Will "these" tractor outlast our parent's/grandparent's tractors?

[Dargo]

Don't know, don't care. I have and have had several old tractors. I highly prefer the newer stronger tractors that are far safer and have no "tricks" to operating them. I inherited an old Ferguson tractor as well as an old 8N. For all intents and purposes, they are worthless to me when it comes to doing real work. I go through plenty of hills, ruts and muddy areas that make a 2wd tractor worthless to me. I had a FEL on one of the old tractors and not only do they have very limited lift capacities, but I soon discovered that 2wd also makes the FEL extremely limited in it's abilities.

Nah, if my tractor gets to where I have to worry about working on it before I use it or newer tractors are far superior in function, I'll just buy one of the new ones. Life is too short and time is too important to me than to jack around with something really old just to be able to say "see, this old thing did the job" when I could have had the job done hours earlier with a nicer tractor. In my view, time is all we have on this earth. I'd rather spend it with my family and friends rather than jacking around with an obsolete piece of machinery trying to prove any point about what it may or may not be able to still do.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Don't know, don't care. I have and have had several old tractors. I highly prefer the newer stronger tractors that are far safer and have no "tricks" to operating them. I inherited an old Ferguson tractor as well as an old 8N. For all intents and purposes, they are worthless to me when it comes to doing real work. I go through plenty of hills, ruts and muddy areas that make a 2wd tractor worthless to me. I had a FEL on one of the old tractors and not only do they have very limited lift capacities, but I soon discovered that 2wd also makes the FEL extremely limited in it's abilities.

Nah, if my tractor gets to where I have to worry about working on it before I use it or newer tractors are far superior in function, I'll just buy one of the new ones. Life is too short and time is too important to me than to jack around with something really old just to be able to say "see, this old thing did the job" when I could have had the job done hours earlier with a nicer tractor. In my view, time is all we have on this earth. I'd rather spend it with my family and friends rather than jacking around with an obsolete piece of machinery trying to prove any point about what it may or may not be able to still do.

You may find this hard to believe, but I'm going to disagree with that!


I've bought 3 new tractors in the last 16 months. A tick over $135,000 worth in fact.

One is a Deere 6430. VERY nice tractor. VERY comfortable cab. VERY big price tag. It won't produce a stitch more work per hour than a typical 95 hp tractor of a different era. 5mph across a field on a 15' batwing is the same with a 1975 4230 Deere as it is 5mph on a 15' batwing with a 2007 6430 Deere.

The other pair I've bought are 583 Massey Fergusons. They were considerably less expensive than the Deere. They have considerably less bells and whistles. They're 10 less hp. They both accomplish roughly the same amount of work in the same amount of time, which is no more or no less than an 85 hp tractor of a different era would accomplish.

2 of the tractors we use on my mowing crew are 37 and 29 years old respectively. A new tractor would accomplish absolutely ZERO more work in a given time frame. These tractors are, and have proven hour after hour, to be every bit as reliable as the new ones.

I'm currently shopping for one, maybe a pair of additional mowing rigs. (125+ hp/15' mowers) The best prospects I have currently are a couple older "farm tractors". (1980 1086 IH's) For 1/2 to 1/3rd the investment, they'll accomplish just as much work, and when you consider the cost involved, MAKE ME MORE MONEY. For what I spent on those THREE new tractors, I could have easily found FIVE dependable older tractors with every bit of the capabilities of these 3 new ones.

In MOST cases I've seen, the only thing really "obsolete" with owning an older tractor is the alleged "status" that goes with owning a new tractor. HP is HP. A tractor is a tractor. Old is not necissarily synonymous worn out. A good, experienced operator can do anything with "old" they can do with "new". All things being equal, had my son not been a large part of the decision process when it was time to buy the 3 new tractors, I would have PROBABLY spent my money in a much more prudent manner and found 3 good used tractors, what many would consider "older". They're more bang for the buck when you aren't caught up in shiney paint and keeping AHEAD of the Jones'.

 

[davitk]

You may find this hard to believe, but I'm going to disagree with that!


I've bought 3 new tractors in the last 16 months. A tick over $135,000 worth in fact.

One is a Deere 6430. VERY nice tractor. VERY comfortable cab. VERY big price tag. It won't produce a stitch more work per hour than a typical 95 hp tractor of a different era. 5mph across a field on a 15' batwing is the same with a 1975 4230 Deere as it is 5mph on a 15' batwing with a 2007 6430 Deere.

The other pair I've bought are 583 Massey Fergusons. They were considerably less expensive than the Deere. They have considerably less bells and whistles. They're 10 less hp. They both accomplish roughly the same amount of work in the same amount of time, which is no more or no less than an 85 hp tractor of a different era would accomplish.

2 of the tractors we use on my mowing crew are 37 and 29 years old respectively. A new tractor would accomplish absolutely ZERO more work in a given time frame. These tractors are, and have proven hour after hour, to be every bit as reliable as the new ones.

