Renze
Elite Member
It seems D7E has no fear for old iron, unlike most contributors to this thread... 
My brother is self employed and part time in the landscaping and ag contracting business. He uses a 1976 Zetor 6718, few years ago we put the cab up 2 inch forward and 2 inch higher, to accomodate 16.9-34 boots. It has done 10.300 hrs and the piston rings are giving up. we will rebuild the motor this winter, cost about 500 euro for parts (you can get them directly from the subcontractors in Slovakia and Czechia while keeping the profits of the parts distribution, importer and dealer, and the bank they pay interest to for the value of what's in their parts warehouse, in your pocket)
This tractor, with jut a little smoke and a bit more than its original 68 hp, is getting used quite well, e.g. pulling 15 ton dumpwagons, 4m3 bottomless scrapers and 2.30 meter heavy duty rotavators.
It isnt used every day, and a MFWD Zetor, lets say a 7745 or 9145, will sell for 7 to 9000 Euro where the 6718 will only sell for 2000.
running older machinery isnt a problem at all, as long as you choose a reliable model, and make sure you service or replace on time. Just spend a few $$$ for preventive replacement and stay ahead of time, and you'll get good service for little cost. The wrenching hours are just a bonus to kill the time on long winter evenings, wrenching to kill the time is soooo relaxing, totally different than wrenching in peak season trying to keep ahead of the spring.
I thought the big sales boom for Versatile was because they could offer tractors made of readily available industrial and truck components, where Deere used expensive limited edition parts, beefed up 2wd production model based parts.
And next to that, the beefy build style of the Steigers and Versatiles is so much different to the 90's mfwd stuff, when most manufacturers only increased turbo pressure to keep in the race.
compaction isnt an issue with a smaller MFWD on 24.5R 32 tires, most MFWD's have a totally different weight distribution and only have this size of tires on the rear axle. The new Fendt 936 has less weight than a Russian Kirovets K701 but the Vets is able to run at lower tire pressure because it has 4 big 30,5x32 tires instead of 2 big ones and 2 medium ones...
Those 360 hp Fendts dont stay anywhere near an older artic in the field. They are only usefull when used as a power pack for a forest mulcher or stump grinder.
My brother is self employed and part time in the landscaping and ag contracting business. He uses a 1976 Zetor 6718, few years ago we put the cab up 2 inch forward and 2 inch higher, to accomodate 16.9-34 boots. It has done 10.300 hrs and the piston rings are giving up. we will rebuild the motor this winter, cost about 500 euro for parts (you can get them directly from the subcontractors in Slovakia and Czechia while keeping the profits of the parts distribution, importer and dealer, and the bank they pay interest to for the value of what's in their parts warehouse, in your pocket)
This tractor, with jut a little smoke and a bit more than its original 68 hp, is getting used quite well, e.g. pulling 15 ton dumpwagons, 4m3 bottomless scrapers and 2.30 meter heavy duty rotavators.
It isnt used every day, and a MFWD Zetor, lets say a 7745 or 9145, will sell for 7 to 9000 Euro where the 6718 will only sell for 2000.
running older machinery isnt a problem at all, as long as you choose a reliable model, and make sure you service or replace on time. Just spend a few $$$ for preventive replacement and stay ahead of time, and you'll get good service for little cost. The wrenching hours are just a bonus to kill the time on long winter evenings, wrenching to kill the time is soooo relaxing, totally different than wrenching in peak season trying to keep ahead of the spring.
I thought the big sales boom for Versatile was because they could offer tractors made of readily available industrial and truck components, where Deere used expensive limited edition parts, beefed up 2wd production model based parts.
And next to that, the beefy build style of the Steigers and Versatiles is so much different to the 90's mfwd stuff, when most manufacturers only increased turbo pressure to keep in the race.
compaction isnt an issue with a smaller MFWD on 24.5R 32 tires, most MFWD's have a totally different weight distribution and only have this size of tires on the rear axle. The new Fendt 936 has less weight than a Russian Kirovets K701 but the Vets is able to run at lower tire pressure because it has 4 big 30,5x32 tires instead of 2 big ones and 2 medium ones...
Those 360 hp Fendts dont stay anywhere near an older artic in the field. They are only usefull when used as a power pack for a forest mulcher or stump grinder.
