FIXABILITY

[finn1]

A Model T Ford was the epitome of simplicity and repair ability.

Not many are willing to give up the comfort, performance, and ease of driving a modern car to go back.

Tractors are pretty much the same story.

I don’t want to give up clean air to breathe the exhaust of an obsolete tractor.

 

[rScotty]

A Model T Ford was the epitome of simplicity and repair ability.

Not many are willing to give up the comfort, performance, and ease of driving a modern car to go back.

Tractors are pretty much the same story.

I don’t want to give up clean air to breathe the exhaust of an obsolete tractor.

I don't want to give up the comfort and performance either. But I don't see any reason why had to give fixability and easy maintenance in order to have those things. There isn't any engineering reason why all the modern features on a modern tractor can't be as owner-friendly as the older ones were.

I'm not sure how we got to where even routine upkeep requires such specialized effort. My guess is that it was a manufacturing choice. It's just that I'm thinking we are giving up something valuable that we really don't have to lose. That goes for cars, tractors, appliances...and lots of things. I'd like to see manufacturing change directions. Where's the downside?
rScotty

 

[mred2]

A lot of the fixability was lost due to the new electronics. Some was by choice and some was mandated by the EPA. A lot of things on a tractor can still be fixed by a lot of people. Rebuild cylinders, replace belts, and most maintenance. But most do not have the ability to connect a computer, the software for the computer, and the knowledge to fix it. And at the same time, a lot do not have the tools, a good shop or the energy to work on it. A lot of things that I would have fixed myself years ago, I now call someone. I got a new tractor so I don't have to fix it every time I want to use it.

 

[LouNY]

I don't want to give up the comfort and performance either. But I don't see any reason why had to give fixability and easy maintenance in order to have those things. There isn't any engineering reason why all the modern features on a modern tractor can't be as owner-friendly as the older ones were.

I'm not sure how we got to where even routine upkeep requires such specialized effort. My guess is that it was a manufacturing choice. It's just that I'm thinking we are giving up something valuable that we really don't have to lose. That goes for cars, tractors, appliances...and lots of things. I'd like to see manufacturing change directions. Where's the downside?
rScotty

Certainly can't disagree with that. The problem is that it would cost more up front to have repairability built into anything tractors, trucks, cars, kitchen appliances.
I would prefer it myself, no reason that access has to be so limited on so much. Why aren't the cabs designed to tilt out of the way instead of having to be disconnected and removed. Why does a truck have to have the body removed to work on an engine. Why does a refrigerator have a condenser that can't be reached to clean. These where all done by the manufactures and accepted by the consumer and their wallet not some damned government mandate.

 

[/pine]

Not necessarily about topical machines etc...but a lot of modern electronics are fairly easy to fix...
Especially flat panel TVs...there is not much in the way of main boards anymore...everything is modular with individual PCB modules...i.e., tuner mod., power supply mod., graphics mod., etc., etc...

just replace whatever module fails...obviously it cost more to replace an entire module than an individual component but more and more these days is becoming plug and play...

 

[mred2]

And some were done to make them cheaper to build. As a refrigerator is built to last so long and never be repaired. Its cheaper to buy a new one. I can't reach the back of the engine in my truck. I can no long stand on my head and my arms are too short. Most people would not want to break a tractor in half to fix the clutch (some still can). And I feel part of the reason that a tractor can hold it's value is due to the ability to still find parts and fix the old stuff. The old days are going quick. In today's world the first tool of a tech for large equipment is his laptop computer.

 

[bigcut]

Last night I was looking at an old thread where vintage tractors were being compared to modern ones. And just before "thread drift" derailed the discussion, it seemed aimed toward just what had gotten better and maybe what had been overlooked.

Someone said that one of the qualities that made things popular 50 years ago in tractors was "fixability". That made sense to me....it does seem that those old tractors were deliberately designed to be easily fixible by the owner, and that owners expected parts to be available. This wasn't limited to tractors, it was a common design feature for just about everything mechanical - and the reward for really getting it right was a machine that was both reliable and easily fixable. The best of those achieved collectible and cult status. Today those are not only still in use, but have often gone up in value. All of us could probably list a few...

So I got to wondering....
Are there any tractors - or any kind of machinery - that is being designed today to be both reliable AND fixable?

Or is that era over? Will there will ever be the same interest again in making things fixable?

rScotty

rScotty,
The greater the features the greater the complexity for fixability. This is true for tractors, cars, and many other products. We can't have it both ways.

The Branson tractors are mechanical and do NOT use a computer. Emissions are dealt with thru the DPF and do not use the rail with regen requirements. That's probably about as close as you can get today to simplicity/fixability, not to say it's simple.

I'll et the Branson owners correct me if I'm wrong on any of this.
John

 

[Lowcountry Rebel]

I recently bought a 2014 TYM603 geared tractor with 400 hrs- everything I have looked at seems to be "fixable", at least as fixable as a late 1980's pick up - but not as "fixable" and "workable" as a mid 70's F100 with a 300 ci inline 6 cylinder.

 

[coobie]

IMHO the days of working on our tractors,cars,and trucks will be VERY limited verses say 1960,s threw 1980,s made stuff.

 

[Agvg]

Not a big problem to repair a newer tractor, much of the basic design is quite the same.