Tractor or implement?

[FarmyStu]

Just been reading an article in Farm Machinery Journal about a farmer that has invested in a highly spec'd MF round baler along with a new rake. What stood out though was that he was running it behind a MF 3095. He had upgraded the engine but it was still a 27 year old tractor.

In fields and roads around the UK I often see sparkly new tractors towing clapped out implements. In an ideal world you'd invest in both. But do some spend on new tractors when they should be spending on what they tow?

 

[7610 super q]

Oh well, most of us have a limited budget.
I reached the conclusion long ago that very few can afford a nice house, nice farm buildings, nice car, nice tractors, and nice machinery......

 

[Lincs Lass]

I asked my landlord the same question before he passed away ,why dont you buy a newer tractor ,bit more up to date ,,simple he said ,,why should I be at the banks mercy for it to sit in the shed 6 months of a year,,his 7840 sle was an N reg but he preferred to keep it going than be in dept when it wasnt earning

 

[rob h]

A 3095 is a modern tractor with a quiet cab computer controlled linkage and dyna shift.what more do you need if it's in good order and reliable. His baler and rake may have been worn out so just bought new so it will last

 

[Hilly]

Just been reading an article in Farm Machinery Journal about a farmer that has invested in a highly spec'd MF round baler along with a new rake. What stood out though was that he was running it behind a MF 3095. He had upgraded the engine but it was still a 27 year old tractor.

In fields and roads around the UK I often see sparkly new tractors towing clapped out implements. In an ideal world you'd invest in both. But do some spend on new tractors when they should be spending on what they tow?

Seems a sensible chap.

 

[Sebastian77]

Imo better to have new machine on back of older tractor, 3 of our tractors are 20+ years old now, all of powerquad/powershift etc which is all you need tbh! Then stick a nice big 4-6 rotor tedder on back, or 2-4 rotor rake and halve the time needed to do jobs

Bit pointless running a brand new tractor with a 30 year old haybob on back

 

[Skintagain]

Best way to do it imo. Contractor close by buys tractors at ten year old and runs until they die. Buys new tackle and keeps all under 5 years old. He says you can always swap a tractor over and can hire/borrow a tractor easier than an implement that everyone else is using at the same time.

 

[Richard Smyth]

In an ideal world both should be replaced. I've gone the other way, new tractor coming to run most equipment bought second hand, I can rebuild and keep going any machine relatively cheaply but don't have the skills to easily rebuild a modern engine or transmission.

tractor will be doing upwards of 1700 hours per year so needs to be reliable

 

[balerman]

Best way to do it imo. Contractor close by buys tractors at ten year old and runs until they die. Buys new tackle and keeps all under 5 years old. He says you can always swap a tractor over and can hire/borrow a tractor easier than an implement that everyone else is using at the same time.

Agreed

 

[8100]

Whats best a man who has £180K of finance and a tractor with all the bells and whistles that maybe wont ever get used or understood and a cloud of worry over his head. Or someone with a 20 year old machine that only owes him the price of the fuel he put in it and its understood how to get its full potential out of it.
I know which camp i would chose

 

[DeeGee]

A 3095 is a modern tractor with a quiet cab computer controlled linkage and dyna shift.what more do you need if it's in good order and reliable. His baler and rake may have been worn out so just bought new so it will last

Very true! Nothing that much out of date on a well maintained and looked after 3095 or similar.

Got several tractors of that type and age here, all in good nick and serviced 32 Dynashift speeds for every job.
Most have new air seats in the roomy Q cabs so not at all a bad place to work in, and no finance to pay off.

It all depends what you want and need: no way would I put twenty five year old tractors to work really hard all day and every day of the year, and big farms and contractors obviously have to keep their stuff up to date of necessity. But I do think well maintained and well specced older tractors are more than capable of doing plenty of modern day work for a fraction of the cost of having shiny new tractors for every job.

 

[J 1177]

I'm sure the same chap is on rebuilding a 8100 series with a knackered engine, if it's the one I'm thinking of

 

[ED.D]

No expert by a long way but it seems you are on first name terms with either the mechanic or the bank.

 

[40 series]

Implement earns the money the tractor is a means to an end