Something to ponder on......

Farmall plowboy · May 7, 2018

I have two 70+ year old tractors that I depend on heavily, snow plowing, disking, mowing,
hauling ect....How long do you think we will be able to continue using machines of this
age? It's not that I'm looking to replace any of my tractors (couldn't afford to anyway)It
was just a thought that popped up while driving home, Seeing all the field work going on
now.

WayneLee · May 7, 2018

Farmall's will be around to pull others to the junk yard!

moresmoke · May 7, 2018

For as long as you are willing and able to fix them.

Crazy Horse · May 7, 2018

Actually, whether it's you or Wayne (who obviously likes red tractors), the answer to your question depends on how old you are. If you're 95, I would say not a whole lot longer.

jm. · May 7, 2018

What really comes into play is DEPANDABILITY , if you were where you were making a living or just had to have a tractor things would be different. At least that is what most folks decide hey I just want a tractor that will be ready to go all time instead of working on one a lot. Most times it is not a money or cost thing but the fact that they just want something a little more dependable.

john in la · May 7, 2018

Until the no longer make parts for it due to lack of demand.

Adirondack case guy · May 7, 2018

I think you are a little bold with that statement. I guess you haven't hiked thru a tractor salvage yard lately.
Loren

dlbuck · May 7, 2018

I can't remember the last time I have seen a farmall dealer.

Traditional Farmer · May 7, 2018

When I go by the dealers shops it ain't the old stuff in there torn all apart its the newer stuff and the electronics which the older tractors don't have that gives most of the trouble.
Plus I can buy about 5 or 10 good older tractors for what one new one costs.

Phil in Pa · May 7, 2018

The thing about Farmalls is that there's enough around to be their own parts supply for some time. There was a family near here back in the day, when one broke down, they'd just go get another one out of the woods.

Andy Martin · May 7, 2018

(quoted from post at 15:47:08 05/07/18) What really comes into play is DEPANDABILITY , if you were where you were making a living or just had to have a tractor things would be different. At least that is what most folks decide hey I just want a tractor that will be ready to go all time instead of working on one a lot. Most times it is not a money or cost thing but the fact that they just want something a little more dependable.

No, it's horsepower and convenience. I've had my Farmalls for many years and they just don't break down so long as you keep the rust vibrated out of the fuel tanks and keep oil and antifreeze in them. An occasional radiator replacement, Bendix, points and plugs, batteries and tires. That's about it.

Weak hydraulics and no three point is why people stop using them, not continual breakdowns.

dlbuck · May 7, 2018

You are correct and there is nothing wrong with Farmalls, I just like to add a comment to the there is only one brand and it's the one I like guys. That being said, five years ago I needed a oil impregnated wood bushing for the steering shaft for a 1937 John Deere A. I went to the John Deere dealer and two days later I went back and picked up my bushing, and I didn't have to walk through weeds to get it. Nothing wrong with Farmalls, just telling my experience.

oldtanker · May 7, 2018

Nope, guys are right, in the not too distant future parts are going to be the problem. Some scrap yards around here if it's older than a about 1960 it get crushed right now. Just not enough demand to keep em around. And when the companies making new parts for em can't turn a decent profit they will stop making them. Ain't gonna be tomorrow. But in the next 10 to 15 years unless people start collecting again. I don't see that happening. Most collectors have a relationship from childhood with their favorites. Ain't very many people around who learned to drive on a WD45,H Farmall or B JD anymore. They learned on 3020's, 190XTs and 806's.

Rick

carvel minne farmer · May 7, 2018

good evening farmall, IMO you have 2 dependable tractors that will get the job done as long as you need them. all you have to do is your routine maintenance, when you see or hear an issue starting, get it fixed before it do's any damage. no one knows those 2 farmalls better than you and you know what you have. a comment was made that going new would give you dependability, i'm not so sure on that one, I watched 2 neighbors both with brand new tractors, one sitting in the field hooked to his new jd baler with a j.d. mechanics truck parked beside it with the laptop plugged in FOR 3 DAYS, in the middle of haying, the other neighbors tractor was winched onto the dealerships semi off the middle of the road, I went over to help we unhooked his haybine (hooked it up to my 1961 mm m5) and took it home to his yard. buying new in my experience doesn't guarantee you dependability. there have been more than a few posts on here about j.d. and others not allowing access to their computer software to diagnose and repair your new tractor. my question is what good is a new tractor that you have no hope of fixing or getting it going in the middle of harvest if it has a computer glitch and shutsdown? I won't buy a piece of equipment newer than 1995 before the "new technolodgy"

Bob · May 8, 2018

"I have two 70+ year old tractors that I depend on heavily, snow plowing, disking, mowing,
hauling ect....How long do you think we will be able to continue using machines of this
age?"

I counter with "how long do you think we can keep using today's tractors with all sorts of plastic parts and proprietary $$$$$$ electronics?" Do you think they will be running and useful 70+ years from now?

Traditional Farmer · May 8, 2018

The tractors of that era were just exceptionally well built. How many Chrysler K cars do you see people driving these days or any other 1980's built cars? About zero same will be with the
tractors they're selling now,in 30 years most will be scrapped I'd guess. Electronics will be toast or no parts support,heck a guy was on here a few months ago that couldn't find an oil filter
for a Kubota even from Kubota dealer that fit his tractor.

RLA · May 8, 2018

As for me keeping anything in the line of used parts for any of my tractor & having a place to store them. The
day is coming when they become fewer & fewer. Some will say what are you going to do with this junk? I say it's
not Junk.. My tractors will still be running long after I am gone, if there is anyone left who might know how to
start a John Deere. Parts will be a Issue for sure, but these relics will live on. 41 B, 44 A, 47 M ,54 60,58 620.

Andy Martin · May 8, 2018

(quoted from post at 00:29:26 05/08/18) "I have two 70+ year old tractors that I depend on heavily, snow plowing, disking, mowing,
hauling ect....How long do you think we will be able to continue using machines of this
age?"

I counter with "how long do you think we can keep using today's tractors with all sorts of plastic parts and proprietary $$$$$$ electronics?" Do you think they will be running and useful 70+ years from now?

Funny, when I first read his post "continue using machines of this age" I read it "machines of this current age" meaning the same. His 70 year old tractors are still fine and that is not going to be the case of 2018 production.

Regarding Farmalls versus JD and others. I believe all tractors designed in the 30's, when the goal was dependability, are about the same, Case, JD, IH, MM, Ford, etc. And because of WWII they weren't redesigned before the late 50's.

ss55 · May 8, 2018

My body tell me when I'm no longer able to use old equipment. They were not designed with old men in mind, LOL.

Meangreen · May 8, 2018

(quoted from post at 03:45:25 05/08/18) You are correct and there is nothing wrong with Farmalls, I just like to add a comment to the there is only one brand and it's the one I like guys. That being said, five years ago I needed a oil impregnated wood bushing for the steering shaft for a 1937 John Deere A. I went to the John Deere dealer and two days later I went back and picked up my bushing, and I didn't have to walk through weeds to get it. Nothing wrong with Farmalls, just telling my experience.

I can go to the Case website, pull up the entire parts manual, click on the part I want and order it if they still have it. No different than you green guys. I use to be green and then I saw the light (and prefered a foot clutch).

WGM · May 8, 2018

You need to look for you local CaseIH dealer.

Something to ponder on......

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