I'm currently shopping for one, maybe a pair of additional mowing rigs. (125+ hp/15' mowers) The best prospects I have currently are a couple older "farm tractors". (1980 1086 IH's) For 1/2 to 1/3rd the investment, they'll accomplish just as much work, and when you consider the cost involved, MAKE ME MORE MONEY. For what I spent on those THREE new tractors, I could have easily found FIVE dependable older tractors with every bit of the capabilities of these 3 new ones.

In MOST cases I've seen, the only thing really "obsolete" with owning an older tractor is the alleged "status" that goes with owning a new tractor. HP is HP. A tractor is a tractor. Old is not necissarily synonymous worn out. A good, experienced operator can do anything with "old" they can do with "new". All things being equal, had my son not been a large part of the decision process when it was time to buy the 3 new tractors, I would have PROBABLY spent my money in a much more prudent manner and found 3 good used tractors, what many would consider "older". They're more bang for the buck when you aren't caught up in shiney paint and keeping AHEAD of the Jones'.

Ahem. Forgive me, but I will have to disagree with that.

As a worker guy who's body is getting steadily used up, let me stress that modern 'niceties' are, indeed, much more than that. Improved ergonomics (one example: frame mounted loader joystick vs. loader mounted for those with wrist/elbow/shoulder problems) of the newer machines can make a huge impact on worker fatigue and even longevity.

In my line of work we regularly use battery operated screw guns, I go shopping and drop 50% more to opt for an impact driver which saves my joints and causes less fatigue. And at the end of the day I jump in that shiny pickup, you know the one with that new fangled air conditioning unit in it deny me that and I'm retiring and sending the wife back to work.

 

[wolc123]

I agree somewhat with both sides of the new/old argument. For me personally, it comes down to just one thing, 4wd. I never had it until my latest new tractor, and I would never again go without it for tillage or loader work. To me, all the other stuff on the new ones is just "bells and whistles". If all I did was mow or make hay, where 4wd is no advantage, then I would be a lot more into the old iron. For certain tasks, like operating a 2-row corn planter, there is no new tractor I would prefer over my old 51 Ford 8n. I like it a lot that 90% of the problems, and there have been mighty few, can be quickly repaired in the field with nothing more than a 12" adjustable wrench. There is still room for new and old on my farm, and I suspect that is the case with the majority of folks out there.

 

[Dargo]

You may find this hard to believe, but I'm going to disagree with that! .

Not a problem at all. I feel you have the right to work on your stuff before you use it, get all dirty and greasy, boil in the heat, swat bugs, get sunburned, rashes etc. all you want. I feel I've earned the right to not have to worry with any of that. I kind of like being able to get off the tractor and hop right in the car and go out to dinner with my wife; not having to go get all cleaned up from getting filthy from the tractor. Besides, these old bones don't like the cold like they used to either. I helped a friend work on a tractor last winter when it was below zero. I think I'll pass on that sort of stuff from now on, if you know what I mean.

 

[Gizmo2]

Not a problem at all. I feel you have the right to work on your stuff before you use it, get all dirty and greasy, boil in the heat, swat bugs, get sunburned, rashes etc. all you want. I feel I've earned the right to not have to worry with any of that. I kind of like being able to get off the tractor and hop right in the car and go out to dinner with my wife; not having to go get all cleaned up from getting filthy from the tractor. Besides, these old bones don't like the cold like they used to either. I helped a friend work on a tractor last winter when it was below zero. I think I'll pass on that sort of stuff from now on, if you know what I mean.

I know what you mean, I don't have time to fool around with repairs. After maintenance I like to draw the line. I want to use the darn thing not work on it or try to find parts, it will last as long as it lasts. They make new ones every day.

 

[Dargo]

Now I am a little bit of a hypocrite though. I do like to admire a nicely restored example of classic iron. I have a good appreciation of fine workmanship and understand the time, effort and money that goes into such. I also would never consider putting something that nice to work either. I've seen some that I honestly consider a work of art rather than a machine. Confusing?

 

[Grrrr]

Ahem. Forgive me, but I will have to disagree with that.

As a worker guy who's body is getting steadily used up, let me stress that modern 'niceties' are, indeed, much more than that. Improved ergonomics (one example: frame mounted loader joystick vs. loader mounted for those with wrist/elbow/shoulder problems) of the newer machines can make a huge impact on worker fatigue and even longevity.

In my line of work we regularly use battery operated screw guns, I go shopping and drop 50% more to opt for an impact driver which saves my joints and causes less fatigue. And at the end of the day I jump in that shiny pickup, you know the one with that new fangled air conditioning unit in it deny me that and I'm retiring and sending the wife back to work.

I actually also agree with the new tractors are more productive argument.

For 95% of the work we do, I find I am much more productive when I am working in a cabbed, AC tractor with powershift and a shuttle.

For the first couple of hours, working on an older tractor in the open air is quite fun but then the grinding gears, no shuttle, crap brakes, crap seat etc start to make it get annoying.

For some jobs, where you are literally just steering, like cutting grass, turning hay it is not so bad, but you certainly feel a lot worse for wear at the end of the day.

So, for the first couple of hours of mowing with an oldie, I enjoy it. Then the sun comes out, I get hot, the flies are everywhere, the noise is loud - ear defenders, and then I am fed up and give up.

