User review: Balancing age risks and cost rewards with classic JCB Fastrac tractors

[LAMMA365]

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Looking for depreciation-proof tractor power, one Lincolnshire contractor has invested in a 21,000-hour, 12-year-old JCB Fastrac for trailer work. It has since been joined by a younger 3230 with 17,000 hours under its belt. Geoff Ashcroft reports.

Running a contracting business is not without its challenges. For Jake Clover of Swineshead-based Clover Farm Services, Lincolnshire, those challenges have included buying the right tractors to help the business grow.


He says: “I really did not want to be tied to hefty finance payments just to buy something with the security of a warranty. And that has meant taking a few calculated risks with older kit and being prepared to get the spanners out.”


Jake has picked up on the contracting business started by his father, Dwayn so he could focus on spending more time on his machinery dealership business. Consequently, Jake has pushed forward with contracting and while his brother Josh took on the workshop service.

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[icanshootwell]

I don,t blame them, the cost of new kit has got bloody ridiculous, well used tractors that have been looked after are always in demand.

 

[e3120]

Can I ask why this thread is deserving of a pin?

 

[farenheit]

Can I ask why this thread is deserving of a pin?

 

[8100]

Got some pension money i can free up this back end and been thinking about using it to buy something classic and usable. Maybe just to earn its keep now and then .But i must admit a fastrac although interesting has me worried over a gearbox full of cogs trying to make a bid for freedom or some other doom .
So i shall watch this thread with interest

 

[tepapa]

Got some pension money i can free up this back end and been thinking about using it to buy something classic and usable. Maybe just to earn its keep now and then .But i must admit a fastrac although interesting has me worried over a gearbox full of cogs trying to make a bid for freedom or some other doom .
So i shall watch this thread with interest

I wouldn't worry about the gearbox in a fastrac. Although they are renowned for going if driven badly it's an eaton box used in all manner of lorries and buses and parts are freely available. The trouble in getting the bloody gear box out. Theres more work getting it out and putting it back then doing the repairs and something like 3/4 of the cost is labour.
They do say don't touch a Ptronic though as they will go bang and break you.

 

[melted welly]

I don,t blame them, the cost of new kit has got bloody ridiculous, well used tractors that have been looked after are always in demand.

Decided today to spend £10k overhauling a TM155 for this exact reason. Figures on nearly new/new just didnt stack up, and even 2nd hand replacement around 4000hr isn’t very appealing.
Aiming to then take TM to +15,000hrs.
.

Time will tell how smart an idea this is.

 

[aidan]

Decided today to spend £10k overhauling a TM155 for this exact reason. Figures on nearly new/new just didnt stack up, and even 2nd hand replacement around 4000hr isn’t very appealing.
Aiming to then take TM to +15,000hrs.
.

Time will tell how smart an idea this is.

Can you get much overhauled for 10k

a man I know that does engines think it was tm engines he was talking about revommended giving the head a good once over at 10k hrs. The rest of it should be good for 20k he thought

 

[melted welly]

Can you get much overhauled for 10k

a man I know that does engines think it was tm engines he was talking about revommended giving the head a good once over at 10k hrs. The rest of it should be good for 20k he thought

You can with a power command gearbox that has pretty much shat it’s pants …..
better off fixed and some other bits tidied to see it thru a few more years rather take a kicking on trading on I think. It’s actually been appreciating in value the last few yrs. on a 08 plate so one of the last ones with the big comfy seat….. so be worth a fortune when eventually sold to a collector

 

[Sa86]

Decided today to spend £10k overhauling a TM155 for this exact reason. Figures on nearly new/new just didnt stack up, and even 2nd hand replacement around 4000hr isn’t very appealing.
Aiming to then take TM to +15,000hrs.
.

Time will tell how smart an idea this is.

My tm 165 has over 13000 hours never had a spanner to it apart from two sets of brakes and a exhaust manifold and a wiring loom that was caused by previous owner putting a jubilee clip around and chafed through it's about due a overhaul now tho gearbox getting a little clunky I won't be selling it such a capable tractor it's worth getting put right again

 

[holywell farmer]

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Looking for depreciation-proof tractor power, one Lincolnshire contractor has invested in a 21,000-hour, 12-year-old JCB Fastrac for trailer work. It has since been joined by a younger 3230 with 17,000 hours under its belt. Geoff Ashcroft reports.

Running a contracting business is not without its challenges. For Jake Clover of Swineshead-based Clover Farm Services, Lincolnshire, those challenges have included buying the right tractors to help the business grow.


He says: “I really did not want to be tied to hefty finance payments just to buy something with the security of a warranty. And that has meant taking a few calculated risks with older kit and being prepared to get the spanners out.”


Jake has picked up on the contracting business started by his father, Dwayn so he could focus on spending more time on his machinery dealership business. Consequently, Jake has pushed forward with contracting and while his brother Josh took on the workshop service.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE FOR FREE HERE

Register now at LAMMA365.com

Impressive his main tractor has high hours

 

[Qman]

Can I ask why this thread is deserving of a pin?

Could you tell me what the pin signifies please?

 

[e3120]

Could you tell me what the pin signifies please?

Holds it at the top, usually because it's a useful reference or has particular merits eg safety. This one doesn't seem to fall into either group. What does one have to pay to get a thread pinned @Chris F ?