Tractor lots are full

[2manyrocks]

I've followed Yanmar since a friend sold his wheat farm to buy a Yanmar dealership back about 1980. They were top of the line in quality and dealership backing - and were priced with - or even above - the most expensive tractors on the market.... those being JDs of course. Kubota hadn't yet made the move to quality at that time. 40 years later those old Yanmars are doing fine and enjoy a cult following. They still don't need much.

All tractors have axle seals - those seals all have similar lubrication and nothing the operator can do is going to abuse an axle seal enough to make it leak. The only difference is in the initial quality. And there the difference is huge. Better seals cost more to the manufacturerand ultimately to the consumer.
But a good quality axle seal is good for half a century or more....easy.,

My takeaway is the same as any tool. Quality costs more. Buy the best one you can find and expect it to last a lifetime.

rScotty

I'm not an engineer, but I was wondering today if the durability of the seals was in the manufacturing of the seal or had something to do with the machining tolerances of the metal parts. I could see a manufacturer incurring more costs of manufacturing if they machine parts to close tolerances and seals lasting longer in their units than in units where a manufacturer has looser machining tolerances and expect the seal to make up the gap. That might work initially, but over time the seal is going to leak even if the seal itself is the same quality in both cases.

Or it could be that they skimp on quality on the seals, too.

To me, this is a problem for tractor buyers. You can compare HP, weight, loader capacity, etc., but it's a lot harder for a tractor buyer to make an informed assessment of the quality that goes into the manufacturing of the tractor. Things may work fine during the warranty period, but when parts start breaking after the warranty expires and all the repair costs are on the customer, that is where the cheaper up front cost flip flops and becomes a liability later.

And for the member from Alabama saying he's about to give up, one additional observation. I used to live 30 minutes from the dealer that sold me this Mahindra. I'd dealt with the dealer for years and the service was excellent. I moved about an hour and half drive away. Things continued to go well with the dealer by phone. But as time went by, things at the dealership apparently changed. There's enough of a drive involved that it's not a simple matter to hop in the car and go check out what is happening in person anymore. So for the member looking for a tractor, my recommendation is to try to find a local dealer that is convenient to you to visit in person when you need parts or service. I also think its better to choose a brand that has multiple dealers in your area because it gives you more options for service if something changes for the worse at your local dealership. If you buy a brand that only has three or four dealers in your entire state, your options for service are limited.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Are you kidding me!? I would not pay that much to _ her.

I mean, if I had the disposable income...

 

[rScotty]

I'm not an engineer, but I was wondering today if the durability of the seals was in the manufacturing of the seal or had something to do with the machining tolerances of the metal parts. I could see a manufacturer incurring more costs of manufacturing if they machine parts to close tolerances and seals lasting longer in their units than in units where a manufacturer has looser machining tolerances and expect the seal to make up the gap. That might work initially, but over time the seal is going to leak even if the seal itself is the same quality in both cases.

Or it could be that they skimp on quality on the seals, too.

To me, this is a problem for tractor buyers. You can compare HP, weight, loader capacity, etc., but it's a lot harder for a tractor buyer to make an informed assessment of the quality that goes into the manufacturing of the tractor. Things may work fine during the warranty period, but when parts start breaking after the warranty expires and all the repair costs are on the customer, that is where the cheaper up front cost flip flops and becomes a liability later.

And for the member from Alabama saying he's about to give up, one additional observation. I used to live 30 minutes from the dealer that sold me this Mahindra. I'd dealt with the dealer for years and the service was excellent. I moved about an hour and half drive away. Things continued to go well with the dealer by phone. But as time went by, things at the dealership apparently changed. There's enough of a drive involved that it's not a simple matter to hop in the car and go check out what is happening in person anymore. So for the member looking for a tractor, my recommendation is to try to find a local dealer that is convenient to you to visit in person when you need parts or service. I also think its better to choose a brand that has multiple dealers in your area because it gives you more options for service if something changes for the worse at your local dealership. If you buy a brand that only has three or four dealers in your entire state, your options for service are limited.

All good points. The design engineer might know, but we don't. For us consumers it has become just about impossible to judge quality except in retrospect. So we use history maybe more than we should.

Today we know which old machines were expensive because the quality made them so.
With that in mind, see if the following makes sense:

We know that being expensive doesn't mean something is made well, so high price is no assurance of quality. But along with that we are also aware quality construction & parts do make things cost more.

So even though a high price doesn't guarantee quality, a low price can indicate the opposite.

I wish it weren't so.....
rScotty

 

[Yander]

A month or two ago I could go onto FB marketplace and count at least 4 or 5 good deals on tractors. Now I go out there and see maybe 1. The used market is still pretty good. I think spring has people buying tractors. I wonder if that will translate over to the new market as well?

 

[AndyMA]

The 2 major tractors in my area have full lots. They both tell me sales are good

Andy

 

[Yander]

Now I'm starting to see something I don't remember noticing before. Maybe it was happening and I didn't notice. Guys are offering up their tractors and implements for rent. I found about 5 of those today while perusing tractors, which I do often.

Anyone else notice this? Guys needing money but not wanting to sell their tractor yet?

 

[2manyrocks]

Haven't seen it, but that seems like a great way to get a tractor torn up.

 

[Yander]

Yeah, thought that too. There is also the liability concern for if a bonehead got themselves hurt and you didn't tell them ........

 

[2manyrocks]

Or they pretend to be renters and drive off into the sunset with the tractor

 

[Jeffory]

Tangentially -

HDFS' operating income decline of $28 million in the first quarter, or down 32 percent, was driven by higher interest expense and higher credit losses. The increase in credit losses was driven by several factors relating to the current macro environment.

Harley-Davidson Delivers First Quarter Financial Results

/PRNewswire/ -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. ("Harley-Davidson," "HDI," or the "Company"), (NYSE: HOG) today reported first quarter 2023 results. "Harley-Davidson...

www.prnewswire.com

There are not enough people to repossess all the motorcycles.

That was the message from Harley-Davidson Inc., which said Thursday its credit losses in the first quarter were due in part to a shortage of repossession agents.

The repossession industry is seeing an uptick in demand as more Americans struggle to afford their car payments. And companies that specialize in seizing vehicles are having trouble hiring enough agents, after many decamped for other jobs during the pandemic when business largely dried up due to stimulus measures.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?