If I am in the JD 6320 or 6820, then I can go on for literally days at a time without getting overly fatigued and tired.

Operating everything is so much easier, less buttons to press (headland management systems etc), easy gear changing, very quiet cab, air con, dust free, air seat etc just make it such a much nicer place to work.

I find that I can do a very long days work, and come out of the cab at the end of it, not really feeling that tired and my body does not feel battered. If it was a whole day on an oldie, which I regularly still do have to do, then I feel very tired. I also find I tend to do a better job with a newer tractor, because you can be more precise, you back up more often (because it is easy to get into reverse) so I find I cut more of the corners and you can always be going the right speed.

So, I think it largely depends on what you want to do with your tractor. If your work doesn't depend on it, and when you have had enough, you can choose to stop and you don't mind not being able to do slick forward reverse shuttles etc, then an oldie is fine and will serve one very well.

If however, your work depends on your tractor and you need to be out rain or shine, then I think a cab, air con, shuttles, powershift, electric over hydraulic controls etc are very necessary. This summer, I have had some very long stints with the round baler and bale wrapper. Like 30 hours at a time. There is no way on earth that I would have even considered doing that in an oldie, or been able to.

Also, I think we would really struggle to get harvest drivers who would drive old tractors. Or they might come for the first day, and chuck it in the next. But the problem comes, when the tractors get so dang complicated, that it takes an age to train someone up to just operate the thing. For any UK Top Gear watchers who saw the episode when they all drove tractors, it took Hammond 10 minutes purely to start a new Fendt, and a further 20 to get the thing to move, with the help of the manual I think.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Not a problem at all. I feel you have the right to work on your stuff before you use it, get all dirty and greasy, boil in the heat, swat bugs, get sunburned, rashes etc. all you want. I feel I've earned the right to not have to worry with any of that. I kind of like being able to get off the tractor and hop right in the car and go out to dinner with my wife; not having to go get all cleaned up from getting filthy from the tractor. Besides, these old bones don't like the cold like they used to either. I helped a friend work on a tractor last winter when it was below zero. I think I'll pass on that sort of stuff from now on, if you know what I mean.

The thing is, your rationale for NOT owning an older tractor is TOTALLY off the mark based on my side by side comparisons. I work on the old ones far less than we do the newer ones. I've logged a little over 300 hours on my '71 MF150 this summer with the only work done, a couple oil changes, a flat right front tire (nail...happens to new OR old) and I cleaned out the toolbox. (dust and cobwebs...Been FOREVER since I needed to get in that for anything...) Simple relates directly with reliable. "High tech" = complicated = maintenance intensive.

You probably won't find 2 CLEANER tractors than my oldest pair.

The 3 new ones have a MUCH longer laundry list of "routine maintenance" chores.

New is new for approx. 10 minutes of hard use, then it's a used tractor too. Put 500 hours on a new tractor and put 500 hours on an older tractor and I've found BOTH need roughly the same amount of attention. Advantage to NEITHER.

So...The reason why you feel you have to own a new tractor is your sense of entitlement? Hmmmm. What's THAT tell us about your personality??????

 

[Dargo]

What's THAT tell us about your personality??????

That it is similar to most people here? As I said, and you opted to ignore, I do have a respect for the nice classic iron. However, I'd always choose the new tractor with all it's reliability and amenities over wrenching on the old stuff when it comes to doing hard work. Sorry, but you can pull your 'been there know all that' with some people here but I've also been there experienced that. I respect your opinion, but since I don't bow down and pray at your feet because I too have lived and experienced most of the stuff you speak of, you dislike me. Worse yet, it seems to bother you more that that fact also doesn't bother me. Yup, I like to use a tractor that functions without having to work on it before I use it, that has all the latest updates, has all the latest abilities, that keeps me from getting hot, bug bitten, dirty, cold and it doesn't bother me that you want to disagree with me and try to assert your 'superior' knowledge and experience. I don't know your life story and it's unimportant to me in my preferences. I was raised in an extremely poor family and had to scrap for every single thing I've had since I was about five years old. I know you couldn't care less, but I've worked on everything from cars to heavy equipment to trains and learned OTJ how to operate all that equipment and what it takes to keep it running. Sorry, but your ancillary stories of how you know everything about farming really don't mean much to me.

I'll save you the 'oh so sad' story of how I made it in life and am past my prime. If a piece of modern equipment saves me some wear and tear on my body and allows me to spend more time with my family I'm going to use it. As far as your poorly attempted "entitlement" comment; sure, I've earned enough money to pay cash for everything I own and still have enough saved to live on and to take care of my family and still give to charity. With that being the case, yup, you bet your bib overalls that I feel that I am entitled to spend my cash on nice modern machinery that makes life easier on me. Your mileage differs, but that's your life and your choice. So, again, I'll say 'don't know and don't care' if my machinery will outlast that of my grandparents. Much of it is better made with more precision used in manufacturing with far, far less things that require daily greasings. I feel it will last just as long. However, perhaps more importantly, if it doesn't, I'll just buy another that makes life easier on me if it breaks and I cannot fix it.