How many hours do you have on your tractor

[1930]

Recently I was in the market for a used tractor, I was looking at 1 tractor after another that had a few thousand hrs. on it and major engine work done.

That was an exclusive selling point for these sellers, the fact that major engine work had recently been done.

I assumed that a tractor's engine could only go 2 to 4000 hours maybe without major engine work.

Is that not the case?

 

[3Lfarms]

It really depends on the size of the machine, along with how it was used.
2000 hours on a subcompact tractor is very different than 2000 hours on a 65 hp utility tractor and that is way different than a 250 hp farm tractor.

A sub compact is usually a home owner type user. Most chores take less than an hour to complete. Figure 1-200 hours per year average. At 2000-3000 hours, the rest of the machine is usually pretty rough.

Utility sized tractors can be expected to run to at least 5000 hours. Those sized machines usually take on larger tasks like mowing for hours end. Figure 2-500 hours per year.

The large farm machines can be expected to run from 10000 to 20000 hours. Most machines this size are running 1000+ hours per year.

 

[Thomas]

Also consider abuse factor.

 

[Turbys_1700]

As 3Lfarms stated.

Use, type, and maintenance are the most important factors.

I consider 2K to 3K hours on a used utility tractor to be in the well used category but not worn out category.

Anything between 1K and 2K hours lightly used.

I equate 1K hours to 25K miles on a car.

Small compacts can be just as robust concerning the engine but again use and maintenance are important.

We've had tractors on the farm in the upper 6K hours range but did have some blow by but was still usable.

 

[bambam31]

220 and it’s 5 years old. Mainly used at the hunting camp.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I have 2600 hours on my 2004 John Deere 4410 and I don't consider it to be anywhere's close to the end of it's life. It still starts good in winter and I don't need to add any oil between changes.

 

[nybirdman]

Mine has 1200 hours in ten years of use;expect it will last the rest of my life.I probably use mine more than the average small farmer/home-owner type.Snow plowing,food plots and garden ect.

 

[shooterdon]

My 31 year old that I purchased last year has 1125 hours on it. A lot of the smaller tractors get used for a few projects and sit idle most of the time.

I will be about a 100-125 hour/yr user, but will put about 200 hours on it this year getting stuff done that does not need doing every year. The JD is too small so I am getting a new machine.

I suspect manufactures do not build the types of machines most of us use to last much beyond 5,000 hours. Why overbuild something that will never see that kind of use? They need to be competitive and design accordingly.

I thought about that when making my decision to buy new. A good used tractor would likely last my lifetime (late 60's now) but I am done dealing with repairs ($2500 last year and 4 weeks out of service). BTW, in my case the engine was not an issue. It is the other stuff that breaks and wears out.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I bought my L4630 with 24xx hard hours on it from a construction company and put 800 more on in 4 years with just regular PM
The M6040 had about 1100 hrs when purchased and after 7 months it is pushing 1200 with no issues at all.
It was mostly used by the PO for haying and hauling maple sugaring equipment around.
I primarily use it snow plow and haul firewood..

 

[Jstpssng]

I bought my 2015 in Nov 2017 with 179 hours on it. Now it's somewhere around 485, and will be seeing a lot of use this summer. My father's Kubota which he bought new in 2008 has about 375 hours; but he had several older tractors which he liked to run.