I've a yard full of money pits - seeking advice.

[MickyMook]

Ok folks, I will be grateful for any and all input, with the caveat that brand loyalty isn't my strong suit.

I'm currently running a Ford 7740 with a loader that was never really fit for purpose. Loader has got to go.
My main tractor is a JD 6620 without loader. It has been giving gearbox trouble and needs to have the cab lifted every couple of years seemingly, and it needs it again.
I also have a JCB 3cx which is old and starting to be unreliable.


SO.. I plan on removing loader of ford and keeping it as a yard tractor and general backup vehicle. Then I was intending to trade in JD and get something to replace it but with the addition of a loader.
I've spent a lot of time overhauling sheds so that I believe I can get away with a larger loader tractor, and the 3cx is there if I'm stuck (when it's working).
I'm looking something with a short wheel base in the 120-160hp range, that suits a loader but is big enough for road and field work.

Current short list is:
MF 6S
NH T6
JD 6150R

Not biased against other brands but these have good dealerships in my area which is a big factor. I'd be looking something with lows hours but likely not brand new.

Some friends recommending getting an older tractor and an older handler instead of one vehicle for similar money. I could certainly see some benefits to this, but worried about buying a load of problems with older equipment - been there, done that!

My question is broad and general - what would you do?

 

[MickyMook]

Also interested in Kubota but know less than nothing about them

 

[lloyd]

Ok folks, I will be grateful for any and all input, with the caveat that brand loyalty isn't my strong suit.

I'm currently running a Ford 7740 with a loader that was never really fit for purpose. Loader has got to go.
My main tractor is a JD 6620 without loader. It has been giving gearbox trouble and needs to have the cab lifted every couple of years seemingly, and it needs it again.
I also have a JCB 3cx which is old and starting to be unreliable.


SO.. I plan on removing loader of ford and keeping it as a yard tractor and general backup vehicle. Then I was intending to trade in JD and get something to replace it but with the addition of a loader.
I've spent a lot of time overhauling sheds so that I believe I can get away with a larger loader tractor, and the 3cx is there if I'm stuck (when it's working).
I'm looking something with a short wheel base in the 120-160hp range, that suits a loader but is big enough for road and field work.

Current short list is:
MF 6S
NH T6
JD 6150R

Not biased against other brands but these have good dealerships in my area which is a big factor. I'd be looking something with lows hours but likely not brand new.

Some friends recommending getting an older tractor and an older handler instead of one vehicle for similar money. I could certainly see some benefits to this, but worried about buying a load of problems with older equipment - been there, done that!

My question is broad and general - what would you do?

Get rid of the lot and start again.

 

[BuskhillFarm]

The JD best of the bunch, but it’s bigger than other two maybe a 6125r/m

But keep them well serviced whatever you buy

 

[MickyMook]

The JD best of the bunch, but it’s bigger than other two maybe a 6125r/m

But keep them well serviced whatever you buy

Thanks for responding. Are the JD transmissions any better for yard work than they used to be? I remember loaning a 6320 or 6220 (can't remember) with loader and it was such a faff in my opinion. I like the M series a lot, my only doubt is whether or not it would be fit for what the 6620 was fit for with regards to field work with tankers, dumpers etc.

To your second point - truer words have never been spoken!

 

[lloyd]

Thanks for responding. Are the JD transmissions any better for yard work than they used to be? I remember loaning a 6320 or 6220 (can't remember) with loader and it was such a faff in my opinion. I like the M series a lot, my only doubt is whether or not it would be fit for what the 6620 was fit for with regards to field work with tankers, dumpers etc.

To your second point - truer words have never been spoken!

A 6150R on big tyres would be horrible for yard work.
Visibility to the loader is very poor and so is the steering lock on the wrong wheels.

 

[MickyMook]

Get rid of the lot and start again.

Wish I could mate, but buying one fresh tractor is going to be a stretch for me currently.

A 6150R on big tyres would be horrible for yard work.
Visibility to the loader is very poor and so is the steering lock on the wrong wheels.

Thank you, this is exactly the sort of input I'm looking. Just even knowing where to start with modern tractors is a learning curve. I still think of the 20 series as pretty up to date, but it's damn near 20 years old!

 

[MickyMook]

Get rid of the lot and start again.

Also the 7740 can be fixed with a spanner and a hammer 99% of the time, so I'm loath to let her go.

 

[lloyd]

Wish I could mate, but buying one fresh tractor is going to be a stretch for me currently.



Thank you, this is exactly the sort of input I'm looking. Just even knowing where to start with modern tractors is a learning curve. I still think of the 20 series as pretty up to date, but it's damn near 20 years old!

Funny enough we had a JD6610 on a 970 quicke loader which seemed quite handy but
going to a 6155 with 643 loader just isn't. Luckily we have telehandlers so it only really
gets used in the fields.

 

[Oliveau]

I think I'd go along with the suggestion of a good s/h handler, keep the NH without the loader and swap the Deere and JCB for a good used tractor. My neighbour speaks well of the Kubota that he shares in a syndicate wirth a hedge cutter permanently attached.
Me, I'd go s/h Merlo & s/h Case/Valtra or possibly new Kubota. My eldest has been a JD man since God was a boy, but he doesn't at the moment speak well of JD reliability.

