Compact Tractor Operating Hours

[RCP]

I am in the market for a compact tractor to be used for mowing and pushing snow. This will be to replace my Oliver 550 and I want to stay in the same relative size. One of the contenders is CNH Boomer 55 tractor, I like the size and the PTO horsepower rating. The question I have is, since I am looking at used tractors, how many operating hours before the engine or transmissions are worrisome? Not just for the CNH but for any of the similar tractors.

 

[Texasmark]

Not an easy question to answer. It could be a few hundred to several thousand. All depends on the PO, the usage, and the maintenance...fluid changes in particular.

 

[stdsch40]

I'd like to give you the benefit of my compact tractor experience, it may or may not help with your decision. First though ask yourself a few questions: how many hours per year do you expect to put on the new tractor? How much horse power do you really need to cut grass and push snow? How old are you? Who else would use the tractor? Are you gonna pass the tractor on when you pass away? And finally ask your self how long you expect to own the tractor. Just some questions I asked myself before I spent the big bucks on a new compact utility tractor in 2011.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

CNH is a good one to stay away from in general. Not because of the product but the parts situation is getting sketchy and expensive.

 

[RCP]

I'd like to give you the benefit of my compact tractor experience, it may or may not help with your decision. First though ask yourself a few questions: how many hours per year do you expect to put on the new tractor? How much horse power do you really need to cut grass and push snow? How old are you? Who else would use the tractor? Are you gonna pass the tractor on when you pass away? And finally ask your self how long you expect to own the tractor. Just some questions I asked myself before I spent the big bucks on a new compact utility tractor in 2011.

I am not sure how this is relevant but here goes. 200, 40 pto, 70, wife, don't care, until I can't. I am predominately looking at used machines. The Oliver 550 has been a great match for what I do, but it is about wore out and I can afford to get something nicer.

 

[DRussell]

I am in the market for a compact tractor to be used for mowing and pushing snow. This will be to replace my Oliver 550 and I want to stay in the same relative size. One of the contenders is CNH Boomer 55 tractor, I like the size and the PTO horsepower rating. The question I have is, since I am looking at used tractors, how many operating hours before the engine or transmissions are worrisome? Not just for the CNH but for any of the similar tractors.

In your situation I would look at some of the older John Deere machines. A 950/1050 or 970/1070 would be similar size/horsepower to your Oliver and are gear transmissions, not hydrostatic. Being gear driven, they should last as long as you will last. These are the biggest of the "compact' lineup, with Yanmar engines, that Deere made in a gear drive transmission as far as I'm aware.

An alternative to that would be some of the 03, 05 or 25 series utility machines. These are not considered compact tractors. Look for machines with numbers starting from 50 to 54. For example, 5003, 5203, 5403, 5005, 5205, 5405, etc. The 03 and 05 series are slightly older than the 25 series in this size and were made at the same time I believe. The 03 series is a slightly more basic machine than the 05 series. Horsepower on these range from upper 40s to about 60 and would be a slight upgrade to your Oliver horsepower wise. More importantly, all these are gear drive so there should be good longevity with transmissions. Some of these may have a hydraulic reverser. All of these were sold in 2wd and 4wd versions. I see them in auctions fairly regularly.

 

[stdsch40]

I am not sure how this is relevant but here goes. 200, 40 pto, 70, wife, don't care, until I can't. I am predominately looking at used machines. The Oliver 550 has been a great match for what I do, but it is about wore out and I can afford to get something nicer.

Good answers. When I needed to buy a 'new' tractor for my 40 acres to do all the things I decided to go with CIH because the dealer made me an offer on my old 'antiques'. JD and Kubota made no such offer. Plus I liked Farmall/International and had good experience with them. Operation in cold blowing snow was paramount, so needed cab with heat, snow blower and FEL. Because the wife drove school bus, that new tractor had to work in winter, always. With wife and 3 children my expectation was they all had to know how to operate the tractor, I worked in the city 40 miles away. I expected 200hrs/yrear, actually only put 100 per year since 2011. The new tractor saved me a lot of time! I purchased a 40hp CIH Farmall with CVT transmission, no clutch no gears. Moving and snow blowing was always back and forth so the new CVT was wonderful and saved my left knee from aching after 4 hrs working. I didn't have the money so had to finance through CIH. I had no problem with them at all, 4 years later it was ours. Great little tractor, works excellent, saves a lot of time vs my old tractors, comfortable both summer and winter. No regrets at all. Tractor stays with the 'homestead'.

