Life expectacy of tractors

[mtncows]

Someone asked me the other day how long a tractor should last.I have often thought about it but don't know.Never seen a tractor that was worn out except from abuse.

 

[cfpinz]

I'd say around 5000 hours is a turning point in the life of a tractor. If you have any major trouble (engine, transmission) before then, I'd be disappointed in the tractor. That being said I know of quite a few tractors out and about now with around 10k hours on them with no major overhauls. All depends on how well you care for them and the luck of the draw in some cases.

cfpinz

 

[flaboy]

The hour meters usually give up on me before the tractors do.

 

[Florida cattle]

Have a friend who has several high hour (10,000 +) tractors on his row crop farm, and they've all had work done some major but always allot of minor stuff has been fixed on them. They are serviced and well maintained. He just sold one last year that had over 16,000 hrs it was on it's 3rd motor and 2nd transmission rebuild and it was still like a ticking time bomb to run, but it was running :lol:

 

[CKC1586]

My Grandpa bought a John Deere 50 in 1957, when he retired from his farm my Dad bought it, it worked on our farm until 1972 when my Dad retired but he couldn't part with the tractor. He took it with him to Houghton Lake and it cleared lots, pushed snow every winter and put in docks for the neighborhood. My Dad passed away March 06 and now the 50 has moved to my brothers farm. She won't get worked too much there. Some new tires and a new paint job are the only major things done. Still runs great.

 

[DiamondSCattleCo]

It really depends on the owner and the type of work its done in its life. We've got several high hour (12,000; 15,000; 18,000) tractors around here that have never had major work done on them, but they're getting close. I've also got one 6500 hour tractor that I bought a few years ago, and shes not going to have too many more hours before I replace the engine. The PTO went out this year. But the people that owned it before me used it on a 16 foot discbine and this tractor was nowhere near large enough for that kind of work.

Long story short: Change the oil, use high quality oil only, do the schueduled maintance, and buy too big a tractor for your needs and you'll get alot of hours out of it.

Rod

 

[bigbull338]

tractors will last as long as you want to keep them repaired an running.i know that doesnt answer your question.we have a 7700 ford that was bought new 30yrs ago.its on its 2nd motor because the block cracked on the 1st one at 3300hrs.the 2nd motor has well over 8000hrs on it.an the tractor is still running strong.

 

[Florida cattle]

DiamondS you made a good point, with the type of work a tractor does as to how long it will last, but I'd also add what will break first somtimes. We use to have one tractor that if it was running the PTO was on, so guess what the first thing to go was, the PTO clutches went, if you have a tractor that does allot of loader work there is a good chance you will be working on the front axle and steering. So I guess the question "How long will a tractor will last" has only one answer.

Till you run it long enough and hard enough to break it !!! ;-)

Which for some people is not that long.

 

[dieselbeef]

The hour meters usually give up on me before the tractors do.

10-4!

 

[dun]

Not long enough on the good ones and waaaaay to long on the crappy ones.

 

[dieselbeef]

ive got a jd 2010 w a loader and a backhoe..it leaks a little and is losing power now but it still works if yer careful not to abuse it.
im actaully gonna sell it after hay fedin is over and look for somethin a little newer. the mtr says 2800 but its long not werked even before i got it

 

[dyates]

Just like vehicles, I can't imagine that the new ones will last as many years as the old ones. Under heavy, regular use, You can probably get a lot more hours of use out of a new one. There's just too many electronic bells and whistles that I can't imagine will last for 50-75 years. Many of the new tractors just don't have as much steel in them either.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Someone asked me the other day how long a tractor should last.I have often thought about it but don't know.Never seen a tractor that was worn out except from abuse.

I am still running a 30 year old Massey, I replaced the injectors last year and had to have the alternator and clutch rebuilt.

 

[backhoeboogie]

I've got a Massey 1105 with a front bucket. The front bucket isn't much count - too light. Probably used to the front bucket on the track loader or hoe. The a/c doesn't work. Other than that, it'll do everything I need done. Best I can tell it is a '78.

 

[Mahoney Pursley Ranch]

Friend of mine has 3 JD's over 40 years old that will do everything he needs them to do. They have never been overhauled and the hours are unknown.

 

[Limomike]

Same as with all equipment... take care of it, and it should last for years, as proven by the many comments on here about owning tractors over 30 years or so.
I gotta 25 yr old JD diesel 2440,with over 7000+ miles on it, still running strong; also have an old Massey 35 that is over 50 yrs old, and it is still a good running little gasoline tractor for small jobs.