B-day gift to myself

[Mobuck]

I bought a 'project tractor'.
Back story: Our 'utility' tractors are OLD (as in 60'ish years old) and have become increasingly unreliable. Two of these that Son 'claims' became unusable during hay harvest this year. The remaining FORD 4000 is one Dad bought new in 1967 has had a long, hard life and deserves some relief. Son and I have been watching for something that is more cost effective to operate, newer/lower hours, and hopefully more dependable.

Yesterday, I saw a C-list ad for a right size John Deere with a vaguely described mechanical problem. Son agreed with my opinion that this might be an OK possibility and we went to look last night in the dark and rain. I can't really describe just how sketchy this place at the end of a dead end road in the middle of nowhere looked but we didn't let all that deter our search. Turned out this was an OK guy just trying to move some stuff for his step Mother so the family could settle Dad's estate. Anyhoo, I thought the ad said he was pricing tractor and equipment separately but he said it was all included. I didn't try to dicker as the additional 'goodies' were worth a good portion of the asking price and the supposed serious mechanical issues may(?) be simply lack of mechanical knowledge. AND
The tractor turned out to be a one owner bought new from the local JD dealer and serviced in their shop until the owner died last year. Lightly used and stored inside until a year ago when the owner died.
Now the difficult part: 7000# of dead tractor and two trailer loads of equipment at the end of a 2 track gravel path. Hoping the weather clears for 2-3 days so I can get my dump truck and heavy hauler trailer out of the dirt road where we left it last week.

 

[contender]

Happy Birthday!!!

Sounds like you found a great deal. Good Karma!

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I am in no way familiar with or have mechanical knowledge of large farm equipment. However, over the years I have hunted a lot, I mean a lot, of different farms in different states. Enormous farms, and small farms. One of the things that began to interest me and my youngest Son was the tractors and the equipment. I have a small JD tractor for my mowing and property tasks. When going to the JD dealer you see big gigantic shiny tractors and pictures of huge combines and such. However, on all of the farms I've hunted I've rarely seen new shiny stuff. The equipment is generally very old. Some of the farmers I got to know were some of the hardest working, toughest and smartest folks I've ever met. Some of them are one man shows. One of the very few farms I have access to now is smaller, just over 100 acres of corn & bean. I've known that farmer for over 25 years. He's been a one man show since his Sons graduated and left, a long time before I met him. He does the farming and equipment maintenance himself. I have never seen a new piece of equipment. He has a few different sized tractors, I'm not sure which kind but they are nowhere close to new. I think he's over 80 and he's still out there tearing these things down and repairing them. Same for his pick ups and larger trucks. All from the 70's and running. Impressive. My youngest Son, was also amazed by him and that farm. He basically grew up learning about the outdoors and hunting on that farm and it holds a very special place in his heart. Every time he is home on weekend liberty or leave, he hits that farm. He scouts it, but basically just absorbs it in. In the 11th grade he wrote a paper about that farm. He found it in storage last year. It mentions the various sights, sounds and smells of the farm from before sunlight to dark. I know the farmers Son. I told him about it, he told his Dad (the Farmer) and he wanted to see it. My Son sent it to him. A couple months ago he called my Son out of the blue to thank him. He said to my Son "I've seen you since you were no taller than your Dad's knee, but now I feel I really know who you are". He wanted to see my Son for a talk. A few weeks ago my Son was home on leave for the 3 day muzzleloader season. He went out to the farm to watch deer movement. After he was done, he stopped by the house. The Farmer mentioned the letter, and wanted my Son to read it to him so he could hear it in his voice. My Son said that when he finished, the Farmer and his Wife had tears in their eyes. I later asked the Farmers Son about it and he said "Yeah, Dad was both touched and tickled about it".

Farmers impress me. I feel they don't get enough respect or pay back. That letter meant a lot to that Farmer. That should tell you a lot about Farmers. I think it takes a special type of person to be one, and stick to it an entire life time.

Sorry for the long post, and it may have been a bit off track from the OP.

 

[Mobuck]

I've never owned a new tractor. Dad bought new Ford 4000's in 67 & 69 plus a like new used 67 4000 in 1970. I still own one of the 1967 models and gave one to Son. My 'big' tractors are 1977 and 1980 but still perform as needed. In fact, one (a 1977 JD 4430 with very low hours) is so rare as to perk the ears of collectors.
We do have a bigger MFWD that Son bought a couple years back that does the heavy work but even that one is 20+ years old.
I've made some concessions to technology over the past few years. One I've been impressed with is the 'auto-steer' we're using on both planter tractors. Makes life easier for the old man. Just get close to the right line and push a button. The GPS takes over and steers a near perfect line from end to end. No more struggling to see row markers--just watch the planter monitor to make sure seed is going into the ground and lift at field end.

 

[turd]

Happy Birthday! Sounds like a good find.

