NY 986 how much longer?

I've been thinking about no-till or adding a second tractor for the existing minimum tillage system. All things considered I am leaning towards a second high HP tractor. Money is tight and I just do not put many hours on the 986 anymore. I hate the thought of trading off the first sizable tractor I bought but I need to be financially efficient. What might keep the 986 here is that it has a weathered look as myself or the original owner kept it inside for the most part so it may not have a lot of trade value. It has a little under 5000 original hours and 80 percent radial 20.8 X 38 tires. I am hoping a windfall comes my way so the 986 stays but we know that when you start to count on windfalls they seldom happen.

That should read "kept it outside." Darn my being in a hurry.

Is your '9' your only tractor?You should keep the '9' if at all possible.a 9 really isn't that big,a perfect size for most jubs. Also,what happens if/when you decide to go back to tillage?

Well, we are talking about minimum tillage so there will be and has been tillage but it will (and has varied) by field and soil type. No, the 986 is just one of several tractors here but there is only the 8430 here for the big jobs involving the disc chisel and field cultivator. It would be beneficial to have a second big tractor so if the disc chisel is run during the spring the field cultivator and roller can follow ASAP to minimize moisture loss. This consideration is made due to financial efficiency and nothing more. I like the 986 but I need to get everything out of the ground I can get and compressing the tillage time frame would be one way. Further, if the 8430 went down I would have something to cover the bases even if not fancy. I'm thinking maybe a 1486 or 1586 but it does not have to be red. An 8440 JD would be nice but is out of reach budget-wise.

Lots to consider there. As a no till guy, I'd tend to lead you towards that route, as the fuel, machinery, and labor savings do add up. There are some very good no-till resources in nearby Vermont and PA for you to look at. I gave a presentation for UVM at their no till and cover crop conference two winters ago, and was impressed by what some of their producers were doing on cold, wet, clay soils.

As for whether or not to sell the tractor, there is a lot to consider there. There is not much tied up in it, but it could also be another dead battery, flat tire, hydraulic leak, etc. You have to determine what is best for you. Being this is a site dedicated to old tractors, I doubt you'll hear many responses telling you to ditch the thing .

When my boy started with no till they rented a tractor. I know when I worked for a dealer he would rent used tractors to farmers for a week or a month. It helped pay for the interest on the tractor while it was setting on the lot

No-till is enticing to the point of being maddening. The bottom line for me is most of my clays do not respond to no-till based on the limited trials I have done. Even less effective in 30 inch rows which I do in large part to minimize white mold issues. At the same time there are clay soils here in the East that are highly productive including vegetable crop and respond better to no-till.
I think that the bottom line on the 986 will be insufficient trade value. I don't think there will be a net gain by changing out the cab, new paint, and so forth. I would have to go into the engine which actually is in good condition other than a little more oil usage than I like to get rid of the oil wash. I used to be concerned about it until I read about 86 series engines over on Red Power then my oil usage did not look bad at all. Probably worth 4,500-5,000 dollars the way it is currently. I don't want to pay the retail dollar on a 1486 if I don't have to so if one came along at auction for 9,000 dollars then I would only have to come up with a few thousand dollars plus the 986. A Case 2470 would look better on paper at 5-6K assuming it was not wore out. A JD 8440 would be ideal but I am skittish at the moment about putting 15,000 dollars altogehter in such a tractor.

Renting would be ideal but usually there are no tractors on the lot to rent during May here. Further, two big dealers have had a no rent policy and since the area JD dealer reformed with another group they do not rent for the time being anyways. Right now I have time to ponder it and it looks like I don't need a year end write off this time around.

Are you trying to no till corn or beans, or what?

Mainly beans although I have zone tilled corn in the past. I've zone tilled beans and have rented drills in the past and have been dissatisfied with the yields. A fair amount of the clays here get tight during the growing season and it probably does not help that small grains are out of the rotation as they are more organic matter friendly in that as well as turning under the straw that there usually is a growth of red clover to be turned under in the fall or following spring. I keep the zone till equipment for the possibility of renting ground several miles from home that is more loamy and is better drained. When the recent most grain boom happened it pushed rents up beyond what I could afford to pay so I have been working just land that is mine. The rental rates are starting to come back to earth but there is more competition now.

Sounds like you're going to have sellers remorse if you get rid of it.I keep the good tractors and sell something that is aggravating me and costing money to own.

If I remember right the 986 had a bigger motor than the 1086 and with a turbo and pump work they would be a 1486 hp wise. Dad bought a 986 new and the guy that bought it from him did that. The tractor is still in the area and getting used.( it was the only IH used on the farm and he never liked the way it shifted)

I don't know what you're asking? Do you want to trade the 9 off for something bigger? But don't have the money to do it?