Life Expectancy

[Anonymous Poster]

Bird,
I have had a bad experience with parts availabilty with a Ford 4000 tractor loader backhoe. I purchased a 1964 TLB in 1974 that was in almost new condition. In 1998 the tractor was still in excellent condition with only about 2000 hours, however, a part in the power steering pump went bad and the dealer informed me that parts availability for those tractors is impossible. The machine was about a 9000 lb machine and when you loaded that bucket with no power steering it was just about impossible to steer. It was really too bad because this machine could of lasted 6000 hrs. At that point, I sold the machine and purchased a new Kubota L35 tractor loader backhoe. With the amount of hours we put on the machine each year this machine could last 40 years. It is unfortunate that the manufacturers do not support their equipment longer, but I quess that they statistically figure most of the machines will be worn-out after so many years, except MINE! There are some tractors that the manufacturers had sold so many units like the Ford 8N or 9N that 3rd party manufacturers tooled up to sell replacement parts. Again, there were many units sold for manufacturers to do this. Actually, there is some Taiwanese companies selling replacement parts for the Ford 8N. I don't think that many Kubota units will ever qualify for 3rd party manufacturing.
Jon

 

[Bird]

Jon, you could very well be right about Kubota replacement parts many years in the future. We just won't know until then. The problem I see is that the same thing may be the case no matter which brand you buy. I know you're right about a lot of manufacturers, and I know how frustrating it can be to have a good piece of equipment and not be able to fix it for lack of a part of two. I faxed an order this past weekend for two small, cheap parts to repair an otherwise good half inch impact wrench, and my supplier called yesterday to tell me those parts are obsolete and no longer available. And in my little repair business, that's not unusual.

Bird

 

[gordon]

Replacement parts are a problem in almost any industry. Cost of inventory in stock versus units sold. I work on buses, Moterhomes and travel trailers and there is no standard to have available replacement parts like the automotive industry has.
Some moterhome parts are still available for a 1974 rig but try to find a part for a 1994 and its not available--go figure--Its all the luck of the draw. My oldest kubota is 15 years old and have had no problems with parts so far.

 

[W5FL]

I try to fix all of my own machinery and after the work I did on my last tractor, I see why third party manufacturers had to tool up. The design was such that every tractor would have that problem. When it said to grease the front end every four hours it should have said or else. My Kubota greases the front end every 100 hours. Tractors have come a long way in the last 20 years. I fully expect my tractor to last for 50 years and to be able to keep it running and maintained.

What you don't want is poor design that will not last. I had parts shipped in from three states to fix my last tractor, but found many tractor junkyards that will have parts for it for the next 40 years. It is not as easy to find parts for the old tractors, but people do it all the time.

I wouldn't be concerned about Kubota being there with parts when you need them. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[tralderman]

Hate to have to disagree with you about Kubota parts availability in the future.

Even though Cub Cadet has changed hands from IH to MTD we can still get a majority of parts for tractors that are over 30 years old. We sell parts for Farmall Cub's that date as far back as 1941.

I feel the same way about Kubota parts. If the dealer is strong and profitable and as long as there is a demand, then Kubota parts availability will continue.

 

[Marcussen]

I hope my kubota is like my 8N was, when it needed repairs the parts could be easily found. But I do know the cost of those repairs are way higher on the Kubota. I don't think I can find someone to rebuild my Kubota engine for under $700. The 8N was 50 years old when I sold it and still working.

 

[canoetrpr]

I think parts availability is one good reason not only to stick with a major brand with good dealer support but to look for the more / most popular models within that brand.

Another good thing Kubota has got going for it is that they tend to use/re-use a lot of the same parts in different models. Even the fenders on the L3400 appear to be the same as the older L2900. Bet its true for all sorts of other parts as well.

A model with less electronics also increases the probability that parts availability will suit you over the long term. Not suggesting that I don't enjoy the comfort that certain electronics offer but 40 years down the road who knows if they will still be making the relay or computer that controls this or that. In a pinch mechanical stuff can always be rebuilt or fixed.

 

[gordon21]

Over the road big diesel truck engines can easily go 500,000 miles. At 50 MPH average, that is 10,000 hours, not counting many hours of idling while stopped. I would assume that a well maintained small tractor diesel would last at least half that long.

The quickest way to kill any engine, gas or diesel, is lack of use. I used to use my boat engines a lot. We lived on the water and it was normal to put 3-8 hours engine time on the boat every week year round. I took the kids waterskiing every Christmas afternoon. A long period of inactivity was 10 days. I never spent a dime on engine repairs in over 10 years.

Other neighbors spent hundreds yearly because they only used the engine 20-30 hours per year and let it sit for weeks or months on end.

Long engine life comes from frequent use and lots of fresh fluids on a regular basis.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I put 200+ hours a year on my B2400. I've put almost 50 hours on the new GL4740 in over 4 months this winter so I'll probably put about 200 hours a year on it too. Both should outlast me. If the tractor you are looking at has been serviced regularly then I would consider 1000 hours as being just broken in. We have an old JD820 at the farm that was bought in 1958, I think, and it still runs and works just fine and there are still parts available for it from the dealership. Diesel tractors, if the are maintained, are almost indestructable .... within reason. You'll see lots of tractors for sale out there with 10,000 hours on them so go for it.

 

[john_bud]

Bird,
I have had a bad experience with parts availabilty with a Ford 4000 tractor loader backhoe. I purchased a 1964 TLB in 1974 that was in almost new condition. In 1998 the tractor was still in excellent condition with only about 2000 hours, however, a part in the power steering pump went bad and the dealer informed me that parts availability for those tractors is impossible. .
Jon

Harumpf ! You were screwed by your dealer as the power steering pump from a 1964 mustang / fairlane would be a bolt on replacement using the original relief valve. Cost about 125 bucks. Someone got a smok'n deal at your expense. Old fords never have to die.


Back to today - keep the air clean with good filters and the engine will go a long long time. Air filtration is about 10-20x more important to longevity than oil brand, type, viscosity or which oil filter you use. The air path is how sand (you know, the stuff in sand paper, grit grime and other abrasive stuff) gets into your combustion chamber and wears away the metal.

With clean air, good oil and proper adjustments you can go 7500 hours pretty easy. The big diesels go more hours as they run at lower rpms. Fewer revolutions for the same number of hours so less wear.