Why do CUT owners/buyers have low expectations?

[mwb]

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?

Edited...
My comment was not intended to show disrespect for old iron. My point is simply that current equipment is capable of performing more duties than a fifty year old machine - therefore more complicated and more likely to fail. My use of the phrase "a lot less useful" is maybe a little blunt but it is true. Old iron replaced draft animals; old iron was more more efficient and easier to work with than critters - that doesn't mean that horses and mules did not play an important role in our history. This was a technical discussion, no need to get emotional.

 

[rScotty]

I can't help but observe that most CUT owners/buyers are very particular in the brand they purchase and the options the want. They also want a good price/value for the dollar spent. Now here is what puzzles me. I normally see the older tractors made in the fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties lasting 5000-10,000 hours before a bolt is ever turned on the engine.
SNIP
I think the owners/buyers have let the CUT manufacturers off the hook too easy on shorter life span of their tractors (compared to older tractors). What do you think? Ken Sweet

Do you think that the CUT tractor of today is more or less reliable than the CUT when they first started getting popular in the late 1970s/early 1980s?

Ken, what choice do we have? We can't order up our new CUT tractor made to our choice of lifespan per dollar can we? I think most of us know that Ag and Construction equipment lasts far longer than our CUT - even by the same manufacturer. But how can we change that? I'd say there is more similarity than difference between the various brands themselves when it comes to reliabilty. And maybe it idoes have to do with the price. One can't help but notice the price. CUT tractors are lots less expensive than Ag or commercial.

The older farm tractors did last longer. No doubt about it. They also cost more. The first thing to wear out on our JD530 farm tractor was the bushings on the hourmeter itself. That happened at around 8000 hours on the clock. Which - since the tractor came to us second hand - means it might have been that much plus 9999 hours. Or whatever. Replacing the head of the hourmeter was easy to do, too. The replacement was obviously of just as high quality, and clearly worth the modest cost. All in all, the whole experience was kind of enjoyable....fun to talk about....

But although the JD is comfortable for field work, it is about as handy as wearing two left gloves for doing chores. I thought all tractors were as unwieldy until sitting on my first CUT.

What I'm wondering is if the CUT tractor of today is more or less reliable than the CUT of the late 1970s/early 1980s.
rScotty

 

[bigbull338]

my MX5100 HST w/fel cost more than a 7700 ford cab w/fel did in 78.

 

[sweettractors]

Do you think that the CUT tractor of today is more or less reliable than the CUT when they first started getting popular in the late 1970s/early 1980s?

Ken, what choice do we have? We can't order up our new CUT tractor made to our choice of lifespan per dollar can we? I think most of us know that Ag and Construction equipment lasts far longer than our CUT - even by the same manufacturer. But how can we change that? I'd say there is more similarity than difference between the various brands themselves when it comes to reliabilty. And maybe it idoes have to do with the price. One can't help but notice the price. CUT tractors are lots less expensive than Ag or commercial.

The older farm tractors did last longer. No doubt about it. They also cost more. The first thing to wear out on our JD530 farm tractor was the bushings on the hourmeter itself. That happened at around 8000 hours on the clock. Which - since the tractor came to us second hand - means it might have been that much plus 9999 hours. Or whatever. Replacing the head of the hourmeter was easy to do, too. The replacement was obviously of just as high quality, and clearly worth the modest cost. All in all, the whole experience was kind of enjoyable....fun to talk about....

But although the JD is comfortable for field work, it is about as handy as wearing two left gloves for doing chores. I thought all tractors were as unwieldy until sitting on my first CUT.

What I'm wondering is if the CUT tractor of today is more or less reliable than the CUT of the late 1970s/early 1980s.
rScotty

Lots of the older JD CUT's may be ok for the long run. The jury is still out on that. From what I can see from being in the business and what I read on the boards, the newer the model CUT, the more premature breakdowns we are having. I feel that the consumer that pays $20,000 for a CUT should expect it to last 50 years, not 10 and dead. The first tractor my Dad bought in 1951 was a New Case VAC with a new Case disc and New Case 7 ft sickle mower and New 2 disc plow for $1200. Still in the family and still going today. $1200 in 1951 would about equal to what we would pay for a new CUT today. Heck, we only paid $8,000 for our first 60 acres with a nice frame home. Ken Sweet

 

[Snapper Head]

My new L3940 better last 40 years, or else someone's gettin' hurt.


Big Al

 

[jda1961]

my dad bought a new ford 3600 in 1977, i now own it and it has only 1400 hours on it. it has not had any issues at all ever except for 3 new tires over the years and one oil soaked set of brakes from a bad oil seal and one broken headlight. i also own a 1964 ford 4000 tricycle tractor that i restored. i'll stick with the old iron, they have no electronics to screw up, easy to work on, and part are everywhere. my expectations for these have always been met.

 

[beppington]

I can't help but observe that most CUT owners/buyers are very particular in the brand they purchase and the options the want.

Agreed -I know I am.

They also want a good price/value for the dollar spent.

Agreed -I know I do.

Now here is what puzzles me. I normally see the older tractors made in the fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties lasting 5000-10,000 hours before a bolt is ever turned on the engine. A clutch job maybe at 3000-4000 hours (depending on the operator). Brakes R and R at about 5000-7000 hrs. and well you get the picture. Why are CUT enthusiasts so accepting of major tractor problems before the tractor has been broke in good? I think the owners/buyers have let the CUT manufacturers off the hook too easy on shorter life span of their tractors (compared to older tractors). What do you think?

All I know is that, as a guy that 6-8 months ago wanted to buy his first tractor, I wanted all the safety/ comfort/ performance/ specifications/ ease-of-use/ etc features that my modern 2010 Kubota L3940 has ... plus of course I'd like it to last a long time as you describe.

Whether or not it will has yet to be determined of course ... Since mine's at all of about 160 hours now :laughing:

Nevertheless, you're saying I let them off the hook; What should I have done differently?

I don't think Kubota would've agreed to let me hand-edit their warranty to reflect the terms you state above. However ... I admit I didn't ask. :laughing:

 

[sweettractors]

Nevertheless, you're saying I let them off the hook; What should I have done differently?

:laughing:

On a individual basis, there is really nothing you can do. If you and I and every CUT owner would query the salesman about longevity one could expect before buying the tractors, eventually the manufacturer would get the message. We want and expect 7000-10,000 hrs from our tractors before major repairs are incurred.(provided that routine maintenance is preformed) It would take a while for this to make a difference. However, this process need to start somewhere and at sometime. Ken Sweet

 

[wny770]

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

The fifteen cents part made me crack up....:laughing:

 

[rScotty]

On a individual basis, there is really nothing you can do. If you and I and every CUT owner would query the salesman about longevity one could expect before buying the tractors, eventually the manufacturer would get the message. We want and expect 7000-10,000 hrs from our tractors before major repairs are incurred.(provided that routine maintenance is preformed) It would take a while for this to make a difference. However, this process need to start somewhere and at sometime. Ken Sweet

Well, luckily part of that is available right now today. And oddly enough what we have is the result of a backlash against one CUT manufacturer's ultra short warranty. The standard warranty that manufacturer offers with a new machine is so short (one year!) that it just barely misses being insulting. Who is going to pay that much for a CUT with a one year warranty?: The first thing that occurred to me was that the manufacturer sure didn't have much faith in their own tractors if that was their warranty. But it turns out that they will offer quite a bit more, and that the actual warranty period is negotiable. Well, that's OK with me; I've never minded anything being negotiable.
rScotty