrs old.
Or you’ll stress out on not getting a job done because your old iron may give up the ghost.
Or you’ll stress out about any costs involved with fixing your old machine and not having it when you need or want it….. so pick your poison.
I work on these things and what I see ppl spending money on to fix up old crap is ludicrous to me.

Well, I know about tractors and old machines, but not so much about other people & their stresses.

To me a tractor is stress relief - whether I'm working on it or with it, both are good because I am the one who can choose when and how to do the work. Just being in charge of my own time is what works for me.

rScotty

 

[arrow]

Well, I know about tractors and old machines, but not so much about other people & their stresses

rScotty

Nor what they may be experiencing to desire new where making a payment is quite doable.