 

[RCP]

Good answers. When I needed to buy a 'new' tractor for my 40 acres to do all the things I decided to go with CIH because the dealer made me an offer on my old 'antiques'. JD and Kubota made no such offer. Plus I liked Farmall/International and had good experience with them. Operation in cold blowing snow was paramount, so needed cab with heat, snow blower and FEL. Because the wife drove school bus, that new tractor had to work in winter, always. With wife and 3 children my expectation was they all had to know how to operate the tractor, I worked in the city 40 miles away. I expected 200hrs/yrear, actually only put 100 per year since 2011. The new tractor saved me a lot of time! I purchased a 40hp CIH Farmall with CVT transmission, no clutch no gears. Moving and snow blowing was always back and forth so the new CVT was wonderful and saved my left knee from aching after 4 hrs working. I didn't have the money so had to finance through CIH. I had no problem with them at all, 4 years later it was ours. Great little tractor, works excellent, saves a lot of time vs my old tractors, comfortable both summer and winter. No regrets at all. Tractor stays with the 'homestead'.

I have heard good and bad about CVT and was not going take the risk with a used machine, probably go gear transmission with a reverser. I also want 4x4 and a front loader, there are other not so obvious things that I want, such as rear remote, loader with skid steer attachment, easy attach 3-point arms, NO DEF, steering brakes, independent PTO etc. A cab will not work well in our place, to many low hanging tree limbs, also if it is that bad outside, we can stay home.

 

[stdsch40]

I have heard good and bad about CVT and was not going take the risk with a used machine, probably go gear transmission with a reverser.

I can't say how long the CVT will last, so far works excellent after 14 years use. I had a wife and children and the CVT allows them to operate the tractor very safely. Again, no clutch, no gears, same speeds forward and reverse. Operation with a snow blower on the 3pth is supper easy, go as fast or as slow as you want in reverse. My opinion of the CVT is awesome invention, if there are still flaws with the design I'm certain they will be corrected in time, it doesn't worry me a bit.

 

[JOCCO]

First of I would not buy a NH small tractor. Second I would keep the Oliver and my money!

 

[m16ty]

I can't say how long the CVT will last, so far works excellent after 14 years use. I had a wife and children and the CVT allows them to operate the tractor very safely. Again, no clutch, no gears, same speeds forward and reverse. Operation with a snow blower on the 3pth is supper easy, go as fast or as slow as you want in reverse. My opinion of the CVT is awesome invention, if there are still flaws with the design I'm certain they will be corrected in time, it doesn't worry me a bit.

The CVT will likely last a very long time with somebody on a homestead putting 200 hours a year on it. A lot of these on the used market have been owned by contractors or rental outfits and have been operated by idiots. It’s just something to be aware of because if the CVT goes down it will likely cost more than the tractor is worth to get it fixed.

 

[buickanddeere]

Something that does not have Tier 3 or Tier 4 emissions equipment

 

[Hoofer B]

Most everyone on here who has a Kubota seems to like them. I got one for my wife and her horses. 32 hp, loader and 4 wheel drive. It is a nice unit and has been trouble free

 

[Dopp Creek]

We bought a Kubota 3430 in 2006; the first new thing my wife and I ever bought new. I went with the geared transmission rather than hydrostatic. It now has 2100 hours and has never needed anything beyond regular maintenance. I've done tillage work (plow/disc/grain drill), mowing and rototilling. Because of the front end loader it gets used several times a week. My only regret is it does not have a quick-tach bucket (they came standard after 2007).

 

[Fixingfarmer]

The ag cvts have a much better reputation than their counterparts in passenger vehicles. A lot of the passenger vehicles it’s more like a set of variable speed sheaves on a combine or a golf cart transmission really. Not terribly robust.

An ag tractor it’s much more robust more like a planetary with 2 motors fighting each other. They do use hp. In my opinion they are worth it however especially the larger ones my entire time at agco we hadn’t seen a fendt cvt fail at our location very impressive and it was my favorite to operate I asked from time to time how they thought they were holding up and had heard they finally pulled one on a terragator a few years after I left and it came as a cartridge to pop in. Had to tear quite a bit of stuff off but they said the transmission part was simple.

