used newer tractors

[cmd1042]

How do you determine what is to many hours on these machines? If i can buy a new one for 70,000 and a used similar machine is 50,00-60,000 with 4,000 hrs it is a no brainer I think what in you guys opinion is a good spread between new vs old and at what hrs do you think the money repairs start? We can do most in house except major rebuilds but it is still time and money.

 

[Tx Jim]

Keep in mind that the service interval on used equipment is also important as the hours of use. I've been told that some lease return equip. doesn't get serviced as often as it should.

 

[RodinNS]

Depends... if that used one has a Tier II engine I think I'd probably go in that direction although I'd want it somewhat cheaper than you're talking. If you're talking entirely Tier III or inter Tier IV engines... go new. Get warranty. Problem with Tier II tractors today is that resale is apt to remain quite high because of the headaches with the new ones...

Rod

 

[Jerry/MT]

I recently bought a 2007 NH TD95D with the 820 TL loader w/ joystick and mid mount valve ,cab 12x12 shuttle shift, dual remotes with 93 hrs on it for $32K. I picked it up 1500 miles from home and hauled it back for under $2K and I took a trip down to look at it before I commited to buy it that set me back $600. ($34600 Total)The original owner claimed he paid $50K for it.I dunno how accurate that is.

It had not had the 50 hr service and I did that myself for under $200. I have to get the A/C line on the condensor repaired to get the A/C to work and that might set me back another $200.
I saw a local one with the same equipment with 700 hrs on it @$42K. I think I got a good deal and i"m happy about it.
In my value sytem, when a comparabley equipped used tractor with low hours is within 10% of the cost of a new one, you might as well buy new. If you can get a bigger spread for the used tractor and it has low hours and has not been flogged and was maintained properly, used is the way to go. It takes some judgement and experience to buy used and sometimes you getcan burned.

 

[cmd1042]

I have bought several tractors some used one new one it was kinda easy when you were buying a 706 or a 886 or an H or an M. These are all good old tractors. But now that is all gone. What i want is a 120 hp at the engine newer machine with a reverser. I would prefer a john deere. They seem to be holding on although most are made somewhere else also but there are dealers close to me. I have all red tractors but they are gone. I bought a new McCormick in 2009 it is just fine with the perkins engine and the Case IH rear. But I am hearing that is going to be gone soon. I understand the spread just not the hours. In the past I would buy a 1066 or 1086 with 9000 hrs. for 10-15,000 knowing I could fix it and have 20-22 in it but have a good machine. Now with the newer models I have no idea what it would take to fix and even if I could fix it. It is just like an auto i guess.

 

[donjr]

Thing I"ve noticed over the past few years, and the reason for it. I have mostly JD"s, and a Farmall 806. The only Deere I have with an electric tach is a 6400. While this is my most used tractor, because it has a loader on it and is used every day, it adds 1 hour for every hour the key key is on. It doesn"t care that it"s usually running at 1500 or so rpm. All of the older units, a 424o, 2520 and the 806, only add 1 hour of engine time at full rpm. If they are used at 50% throttle, they will only show 1/2 hour on the tach, because the tach is mechanical.

My 806 shows 6000 hours, 2520 has 6000 hours, 4240 has 4000 hours, and the 6400, which is the newest has over 7000 hours and is half the age of the 2520!

So it"s kind of hard to judge just how may actual hours are on one of the older tractors because some of us don"t run wide open all of the time. While a newer style of tractor may show quite a few hours on it, with a fairly easy lifestyle it may just be getting broken in good.