looking for another tractor

[Hay Dude]

On the other hand, I was in the same position with a truck. It was a good truck, probably worth about 12K. Was going to need an engine soon, and much to my own surprise, I bought a new truck instead of fixing my old one. Not like me to do that, but I was really into having no repair bills for a while and the new capacity and creature comforts made me sign the dotted line (it was actually a solid line, but you know what I mean) :laughing:

 

[LouNY]

At 68 I can understand not wanting to do the rebuilding yourself,
I would also go for rebuilding possibly after getting a second now or used tractor.
As far your engine R F Engine Engine and Engine Parts to fit Shibaura(R)
Shibaura N844LT Turbo 2.2L Engine Overhaul Kit | eBay

 

[SenileTexasAggie]

If you really like your tractor, why don't you check with the dealer about the cost of a total rebuild, or replacement of the engine. If that's all that's wrong with it, I'm quite sure it'll be cheaper to replace the engine than the tractor.

As I described in an earlier post, I did contact the dealer, who said that another engine was not available for that tractor. To rebuild the engine, they estimated parts and labor at $10-15K. They also said that if the engine sustained a certain kind of damage (which I don't recall what that was) they would be unable to rebuild the engine, but would only discover that by tearing down the engine. I checked with an independent diesel repair shop and they quoted about the same price.

At 68 I can understand not wanting to do the rebuilding yourself,
I would also go for rebuilding possibly after getting a second now or used tractor.
As far your engine R F Engine Engine and Engine Parts to fit Shibaura(R)
Shibaura N844LT Turbo 2.2L Engine Overhaul Kit | eBay

I was unable to locate the model of Shibaura engine I have, namely N844L (not the Turbo) nor the N844LT. I *did* locate several N843 and N844 engines on machinerytrader.com. All were used and all came out of skid steers. If they were rebuilt with some kind of warranty then I might be interested in buying them, but being used I have no idea what I would be getting. I also don't know if they would fit in the tractor. I suppose I could get the specifications and drawings, but buying a used engine not knowing anything about it makes alarm bells go off in my head.

I test drove a Massey Ferguson 1740M cab tractor yesterday. I liked it a good bit better than the Kubota, and it sold for a lot less and the dealer offered me $5000 for my old tractor. I am wondering if 40 hp will be enough for me, though.

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[Bigfoot62]

$10-15K for a rebuild. Ouch! Sorry I suggested it.

If you don't think the 40 HP is enough, go up a step. I think that if the dealer is generous enough to even offer taking your trade, that should count for something.
Note: the current MF tractors are not the old Massey that we grew up with, but my neighbor bought a new 70 HP a couple years ago and is very happy.

 

[LouNY]

As I described in an earlier post, I did contact the dealer, who said that another engine was not available for that tractor. To rebuild the engine, they estimated parts and labor at $10-15K. They also said that if the engine sustained a certain kind of damage (which I don't recall what that was) they would be unable to rebuild the engine, but would only discover that by tearing down the engine. I checked with an independent diesel repair shop and they quoted about the same price.



I was unable to locate the model of Shibaura engine I have, namely N844L (not the Turbo) nor the N844LT. I *did* locate several N843 and N844 engines on machinerytrader.com. All were used and all came out of skid steers. If they were rebuilt with some kind of warranty then I might be interested in buying them, but being used I have no idea what I would be getting. I also don't know if they would fit in the tractor. I suppose I could get the specifications and drawings, but buying a used engine not knowing anything about it makes alarm bells go off in my head.

I test drove a Massey Ferguson 1740M cab tractor yesterday. I liked it a good bit better than the Kubota, and it sold for a lot less and the dealer offered me $5000 for my old tractor. I am wondering if 40 hp will be enough for me, though.

Senile Texas Aggie

I can understand your qualms certainly.
As far as new price wise value for the money I think you would be hard pressed to beat the Branson's.
I am fairly well pleased with mine they don't offer mine now it's the 8050 with about 80 engine hp and 65 on the pto.
Also getting $5000 trade for a broken tractor is good.
Good luck

 

[paulfun9]

I can understand your qualms certainly.
As far as new price wise value for the money I think you would be hard pressed to beat the Branson's.
I am fairly well pleased with mine they don't offer mine now it's the 8050 with about 80 engine hp and 65 on the pto.
Also getting $5000 trade for a broken tractor is good.
Good luck

Heck the dealer is going to pull the crank and rods have them ground .010 fit new bearings along with rebuilding the rods and sell it at a good profit. I would say being the OP stated he shut it down and it’s not seized you could do the same for about a thousand bucks or less. That trade value means nothing to me at all knowing just how many engines ran out of oil and only took this little amount of work to go on and run for years afterwards.

A good dealer would at the least offer to open it up and clarify what it needs before spending this mans cash on a new tractor or offer up the name of the back road shop they send them too for thier buddies!

 

[airbiscuit]

I get that the OP may not have a readily apparent way to get his tractor rebuilt. If you don't know of any home town tractor mechanics, maybe ask around at the local CENEX, feed or seed/fertilizer store. The regulars there may know someone who does this type of work.

