New (used) AGCO Challenger Farm Tractor

[edinottawa]

Last year, I brought an older, small Kubota from Kansas to Southern Ontario; tractors are going back and forth all the time Had been looking for that exact model for some time. Got a customs broker to do the paperwork-took little effort on my part. They worked with the trucking co. and Canadian Customs to make the crossing without any issue. I selected the trucking co. after getting a few quotes. And yes the tractor had to be CLEAN! The dealer pressure-washed the tractor before loading it onto the transporter.

By the time I had it in my yard, it was less than the cost I would have paid here for same tractor if I could have found one.

The dollar exchange rate is a definite advantage for you folks in the US when making a large dollar purchase. That should make up for any PITA paperwork...

Fendt is big in these parts, possibly because one of, if not the major Fendt dealer in Canada is less than an hour from here.

Pick your support dealer, then buy that make of tractor if it fits your needs. I'd love to own an older Volvo again, but the nearest specialist is 90 minutes from me and the nearest Volvo dealer is further than that.

For the same reason, I'd only buy Massey or Kubota; have two Massey and two Kubota dealers, all are within 60 minutes drive or less.

 

[JWR]

Not many on here with more then 60 HP in any brand and very few with 100 HP+

About 5 years ago I started a thread inquiring as to why there never seem to be participants with "larger" tractors. It was started 5 January 2017 and there were 74 posts or opinions expressed. Title was

"Why do the LARGER TRACTOR owners not participate here ?" Note that at one time TBN was described as being for "compact tractors." Then as they grew (and became the world's largest tractor discussion forum) that was dropped. For what it is worth here are some observations: ​

1. That's OK but don't the people who spent (what to many of us is one heck of a lot of money) on 60 to 110 or more HP tractors ever have issues, problems, questions, tales to tell, things to brag about, monsters conquered, and bull to shoot ?
2. Maybe the 'larger' machine operators tend to have hired mechanics, are larger businesses and do not tend to get into the 'hobby' mode of discussion?
3. Without official stats to prove it, there are probably 10 to 15 times as many tractors under 80 hp in the USA than there are ones over 80 hp. Simply those numbers have a big effect on how many are vocal and want to talk.
4. One guy said "Obviously there are exceptions but that's what I see for the most part. some of the threads make it obvious that many have never been off city water, or dealt with coyotes, or septic systems."
5. Another said "After a hot dusty day putting up 800 small bales, the last thing on one's mind would be logging into a forum to help someone find their hydraulic filter or discuss cold-weather starting a 3 cylinder diesel. "
6. "I don't imagine too many "real" farmers have the time or the resources to repair the behemoth equipment needed to run a profitable farming operation these days."
7. LD1 said: As far as the mechanical side of things, I don't know too many large scale (500+ acre) farmers that are doing their own wrenching.
8. "My very good friend is a huge farmer, row crops over 25K acres a year. His "compact" tractor is a 7*** JD with cab and FEL. He doesn't own a tractor without a cab. Him and I never have discussions comparable to those here. His World is just not comparable."
9. "I wish we had some bigger tractor guys on here. I'd love to see a tractors and wood with a big Steiger dragging logs. I bet you could do some serious pulling with one of those."
10. No more excerpts from 2017 but I'll end with this. Below was January 2017. As I said things changed as they grew:

 

[edinottawa]

Look at it from a financial viewpoint: For those large operations, repairs are a business expense and a necessary deduction to offset profits and thus the reduce the final tax bill. Hiring a mobile mechanic, hiring an on-site mechanic(s), or leaving the job to the dealer are creating write-offs in the P&L statement. The large farmers (of course I mean in acres farmed-not the other meaning) don't have the time in the day to be wrenching. All of them are actively farming, and nowadays some of that time is spent programming the computer applications that help them manage their operations and field activity. If they are big enough, they might also have a part-time/full-time person doing the IT work. Thus, #8 from the list is closest to the mark.

