New (used) AGCO Challenger Farm Tractor

[Hay Dude]

Does anyone know what models or series of tractors are assembled in the Jackson, MN assembly plant? Pretty sure the tracked challengers are but what wheeled models?

ARound here you see Fendt, Challenger, Massey, Allis, White, Gleaner combines.

Thats a lot of AGCO brands!

I also have a Hesston baler.
Would have no problem being all AGCO, and am working my way to adding more of their brands each year.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I am importing it from a dealer in Canada. It was a huge PITA to complete the import documents, but will save quite a bit over anything I could find in the US.

Does the tractor have any factory warranty left on it?

A few days ago, I almost purchased a used Kubota L6060 from an auction company in Texas. But, when I asked my local dealer to look at the Kubota service records, he could not find the serial number in the Kubota USA system. It turns out this tractor was originally sold in Canada, and is not in the USA system. Therefore, there is no factory warranty on this tractor outside of Canada.

Just wondering if that is a concern to you?

 

[Hay Dude]

Does the tractor have any factory warranty left on it?

A few days ago, I almost purchased a used Kubota L6060 from an auction company in Texas. But, when I asked my local dealer to look at the Kubota service records, he could not find the serial number in the Kubota USA system. It turns out this tractor was originally sold in Canada, and is not in the USA system. Therefore, there is no factory warranty on this tractor outside of Canada.

Just wondering if that is a concern to you?

Oh heck no. It’s 12 years old.

Concern? Sure, but when you can’t afford to spend $125,000-$150,000 for new, there’s nothing you can do. I only owned (1) new tractor over 100HP. Ironically, it was the most problematic one I owned.

My largest tractor was 21 years old and had 5200 hours on it when I bought it and I’ve had no serious problems with it (yet). Hope I never do.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Concern? Sure, but when you can’t afford to spend $125,000 for new, there’s nothing you can do. I only owned (1) new tractor over 100HP. Ironically, it was the most problematic one I owned.

What was this lemon you purchased?

 

[Hay Dude]

AGCO does have some nice tractors and it would be nice to see more representation of the bigger tractors on here.
But, there are very few farm or even farm related posters on here.
It is mostly small acreage owners with smaller tractors.

That said sitting here thinking about and remembering when Fiat bought into Allis Chalmers (the good Orange) and then eneded
up getting out of it because they couldn't bid on any government contracts being foreign owned at the time.
And then I'm partial to Red from the Farmall days so now it's CIH even though they are owned by Fiat now.

Maybe they could get more if they’d create new forums for larger tractor owners/operators? IMO, farmers are *the* biggest group of tractor owners.

What was this lemon you purchased?

It wasn’t a lemon, but it had a decent amount of problems.
Kubota M126X.
Its fine now, but I probably spent $15,000 in repairs.

 

[MHarryE]

Does anyone know what models or series of tractors are assembled in the Jackson, MN assembly plant? Pretty sure the tracked challengers are but what wheeled models?

ARound here you see Fendt, Challenger, Massey, Allis, White, Gleaner combines.

AGCO assembles certain models of Massey Ferguson, Challenger, and Fendt tractors in Jackson, MN.

 

[Hay Dude]

AGCO Jackson, Minnesota Manufacturing Delivers Quality

AGCO manufacturing operations in Jackson, Minnesota has switched to mixed model manufacturing lines and Glass to ensure delivery of high-quality Challenger and Massey Ferguson equipment.

blog.agcocorp.com

 

[Jchonline]

What about Deere? Just too expensive?

I agree a few additional forums would be a great idea. Did you put it in the feedback section?

 

[MHarryE]

I do believe CAT engine = Perkins, is that right?

Nice tractor but I'd rather have the Sisu, and I'd much rather have either one over a Kubota engine.

SR

Cat 6.6 has Perkins heritage but nothing in this engine remains from the Perkins days, not even the block. Yes, it is assembled in the same plant in Peterborough, UK, but complete redesign from the Cat 6.0 which was a Perkins engine tweaked for tier 2. It was not capable of things like the power increase, 4 valves per cylinder of the C6.6, so block, head, everything else changed. Better - I’m biased because I had a hand in the 6.6 and still have parts in my memories display from testing.

