looking for another tractor

[Hay Dude]

On the other hand, I was in the same position with a truck. It was a good truck, probably worth about 12K. Was going to need an engine soon, and much to my own surprise, I bought a new truck instead of fixing my old one. Not like me to do that, but I was really into having no repair bills for a while and the new capacity and creature comforts made me sign the dotted line (it was actually a solid line, but you know what I mean) :laughing:

 

[LouNY]

At 68 I can understand not wanting to do the rebuilding yourself,
I would also go for rebuilding possibly after getting a second now or used tractor.
As far your engine R F Engine Engine and Engine Parts to fit Shibaura(R)
Shibaura N844LT Turbo 2.2L Engine Overhaul Kit | eBay

 

[SenileTexasAggie]

If you really like your tractor, why don't you check with the dealer about the cost of a total rebuild, or replacement of the engine. If that's all that's wrong with it, I'm quite sure it'll be cheaper to replace the engine than the tractor.

As I described in an earlier post, I did contact the dealer, who said that another engine was not available for that tractor. To rebuild the engine, they estimated parts and labor at $10-15K. They also said that if the engine sustained a certain kind of damage (which I don't recall what that was) they would be unable to rebuild the engine, but would only discover that by tearing down the engine. I checked with an independent diesel repair shop and they quoted about the same price.

At 68 I can understand not wanting to do the rebuilding yourself,
I would also go for rebuilding possibly after getting a second now or used tractor.
As far your engine R F Engine Engine and Engine Parts to fit Shibaura(R)
Shibaura N844LT Turbo 2.2L Engine Overhaul Kit | eBay

I was unable to locate the model of Shibaura engine I have, namely N844L (not the Turbo) nor the N844LT. I *did* locate several N843 and N844 engines on machinerytrader.com. All were used and all came out of skid steers. If they were rebuilt with some kind of warranty then I might be interested in buying them, but being used I have no idea what I would be getting. I also don't know if they would fit in the tractor. I suppose I could get the specifications and drawings, but buying a used engine not knowing anything about it makes alarm bells go off in my head.

I test drove a Massey Ferguson 1740M cab tractor yesterday. I liked it a good bit better than the Kubota, and it sold for a lot less and the dealer offered me $5000 for my old tractor. I am wondering if 40 hp will be enough for me, though.

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[Bigfoot62]

$10-15K for a rebuild. Ouch! Sorry I suggested it.

If you don't think the 40 HP is enough, go up a step. I think that if the dealer is generous enough to even offer taking your trade, that should count for something.
Note: the current MF tractors are not the old Massey that we grew up with, but my neighbor bought a new 70 HP a couple years ago and is very happy.

 

[LouNY]

As I described in an earlier post, I did contact the dealer, who said that another engine was not available for that tractor. To rebuild the engine, they estimated parts and labor at $10-15K. They also said that if the engine sustained a certain kind of damage (which I don't recall what that was) they would be unable to rebuild the engine, but would only discover that by tearing down the engine. I checked with an independent diesel repair shop and they quoted about the same price.



I was unable to locate the model of Shibaura engine I have, namely N844L (not the Turbo) nor the N844LT. I *did* locate several N843 and N844 engines on machinerytrader.com. All were used and all came out of skid steers. If they were rebuilt with some kind of warranty then I might be interested in buying them, but being used I have no idea what I would be getting. I also don't know if they would fit in the tractor. I suppose I could get the specifications and drawings, but buying a used engine not knowing anything about it makes alarm bells go off in my head.

I test drove a Massey Ferguson 1740M cab tractor yesterday. I liked it a good bit better than the Kubota, and it sold for a lot less and the dealer offered me $5000 for my old tractor. I am wondering if 40 hp will be enough for me, though.

Senile Texas Aggie

I can understand your qualms certainly.
As far as new price wise value for the money I think you would be hard pressed to beat the Branson's.
I am fairly well pleased with mine they don't offer mine now it's the 8050 with about 80 engine hp and 65 on the pto.
Also getting $5000 trade for a broken tractor is good.
Good luck

 

[paulfun9]

I can understand your qualms certainly.
As far as new price wise value for the money I think you would be hard pressed to beat the Branson's.
I am fairly well pleased with mine they don't offer mine now it's the 8050 with about 80 engine hp and 65 on the pto.
Also getting $5000 trade for a broken tractor is good.
Good luck

Heck the dealer is going to pull the crank and rods have them ground .010 fit new bearings along with rebuilding the rods and sell it at a good profit. I would say being the OP stated he shut it down and it’s not seized you could do the same for about a thousand bucks or less. That trade value means nothing to me at all knowing just how many engines ran out of oil and only took this little amount of work to go on and run for years afterwards.

A good dealer would at the least offer to open it up and clarify what it needs before spending this mans cash on a new tractor or offer up the name of the back road shop they send them too for thier buddies!

 

[airbiscuit]

I get that the OP may not have a readily apparent way to get his tractor rebuilt. If you don't know of any home town tractor mechanics, maybe ask around at the local CENEX, feed or seed/fertilizer store. The regulars there may know someone who does this type of work.

 

[SenileTexasAggie]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[fried1765]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

Even if it goes over that $4500 estimate by $1,000 or so, it is still the correct solution.

 

[LouNY]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

Thats good to hear, of course you still don't have a cab and ac that way
I wouldn't be surprised to see it end up being a bit more,
every time I go into an engine the extras are killers it's well I'm in here now hows the clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, then the pto drive hub and the list just goes on.
I had a shop replace a pto stub shaft one year as I didn't have time to do it myself, that $500 repair ended up at $5000 with the as long as your in that far why don't you go ahead and !!!!!!!!!