Tractor hour rating

[diesel85]

Hours is a questionable debate for usage of a machine... heck mileage on a vehicle is just as useless.

For example:

I got a 2007 Jeep Compass I bought new with 3 miles on it. It's now got about 153,000 miles on it. I am able to access the engine run time. Last time I checked, which was about a month ago, it was right around 6,500 hours. Do the math: 153,000 miles / 6500 hours = 23.5 average mph. Which makes sense, with all the idle time, and city driving I do.

In relation, if you do what Fallon is saying (50 mph), so 300,000 miles / 50 mph = 6,000 hours.

So in reality, if my Jeep was used primarily for highway driving, it would have a little over 300,000 miles using Fallon's 50 mph analogy.

Another example, we got a 2006 Chevy 3500 Duramax at work. We use it for plowing and moving stuff around the facility. It's got 40,000 miles on it, at it's got a little over 12,000 hours on it. So if you do the math, 12,000 hours X 50 mph = 600,000 miles.

So as you can see, yeah, that Chevy truck only has 40K miles on it, but VERY hard miles on it.

As you can see, miles and hours are just guidelines.

People who buy used Police Interceptor Crown Vics do this all the time. Low mileage and low hours are key -- but even then, you never know.

In reality, there is no way to tell how someone treated a vehicle/tractor if it looks nice and shiny on the outside and it *appears* to run OK. Even buying new, it's a crap shoot. One day you could start it up at 50 hours and it blows up.

 

[MHarryE]

Like Diesel85 says, used machinery depends on previous user, especially in this size equipment. Some maintain much more frequent than needed and run lightly. Odds are they will be an excellent deal. Others use to the limits. Example I have is an updated model with final drive costing 50% less than it’s predecessor. My responsibility was to validate. Test plan, test operators, proving grounds. At 450 hours first final failed - should have lasted 5,000 hours minimum. Ask engineering what parameters they gave supplier. Since hydrostatic, had engineering intern instrument machine and drive around, gave pressure histogram to supplier. Red flags, intern, no guidance, run on his own. I have a machine instrumented, operate myself driving like I’ve seen high end operators drive on job sites. Give my histogram to supplier who responds OMG - drive was lucky to last 50 hours. Conclusion - different drivers meant 100 times difference in life.

Lower end equipment is more prone to this problem. I took my largest tractor out yesterday. First, needed to warm until transmission would engage. Cold oil limit in software. Next I road 4 miles to nephew’s farm to pick up machine we share. Full speed says 12 mph at start, increasing to 18 by the time I arrive. All controlled by sensors to limit transmission strain. Hook to equipment, drive to sister’s house and have coffee. Leaving speed is now 31 mph as computer says everything is now meeting demand for full power. Computer is programmed to not allow abuse of major systems.

 

[arto98607]

................................... Computer is programmed to not allow abuse of major systems.

No computer - one good reason to have and maintain older equipment.
Yes I understand a farmer is not likely going to mess with 35 - 40 year old tractors with no hydro-static transmission etc., but they suit small acreage owner just fine.

 

[Fallon]

No computer - one good reason to have and maintain older equipment.
Yes I understand a farmer is not likely going to mess with 35 - 40 year old tractors with no hydro-static transmission etc., but they suit small acreage owner just fine.

Farmers dont use HSTs. They arent efficient enough on any reasonably sized acreage. The 15% efficiency penalty over a geared (power shift, GST, whatever) tranny is just to expensive on the fuel bill. It's worth it when manuverability & control is king, like in the SCUT & CUT markets though.

 

[arto98607]

Sorry OP, not trying to hijack your thread.


Sure no problem, however what they use has even more high tech and electronics.

My point was just for non-farmer to justify maintaining older tractors with no computers.

e23 powershift as an example.