Risk of buying a Century tractor

[chevymanar]

Hey folks I am in the market for a tractor and came across a Century from a local person but I am very leery to purchase a tractor that is no longer made. I realize Branson took over the Century line (or something like that) and at the moment parts for a Century can be purchased at a Branson dealer.

Most people I talked to aren’t that familiar with the brand and have swayed me away from buying this tractor, but I feel like it is a good deal.

What are yalls thoughts of being able to find parts for this tractor in years to come? Say 15-20 years down the road?

The model is a Century 2535.

 

[jeff9366]

TYM recently purchased Branson.

How long will TYM maintain Century parts?

I trust you are good at working on equipment, including hydraulic systems.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a 2003 Century 2535 and it's been a good tractor, but parts can be difficult to get. Branson has all the parts, but most of the time I buy something after market to replace what's not working. My fuel pump is a diesel Mr Gasket, my filters all come from Amazon or Napa. Hoses are all built by a company in town. The most major issue that I've had with it so far is the wiring. It's a nightmare, but the same as any other brand. I finally gave up on it, tore it all out, and redid it. After a year of issues, it's nice to be able to start it every time I want to use it without spending hours or days looking for the problem.

Branson Tractor Parts | TYM Parts Dealers

Big Reds is a good online source for parts. If you have the original plastic power steering reservoir, you'll need to get the metal one to replace it when it starts to leak from Big Reds.

 

[Deere Dude]

Hey folks I am in the market for a tractor and came across a Century from a local person but I am very leery to purchase a tractor that is no longer made. I realize Branson took over the Century line (or something like that) and at the moment parts for a Century can be purchased at a Branson dealer.

Most people I talked to aren稚 that familiar with the brand and have swayed me away from buying this tractor, but I feel like it is a good deal.

What are yalls thoughts of being able to find parts for this tractor in years to come? Say 15-20 years down the road?

The model is a Century 2535.

I wouldn't touch it. It is a good deal until it is a 3000# paper weight because some critical part is broke and you can't fix it. I would hold out for a name brand tractor that has been in business and will stay in business.

 

[chevymanar]

Thanks for the responses! Y’all have verified what my buddies told me also so I’ll stay away from this one!

 

[Cougsfan]

Wow, Everybody is so conservative! I owned a grey market Yanmar for around 15 years. I was told by friends before I bought it that I was crazy to buy it because I wouldn't be able to get parts. Well, it was a fantastic little tractor, and it didn't need many parts but I could always find what I needed (if not locally, fairly easily on the internet). A neighbor bought it from me. It is probably close to about 30 years old with 2,000 hrs and still running strong. He loves it too.

I have seen quite a few old Kubotas that are 3000 lb paperweights. Not because you can't get parts, but because they cost more to fix than they are worth. (Not a knock on Kubota, but it could happen to any tractor)

 

[airbiscuit]

"You pays your money and you takes your chances," It's all about tolerance for risk and possible value. If the price for a grey market tractor or an orphan tractor is ridiculously cheap, then maybe okay to pull the trigger. If the price is only slightly less than current brands, then run away. That grey area (pun intended) is the tough part.

My first CUT was a grey market Shibaura SD1500AO. It was great for making trails and running a 4' rotary cutter through thick brush. I bought it for $2,500, used it for 3 years, and sold it for $2,500. Not too much of a risk for $2,500 (it was in excellent condition), and I figured I could buy NAPA filters and ford parts for it if I needed to (Didn't need any!).

The low price allowed me to go from 0 to 1 CUT tractor. However, as I continued to upgrade, the higher price made me less willing to take that kind of risk.

BTW 1 - I think grey market tractors (Kubota, Yanmar, Shibaura, Iseiki) are less risk than orphans (Farmtrac, Century, Montana, Scorpion)

BTW 2 - I think 5-10 years in the future, either Branson or TYM will be an orphan (both won't be independent brands).

