Tractor hours

[WelshSmallholder1404]

How many hours is reasonable for a second hand tractor? I understand some is more then others but my understanding is limited to distance on cars, not hours on tractors unfortunately.

Thanks.

 

[Barleymow]

My newest tractor is 30 in October, been here from new 8250 hrs on the clock

 

[HarryB97]

I would go by the condition and service history more than the hours as that will also reflect how it was driven, some people can destroy kit in a few thousand hours! It also depends if the tractor will be working hard on a cultivator or ticking along on a mixer wagon. I no some people who always buy 10+ year old kit with over 5000 hours on and have very little issues but I always go new or ex demo as only have one tractor.

 

[Wellytrack]

It depends.

If it's built in Finland and name starts with a V it will do 29000 hours and cost you £4.99 in repairs.

If it's anything else it will try to break you harder than Ivan Drago.

 

[Steevo]

I tend to think of tractor hours as being car mileage with a 0 knocked off.

1000hrs = 10,000 miles - just run in, showroom condition.

4000hrs = 40,000 miles - ideal secondhand buy that drives and looks almost as new with a huge saving. Should go on for a long time without any major issues other than regular servicing and maintenance.

8000hrs = 80,000 miles - getting a bit long in the tooth but if it’s been sound for it’s life so far shouldn’t pose too much issue to keep a while longer if you have no reason to change. Some larger maintenance potentially required though.

10,000hrs = 100,000miles - if it’s made it this far you and it have done well, but change will likely soon be a consideration when warning signs appear.

Never run much past that. Tractors and cars don’t do enough work to run up bigger hours before wanting to change for some reason, or suffering a terminal mishap.

 

[michael N123]

Age matters aswell a 20-30 year old tractor with low hours that’s not been used a lot could have more problems than a high housed tractor that’s been used and cared for

 

[Al R]

9100 hours on a 30 year old tractor here yet I know of a few contractors doing those hours in 3 years.
3-500hrs/year would be a good average to look at though.

 

[box]

Less than 10,000 hours is a good place to be.

 

[Fendtbro]

I tend to think of tractor hours as being car mileage with a 0 knocked off.

1000hrs = 10,000 miles - just run in, showroom condition.

4000hrs = 40,000 miles - ideal secondhand buy that drives and looks almost as new with a huge saving. Should go on for a long time without any major issues other than regular servicing and maintenance.

8000hrs = 80,000 miles - getting a bit long in the tooth but if it’s been sound for it’s life so far shouldn’t pose too much issue to keep a while longer if you have no reason to change. Some larger maintenance potentially required though.

10,000hrs = 100,000miles - if it’s made it this far you and it have done well, but change will likely soon be a consideration when warning signs appear.

Never run much past that. Tractors and cars don’t do enough work to run up bigger hours before wanting to change for some reason, or suffering a terminal mishap.

H’mm I’d say more like 2-1 ratio. I have ran Massey and fendt to 10k+ hours and believe me, at that hours absolutely anything can and does fail. All my Toyota cars however are bought at over 100k miles and are usually ran to 200k with very little trouble. If only Toyota built tractors...!!

 

[Mur Huwcun]

100,000 miles is 3333 ish hours at average speed of 30mph. Plenty of cars pass 200k, not many tractors get past the 15k hours only the hero ones that “had new clock at 8000, clock stopped years ago must of done 30k hours by now......

 

[Spear]

100,000 miles is 3333 ish hours at average speed of 30mph. Plenty of cars pass 200k, not many tractors get past the 15k hours only the hero ones that “had new clock at 8000, clock stopped years ago must of done 30k hours by now......

Utter rubbish.

We have 8050 with 16000 and 705 with 24000 on the clock and the latter did stop working for 2-3 yrs before starting again so has done more than the stated in reality.
Both used daily and both more reliable than the modern replacements we run as well.

 

[box]

So we should all go out and buy tractors which have done 24,000 hours because your one is reliable?

Get real.

 

[EddieB]

How many hours is reasonable for a second hand tractor? I understand some is more then others but my understanding is limited to distance on cars, not hours on tractors unfortunately.