 

[Hay Dude]

I had a 6L Perkins in my McCormick.

Heres the data on the MT535B

TractorData.com Challenger MT535B tractor information

www.tractordata.com

Note the actual test of the actual PTO HP

 

[edinottawa]

Last year, I brought an older, small Kubota from Kansas to Southern Ontario; tractors are going back and forth all the time Had been looking for that exact model for some time. Got a customs broker to do the paperwork-took little effort on my part. They worked with the trucking co. and Canadian Customs to make the crossing without any issue. I selected the trucking co. after getting a few quotes. And yes the tractor had to be CLEAN! The dealer pressure-washed the tractor before loading it onto the transporter.

By the time I had it in my yard, it was less than the cost I would have paid here for same tractor if I could have found one.

The dollar exchange rate is a definite advantage for you folks in the US when making a large dollar purchase. That should make up for any PITA paperwork...

Fendt is big in these parts, possibly because one of, if not the major Fendt dealer in Canada is less than an hour from here.

Pick your support dealer, then buy that make of tractor if it fits your needs. I'd love to own an older Volvo again, but the nearest specialist is 90 minutes from me and the nearest Volvo dealer is further than that.

For the same reason, I'd only buy Massey or Kubota; have two Massey and two Kubota dealers, all are within 60 minutes drive or less.

 

[JWR]

Not many on here with more then 60 HP in any brand and very few with 100 HP+

About 5 years ago I started a thread inquiring as to why there never seem to be participants with "larger" tractors. It was started 5 January 2017 and there were 74 posts or opinions expressed. Title was

"Why do the LARGER TRACTOR owners not participate here ?" Note that at one time TBN was described as being for "compact tractors." Then as they grew (and became the world's largest tractor discussion forum) that was dropped. For what it is worth here are some observations: ​

1. That's OK but don't the people who spent (what to many of us is one heck of a lot of money) on 60 to 110 or more HP tractors ever have issues, problems, questions, tales to tell, things to brag about, monsters conquered, and bull to shoot ?
2. Maybe the 'larger' machine operators tend to have hired mechanics, are larger businesses and do not tend to get into the 'hobby' mode of discussion?
3. Without official stats to prove it, there are probably 10 to 15 times as many tractors under 80 hp in the USA than there are ones over 80 hp. Simply those numbers have a big effect on how many are vocal and want to talk.
4. One guy said "Obviously there are exceptions but that's what I see for the most part. some of the threads make it obvious that many have never been off city water, or dealt with coyotes, or septic systems."
5. Another said "After a hot dusty day putting up 800 small bales, the last thing on one's mind would be logging into a forum to help someone find their hydraulic filter or discuss cold-weather starting a 3 cylinder diesel. "
6. "I don't imagine too many "real" farmers have the time or the resources to repair the behemoth equipment needed to run a profitable farming operation these days."
7. LD1 said: As far as the mechanical side of things, I don't know too many large scale (500+ acre) farmers that are doing their own wrenching.
8. "My very good friend is a huge farmer, row crops over 25K acres a year. His "compact" tractor is a 7*** JD with cab and FEL. He doesn't own a tractor without a cab. Him and I never have discussions comparable to those here. His World is just not comparable."
9. "I wish we had some bigger tractor guys on here. I'd love to see a tractors and wood with a big Steiger dragging logs. I bet you could do some serious pulling with one of those."
10. No more excerpts from 2017 but I'll end with this. Below was January 2017. As I said things changed as they grew:

 

[edinottawa]

Look at it from a financial viewpoint: For those large operations, repairs are a business expense and a necessary deduction to offset profits and thus the reduce the final tax bill. Hiring a mobile mechanic, hiring an on-site mechanic(s), or leaving the job to the dealer are creating write-offs in the P&L statement. The large farmers (of course I mean in acres farmed-not the other meaning) don't have the time in the day to be wrenching. All of them are actively farming, and nowadays some of that time is spent programming the computer applications that help them manage their operations and field activity. If they are big enough, they might also have a part-time/full-time person doing the IT work. Thus, #8 from the list is closest to the mark.

