Older large tractors

[Hysyde]

Why does it seem 20 - 30 year old (maybe even newer?) big horspower, big sized articulate tractors are so relatively inexpensive?

Is it because they were produced in low volumes and are expensive and difficult to find and replace parts?

Or is it a just a demand thing? That they are just too big and cumbersome for so many out there that the demand is quite low? Usually anybody who needs such a big machine wil own newer more reliable machinery.

 

[Birdman]

I agree it is a demand thing. They are too big for city slickers moving to the country on 5 acres, and too old for the guy who farms for a living. But take something like an 8N and every one with 5 acres has one or is trying to find one. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[dbear]

Yep, demand/popularity has alot to do with it. That's how I ended up with a 1 ton pickup when I was only looking for a heavy half-ton. The one ton was $3k less than any half ton I was considering. More truck for less money; I'd say that's a no brainer!

 

[rlee6]

May I ask what are considered "big old inexpensive" tractors? The word "inexpensive" caught my eyes. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks.

 

[Hysyde]

"Relatively" inexpensive /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. I would say anywhere fom $8000 to $18,000 (Canadian).

When compared to other smaller ag tractors of the same year they seem like a screaming deal.

To me, I would think they aren't a bad idea for the person with a fair of amount land whose using an older 100-140hp tractor already in the field. The size of implements they would be pulling would be much less stressfull on a big machine. Unless of course those big articulates are too expensive to maintain and find parts for.

EDIT -And by big and old I mean any of those 15-20 year old 180hp+ articulate tractors.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Most of them will need a major overhaul which will cost at least $10k and finding parts for most of them is not easy as most of the companies are no longer in business like they use to be. Massey Ferguson, Allis Chalmers, White, Oliver and Minneapolis Moline are part of Agco now which runs the MF line as a AgcoStar tractor. All the rest are dead and gone and parts are hard to find. John Deere has a lot of aftermarket companies making parts so getting parts for a 30 or 40 series JD is not too bad but isn't cheap either. The old Versatiles are gone as Ford bought them and now Buhler owns them so getting parts would be fun. Steiger was bought by Case-IH and is now owned by CNH but if trying finding parts for a old Panther you had better know of some good used parts dealers. For the money you would be better off geting a 150hp late 90's MFWD tractor and having something you could get parts for and count on when planting season comes up.

 

[Hysyde]

Yeah, that's basically what I thought. I wasn't sure about the parts situation. I guess they are a lot more rare then other "older" tractor parts, since in my expereince they aren't hard to find for some of the older machines we've had (allis chamlers, ford, IH).

But I wouldn't say you could get a late 90's 150hp for "the money". You'd have to spend 2x - 3x as much.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

4wd articulated tractors are not as abundant as MFWD tractors. So while you can get parts for a lot of 100 hp tractors fairly easy, you can not get parts as well for the artics because they did not make no where near as many. The one tractor from the 70's that you could probably get parts for the easiest would be the JD and next the Steiger as they used off the shelf parts so almost any Napa should be able to get parts for the Steiger.

You can get a Ford/NH Genesis 8670-8970 for around $45- 50k. They range in the 140-210 pto hp and have a much better cab then the old artics. So if you are farming and need a reliable machine you don't look for a old artic. The collectors have started buying them though. I know of a nice Oliver farm north of here who buy old Olivers and restore them to use on their vegetable farm. They added a nice old Oliver 4wd not too long ago after they restored it. There are a lot of big farms also who collect old tractors and restore them to do small task on their farms but they are not the main tractors on the farm. There is one farm that buys old Steigers and restores them to use on their farm for the main tractors but they are an exception and they are some very smart people. Here is a pic of their favorite tractor

 

[slowzuki]

Around here most of the articulates are 20 000 hour units which need their 2nd rebuild.

 

[Charolais]

We have dealers that pick up used, good looking, high HP tractors out of the flat country of NC. You have to be careful buying tractors from that area. They have a lot of sand and most engines are worn out. They look good but need an engine overhaul. Had a sale last spring at Spaulding Equipment. Had a bunch of 100-150 hp tractors there from that area. None brought over $5,000. Just the labor of pulling one of those cab tractors down will clean out your checking account.