 

[JohnL]

I've never owned a new tractor. Dad bought new Ford 4000's in 67 & 69 plus a like new used 67 4000 in 1970. I still own one of the 1967 models and gave one to Son. My 'big' tractors are 1977 and 1980 but still perform as needed. In fact, one (a 1977 JD 4430 with very low hours) is so rare as to perk the ears of collectors.
We do have a bigger MFWD that Son bought a couple years back that does the heavy work but even that one is 20+ years old.
I've made some concessions to technology over the past few years. One I've been impressed with is the 'auto-steer' we're using on both planter tractors. Makes life easier for the old man. Just get close to the right line and push a button. The GPS takes over and steers a near perfect line from end to end. No more struggling to see row markers--just watch the planter monitor to make sure seed is going into the ground and lift at field end.

That auto steer technology is great for larger fields. Mine are all small enough for a visual reference. In 2006 I bought brand new a Korean made tractor with a Cummins engine. Four wheel drive and somewhat compact. 65 HP which can be increased to 90 if needed. I retired an International Harvester 544 with hydrostatic drive. That was a great machine and I wish I had not sold it.

 

[WendyZXZ]

Happy Birthday, and sounds like a fine present!

 

[Mobuck]

UPDATE
We got the tractor and all the equipment hauled home yesterday. Weather wasn't cooperative--rained the entire project. Too muddy to turn around at the farmstead so I had to back my trailer 1/4 mile to get to a spot where we could safely load and Son had to back even further since his trailer is less maneuverable and has less clearance than mine.
Took all morning but made it home w/o incident. Got the big stuff unloaded and tractor inside where we can begin sorting out it's problem. Very likely not anything serious or expensive to get it running(remember HOPE is just another four letter word).
Younger Son has already placed some of the smaller gardening size equipment on his WANT list. That's fine since he may as well get the use from it rather than me trying to peddle it to a stranger.

 

[Johnnu2]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mobuck......
I bought me a T-Shirt saying: "weird being the same age as OLD PEOPLE"

J.

 

[contender]

Progress!!!! Kudos.

 

[gnappi]

Funny, I grew split between the city and rural country, but I ALWAYS wanted a tractor. No use for one but always look at them.

 

[Mike J]

Happy Birthday. I hope you can get the tractor sorted out quickly. It sounds like you did really well.

 

[KIR]

B-Day gifts to one's self are the best!!!

 

[gnappi]

B-Day gifts to one's self are the best!!!

And no stealthily made returns either

 

[MaxMan]

Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

 

[Randyzzz]

Congrats on your Birthday present! I spent most of the weekend working my little tractor- I wanted to spread out 2 years worth of horse manure over the bottom of our property before the rain came today. 4 horses for 2 years- I think there was 40 yards or so…

I'm actually thinking of selling our tractor. I had it at the shop for a hydraulic cylinder reseal and a basic oil change. Came to $500. This thing gets used 2, maybe 3 times a year. I think renting one when I need it might be a better option for me. At least financially…

 

[Mobuck]

Renting is an option IF you have a cooperative rental business not far away. We have a fairly cooperative rental place but it's an hour drive. Using one of their pieces costs close to $400 just in hauling expense.
At present, we've not got the little bugger to run but may have identified the primary cause. Electric solenoid valve inside the injector pump that shuts off the engine when the key is turned off. The wisdom of placing an electrical device INSIDE a diesel fuel bath evades me.
With deer season beginning in 4 days and Son's work schedule, I doubt we make much progress right away. Really was hoping for a quicker resolution but it's a long time until 2025 hay harvest.

 

[Randyzzz]

Renting is an option IF you have a cooperative rental business not far away. We have a fairly cooperative rental place but it's an hour drive. Using one of their pieces costs close to $400 just in hauling expense.
At present, we've not got the little bugger to run but may have identified the primary cause. Electric solenoid valve inside the injector pump that shuts off the engine when the key is turned off. The wisdom of placing an electrical device INSIDE a diesel fuel bath evades me.
With deer season beginning in 4 days and Son's work schedule, I doubt we make much progress right away. Really was hoping for a quicker resolution but it's a long time until 2025 hay harvest.

I'm pretty lucky here. There's a great rental place in town, just 15 minutes down the road. And I have a 16' equipment trailer so transport is just time and fuel- not much of either.

 

[kentucky yeti]

I rented this a month ago for 3 days. $750 for the 3 days, and $60 for delivery and pickup. I moved more dirtpiles (from when I had the pond dug out a couple years ago) in three days with this 12,000# 97hp rig than I had already moved in 7 days with my 75 hp tractor and loader. Wish I owned it!

 

[Randyzzz]

I rented this a month ago for 3 days. $750 for the 3 days, and $60 for delivery and pickup. I moved more dirtpiles (from when I had the pond dug out a couple years ago) in three days with this 12,000# 97hp rig than I had already moved in 7 days with my 75 hp tractor and loader. Wish I owned it!

That's probably why I'm considering selling my rig. It's a nice tractor but it's small. It's a Kioti CK20S. Whopping 22HP. It does fit through the 5' panel gates in the horse areas, though. It has a front loader with a rear scraper, brush hog, and post hole digger. The big problem is the bucket holds about the equivalent of 4 wheelbarrows full. To move and spread those 40 some yards of manure it took about 6 hours. Plus it's a manual- if it were hydrostatic I'd probably keep it. My knee was swollen and pretty mad once I was done. My wife even joined in on the fun!