Thanks.

It will also depend on what you are planning to use the tractor for. Obviously you don’t want to buy anything that has had it, but if it’s got to work hard for it’s money then maybe younger / lower hours better?

 

[seedman stains]

https://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/tractors/high-hour-horsepower-massey-ferguson-6465-hits-21464-hours not very often a red one gets a good write up

 

[Spud]

I don't mind running tractors to higher hours, but don't often buy them like that, and I don't want all the fleet on mega hours. For me, it largely depends on the intended workload.

Tractors and telehandlers then:

2001 JCB 530/70 - bought at 2yo/1700hrs. Now done 11400hrs, had engine rebuild last year, does 3-400hrs/yr. It will stay for the duration, handy 3rd machine.
2012 JCB 536/70 - bought in 2017 with 5000hrs, now on 7600. Does 5-600/yr. Up for change in the next 12months probably for a similar machine 2yrs ish old.
2020 TM320s - bought new last August, now done 700hrs, will probably hit 1000/yr. Replaced a 15yo/12000hr TM300 (bought new) Does all the hard work.

MF Tractors
1994 3075 bought 9yo 3600hrs, now done 11000. Does 2-300/yr. Small jobs, drain jetting, rake, irrigators, rolling. Replaced a Maxxum with a dead transmission. Bit of sentimental value in this one.
2005 7490 bought 2019 with 10,000hrs (had been sat on a slurry pump for 4000hrs) It does 3-400hrs a year. backup/extra tractor. Very convenient at times
2010 6480 bought 2017 with 2700hrs, now on 6200. Fleet/anybody/casual tractor. Pulls trailers, destoner, irrigators, runabout. 900+hrs/yr It'll stay while reliable I guess, good tractor. Replaced a 6180
2015 7618 bought 2018 with 1500hrs, now done 4600. Sprayer/planter/ potato topper tractor. 1000hrs/yr. Had an easy life, won't be leaving for a good while. Replaced a 12yo/12000hr 7480(bought new)
2015 7620 bought new, now on 6800hrs. Prime mover, most of cultivation, pulls potato harvester too. Pencilled in to change in 1-2yrs time. Replaced a 7yo/7000hr 6490 (bought new)
2018 7720 bought last summer with 1200hrs, just about hit 2000 now. Only tractor with RTK, does the drilling, ridging, some cultivation, baling etc. Replaced a 7600hr 6.5yo 7620 (bought new)

My pickup was bought at 4yo with 115k on the clock. Its now 7yo with 145k on and hasn't been far this last year. The farm truck is 16yo but only has 96k on (we bought it for £2k 3yrs ago) It does about 4k a year, and will stay as long as it keeps passing its MOT, when likely my truck will replace it. My wifes car though, bought at 2yo with 8k on, now a sniff under 50k at 7yo, probably keep it to 10yo.

Hope some of that is useful!

 

[David.]

I'm inclined to think the first 10000hrs will have seen the best of a tractor.
Sub 5000 is a good place to buy.

 

[Spud]

I'm inclined to think the first 10000hrs will have seen the best of a tractor.
Sub 5000 is a good place to buy.

You're right, but if you need a tractor to do a couple of hundred hours of work a year, it's not so much of a problem. buying at 5000 to do 1000+/yr though, and they soon have 10,000 on!
How some people justify buying tractors new to do 300hrs a year I can't fathom, but I'm glad they do, the low hour s/h machines have to come from somewhere!

My 7618 and 7720 both came from the same (very good) home. The 18 particularly has been superb.

 

[Spear]

So we should all go out and buy tractors which have done 24,000 hours because your one is reliable?

Get real.

Did I say go buy? Don’t think I did, so why are you inferring I did?
I replied to post that basically said no tractor gets to high hrs and those that said they do are lying or deluding themselves.


The fact is you can not compare car mileage with tractor hrs.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Never said they can’t get to high hours it’s just not very common

 

[colhonk]

Anything over 6000hrs is living on borrowed time.