working on new tracters

[chuck172]

I've had a 1952 8n for the last30 years or so. Whenever it broke, I fixed it. I just bought a new Kioti ck35. I don't think I'll be able to work on it , other than routine maintenance. What happens when these new imported tractors start to break down? Parts are expensive, labor at the dealer is expensive. I heard splitting a new tractor is a nightmare, no problem with the old 8n!

 

[Utopia Texas]

When a new tractor breaks you get a flat bed trailer or tow company with a flat bed and have the unit taken to the tractor dealership where they will keep changing out expensive parts until it works again. Sorry, but this is the new reality.
PS- Keep a older tractor on hand to get by with until the newer one is fixed!
PS- It would be interesting to see some figures as to how reliable the newer tractors are compared to some older models.

 

[Gary Fowler]

The old iron tractors were overbuilt and were basically impossible to break. I think this was because they had not engineering data to compare with for how strong a part had to be so they just made them heck for stout. Todays vehicles (all-cars, trucks tractors implements) have tons of data to back up how strong something needs to be for minimal activities. I think that is what they build to, MINIMAL requirements, which is why stuff breaks or wears out so quickly. They aren't made for infinite life span and many of them wont have parts available in 10 years time. Gone are the days when Ford built everything in a Ford tractor and John Deere built John Deere. Now they sub out all the CUT tractors with a few exceptions like Kubota. Most models are built by Asian or Chinese companies who aren't required to supply parts after their contract expires, so a model might become extinct very quickly.

 

[Texasmark]

What I would like with my new (7 year old) tractor is a decent service/maintenance manual. What's available is in oriental to english conversion and a lot gets lost in the translation. I haven't really needed it yet as nothing serious has broken down, but when it does......

My tractor surely isn't minimum to get by. It's built like a tank; actually overkill in a lot of places as I see it. I have no fancy electronics and all that so I don't have that as a potential problem but it does have an array of whistles and bells which is why I chose the unit over others available. I'm very happy with it.

Mark

 

[tjus77]

that is why over the years, everything manufactured anywhere doesn't last as long. more money for the company if you just throw it away and get a new one, than to buy parts from them for 30 years.

 

[nybirdman]

I put 700hrs on my previous tractor(L3130HST) just turned 800hrs on my L4240 HSTC,only preventive maintenance other than my abuse/misuse.Todays modern tractors have it all over the old ones,and yes we did have a 8N and 9N.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Other then needing a set of metric wrenches and cap screw drivers I don't see much of a problem with working on a new one. Most of it is unbolt what is broke after removing everything that is in the way then bolt on the new part and put all that stuff you took off back on, just the way it was. A lot of the main drive line and hydraulic systems haven't changed that much in principle in decades. Everyone has there own version of course and good manuals and parts catalogs are a must. And besides if it is new, and suited for the work you have ,it shouldn't break very often unless the operator has a brain cramp and breaks it.

 

[Sportsman762]

The skills used on your old 8N still apply to your new Kioti. What the Kioti has is lots of electrical stuff. In the old days mechanics where mechanical experts, now they have to be electricians and with some equipment computer programers. If the water pump went out on your Kioti you could fix it. I think that depending on your electrical skills you would be just fine working on your Kioti. The biggest think to remember is that every complex problem is just a series of simple problems.

Parts are going to be expensive because the aftermarket parts industry has not picked up compact tractors yet. It is only a matter of time until they do, however they will only pick up the most popular compact tractor models. When there is competition to the OEM for parts then prices drop. Until then the prices will be much higher for parts. The 8N is one of the cheapest tractors to repair, followed by a Massey 135.

 

[vtsnowedin]

What the Kioti has is lots of electrical stuff.

I'm curious. Just what systems are electrical on a new Kioti. Do they work better then older mechanical designs. Other then work lights and seat nanny's I don't have much electrical on my JD beyond a electric preheater for the air intake. Perhaps there is more that I don't yet see on the engine governor and pollution controls but it looks to be mostly mechanical to my layman eyes.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I'm curious. Just what systems are electrical on a new Kioti. Do they work better then older mechanical designs. Other then work lights and seat nanny's I don't have much electrical on my JD beyond a electric preheater for the air intake. Perhaps there is more that I don't yet see on the engine governor and pollution controls but it looks to be mostly mechanical to my layman eyes.

I too would love to hear this answered....

I have yet to find anything complicated on a tractor, new or old. If you are afraid to work on a "modern" CUT, you probably should not be working on anything mechanical....:confused2:

 

[MHarryE]

The good old days. Learned to be a mechanic in my dad's dealership because there was always broke down equipment coming in. Upgrade 6 volt cranking systems with magneto ignition to 12 volt with battery ignition for reliability. Valve grinds frequent - I got the dirty part of that - cleaning the heads & valves while dad got to do the grinding. Thank goodness these aren't the good old days because I like to drive our tractors, not work on them all the time. Something I never did master was using nickel rod to weld broken cast iron. Frequent thing on the old tractors but kind of a lost art today.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

My neighbour has a Case 105U with about 2200 key hrs (probably equates to 1500 or 1600 tach hrs) that just came back from the dealer. One of the bearings went that supports the shift fork for the synchros allowing it to pop out of 2nd range. Tractor had to be split to fix it. 6 weeks and $7000 of labour to change $500 worth of parts.

Unfortunately, most don't have the facilities to do this stuff at home, even if they did have the knowledge. 'Basic' stuff like the water pump or steering components are no different now than on the 8N. Even the electcal can usually be isolated and tested at home.

I find it's often cheaper to make an educated guess and toss a couple parts at a problem than to pay a shop to do the same thing

 

[Sportsman762]

A ford 8N has headlights, and a starter for electrical. A modern compact will have a mix of the following: a seat safety switch, a neutral safety switch or two, a clutch safety switch, lights and switches for front and rear, an electronic cruise control on HST, electric fuel solenoid shut off, electronic engine temperature sensor, electronic tachometer, electronic fuel gauge, a few other idiot lights. Not all tractors will have all these parts but they will have a lot of them.
If your 8N would not start it was easy to diagnose, with a key, switch, battery, and starter in the circuit. Now there are several safety switches in it. I have seen compacts not run and owners replace switches when it turned out to be a loose fuse terminal. However if you know how to use a multimeter and do not mind taking time to trace wires, the problems are often easy to fix.

I do not know if the electrical works better than the old mechanical systems. I think they both fail in their own ways and create their own headaches, it depends on your skills.

One thing I have discovered is that mechanical parts are easier for the average joe to diagnose as the part is right in front of them. Electrical parts hold a shroud of mystery to them as you can not see the how they work, but have to rely on instruments (multimeter) to tell you what is working.