BTW3 - Both Jeff9366 and EddieWaker give good advice

 

[Gale Hawkins]

22 CENTURY 2535 For Sale In Idabel, Oklahoma | TractorHouse.com

I can see what this low hour 2535 sold for last year they would be tempting.

 

[52wej]

I am a 2004 Century 2535 owner who has had very good luck with my tractor. Over 1100 hours now. It is true that the dealer network in my part of the country is weak, but it seems much stronger in the western part of the country and Texas. I still am able to order basic OEM maintenance parts from dealers by phone. No major repairs yet, but I know that there will be a clutch repair job sometime in the future as I have done a LOT of loader work with mine. But that is no fault of the tractor. The quality of the build on mine is superb, very heavy and solid. The C-50 loader that came with it is heavy and will lift a surprising amount, more than the front tires will support. Glow plugs, a fuel pump, and the power steering fluid tank are the only items I have replaced. I am still on the original battery after 14 years which has been a pleasant surprise. Would I buy another one? That will depend on the strength and proximity of a dealership (<100 miles). And the lack of lasting dealerships has been the real weakness of the line. But as for quality, if you want a simple durable machine I can easily recommend it. I have used most major brands extensively on a farm for almost 60 years and this is as durable as the old iron in my view. W Jones

 

[TractorNH]

BTW 2 - I think 5-10 years in the future, either Branson or TYM will be an orphan (both won't be independent brands).

TYM has been building tractors for 60 years and while they've built many tractors for other brands, I doubt TYM will be bought up. They also build part of the Mahindra line of tractors. Whether TYM really gains ground as a brand in the US on their own is questionable (though possible). They just don't have a strong dealer network at least in the northeast.

 

[Thomas]

If you have doubts "very leery" go w/your gut feelings.

 

[jeff9366]

TYM has been building tractors for 60 years and while they've built many tractors for other brands, I doubt TYM will be bought up. They also build part of the Mahindra line of tractors. Whether TYM really gains ground as a brand in the US on their own is questionable (though possible). They just don't have a strong dealer network at least in the northeast.

With the acquisition of Branson, TYM should be closer to critical dealer mass in the US, if the Branson acquisition is handled well, so most of the former Branson dealers convert to TYM.

Even if TYM/Branson remains, how long will TYM choose to continue supplying low volume parts with Century part numbers? The test will be the next recession when unemployment is 10% rather than 4% and everyone needs to prune costs.

I find it interesting that the new Rural King (branded) tractors are TYM with YANMAR, not TYM, engines. What message does that send?

Producing private label product for others does little to build a solid brand franchise. Private label is usually sold with minimal profit to the supplier, who may indirectly profit from improved scale in manufacturing.

The last USA tractor market share numbers posted here showed Kubota with 46% market share and Deere with 19% market share. There are a formidable number of players clawing for the remaining 35% market share.


I do not have a 'side' in the thread. Just an experienced marketing guy looking at a situation seen many, many times before with consumer products. I am not buying stock in TYM.


LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...defunct-tractor-manufacturers.html?highlight=

 

[majorwager]

Jeffy

Can you explain your percentage numbers? What is the source? Overall Deere market share of tractors is much greater than Kubota? As for the engines in TYM, you demonstrate a lack of knowledge in TYM engine history. Many of their tractors contained Perkins engines in years past. Since you are obviously unaware, Yanmar has excelled at Tier 4 engine production using the DPF solution. Deere uses Yanmar engines in many of their products. So is deere about to wither away as well.? Your unfounded, unsupported speculations are damaging to members unfamiliar w/ the facts. You recently stated you are less than 21 years old. Then you stated that you graduated from HS in 1965. Very difficult to take anything you say very seriously!!

And as noted, the quaint Latin phrases are a disconnect w/ this audience. Tractor knowledge, not google produced medieval language lessons is/are the key to TBN thread responses.

