cow and calfs - 1/1/2016 13:20

Yeah but our hired help can speak english! LOL. Sorry it rubs you southern guys the wrong way, not everyone can have nice looking tractors that our wax and put in under cover when not in use.

ihmanky - 1/1/2016 14:10

No more ignorant than lumping all "southern tractors" into piles of steaming turds.

J. Sheehan - 1/1/2016 10:13

I agree that hours are irrelevant to a point.

We bought an 8110 with 3400 hours and it has 22,000+ hours now and still mixes feed everyday. We also bought an 8200 with 3900 hours and it has 21,000+ hours. It has been retired to manure pump because of the ring and pinion failing, but it still gets 1000+ hours per year. Both have been very low cost to operate.

Then I bought an 8300 with 9200 hours and an 8410 with 8300 hours that both locked and operated very nice. We have put about 3000 hours on each and they have cost $30,000 each in repairs with no engine or transmission issues. All odd, smaller repairs that add up.

The 8410 we bought new and has almost 16,000 hours has been very low operating cost. The 8420 we bought with 723 hours and now has 8000 hours has been the same low cost.

A 10,000 hour tractor to purchase is a crap shoot. I have had a lot better luck buying under 5000 hours and for sure under 2000 hours than I have closer to 10,000 hours. Usually, I can buy a 4000 hour tractor cheaper than the purchase cost and repairs of a 10,000 hour tractor.

Repairs cost a lot of money these days. Seems as though you make payments or pay repair bills.

Lucsco - 1/1/2016 16:05

Like I said I've never had a high hour tractor. Most are low hours for there age. JD 4840 with 5200 Hrs. JD 8440 with 6,200 Hrs. Case 2294 with 2,400 hrs and a 1972 4020 with 3,800 hrs. that my dad bought new. Still got the original invoice for her!

A person starts making stupid decisions at 55:)

ihmanky - 1/1/2016 14:10

No more ignorant than lumping all "southern tractors" into piles of steaming turds.

JD 9400 - 1/1/2016 17:09

:)

Not all southern tractors are run by questionable hired help, parked outside to fade and rust in the sun and rain, or run many hours per year with inadequate maintenance.But the fact remains that the south with its long growing season, and mild climate contributes to these problems. Rice, and the mud paddies it's grown in doesn't help matters,either. In the Midwest the shorter growing season and fairly harsh winters contribute to lower houred tractors that are (or can be) in a shed year round (when not in use) because of the fact that they need a shed over winter a lot worse than in the south. If you have a nice shed,( for winter) why not use it all year?? A good operator will. The Midwest farmers with their fairly long cold winters are quicker to pull something into the shop, wash, wax, and give it some TLC, than someone in a warm climate where it can be used nearly year round. Their nasty weather gives them a break to do this that some don't have.They need to do something to avoid getting bored over winter.That doesn't mean all Midwest equipment has had super good care. You still need to pick and choose. But the fact remains, their climate and shorter growing season contribute to lower houred, shed kept, well maintained equipment, period.That's where l go looking when l want something. That said, I'll buy equipment from anywhere that has a good history and was shed kept. I've just had a lot better luck finding that kind of stuff in the Midwest, SORRY.

I'll throw out a challenge for you southern farmers for the New year. Dad always said if someone accuses you of something that's not true, don't get all fired up. Just live so no one believes it. Prove the naysayers wrong!!

Happy New year!

Lucsco - 1/1/2016 14:05

Like I said I've never had a high hour tractor. Most are low hours for there age. JD 4840 with 5200 Hrs. JD 8440 with 6,200 Hrs. Case 2294 with 2,400 hrs and a 1972 4020 with 3,800 hrs. that my dad bought new. Still got the original invoice for her!

A person starts making stupid decisions at 55:)

Indiana Andy - 1/1/2016 17:17

I have paid "tuition" on that lesson before. It's good to be frugal and conservative, but it seems like that every time I try to go cheap, I end up spending as much if not more on the fixer upper as what I really wanted in the first place. I had to repeat the class a time or two, but I agree with J. Sheehan that the lowest cost scenario is to buy as reasonably low houred machine as you can afford from a good home and run it until you can't stand it any more (keep good records though.) This allows you to get a feel for the machine as the nickel and dime costs rise and when to bail out (not to say that excrement doesn't happen.) You lessen your chances of bailing off into somebody else's problems, and you don't pay a salesman so often. As far as the tractor goes, I have an 8400 with 6300 hours that has been stellar, probably the best tractor I've ever owned. Bought it in 04 with 2800 hours and won't be leaving the farm anytime soon. I wish you best of luck in whatever you decide.

Indiana Andy - 1/1/2016 19:39

That probably is so, and from what I've read of your posts, I'd have no qualms buying from you. I have some neighbors machines here in shed queen country that I wouldn't let on the place. I also try to avoid the "roll" operations that get new machines every year but don't own a grease gun. However, I think I agree with JD 9400 that with the higher duty cycle of southern/livestock machines, the chances of finding a cream puff are reduced. This isn't saying that they aren't out there or that some of you don't take excellent care of their machines. I guess it's like being like a good kid out of a bad neighborhood. Unfortunately for some, as good as they are, they will carry the stigma and discounted as such.