Plastic tractors, Oh boy!

[mile9c1]

I'm driving my 425 Deere around with no hood (was plastic). I was at my Uncle's the other day and his 425 has no hood or plastic side panels. We both have original steel rear fenders that look relatively good. So I would say metal wins.

 

[s219]

I'm with LD1 -- pros and cons to both. I don't like the way the plastic bumper/hood on my older Deere cracked, as it left sharp jagged edges with no hope of repair -- had to replace a very expensive part. I dropped a couple logs on my Kubota's steel hood and it was a minor dent that I could have hammered out if I wanted to. But I don't like the way the steel fenders on my Kubota are rusting in a couple spots. Maybe aluminum would be something to try.

 

[whizdbiz2]

I have a 20 year old JD garden tractor that is all plastic and nary a crack, split, ding or fade. I'm sure after 20 years that the plastics are even better. My little Mahindra is plastic where is can be, metal where is has to be. No issues with it either.

Mr. McGuire: I just want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
Mr. McGuire: Plastics.

(The Graduate, 1967)

 

[mile9c1]

I have a 20 year old JD garden tractor that is all plastic and nary a crack, split, ding or fade.

Do you think it would look worse if it were all metal?

I'm sure after 20 years that the plastics are even better.

I hope you're right but I lot of stuff isn't as good as it was 20 years ago.

 

[fried1765]

Do you think it would look worse if it were all metal?




I hope you're right but I lot of stuff isn't as good as it was 20 years ago.

I could have afforded to buy any new plastic tractor, with all the newfangled gadgets, and the exotic re-gen system.
What did I do?
I bought a 1989 Ford 1920 FEL 4x4, and completely refurbished it.
It may be 29 years old, but I honestly would NOT trade it for a new one!
There is hardly a thing on it that I cannot fix myself!

 

[PILOON]

I'm thinking the plastic is a lot cheaper to produce but the prices on these tractors remain the same. The plastic everything on the the JD c.u.t.s is what turned me off totally to replacing my then 28 yr old 750 with one. Those fenders did get dented but it was an easy fix with a dolly, a hammer and some spray paint while the fender remained right on the tractor. Not so with the current Mahindra I have when I had to fix the broken plastic fender shroud that went from red to pink in two years.

.

Cheaper to produce, yes, but not to pass on savings to consumer only to hold down the retail price and or increase the profits for the shareholders.

 

[Oldpath05]

I wonder if anyone here there or anywhere is running tire chains on their John Deere's with plastic fenders, be hard to do on the JD I saw.