 

[Bransonbuilder]

I am amazed on how informed a lot peope are .The Century tractor brand is just a name i can tell you that here at Branson Tractor we are going strong i can also tell you that our 3510 is the exact same tractor only difference is the stickers with ecxepitions to the loaders and backhoes the tractor is identical to Branson

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I am amazed on how informed a lot peope are .The Century tractor brand is just a name i can tell you that here at Branson Tractor we are going strong i can also tell you that our 3510 is the exact same tractor only difference is the stickers with ecxepitions to the loaders and backhoes the tractor is identical to Branson

Branson Tractors - Home

Now you have rained on the rumor mill party.

 

[Cougsfan]

I am amazed at how much people fret over "is the brand name of my tractor going to be around for the next XX years". There is no brand that has been around for 50 years except John Deere that hasn't gone through acquisitions, take-overs, mergers, name changes, re-branding, etc. It is a constantly changing environment.

So if you are worried about your tractor being supported by your local dealer for the next 50 years, buy a John Deere (which are pretty inferior tractors in the compact tractor market), and don't bet they will carry parts for your tractor 20 years down the road from now.

Tractors are pretty dang reliable. They don't need a lot of parts. I have owned various tractors over the last 40 years and have never bought parts or got my tractors serviced or repaired from the tractor manufacturer's dealer. The few times I have needed service, I have taken them to a small independent repair shop, which in my opinion, runs circles cost wise and quality wise around any dealer's service department. If he is a good independent dealer you will be amazed at how adept they are at finding what you need to fix almost any old tractor.

My brother in law owns a couple old, dead named tractors (Oliver, White). He doesn't use them much but they still run fine, and has little problems getting whatever he needs to keep them running. I have owned an old Ferguson TO35 (probably 1955 vintage) for the last 40 years. 5 years ago I had no problem getting everything needed for a complete restoration and engine overhaul. I never set foot in a MF dealer to get anything either. I ended up needing a new engine block, and I sourced it from a tractor recycling yard 1,000 miles away. If something like the starter goes out, I take it to a starter repair shop and they'll fix it. If the fuel pump ever goes out, I'll install an electric fuel pump.

I ran a grey market Yanmar for 15 years (my neighbor is still using it). An American Yanmar Dealer would turn there nose up and wouldn't help at all if I ever needed parts. but it has never needed anything other than air and oil filters (NAPA has them). I broke a FEL hydraulic line once. A local hydraulic shop made a new one. If it does ever need parts, that's ok, because it is no problem to find the few parts one might need online. A 100% engine overhaul may be tough, but it would cost more than the tractor is worth (which is true for most any compact tractor)

I have seen Belarus tractors set around and rust away because they supposedly can't get parts. Do an online search and see how many sources there are. (that doesn't change the fact they are sort of a crappy tractor not always worth fixing)

I would have zero reservations about buying a 15-20 year old Century tractor if it were in good shape. Getting parts wouldn't scare me at all. Having a dealer and a current brand name are security blankets that don't mean nearly as much as people think they do, unless you the kind of guy who is unable to change the oil without running to the dealer.

If the Branson Brand were to be uprooted and buried by TYM, that wouldn't be a cause for me to sell my Branson either. It is all just part of what happens in the tractor industry.

 

[DK35vince]

I find it interesting that the new Rural King (branded) tractors are TYM with YANMAR, not TYM, engines. What message does that send?

That tells me Yanmar likely passed the teir IV or something similar so they went that route. Nothing more.
You see engine brand changes in commercial equipment all the time.

 

[scatterlandsfarms]

I am amazed on how informed a lot peope are .The Century tractor brand is just a name i can tell you that here at Branson Tractor we are going strong i can also tell you that our 3510 is the exact same tractor only difference is the stickers with ecxepitions to the loaders and backhoes the tractor is identical to Branson

tks we love our Branson

 

[Groo]

TYM recently purchased Branson.

How long will TYM maintain Century parts?

I trust you are good at working on equipment, including hydraulic systems.

as long as they are legally required to at least, maybe 7 years?