Simple farm tractors are history

[RayIN]

Todays farm tractors are packed with electronics and gadgets.
This is the dash of a Massey Ferguson today:

 

[Hay Dude]

Oh heck yeah. Mine looks a lot like that.

Sensors for everything. Each sensor costs money to replace and might even stop the tractor from running.

Don’t forget the baler monitor and the armrest ISOBUS monitor!

 

[Hay Dude]

You can still buy 35+ year old tractors that are simpler, but they are pretty wore out by now. You’d have to hope you can get parts for them.

 

[RayIN]

My 2002 only has 5 idiot lights, 3 gauges & 551 hrs. It'll last my lifetime. I do have a built-in theft prevention, if I don't hold the PTO lever back the ignition will not work, gotta replace that safety switch some day, but it's low on the important list.

 

[mllud]

My 2002 only has 5 idiot lights, 3 gauges & 551 hrs. It'll last my lifetime. I do have a built-in theft prevention, if I don't hold the PTO lever back the ignition will not work, gotta replace that safety switch some day, but it's low on the important list.

There are some tractors like yours out there in good condition to be bought.

Mine is a 1999 3010 new Holland with 5,775 hours recently bought. It's a plain Jane tractor in function like the 1960's units. A more modern engine with a few more safety interlocks to deal with.
I didn't want all the electronics that need dealers to troubleshoot issues.

What Hay Dude says is pretty much the case that most simple tractors are wore out or getting close. Simple tractors are fading away along with us old farm mechanics.

I like all the new fluff on newer machines but need to do my own repairs. There are still a lot off simple tractors doing work out there.
After about 2005 things got more electronically complicated

 

[mrmikey]

HD, how long did it take to really understand all the lights and the implications of certain ones being on? I would assume that it's something that you worked up to over the years each newer version getting deeper and deeper? I consider myself somewhat mechanically inclined but holy crap, I'd never figure that out.

 

[Hay Dude]

2012 added the most complexity of any one single year.
That’s when exhaust after treatment systems became federally mandated.

I purposely look for pre-2012’s, but even that’s getting on the old side now.
I have one post 2012, but someone broke the complicated part before I bought it.

 

[Hay Dude]

HD, how long did it take to really understand all the lights and the implications of certain ones being on? I would assume that it's something that you worked up to over the years each newer version getting deeper and deeper? I consider myself somewhat mechanically inclined but holy crap, I'd never figure that out.

Think of it as spaghetti wire. Each little light is connected to a sensor. If the sensor gets out of range, the corresponding light on the dash lights up for you, ruining your day

I guess it does have some advantages of warning you of big problems.

 

[loggin]

Think of it as spaghetti wire. Each little light is connected to a sensor. If the sensor gets out of range, the corresponding light on the dash lights up for you, ruining your day

I guess it does have some advantages of warning you of big problems.

I am curious as to how much of the information presented on these screens is actually useful or just gimmickry?

The thought of being stuck due to some useless sensor just irritates me..!! Never mind the cost associated with it!!

 

[mrmikey]

I guess it does have some advantages of warning you of big problems.

Good point. Part that would tick me off is the problems that are caused by add on crap that's either not needed or poorly implemented.

 

[ptsg]

I don't know, I still consider my tractor pretty simple even though it's a new tractor. Well, I call it new but it is already 8 years old. Time does fly.

Hardly any electronics, certainly none that require a dealer to come with a proprietary software of some sort. Basic glow plug controller and flasher unit, a couple switches here and there, relays, fuses, simple stuff.

I suppose the most complicated part is probably the dashboard because it's all a circuit board, with LEDs for the warning lights, electronic hour meter, controller for the tachometer. Not because it has any sorts of computers or anything like that.

The rest of the tractor is straight up mechanic and hydraulic stuff.

 

[ericm979]

It seems like a lot of the added complexity also increases productivity. For example the bale monitor. Yea you could get out and check the bales to see if the tension needs to be turned up or feel the windrows to see if they're dry enough, but you have to stop baling to do that.