 

[charles todd]

I had a 6L Perkins in my McCormick.

Heres the data on the MT535B

TractorData.com Challenger MT535B tractor information

www.tractordata.com

Note the actual test of the actual PTO HP

10 hp more on the shaft than gross power?

Under rated at 135 hp?

Test was an error?

CT

 

[Torvy]

I guess y'all know different large scale farmers than me. Most of my cousins and people I knew growing up in SD had what can only be described as large operations. 640+ acres. Those who don't or cannot do their own wrenching went out of business. Even in the cold up north there are plenty of tractors without cabs. A pair of heavy coveralls are a lot cheaper. Sure, they probably have some of both. There are millions of dollars in land, cattle and equipment...but little cash or 'income'. Not much need for tax deductions like paying to wrench. Paid hired hands, yes. Professional wrenching is mostly the warranty type.

 

[Hay Dude]

10 hp more on the shaft than gross power?

Under rated at 135 hp?

Test was an error?

CT

I have found that a lot of the AGCO and Case-IH are “underrated” on their power claims. It also seems like when you buy a tractor that has a fairly large displacement engine and it’s turned down in power, as is with this tractor (6.6L rated at only 135HP) it tends to make more power than claimed.
A CAT 6.6L can make as much as 200HP+, so it’s turned down to making considerably less power than it’s capable of.

I never cared for buying a tractor that had an engine turned up to its’ max power output.

 

[crashz]

Hay Dude - Nice rig!

I think Hay Dude is a perfect guy to actually answer the question of why "big" farmers aren't on TBN. I've watched Hay Dude (and a few others) defend how and why he completes projects to a bunch of opinionated arm-chair contractors/farmers. Who wants to work all day and log-on for that? Some guy in another part of the country griping that you did something wrong or his way would be much better/cheaper/efficient. When it's your hobby, the chatter is tolerable, understandable and helpful (sometimes). But not when it's your profession.

 

[Fxfymn413]

But, there are very few farm or even farm related posters on here.

That's because they are too damn busy trying to make a living with their machines. I'm sure there are AG specific forums where machine repair, performance, etc. are discussed along with the many other things a farmer must deal with to stay above water. Look up "right to repair" for example.

It's kind of hard for someone who is farming several hundred, or more, acres to relate to someone who has a family garden or a few cattle or horses like a lot of us here.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I never cared for buying a tractor that had an engine turned up to its’ max power output.

Not tractor related, but your comment reminds me of why I loved the old Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car triplets from Ford. The 5.0 and 4.6 V8's that went in those put out substantially less power than they were capable of. My '86 Crown Victoria put out 160 when it was new, and the '08 Town Car was under 250 if I remember correct. They were never fast, but they were excellent highway cruisers and the drivetrain was bulletproof. I can't figure it being any different in these large diesels, why wouldn't they last longer when they're running at a figuratively relaxed pace. Rust ought to kill them before the engine actually goes.

 

[HayFarmer]

Sold one of the smaller Kubotas (M135X) a few weeks ago.
Have a Challenger MT535B with a Quicke Q66 loader coming in to replace it in a week or 2. Pretty much the same as a MF7475 with a Caterpillar diesel instead of a Sisu diesel.
Key reasons for the change are: CVT transmission, 35% more weight, stronger loader, road speed (32MPH) and larger tires.
It also has a nicer cab, hydraulic global quick attach on loader, stronger AC, steerable front fenders, electronic loader joystick and more.
Its got more PTO and drawbar HP than the Kubota, too.
I am importing it from a dealer in Canada. It was a huge PITA to complete the import documents, but will save quite a bit over anything I could find in the US.

Now to see what she will do. I need to be able to move large squares around with more stability than the Kubotas can offer. Still have the M126X for bush hogging and of course any other raking, teddering, etc.

Couple pics.

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I'd love to have a tractor that does 32mph, but I'd have to have a license plate on it around here. If we go over 25, must be licensed.