Need around 100 PTO HP tractor, discussion.

I've got about 900 acres, cattle only. I hay in the summer and feed in the winter by myself. So I need something reliable. Mostly baler and Haybuster. I had an 1855 Oliver, then a 2-105 White, not worth fixing with parts cost alone, and not enough right parts between the two to save enough money to be worth it, rather put it toward something else. Don't really want a project to do myself either when it's major repairs, I have enough going on. I've been looking for some time, tend to over analyze things, and really don't like much of what I see. I do my own repairs most of the time but I don't like constant or major projects. Budget is open, I don't want to go too crazy, I'm not a farmer where I'm pulling super heavy stuff 24x7, but I'd like reliable. I'd like to spend $10k, but I could swing $30k if absolutely necessary (much rather not). Agco stuff has been ok, but I'm on my own with parts etc. and not many people like working on them around here. Local guy wouldn't take my Oliver for instance, so good shop was 60 miles away. Agco dealer is 30 miles away but everything is gold plated, manager would talk a person into putting $25k into a 2-105 (that happened to another guy, he wouldn't stop putting money in it, front and rear, but it was his choice). Not many Allis around, high price and visually look like junk/beat up. Any I've seen around have had things out, trans. not shifting right, and over $10k anyway. Different tractor, not familiar with, and lower support than Green, not very appealing. I like the looks of the 100 series Whites, but they are priced in Deere territory even though a bit newer than some, and far away. Within driving distance are a couple 4230s, one around $12k, quad, no work done at all, 10k hours. 4240, powershift, 10k hours, about $16k, no work done. A few 4430s and 40s. IH 5088 within a few hour drive, 9K hours, waiting on price and details if updates were done. I know they can be reliable, but kinda old with all the electronics they have, switches/solenoids in trans. etc. I'd guess $15k plus for that. I see the little Maxxum tractors like 5240, but they seem high and there isn't one super close, would take a day to look at one. There was a 5230 close right at $20k, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't get along with one that small without a turbo and when I asked, gone. One thing, I hate with a passion the IH '86 series or similar, anything older too. I don't care if they work, they are also high for what they are, and would be a downgrade from what I had. I don't see many Case or more oddball tractors around, mostly Deere and IH.

...suggestions? I'm not too concerned on where it comes from, I can get it shipped. I've been on tractorhouse and most everything, just need some more thoughts besides salesman or people trying to dump their old tractor since I'm on my own. Most of my neighbors have newer green stuff, and I see no reason to do that myself with what I have here. Thanks.

Are you totally opposed to staying with a White? I know just speaking for myself,I've been awfully tempted to go talk to an Agco dealer here who has a one owner 120 Workhorse. They had the 5.9 Cummins in them. Don't know that I ever heard a bad word about those.

Do any of your tractors have a cab on now ?

For heat of summer and cold of winter work I'd upgrade just for the cab alone.

I'm partial to Deere's but they do resale pretty high and other brands offer cheaper HP.

Might go check out a newer Kubota ? Some guys on here have some of the ones around that HP and like them.

I'd take that 5088 in a heartbeat.

The "electronics" aren't complicated at all....that's a myth.

Allan

(quoted from post at 13:10:42 07/21/14) Are you totally opposed to staying with a White? I know just speaking for myself,I've been awfully tempted to go talk to an Agco dealer here who has a one owner 120 Workhorse. They had the 5.9 Cummins in them. Don't know that I ever heard a bad word about those.

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He may be in my boat. Really terrible dealers support.

Rick

I am very biased but with my opinion and $1.50 you can get a coffee anywhere....John Deere 4240...100+ hp no electronics other than the radio,nice cab,good reputation. Yes you might have to through in a few extra $ but what is frustration worth?

Well,he said about 30 miles. I drove 38 one way to mine this morning to drop off an Over/Under powershift unit for repair. Worth the drive for the kind of service I get there.

$ 10,000 will get you a mid to late '70,s or early '80,s that will have high hrs and need work periodically. One in this category comes to mind and only if one owner low hr or been gone through recently and that is 1070 Case. Very sweet tractor if you can find one not beat to death. A very nice one can be had for $10,000. You may better meet your criteria by going to $20,000 and into mid "80,s or early '90,s but I would still look for the one or two owner stuff and maybe put an ad on craigslist and shake one loose from someone retiring or an estate. Stay away from the dealers. Creampuffs never get traded in to dealers.

what about a ford tw series?any new holland dealers around?

If there's any Ford's around I'd look for a 7710/8210 or 7740/8240... They'll about be in the power range you want or could be turned up to it... reasonably versatile for chore tractors. Should fall in the middle of your price range for something half decent. Parts are fairly available for the most things...

Rod

(quoted from post at 16:11:19 07/21/14) Well,he said about 30 miles. I drove 38 one way to mine this morning to drop off an Over/Under powershift unit for repair. Worth the drive for the kind of service I get there.