Ag hydros have a more complicated history. Some good some bad

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Most everyone on here who has a Kubota seems to like them. I got one for my wife and her horses. 32 hp, loader and 4 wheel drive. It is a nice unit and has been trouble free

Much as I hate to admit it, Kubota is the best value out there regardless of age. Can't beat the parts or dealer support. If I heard correctly, they bought up a hay line, Vicon, I think. If Kubota applies their business acumen to these subsidiaries, they're gonna have a heck of a line- up.

Conversely, my friend was a Ford dealer for 60 years, and in the end 2 years ago, CNH ended up pulling his dealership because he wouldn't forsake Kubota. " New Holland was terrible" he'd tell me . The NH skids were in the shop all the time, and CNH held up the warrantee reimbursement and only paid off when he twisted their arm. " You sell a Kubota skid and you never see it again ". One coming in for warrantee work was rare. If this did occur, the factory got involved and wanted to know what happened and what can be done about it.

They really are a phenomenal company.

 

[scootergmc]

Buddy of mine was a Kubota/New Holland field tech for a couple decades until very recently going to work for a larger corporate farm. If there's one thing he always said, it was do not buy a Boomer series New Holland. More emissions problems than he could count. Kubota is the way to go. He said a low hours (it is not uncommon to find them under 1000 hours) Kubota homeowner tractors were generally the best purchases and he always recommended a pre regen/emissions tractor, or- buy a year old rental return from a larger dealer if there is such availability in your area (they usually have the same financing as new- and same warranty). Hope it helps.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I think the hours are not a big factor as much as how well it was maintained.
Some people can break an anvil. Some people can run an engine until it runs out of oil.
I think dealer support is a bigger concern. Not being able to get parts is a problem I have with a 25 year old loader/'backhoe, a terramite
The company went out of business. I won't buy another terramite.
I bought my Kubota form a dealer that has been in business since 1967
A few years ago, Kubota canceled their business with the CIH dealer. Grrrr.
Not a lot of aftermarket parts for a Kubota. There are somethings that only the Kubota dealer can do. Grrr
Just something to consider when buying anything, car, truck or tractors.
There are some cars that I would have to travel to Indy to get worked on by a dealer.
How far do you want to haul your tractor if it has a problem you can't fix/??
I bought a new Kubota L3560 with loader and cab in 2019. 2 years the main reason I bought the tractor was mowing 2 acres at a rental property.
I sold the property. Now my 6 year old Kubota has 155 hours on it. You may find someone selling a like new old tractor.

 

[wore out]

The ag cvts have a much better reputation than their counterparts in passenger vehicles. A lot of the passenger vehicles it’s more like a set of variable speed sheaves on a combine or a golf cart transmission really. Not terribly robust.

An ag tractor it’s much more robust more like a planetary with 2 motors fighting each other. They do use hp. In my opinion they are worth it however especially the larger ones my entire time at agco we hadn’t seen a fendt cvt fail at our location very impressive and it was my favorite to operate I asked from time to time how they thought they were holding up and had heard they finally pulled one on a terragator a few years after I left and it came as a cartridge to pop in. Had to tear quite a bit of stuff off but they said the transmission part was simple.

Ag hydros have a more complicated history. Some good some bad

Curious what ag hydros you have in mind. IH, of course, and Versatile had a few models, what else comes to mind?

 

[Butch(OH)]

I agree with George on dealer support AND how it's treated. He is spot on about people who regularly tear up equipment. I take care of a gentleman's "farm". They own 3 NH tractors, TD80, TC40 and TN70. They also own a 6010 Kioti. I run them 100-200 hours per year each with VERY few problems. They all sit inside, I don't ram them around like a kid that don't own them. NH support has been first rate the few times they have been needed. The Kioti,,, uh luckily it hasn't needed much because we are on our 3rd dealer in 3 years after the first two dropped them. With our NH dealer I see nothing to chose from Deere or NH service or parts wise. I personally own a compact Kubota, 100% reliable and it's a good thing because the dealer service "tech" looks like and escapee from $20 oil change place.