 

[SenileTexasAggie]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[fried1765]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

Even if it goes over that $4500 estimate by $1,000 or so, it is still the correct solution.

 

[LouNY]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

Thats good to hear, of course you still don't have a cab and ac that way
I wouldn't be surprised to see it end up being a bit more,
every time I go into an engine the extras are killers it's well I'm in here now hows the clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, then the pto drive hub and the list just goes on.
I had a shop replace a pto stub shaft one year as I didn't have time to do it myself, that $500 repair ended up at $5000 with the as long as your in that far why don't you go ahead and !!!!!!!!!

 

[Bigfoot62]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

Sounds like a good option. If you so desire, after your tractor is fixed, you could still trade it in on a cab machine. And it will be worth more.

 

[airbiscuit]

Or have 2 tractors

 

[GeeVee]

Peristance pays off. Glad to hear you have found a shop that ill do the right thing and rebuild it. SOMEONE was going to rebuild it, why not you (your mechanic) I may be much like yourself, I KNOW what I have, and don't want anything else. ow you are going to know your machine is freshened up, and worth all the time you have spent maintaining and using it.

So, the next issue is only going to be how to convince your wife you want to buy a small used tracked skid steer like a ASV RC-30 from 2002-2006. If you want to do a lot of your chores not related to mowing, its the cats ***. You would be surprised how much clearing a 33hp CatiPerkins diesel and 3000 pounds dry weight can do. Too many will look at the machine and scoff, then be upset I am on the trailer, done, while they are still trying to maneuver nd workaround all the bulk, slow, sluggishness a Ag tractor with FEL inherently has. It would be my opinion you could get a used ASV like mine from a private owner for 10 k or less, with under 1500 hours, if you look, and are willing to travel for it. LIKE EVERY MANUFACTURER, there are some duds, and lemons in every fleet. (Some brand blinded people will argue this, I let them spew it in one ear and out the other) And ASV had some years of poor quality "systems". For your needs, I'd add a Track CTL to my tool fleet. I am the first to say speed kills- whats the rush? But efficiency is important too.

Check my video in my signature, to see my machine doing a couple of things real well. I use it for everything except bushog mowing/clearing, and even then, sometimes I push stuff over and uproot it, then come back in two to three weeks and shred it with my Mitsi Bushog.

 

[aczlan]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

Excellent, that price sounds about right for what I've seen around here.

Aaron Z

 

[Jstpssng]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

Great! Hopefully it will give you many more hours of service.

And about your comment

In the next edition of Webster's dictionary, my picture will be next to the word idiot.

Don't count on it... you would have a hard time dislodging me from that seat. Besides, as others have already mentioned; you aren't the first person that happened to.

 

[aggie76]

Good news! I finally located a place to get my tractor repaired at a reasonable price. They even said that they would come get the tractor to prevent further damage to the engine. (I have a trailer to haul the tractor but no means to get it onto the trailer, like a winch.) The price they quoted was $4500, parts and labor. And they are not covered up with work like they normally are this time of year. So if they can get the parts reasonably quickly, I could get the tractor back in a week or two! I will let everyone know how it turns out! Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments.

Senile Texas Aggie

WHOOP!!! Glad to hear you've found a good solution. Just starting to look for a new/used tractor with FEL to replace my '64 Farmall 806 that doesn't have one. I use it on our land that includes about ten acres of food plots for hunting deer and to keep 40 acres of CRP maintained. Looking forward to seeing what I can find.

Aggie Class of '76

 

[SenileTexasAggie]

I thought I would provide an update. Once the shop got the tractor disassembled and could see the damage done, at least to the crankshaft, they gave me two options: continue with the engine overhaul for $5000, or simply replace the rod bearings for $1500. If I chose the latter, they would NOT warranty it. I chose to have them simply replace the rod bearings. When I picked up the tractor late afternoon of Tuesday, June 02, they told me that the PTO tested weak and would not even register on the dynamometer. They recommended that I get it repaired some time soon. When I got home with the tractor, I immediately put it to work, as I was filling in dirt in a 60' trench I had dug with an excavator to repair my water supply line. The engine got louder and louder. Finally, after about 30 minutes, I decided I better head back to the shop. I got about 1/3 of the way there when the engine finally quit. If noise level is any indication, then the engine died a painful death.

So I am back to seeing about repairing the tractor or buying another. I am leaning toward cutting my losses and buying another. Comments?

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[tradosaurus]

If $5k will get back to 100% (engine overhaul) and you like your tractor then I would go that route.

Hard to get a good tractor for $5k.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

5K is just for the engine. It also needs pto work done to it. Who knows what else lurks underneath when they get that apart to look at it.

I'd give it a Viking Funeral and move on.

 

[rademamj1]

Yikes! What a disaster. I think you made the wrong choice with the engine rebuilding shop. So trade it in on a new Tractor, as this now may become a serious money pit for you. Because its a New Holland, NH may accept it as trade, even in the current condition, for another new tractor purchase. Take advantage of their 0% financing for 6 years. This path offers peace of mind, and less stress.