Long Term NH Parts Availability?

Skyhawk · Aug 26, 2004

I was just reading some old threads that talked about Fiat's health, and the possibility of them selling the CNH division. Is there ANY chance that parts could be hard to get for a TC30, say 25 years from now, even with a worst-case scenario?

For reference, my 3 finalists are currently the TC30, JD790, and L2800. I think any of the 3 would do everything that I want, all are similarly priced, and none of the dealers were "standouts" (none of the dealers seemed "bad", but none seemed "great" either). I'm about ready to flip a 3-sided coin, but thought I'd ask this first...

Robert_in_NY · Aug 26, 2004

The chances of getting TC 30 parts 30 years from now is just as good as getting 790 parts or L2800 parts. Fiat has parts for the old Ford tractors still and "IF" Fiat did sell of CNH I am sure the buyer would continue to supply parts for the tractors as it is only good business. However, 50 years from now you might be out of luck as I have trouble getting some parts for my 1952 JD M, why, because John Deere no longer makes nor do they have any left of some parts. Parts that are getting low like the simple little gas cap cost over $50 from JD. If you let rumors dictate what you buy then go with the JD as everyone knows JD has been around forever and will never sell out. However, I would not pay any attention to it and buy whatever tractor you like from the dealer you like and don't worry about any little things like old rumors.

Bob_Skurka · Aug 26, 2004

Is there ANY chance that parts could be hard to get for a TC30, say 25 years from now, even with a worst-case scenario?


I'm confused on what a worst-case scenario might be? If FIAT sells the profitable CNH division, the division will continue to operate with new owners. If FIAT were to go bankrupt, the conglomerate would be split apart by the bankruptcy judge and CNH would be sold as a profitable company and be under a new owner. If FIAT is purchased by GM, which has a option to buy a large stake in the company, the CNH division would simply exist as a profitable division with a new parent company. If the management team of CNH were to engineer a buyout of CNH out from under FIAT, then CNH would be a profitable company unto its own right. If FIAT continues and improves its financial situation, the CNH continues under that corporate umbrella as a profitable division. What scenario is bad for CNH? The one I can see is if CNH changes its management team to a bunch of complete losers who run the company into the ground, but every company could face that same risk.

JayC · Aug 26, 2004

I'd be more worried about the dealer being there in 25 years rather than CNH. If the dealer is still there will he still sell NH, have new management that is just awful, etc.?

AndyMA · Aug 26, 2004

On a more recent note I have had no trouble getting any parts for my almost 20 year old Ford 2120. I was unable to get parts for some John Deere equipment that was about 10 years old. My advice pick a popular model that has been around for a number of years. Parts will always be available. If you look at one of my other posts, you will see that I just "picked up" a 1958 Economy tractor. The company is out of business for quite a few years. yet several hundred thousand of them were sold over the years and several parts sources exist.

Andy

RickB · Aug 26, 2004

There is every chance that parts will be hard to find for all three tractors you list 25 years out. Try to find major castings or other low volume replacement parts today for a Ford 1000, Kubota L275 or Deere 1250. Parts obsolescense is directly related to the sales volume for that part, either from the OEM or the aftermarket. The majority of CUT parts will NEVER be available in the aftermarket because no one would buy individual parts in collective quantity for anyone to bother producing them. This explains why there are zero aftermarket sources for CUT engine parts. No major manufacturer is better or worse than the others in keeping parts 'in the system'. If the issue concerns you, buy the tractor that has the most units sold, with the greatest parts commonality with similar models. Or buy the model that suits your needs and wants best, and go from there.

To20Chris · Aug 26, 2004

I doubt you could predict if any of these would be better than the others in terms of parts availability. Who would have guessed 30yrs ago that the current situation would exist in terms of ownership of these old-name tractor companies. You would be far better off in looking closer at the three units you mentioned. As far as I can tell the TC30 has advantages over the other two, even if it were only on the strength of the live PTO. While they are nice tractors, you would have to give me quite a price reduction to take the JD 790 or Kubota L2800 over the TC30.

Soundguy · Aug 27, 2004

( Is there ANY chance that parts could be hard to get for a TC30, say 25 years from now )

Is there -any- chance? Yes

The tc30 is a widely marketed machine.. that is on the plus side. Kep this in mind.. the more they make of a model.. generally the better parts support it will have.

There were ove a million 'N' series tractors made by ford from 1939-1954 ( 9n/2n/8n/NAA ). A large portion of the 1939-1952 parts are still available thru NH dealers, even if many of them are not oem.. but aftermarket like tisco.. etc. An even wider range of parts are still available for the 53 and up tractors.

For instance.. I walked into my local Nh dealer and ordered a leather backup washer that goes on the hyd piston to a NAA ( 53 & 54 ) and can also be used in the 1939-1952 8/9/2N tractors with a piston change out. Original one was leather but in two days they had me a crossed over number that was urethane... old part number of NAA473A was still shown as serviced in their parts book. Thats 51 years ago.. not bad I'd say.

For limited run tractors.. or units built at different manufactureres at different times.. I'd guess parts will be harder to come by.. etc.

Soundguy

Bob_Skurka · Aug 27, 2004

Soundguy, once again you gave the best most reasoned answer. Like you, I like to play with the old stuff, although you are a lot more serious about it than I am. But I can still scrounge around and find parts for Olivers, which is a long gone brand. Some are newly manufactured. I think the logic you put forth, however, is very sound. If they sell a ton of a specific model, and that model has a long run time with little modification, then the odds of your children's great grand kids finding parts for it are pretty strong.

Skyhawk · Aug 27, 2004

Thanks for the input, everyone. That's what I was hoping to hear -- that I was just being silly, and parts availability is not an issue. I've completely removed the issue from my purchase decision. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bob, just for clarification, a worst-case scenario to me, would be if an investment group bought CNH, and then made decisions based on short-term profit, instead of the long-term health of the company.

Thanks,

Gary