There's also a lot more information that modern vehicles can give you. I think it's pretty cool to have tire pressure info on the dashboard.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Mine is NOT a farm tractor, but a mid sized compact. I bought it because it was the simplest and low tech alternative I could find. I'm in IT as many on the forum is. And I want simplicity with mechanical HST, mechanical fuel injection. THe only thing on mine that has an ECM is the one monitoring the Tier 4 DPF. But the engine can run and operate without it just fine when times come to lose some weight.

 

[mllud]

They shouldn't have electronics shut the tractor down for reasons that won't hurt or do damage to anything mechanically. Warning lights are ok but many issues can be dealt with later. There's work to be done. In a blizzard you need your machine.

I read a post here about a simple alternator issue that stopped a newer tractor dead in the field. The poster spoke of his older tractor that would finish the job with a non-functioning alternator. You can run a diesel all day or longer off a battery.
Field work needs to be done when weather permits. There should have to be a real good reason for the tractor to become disabled. I see threads on electronic issues that have even the dealers stumped on a fix for weeks.

I'll bet if they had to supply loaner tractors they would quit putting disgustingly fragile junk switches on safety interlocks.
They could easily design computer control modules that could be easily swapped out for troubleshooting.
Engineers have this make it stupid simple attitude and end up complicating things.

OSHA demands that pto's start and stop rotating instantly. Rip the clutches and drive Trane out. They are idiots. I know about slip clutches in the shaft but they aren't a cure all. Too tight or loose.

I have some fear of newer electronics and maybe should not. I believe as others do that manufacturers want dealers to have complete control. That bad for out of warranty machinery. A still solid machine will cost more to fix than its value. Just in labor costs.
Cars that run great often get junked for labor costs.
It's a wasteful throw away society.
I think I'm on a rant. Sorrry
Sweat is beading up on my forehead.
Its past my bedtime

 

[bmaverick]

You can still buy 35+ year old tractors that are simpler, but they are pretty wore out by now. You’d have to hope you can get parts for them.

Unless you know of Fredricks who restores the vintage Yanmar and Deere machines from the ground up.

40yo machines rebuilt to better than new.

 

[1Mech]

Unless you know of Fredricks who restores the vintage Yanmar and Deere machines from the ground up.

40yo machines rebuilt to better than new.
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What sort of price for one of those fine, restored from the ground up to better than new machines? I imagine the price is better than new also. Maybe still a bargain.

 

[Hay Dude]

Unless you know of Fredricks who restores the vintage Yanmar and Deere machines from the ground up.

40yo machines rebuilt to better than new.
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Neat!

But I’m talking for heavy farming. Like 150-400HP.

We actually have a few paces that do half decent restorations on big stuff, but they want crazy money for them.

 

[johnnies07]

You can still buy 35+ year old tractors that are simpler, but they are pretty wore out by now. You’d have to hope you can get parts for them.

This right here is why we run John Deere at the farm. My newest tractor is a 2004 JD 2210 which is really just my lawn mower. Everything else is late 70's/early 80's 30 and 40 series JD. Never had any issues getting parts and normal, routine maintenance will keep them running for 10,000+ hours.

 

[LouNY]

It's actually fairly simple, buy any older IH 56, 66, or 86 series tractor and have it gone through. Of course when done you will have the cost of a new tractor in it. With none of the bells and whistles that many like.

 

[Hay Dude]

It's actually fairly simple, buy any older IH 56, 66, or 86 series tractor and have it gone through. Of course when done you will have the cost of a new tractor in it. With none of the bells and whistles that many like.

Funny, ain’t it?
It’s like a game of “pick your poison”.

Take for example, a 150+ HP farm tractor.
1. Buy new: Payments that approach the purchase of a home. Repairs covered for a few years. Lots of bells & whistles.
2. Buy 5-15 years old: Smaller payments and some repairs, some bells & whistles.
3. Buy 15+ years old: Even smaller or no payments, but significant repairs possible and few bells & whistles.

I have taken on plan #2. So far, not too bad, but I feel like I have gotten very lucky.