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How old many hours is too much

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kigmatzomat
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4 Louisville, KY
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2007-05-20          142266

Hi there.

I'm in the process of setting up about 6 acres of pasture for horses. We're on a bit of a budget so I'm thinking of buying a used tractor, which I know is trading power now for maintenance costs later but I'm willing to take a reasonable risk on a bigger, older tractor to ensure I have a decent platform to handle unexpected issues.

The initial scan of the newspaper and local sales forums show tractors going back to the 1950s and with varying number of hours of use, with the higher numbers having rebuilt engines. We'll have a number of rare jobs (i.e. replacing fence posts) where I'd like to be able to rent attachments.

My questions, which are hopefully in the right thread, are

1) how many hours of operation should make me concerned about the tractor's longevity and/or need for a rebuilt engine?

and

2) How old can a tractor be and still have a reasonable likelihood of getting parts and attachments?

2a) When did category I hitches become the norm or have they pretty much always existed alongside the PTO?


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How old many hours is too much

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-05-21          142273

kigmatzomat; You speak of wanting an older larger tractor with a Cat one three point. The old Ford 8N's and 9N's were probably the first tractors with a cat. one three point that was pretty much standard equipment. they are still a popular tractor that will likely have parts available for a long time to come. The reasons you have for wanting a tractor like an 8N keep them bringing a lot of money for a good one yet today. Unfortunately even the 9N only had about 23 horspower, about equal of a smaller compact today, so they are older but by no means larger. I have no idea what kind of budget you have to work with, but you can get lucky and find a 60's or 70's 40-50 HP. tractor with the things you want on a auction, but if it is a good one there will be lots of bidders, and I have saw emotion make a nice tractor on a warm sunny Saturday bring twice what it was worth, so it is easy to get caught up in that sort of thing. Unless you are handy with repair you could end up spending more than a later model used Blue, Green or Orange tractor from a dealer that has put it thru the shop, and possibly some warranty with it. Especially in used I'd stick with the major brands I've mentioned, they all have good dealer networks and will have parts and service for your tractor for a long time. Best of luck. Frank. ....

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How old many hours is too much

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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2007-05-21          142275

Look up "Buying Tips" from a few days ago here. There was some very good suggestions on used equipment.
Some states' Dept of Agriculture have ads for farmers to buy or sell their equipement directly. Check your state on this. Normally on their web site. Sadly pay attention for stolen equipment. It is out there. kt ....

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How old many hours is too much

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AnnBrush
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 463 Troy OH
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2007-05-21          142277

About once every 3 months there is a massive auction of tractors (hundreds) and equipment held near Indianapolis. It's advertised in Farm World Newspaper which I subscribed to before buying my tractor. You would do well to get in on that action. I cant remember the name of it but it's something like "so and so Brothers auction" ....

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How old many hours is too much

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kigmatzomat
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4 Louisville, KY
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2007-05-21          142279

Thanks. The land we're looking at is almost table-top flat and 95% of what I'll be using it for is mowing. I've got an ATV and a few tow-behind attachments which will get that done.

But that means that when I need some serious work done I'll hire someone to dig fence posts, drag/split fallen trees, and dig or clean out a pond. I'd much rather own my own rig, if for no other reason than it's more comfortable than the ATV. ....

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How old many hours is too much

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kigmatzomat
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4 Louisville, KY
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2007-05-21          142280

Double thanks for the info on the Indianapolis tractor sale. We're getting situated in Memphis, Indiana, which is about an hour south of Indy. ....

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How old many hours is too much

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-05-21          142283

I'm not that good at composing replys,(I hated English class in school, never did figure out what a noun, and all those other things had to do with milking cows, or greasing a baler.) so sometimes I leave out things I meant to say even tho I always proofread a post at least twice before I'll submit it. When I mentioned checking with some dealers about used Green, Blue, or Orange tractors, I neglected to say that I meant compact utility tractors like a Deere 4300, or equivalant size in the other two major colors. I really think you would find a full size farm tractor to be far to clumbsy for your needs, and so many attachments are now available for the compacts that don't really fit a full size farm tractor real well. Nuff from me. Frank. ....

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How old many hours is too much

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AnnBrush
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 463 Troy OH
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2007-05-21          142284

I Just remembered the name, its Ted Everett auctions and their website is listed below. The next auction is Friday June 1, as usual it's a biggie. ....


Link:   

Click Here


 
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How old many hours is too much

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yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2007-05-21          142285

As an example I have a MF135 which is a '65-'68 gas model with 4200 hours. It requires periodic maintenance and burns a little oil. It don't look fancy but does the job. For occasional use, it is ideal but for the individual that requires it for everyday use, they may want to consider something just a little newer.

From your description of uses, a tractor like that, or a JD or International may be just what you're looking for. In our area parts availablility for the JD or Case/IH are the best. ....

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How old many hours is too much

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kigmatzomat
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4 Louisville, KY
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2007-05-21          142293

Wow, that's a big list of tractors. I wish that was a month later, that's the weekend we're supposed to be moving furniture into the house. Besides, I'd have to do a lot of homework just to figure out which ones to bid on!

I'll definitely bookmark the site for next year's auction as it would definitely be a good place to get attachments. ....

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How old many hours is too much

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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2007-05-21          142294

I am sure there are those who do well with farm equipment auctions and those in my area may be totally different than the ones there but one word comes to my mind with auctions: JUNK. Most of what I have ever seen at a local auction is worn out or outdated or such. Hey if you have found something at a good price or in good shape great for you. But what good I have seen there I could buy for less price at a dealership.

Depending on the way the auction is done, be sure you are bidding on the piece you think you are. I am sure there are honest auctions companies but be on the watch for bidding against yourself or against someone for the seller or auction company. Sometimes you can not know this depending on the sixe of the auction.

Yes I still read auction flyers and do visit their sites and sometimes make an auction. Just know what some of them are. kt ....

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How old many hours is too much

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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-05-22          142329

You've gotten a lot of good advice here already.

For my $0.02 worth, about all I'd add is if you do go to an auction, pay careful attention to the crowd, maybe even visit a few times before buying, auctions are a special breed of creature.

Most auctions are 'loaded' whether they admit it or not. That is when a bunch of dealers are at the auction, and both help each other out, and know ahead of time what the minimum price is for each piece. They will be there BOTH selling & buying most times. If they are buying, and they have the money to do so, they will bid anything worthwhile to at least the 'wholesale' value, then usually drop out. If they get a bargain, they will take it, if it goes up, they leave it.

If it is a piece of theirs, and it looks like it's going to go for way too little money, they will bid on it themselves, and either force the price up above their minimum, or buy it back so as to not lose money on it.

Having said that, dealers themselves are often a good source of used product, the little extra you will pay at least gives you the piece of mind that you aren't buying junk.

Also check the local sale papers, most areas have a local "farmers finder" type of classifieds paper.

Best of luck. ....

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How old many hours is too much

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cowpie1
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 9 Iowa
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2007-05-26          142483


A lot of the ads are placed on Tractor internet sites by dealers, just like autotrader.com does. But there are some individual ads. Either way, It might help you decided on what you can afford and what's out there to get.

Like anything else, hours on the equipment is a relative issue. If it is well maintained, a high hour tractor may be in great condition. I have seen tractors at equipment auctions that I would give a quarter for even though the hours were not bad because they had been abused. ....

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How old many hours is too much

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EGasoos
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6 Bremen
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2015-08-28          193455

You can read the instruction ....


Link:   samsung galaxy s6 edge folie

 
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