 

[MickyMook]

Funny enough we had a JD6610 on a 970 quicke loader which seemed quite handy but
going to a 6155 with 643 loader just isn't. Luckily we have telehandlers so it only really
gets used in the fields.

I find the 6620 very nimble for the size of her. However when we had the smaller 20 series out on loan I remember it just seeming far less nimble relative to it's size. That was years ago though, I probably wasn't old enough to be driving the damn thing!

 

[lloyd]

I find the 6620 very nimble for the size of her. However when we had the smaller 20 series out on loan I remember it just seeming far less nimble relative to it's size. That was years ago though, I probably wasn't old enough to be driving the damn thing!

Find a low hr version of the 6620 fit sh quicke 970 and you wont go far wrong.

 

[MickyMook]

I think I'd go along with the suggestion of a good s/h handler, keep the NH without the loader and swap the Deere and JCB for a good used tractor. My neighbour speaks well of the Kubota that he shares in a syndicate wirth a hedge cutter permanently attached.
Me, I'd go s/h Merlo & s/h Case/Valtra or possibly new Kubota. My eldest has been a JD man since God was a boy, but he doesn't at the moment speak well of JD reliability.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm definitely a fish out of water on this one. It would be the easiest thing in the world to go and buy a new tractor, not quite so easy to justify it in 2 years time when I'm still paddling upstream just to keep up with payments. I don't think the 3cx will be worth trading in. My dad bought it as a non-runner full of rust and got it going. It's not worth much financially but has done a hell of a work since, so it's worth more to us here.

 

[livestock 1]

I would suggest a telehandler. I have a 130 hp tractor and loader on one place if the telehandler is broken or away doing something else and it’s too big and numb in my opinion. Depends on your sheds but I’ve been cleaning out with it this afternoon and pleased to be finished

 

[Bevelgear]

Ok folks, I will be grateful for any and all input, with the caveat that brand loyalty isn't my strong suit.

I'm currently running a Ford 7740 with a loader that was never really fit for purpose. Loader has got to go.
My main tractor is a JD 6620 without loader. It has been giving gearbox trouble and needs to have the cab lifted every couple of years seemingly, and it needs it again.
I also have a JCB 3cx which is old and starting to be unreliable.


SO.. I plan on removing loader of ford and keeping it as a yard tractor and general backup vehicle. Then I was intending to trade in JD and get something to replace it but with the addition of a loader.
I've spent a lot of time overhauling sheds so that I believe I can get away with a larger loader tractor, and the 3cx is there if I'm stuck (when it's working).
I'm looking something with a short wheel base in the 120-160hp range, that suits a loader but is big enough for road and field work.

Current short list is:
MF 6S
NH T6
JD 6150R

Not biased against other brands but these have good dealerships in my area which is a big factor. I'd be looking something with lows hours but likely not brand new.

Some friends recommending getting an older tractor and an older handler instead of one vehicle for similar money. I could certainly see some benefits to this, but worried about buying a load of problems with older equipment - been there, done that!

My question is broad and general - what would you do?

 

[BuskhillFarm]

Thanks for responding. Are the JD transmissions any better for yard work than they used to be? I remember loaning a 6320 or 6220 (can't remember) with loader and it was such a faff in my opinion. I like the M series a lot, my only doubt is whether or not it would be fit for what the 6620 was fit for with regards to field work with tankers, dumpers etc.

To your second point - truer words have never been

I have a 6140r on loader. For carting bales and loading grain trailer, as I see you’re a livestock farmer I’d say NO far far too blind to be using daily with a grab.

In that price bracket I’m still with the opinion sell the 7740 they’re making a lot right now, keep the 6620 and a 6125r will do everything it will.

Maybe you reliability issues could be doing too much with a small tractor?

Option 2 is a 6150r for the grunt work and a loader on the 6620, it’ll last a long time in the yard.

Gearboxes on R series, don’t touch direct drive, autoquad or auto power are both fine, autopower nicer/auto quad slightly more bomb proof

 

[lloyd]

Gearboxes on R series, don’t touch direct drive, autoquad or auto power are both fine, autopower nicer/auto quad slightly more bomb proof

I've heard about the circlip stories about the direct drive but is this
part down to driver abuse ?Asking for a friend.

 

[BuskhillFarm]

I've heard about the circlip stories about the direct drive but is this
part down to driver abuse ?Asking for a friend.

No idea tbh probably are sorted by now, just a jd mechanic said auto quad best, autopower very close second.

And I’m very biased to hating powershit with a passion, it’s just like half way house

 

[BuskhillFarm]

Also to the op see your in Co Down your welcome to call and take a go in mine to see what you think RE size

 

[livestock 1]

I've heard about the circlip stories about the direct drive but is this
part down to driver abuse ?Asking for a friend.

No it’s a circlip fault either a soft clip or not enough groove or both. The gears fall off the end and mash a load of other stuff up, 16k is normal dealer to fix. JD have stood by some for parts so obviously they are admitting to some part of the problem