Why do CUT owners/buyers have low expectations?

[crazyal]

So I'm curious, where are all of these newer CUTs that have 5000 hours on them and no longer run? By the way some people talk I would think that all of the CUTs sold in the 80s and 90s should be in salvage yards somewhere with 5000 hours on them.

My neighbor has an old Yanmar. The hour meter broke somewhere north of 10,000 hours. It's currently in need of an engine rebuild but it also wasn't maintained very well.

So what is "old iron"? What year is the cut off? I can remember the late 70s being a low point in car quality. Outboards of that era weren't much to brag about either. I can remember neighbors being amazed that my father's 77 Toyota had over 180k miles on it and still ran great. Like it was assumed that if you got to 100k on a car you pretty much used it's entire life up. Cars made today hit 100k and are tight.

How many of these great "old iron" tractors were sold? How many didn't hit the 20k hour mark, how many didn't hit 10k hours? How many just got parked or sold for scrap after only 5k or 7k hours? What is the ratio? How many 70s and 80s Kubotas are still going strong? Is the ratio really that different?

 

[mwb]

I don't think comparing old iron to newer CUTs is a fair comparision. I sold my 'old iron' Ford 2000 1974 diesel for my current tractor and they are completely different machines. The Ford was an excellent tractor but (in the context of CUT owners) it was generally useless to me. No remote hydraulics, loader, diff lock, etc. I sold it three years ago with almost 1400 hours on it - that's about 45 hours per year. My new tractor already has 270hours on it at a rate closer to 100 hours per year. It has saved my back for sure.

The old tractors (in general) were simple ag machines and not really useful for what the majority of CUT owners want them for. Comparing a drawbar tractor to a modern, accessorized machine is probably not fair. Old iron simply had a lot less to break and was a lot less useful.

I love old iron and I am not knocking them. CUT tractors are a big business today because they are like that multi-tool pliers thing - they can perform multiple tasks quickly, comfortably, efficiently and safely. This versatility has to come at a cost, and that cost is a higher risk of something failing. (This is not an excuse to make junk).

 

[kday64]

I'm with the all sorts of screwed up. I drive a 2003 F-150 with 135,000 miles on it. She s at unattended for 3 overseas deployment and been involved in 3 car accidents, two head on and one T-bone. I expect her to last for 500,000 miles. The only problem I have had with my truck Is the rear differential went out the 1000 miles. That is mostly my fault Because I towed another pick up truck for 900 miles without properly breaking in the engine and tranny.

I have owned my BX2360 for just over 2 months now. I expect to passdown my little BX To my kids someday. Whether it has 50,000 hours or 10,000 hours when i pass (60 years from now god willing) my kids will understand why it is important to invest in quality equipment.

I base this on past experience. My father owned a landscaping company back in the 70s and early 80. He serviced the old Frito Lay complexes in and around Detroit MI. He always stressed the importance of taking care of all equipment. "Maintenance and effort today will prevent most emergencies tomorrow." He would say.

~Kevin

 

[bp fick]

I don't think comparing old iron to newer CUTs is a fair comparision. I sold my 'old iron' Ford 2000 1974 diesel for my current tractor and they are completely different machines. The Ford was an excellent tractor but (in the context of CUT owners) it was generally useless to me. No remote hydraulics, loader, diff lock, etc. I sold it three years ago with almost 1400 hours on it - that's about 45 hours per year. My new tractor already has 270hours on it at a rate closer to 100 hours per year. It has saved my back for sure.

The old tractors (in general) were simple ag machines and not really useful for what the majority of CUT owners want them for. Comparing a drawbar tractor to a modern, accessorized machine is probably not fair. Old iron simply had a lot less to break and was a lot less useful.

I love old iron and I am not knocking them. CUT tractors are a big business today because they are like that multi-tool pliers thing - they can perform multiple tasks quickly, comfortably, efficiently and safely. This versatility has to come at a cost, and that cost is a higher risk of something failing. (This is not an excuse to make junk).

That said it better than most!!! Very, very good writing.

 

[wny770]

Old iron simply had a lot less to break and was a lot less useful.


WOW.... Seriously??? That "Old iron" fed this country. People spent countless 12+ hour days on those tractors to feed people that don't have a clue. Less useful? Maybe for carrying mulch, or "prettying up a yard", but plowing or cultivating a few hundred acres to feed America.... I respectfully dis-agree. They are different. They serve a different purpose. Less useful?

 

[CBW1999]

Similar to comparing the Saturn launch vehicle and NASA's newer Atlas platform. Needs change, technology changes and the consumer market expands.

Cars in the 70's I would only contest that it was mostly the Bodies rotting out. My mother bought a 1978 Volare' Wagon new and it lasted until 1991 before the frame rusted through and the body couldn't be repaired further. The slant 6 and transmissions in those things could have been used in tanks.

Jump forward to 1993, I found another Volare' (sedan) owned by "the little old lady"- maintained and garaged. 23000 original miles. Body in excellent shape. and snatched it for 500 dollars. eventually traded it for a truck- but the dealer sold it and I still saw it on the road 5+ years later.

I think that a lot of manufacturing is based on planned obsolescence. If they get repeat business, prices are less. Sell something someone won't likely need to replace, they will get their money up front.

 

[bp fick]

Old iron simply had a lot less to break and was a lot less useful.


WOW.... Seriously??? That "Old iron" fed this country. People spent countless 12+ hour days on those tractors to feed people that don't have a clue. Less useful? Maybe for carrying mulch, or "prettying up a yard", but plowing or cultivating a few hundred acres to feed America.... I respectfully dis-agree. They are different. They serve a different purpose. Less useful?

Perhaps it might have been better said, less useful for the needs of today's CUT buyers, for all the reasons stated. No FEL, limited hydraulics, no 4x4, etc. Primarily AG focus versus much more focus today on landscaping needs, etc and far less AG focus.

It seems to me, the comparison only gets made between SMALL old iron and today's CUTs because of general size and power similarities, but they are very different indeed.

 

[wny770]

Perhaps it might have been better said, less useful for the needs of today's CUT buyers, for all the reasons stated. No FEL, limited hydraulics, no 4x4, etc. Primarily AG focus versus much more focus today on landscaping needs, etc and far less AG focus.

It seems to me, the comparison only gets made between SMALL old iron and today's CUTs because of general size and power similarities, but they are very different indeed.

I can agree with that. I have Old Iron, and I also have a CUT. Different indeed. I do have to admit, I do enjoy driving my T1510 more than my old Farmall, but don't tell anybody....

 

[Verticaltrx]

It seems to me, the comparison only gets made between SMALL old iron and today's CUTs because of general size and power similarities, but they are very different indeed.

I would also add that for their intended purpose, the old iron still works better than CUT's for most field work. I use my B3200 for light field work (tedding and raking hay, dragging a harrow, etc) but for most any other field work the old Ford NAA does a better job. Better geometry on the 3pt hitch, draw bar, PTO, more weight, adjustable tread width, proofmeter that shows MPH, position and draft control 3pt, etc.

 

[kday64]

I do enjoy driving my T1510 more than my old Farmall, but don't tell anybody....

Your secret is safe with us so long as you give us $1,000,314.15 each.