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Lucky you. If I made the drive to ours I'd get told that parts were NLA when they are still available. Then the guy tries to give you a lowball offer on yours to buy something he has on the lot. I got drive over 50 miles to get good parts service for AGCO stuff. Sorry, but a dealer can make or brake any brand of machinery.

Rick

If you are used to olivers and Whites you will never be happy with anything else. But that works the other way also. As prices for new climb so does the clean used market also. So to get a dependable tractor you will have to spend $$$. sorry fact of life! I was in the same boat as you a few years ago and bit the bullet and bought an Agco RT95. I couldn't be happier with it.

I am familiar with White, and I have that "Hello old friend" feeling when I see one.... It's just my experience with parts and getting work done that want me to move from Agco stuff. I see the 120s etc on Tractorhouse and there is one that looks pretty nice possibly with that recent overhaul and clutch etc., but far away. I don't read anything bad about them either. This area just did not have many Whites around. I've been in the Agco dealer that's 30 miles away several times trying to do business. Minor issues to major issues personally, plus stories I know to be true, I'd imagine a root canal would be more fun than some of the times, and cost of stuff and services, Deere is cheaper than them, what I've seen, even things like hydraulic oil. I don't think they do much business, and going into any other dealer, just "feels" better walking through the door, friendlier vibe I guess.

Next closest Agco dealer is 65 miles away if I travel 30 miles of gravel (if it rains on the rare occasions it does, the road gets to be a big mess, as in if it rains enough, 4x4 mess), 75 miles away if I go mostly paved. That town is my closest Walmart. Also the closest New Holland and Kubota dealer (I hear some good things, but it's one of those that I don't know anyone that owns one). 15 miles away is a village with a small overpriced grocery store that I never go to. Small as in I would guess less than 2000 square feet and one register. That and a gas station are the only retail stores. If I need any supplies, say socks, it's 30 miles one way. So driving a distance is just part of the deal with anything.

Ford/New Holland. One neighbor farms with newer New Holland stuff, but I do not see any Fords around anywhere, I will try looking again, if I can find one within driving distance I will look. My neighbor likes the newer stuff.

I did have a cab. But when I'm haying with a baler I leave the windows open and attempt to reduce wind blowing in my direction for very long. I can hear my baler, and the one time I had a bearing go out while baling, I smelled it. I go over the baler before starting, I've caught every bad bearing/issue before baling except one, so far. And I walk around it sometimes while it's running. Winter, I will agree, heater is very nice.

5088 electronics. I just read the troubleshooting that goes on in forums when say the high side goes out or something. Unplugging this, checking pressure with that, switching wires/solenoids, could be Sentry, etc. It's more to it than what I'm used to. I can handle that, it would just take a bit of getting used to (if there's ever an issue, of course). There are some around, and the mechanics think very, very highly of them here. I know someone that has one, he almost got another. He said he keeps the phone number of the mechanic with him for if he needs something. Me, it's sometimes been years in between calling someone, and when I call, I know what the issue is already or have an idea, it's just to get stuff done. If I see a good one, I'd probably get it.

Deere. The very first time I got in a newer one, a quad range 4230, I knew how to drive it. Easy shifting, nice cab. I know I would get along with one. Back when I looked for the White I looked at several Deeres. Around 8000 hours some had the quad gone through, over $8k if I recall correctly at the one dealer. It's just that any Deere I see around, they are like the ones I mentioned, 8 to 15k something hours and no recent work done. Which, I know old stuff will break, it would just be nice to find something that's closer to having been worked on, less chance of it breaking down when needed (maybe...). Like these closest ones, 10k hours on both, no work done, period, as far as they know. 8k I'd chance, maybe, but I don't know. One of the issues I over analyze I guess. I also know they use more fuel. Which, if it's reliable, not that big of an issue, but a consideration.

Case. I have heard good things about some of them. I don't know of any around, haven't seen any used sitting this time, or last time. Yet. I will look.

I've looked through every online resource I can think of, including the radio station's site, classifieds for papers, dealer sites, Tractorhouse, Ironsearch etc. Also Craigslist, but the towns it lists, closest is 100 miles away, and another one 120 or so from me, have to look through all of them to see stuff that's within driving distance. I wish they'd let a person set a radius or something in the searches. Posting, I haven't had much luck in the past, but could try again.

I hope to be able to have time to do some calling and maybe driving within a few days if nothing goes wrong. I do have some leads. Initial round I sent out many emails hoping to narrow things down, but of course none of them seem to ever write back to a basic question or two, they want a person to at least call, it would just be easier to narrow down first.

Thanks everyone.

(quoted from post at 06:32:09 07/22/14) I wish they'd let a person set a radius or something in the searches. Posting, I haven't had much luck in the past, but could try again.

.

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Try http://www.searchtempest.com/. It's a search engine for craigslist. Enter your zip, number of miles you are willing to travel and away you go!