 

[charles todd]

I had a 6L Perkins in my McCormick.

Heres the data on the MT535B

TractorData.com Challenger MT535B tractor information

www.tractordata.com

Note the actual test of the actual PTO HP

10 hp more on the shaft than gross power?

Under rated at 135 hp?

Test was an error?

CT

 

[Torvy]

I guess y'all know different large scale farmers than me. Most of my cousins and people I knew growing up in SD had what can only be described as large operations. 640+ acres. Those who don't or cannot do their own wrenching went out of business. Even in the cold up north there are plenty of tractors without cabs. A pair of heavy coveralls are a lot cheaper. Sure, they probably have some of both. There are millions of dollars in land, cattle and equipment...but little cash or 'income'. Not much need for tax deductions like paying to wrench. Paid hired hands, yes. Professional wrenching is mostly the warranty type.

 

[Hay Dude]

10 hp more on the shaft than gross power?

Under rated at 135 hp?

Test was an error?

CT

I have found that a lot of the AGCO and Case-IH are “underrated” on their power claims. It also seems like when you buy a tractor that has a fairly large displacement engine and it’s turned down in power, as is with this tractor (6.6L rated at only 135HP) it tends to make more power than claimed.
A CAT 6.6L can make as much as 200HP+, so it’s turned down to making considerably less power than it’s capable of.

I never cared for buying a tractor that had an engine turned up to its’ max power output.

 

[crashz]

Hay Dude - Nice rig!

I think Hay Dude is a perfect guy to actually answer the question of why "big" farmers aren't on TBN. I've watched Hay Dude (and a few others) defend how and why he completes projects to a bunch of opinionated arm-chair contractors/farmers. Who wants to work all day and log-on for that? Some guy in another part of the country griping that you did something wrong or his way would be much better/cheaper/efficient. When it's your hobby, the chatter is tolerable, understandable and helpful (sometimes). But not when it's your profession.

 

[Fxfymn413]

But, there are very few farm or even farm related posters on here.

That's because they are too damn busy trying to make a living with their machines. I'm sure there are AG specific forums where machine repair, performance, etc. are discussed along with the many other things a farmer must deal with to stay above water. Look up "right to repair" for example.

It's kind of hard for someone who is farming several hundred, or more, acres to relate to someone who has a family garden or a few cattle or horses like a lot of us here.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I never cared for buying a tractor that had an engine turned up to its’ max power output.

Not tractor related, but your comment reminds me of why I loved the old Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car triplets from Ford. The 5.0 and 4.6 V8's that went in those put out substantially less power than they were capable of. My '86 Crown Victoria put out 160 when it was new, and the '08 Town Car was under 250 if I remember correct. They were never fast, but they were excellent highway cruisers and the drivetrain was bulletproof. I can't figure it being any different in these large diesels, why wouldn't they last longer when they're running at a figuratively relaxed pace. Rust ought to kill them before the engine actually goes.

 

[HayFarmer]

Sold one of the smaller Kubotas (M135X) a few weeks ago.
Have a Challenger MT535B with a Quicke Q66 loader coming in to replace it in a week or 2. Pretty much the same as a MF7475 with a Caterpillar diesel instead of a Sisu diesel.
Key reasons for the change are: CVT transmission, 35% more weight, stronger loader, road speed (32MPH) and larger tires.
It also has a nicer cab, hydraulic global quick attach on loader, stronger AC, steerable front fenders, electronic loader joystick and more.
Its got more PTO and drawbar HP than the Kubota, too.
I am importing it from a dealer in Canada. It was a huge PITA to complete the import documents, but will save quite a bit over anything I could find in the US.

Now to see what she will do. I need to be able to move large squares around with more stability than the Kubotas can offer. Still have the M126X for bush hogging and of course any other raking, teddering, etc.

Couple pics.

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I'd love to have a tractor that does 32mph, but I'd have to have a license plate on it around here. If we go over 25, must be licensed.