Will my tractor be around in 30 years??

[slowrev]

My tractor will be around in another 30 yrs. It is already 37 years old, and just now getting refurbished with seals, paint, etc...
No electronics, no hydrostatic, no plastic, etc, just simple solid tractor. Still going strong, just ugly and a bit leaky /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ben

 

[Syncro]

The trend towards making tractors with more (mostly useless) frills coupled with corporate 'just enough to make it work' designs, and what I feel are way too much electronics will eventually catch up with longevity. Add to this that tractor models change way too often multiplying the parts inventory needed, and good luck trying to find some critical parts in 30 years.

I like older iron for just these reasons, however the new technology also has appeal. My answer is to keep a new tractor until a few model cycles have passed and then sell it. Used tractors, no matter the age or brand, sell at premium so why not?

The days of the venerable 8n's are gone. Same goes for the auto industry. I can get almost any part for a '65 Mustang, but good luck trying to get a replacement digital display for a 20 year old anything.

 

[slowzuki]

I haven't made up my mind. The kubota L5030 hstc we just bought has a digital display but it doesn't run anything. The Tach is still mechanical too.

A replacment display swaps in about 15 minutes and costs about the same as a factory mechanical tach on a regular tractor.

The tractor looks plasticy from far but there is hardly a piece of plastic on the outside, taillight I guess.

There are many 30 yo tractors in the bone yard that are built old school. The heavy castings etc didn't save them from lack of maintenance or operator abuse.

I suspect with the generally declining of mechanical knowledge in society (and an increase of tractor use by non-experienced people), an increasing number of machines will fall to lack of maintenance.

 

[Syncro]

<font color="blue">"I suspect with the generally declining of mechanical knowledge in society...." </font>

Boy, thats a profound statement! Sad but true. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Deerlope]

My friend has a 1984 kubota that is still going strong. The paint has faded a little but he and it get a lot done.

 

[tinytractors]

slowzuki.... When I went shopping for my new L3430, I almost went right on past it because of the electronic panel. A bit of research showed that even though it was there, I could still run without it if it failed. Sort of like electrical tape over the "time" on a VCR you don't want to reset. I am not too sure about the new JD's, I think that a lot of their electronics are required to run...
This new one, with proper maintenance, seems to be capable of being around in 30 yrs, and it will be right next to my '52 8N... ain't ever getting rid of that.

 

[slowzuki]

Certainly a place for old simple tractors. Just not nice to depend on them everday. I'm a bit of a tinkerer myself but I've found I can be quickly over stretched if more than one piece of equipment starts failing.

Last night I was out in the pouring rain torching a strut off the first car I ever drove to put on my sisters car. It has been a parts rig as my sis hasn't had good enough work to buy a new car. As the rain trickled down my back and the dry leaves under the car caught fire I understood again why we bought a nearly new tractor instead of fixing up the old one.

 

[ocaj11]

I really like a new tractor and new things in general. I like my DK55 with a few exceptions. If it's still running in 15 years, I will feel like I got my moneys worth. If it's still running in 30 years, I will be ecstatic.

These are a few of the "less quality" problems I've had with the tractor. None of these issues would have happened with better design and better materials.

Ran the tractor out of fuel, opened the hood and found the bleeder screw on the primer pump. When I twisted the screw with my fingers, it twisted into. I'm not sure what it was made of, but it wasn't very stout...

My tractor has a plastic fuel tank on the bottom side. The fuel tank is actually two tanks connected with equalizing hoses. At about the 10 hour mark, I noticed fuel flowing onto the ground. A quick inspection found a plastic nipple on the top of the right tank that had broken off. It turns out that the hydraulic hoses were ran along the top of the tank and not tied down. They apparantly jerked and broke the nipple off.

The left side tank has a long plastic neck. It looks good, but it didn't last past 35 hours before it was broke. I'm not sure if a stick hit it or it just broke off?? It was still connected by a peice about 1/4 inch long. Inspection showed no impact damage. If something did hit that neck, it didn't take much force to snap it.

 

[To20Chris]

One of the things I found appealing about my LK3054 is that it is very stout - I believe it weighs more than my To20 - and there is not much plastic on it. It's an older and well sorted design, well made, and I think it will last a very long time. It's also one of Kioti's larger selling units, so parts are more likely to be available for it.

Having said that, I believe it will be rendered useless long before it wears out, as I probably won't be able to afford the fuel to run it long before 30yrs comes around. If I'm wrong, I'll be 70 and more than happy to admit it!

 

[slowzuki]

I'm leary of plastic tanks too but almost all ag tractors have them now. Some use metal skid plates to protect them.

I notices the kubota M6800's and maybe others use metal underbelly tanks. Those tractors are popular in the woods up here, maybe that is why?