Rick

I agree wholeheartedly,100%. That's why I went from everything Deere to everything Agco though. Walking in to the Agco dealer here is like walking back in time vs walking in to a cold,unfriendly Deeremart. Hearing the parts gal flip through the old books vs some kid tapping computer keys,no comparison. But,I get in to deep trouble every time I say that on here.

Run a white 2-85 & jd 4230. Deere runs on half
repair bills as white. 4230 has 11000 hours , white
6000. 30 series john deere tend to start eating
repair money at around 7 to 9 thousand hours
. Ours has had clutch, quad range, air conditioning,
etc. Motor untouched. Reason for fixing ,I like
tractor.I like the 2-85also .it just takes more
repair money per reach hour .(clutch 3 times, rod
&main bearings injector pump& injectors twice.) My
advice , run what you know as long as you have a
good dealer and parts availability .they all break
down at some point.

The Deere dealer here is pretty decent. Small, usually only one or two guys working at the parts counter, and I believe two salesmen. They chat while you are getting your parts, ask how haying is going, etc. Like I said, I live 30 miles from them, but they remember who I am, and if like haying comes up for instance, they say they talked to so and so from my area and mention what they said too. I'm not in there very often either, so it gives me the impression that they make an effort to get along with people when they remember me. My baler is a Deere and I have a couple older tractors around, but I don't do that much business there, just occasional parts. Haven't been in an IH dealer to do business, I don't hear anything bad.

I got one day to drive, went 130 miles away. 4430, 4440, ih 5140 with 12000 hrs (feedlot tractor), couple MXs, etc. And a few in between. Pretty much felt they were all overpriced for their condition, except the MXs. Know I'm being picky, I'd just like to find something that didn't have so many issues on day 1, even the more expensive ones seem to need something right away (or high enough hours with no recent repairs). 4430 had 8000 hours, saw the back first, drawbar was reinforced very heavy. Checked hydraulic fluid, none on the stick. Went to the side, found the hydraulic fluid on the ground, pretty sure it's the gasket that requires splitting the tractor. Also engine oil dripping off the pan plug and the pan covered in it, didn't see where that was from, and leaks out of the injection pump. $15k for that. The neighbor had a couple 4430s before he got the new one, they like fuel, but they always started for him, he liked them. I know 40 series had some worthwhile improvements (like better starting...).

There's a 5088 that was supposed to come in the end of this week that's pretty close, I was supposed to get a call, but didn't. Will check on it Monday I guess. Hour meter is broken but their best estimate is that it has lower hours (they gave me a guess on the hours). I asked if it had the rear end update, didn't know (figured I'd look for the punch mark). But it's priced ok. If they didn't sell it out from under me, judging from what little I can tell, probably about the best candidate for what I see around.

I know they all break down at times, just with what I'm seeing around, looks like a person would have to buy something and then have it in the shop right away, which I guess is an option. Budget might have to increase to MX level if not. If I'd be able to get away more it would go faster.

Try http://www.searchtempest.com/. It's a search engine for craigslist. Enter your zip, number of miles you are willing to travel and away you go!

Rick

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Good grief, never entered my mind to look for something like that, that actually makes it usable. Thanks!

I tried to find a decent 5088 but not really much around, a couple I looked at had some issues and/or a fishy story. A 5288 that looked very promising, called the dealer and he said it was great, drove 120 miles. Looked in the radiator, full of dirty engine oil. 500 hours on overhaul supposedly, and the salesman "knew nothing" of that. Drove a 4255 Deere that I was going to get, D2 to D3 ground bad shifting, and a few other issues besides, salesman also "didn't know" about that. Few Cases around, Fords from the 70s with higher hours, but not really great, and not any in classifieds. High hours, severe issues, most of what I saw. No Whites around close. Looked at a 140 that was about 300 miles away, high price plus getting it here, plus it needed all new tires, etc., figured that wouldn't be smart....

Long story short, because it was an adventure that I could go on and on about, I found an '81 4240 with supposedly 7000 hours on it, quad. Paint isn't good, little oil leak out of the valve cover gasket (didn't notice new oil after driving it around), and a little leak above the brake pedals somewhere, but that's all I noticed for issues. I know they use more fuel than some. They said it would be a week plus before they could get around to getting it here. It came with duals that weren't there so I didn't see them, full set of weights. They also had an old DuAl loader there with grapple, bucket, and pallet fork (didn't really need but part of the set) that I got them to throw in, the setup was off of a 4440. Grapple wasn't great, teeth part, but the base they were attached to looked straight, loader didn't look worn out and I didn't see any welds. Didn't have any other loaders there for this to look at.

It only has two remotes. It does have an extra pair of outlets at the back but no control for them, and I didn't look where they went. I'm not familiar with power beyond/plumbing things like loaders in directly, never did it before. They aren't going to set that up for me, said that the stuff costs them what it would cost me, they don't have it in, and I figured I'd make sure the tractor worked before I started to think about that stuff very much. So I'll figure it out when I get around to it, I know it's not difficult.