Southern Pa. | 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.
I agree with you. If I can't get the maintenance/repair history on a higher houred tractor, I'll walk. 8000 series Deere tractors are capable of giving good service beyond 10000 hours, IF they had a good home. Most times its cheaper in the long run to buy lower houred, one owner machinery, (especially if you can get the history), than higher houred stuff cheap, and then try to fix it up.
I'll give you an example. In 2007, just before grain and used machinery prices went up, I sold my 1979 4640 for $25000. It was an absolute baby doll, and I've kicked myself more than once for selling it. I was the second owner. I talked to the original owner a while about maintenance/repairs before pulling the trigger. He traded it for an 8100. The trade was already made, so he had nothing to gain or lose by revealing the history.
When I sold it, it had 4007 original hours. Triple remotes with ISO couplers, quick hitch, 20 front weights. 20.8 x 38 Firestone 23° radial tires @ 90% with matching axle duals. 14L16.1 Firestone 4 rib fronts @ 80%.New style steps.Cab interior was just redone and seat was perfect. I upgraded the AC system to R134a a couple years prior, it cooled very well.Both wipers worked, and the windshield was never scratched from bad wiper blades. Every light worked, including the cab door dome light. It started fine in cold weather, used no oil, and had minimal blowby. Powershift shifted perfectly. The original paint had been waxed at least 28 times, LOL, and was beautiful. No oil leaks/stains that amounted to anything anywhere. Tractor was totally original except for ISO couplers, tires, and cab interior.Engine or transmission were never touched. Originally came from a very good STO about an hour south of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Had a very good friend that was looking for a 4640 about the same time. However, mine was too expensive for him, so he ended up buying one from a jockey for $15500. No prior history except the jockey said he bought it at a consignment sale, LOL. Tach showed 5200 hours, but judging by the smooth right armrest, worn radiator fan pulley, overall appearance, etc, I'd guess it had 8000 hours+.Had a very distinct vibration at approximately 1500 rpm's, and had oil leaks everywhere.Had an annoying hyd. hiss, and had a leak in the steering motor.No front weights, quadrange transmission, no quick hitch. Original paint was poor. Seat was torn, cab interior was shabby. 20.8 x 38 with snap on duals, rubber was shot. Original style steps, and SCV couplers. Right front window was scratched badly from worn out wiper blades, left wiper was completely missing. 4 way flashers didn't work, or the AC. It had about every symptom of poor maintenance you could get.
Since I do some repairs on the side, l got the job of trying to fix this critter up. Chased numerous oil leaks, including rebuilding the front oil pump, for approximately $1000. Upgraded the AC to R134a, including new compressor, several lines, expansion valve, receiver dryer, etc, for approximately another $1000. Replaced the damper pulley trying to get the 1500 rpm vibration to stop, didn't help. Ended up splitting it to look at flywheel, replaced the Permaclutch, PTO clutch, also rebuilt the 2 speed while we were in there. We did get the vibration problem fixed for something over $3000. Other miscellaneous repairs have amounted to approximately $1000, including rebuilding the steering motor, replacing the priority valve, etc., chasing the hyd. hissing sound, and taking care of the oil dripping from under the steering column. Still has some of that annoying hyd. hissing sound, anyone volunteer to track it down, LOL?Also installed ISO SCV couplers on all 3 remotes, and repaired the 4 ways for approximately $500.
Add new 4 new 20.8 x 38 Radials for approximately $6000, and where are you? $15,500 + $12,500 = $28,000. Still has snap on duals, ugly paint, several smaller oil leaks that need fixed, seat and cab interior need redone, no quick hitch or front weights. Old style steps. Probably North of 8000 hrs. to boot. Which one would you buy? The only "plus" I see is you get to spend your money at a slower pace, instead of a larger up front lump sum.
Good luck on whatever you decide!
Edited by JD 9400 1/1/2016 15:58
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John Deere 8400
