Buying Advice LS vs New Holland Parts Availability

xmas2010 · Jan 24, 2018

Here is my situation. I am looking to purchase a gently used tractor in the 40 HP range. I have run across a good deal on a LS G3038, however I have seen a lot of horror stories about parts availability for LS tractors. I do not have a local LS dealer, but there is a New Holland dealer about 20 miles away. It looks like the NH Workmaster 40 is just a rebranded LS G3038. I compared the part numbers on various components (fuel filter, oil filter, various gaskets) and the part numbers match exactly other than New Holland throwing a 'MT' on the front. The assembly diagrams match as well. My question is this, is the parts availability from NH any better, or do you still have to wait months for Workmaster parts? I do all of my own maint and repair work so I am not concerned with the NH dealer working on it or not, just the parts availability. Since used LS run about $5k cheaper than the NH or Case branded equivalent I thought maybe someone has experience with a similar situation.

ovrszd · Jan 24, 2018

Welcome to TBN.

Very good question. Curious to hear responses from LS owners. I have two older Fords. I've found parts availability to be excellent thru CNH online parts site.

mddorange · Jan 24, 2018

:welcome:
To the TBN forum Xmas. Glad you joined.

You came to the right place to get answers.

xmas2010 · Jan 24, 2018

Thanks guys, I have gotten a lot of good info off here by lurking around for years. :thumbsup:

gersus · Jan 24, 2018

These are solid units, the need for parts is limited.
Couldn't a LS dealer be able to get you whatever you needed?
If not I would go the NH route and give that a try.

CMV · Jan 24, 2018

I've only bought filters but Messick's seemed to have lots of stuff. At least for the filters I noticed a lot of overlap with NH and MF parts.

rgr33 · Jan 24, 2018

I have a 2012 LS tractor. I do my own work on both my tractors because I like to. The LS has never needed anything done other than normal maintenance.

I have bought filters and fluids from Messicks, using Case-New Holland filters, as well as LS oem filters on eBay, and over the counter at the LS dealer about a 30 mile drive from home.
All arrived quickly, were about the same price, and worked fine after installation.

In my 5 years of owning an LS, there has been no problems with the tractor, or with getting any parts that are needed. I wasn’t sure what the LS owning experience would be, being a JD guy up to that point, but it has proved to be an excellent tractor.

xmas2010 · Jan 24, 2018

Thanks rgr33, sounds like it has been a good experience for you. I just keep thinking that I am missing something. Why would anyone spend the extra $$ for a NH or Case. There is a significant price difference in the tractors and as far as I can tell the only thing that is different on the machines is the paint and stickers.

ovrszd · Jan 24, 2018

I wonder that sometimes too. It's a very complicated situation. Takes some very dedicated searching to truly figure out what tractor a guy is buying. Very few brands produce the entire tractor. Most "farm" out the components and assembly.

Not sure that matters much for the first few years of the tractor's life. Along about the second decade it begins to matter significantly. Regardless of brand, I expect the first 5 or 6 years and 2000 plus hours to be without major breakdown or events requiring extensive support.

Once an owner goes into the 4000 hr plus and/or ten year old plus machine range things begin to change. Parts availability becomes crucial. Availability of a technical mechanic to rebuild major components is also crucial.

What gets very confusing is when a company is offering a product at a cheaper price that competes with their primary product under a different brand name. Very difficult then to figure out who exactly produced the product.

CNH for example is a conglomerate are dozens of smaller companies that have been purchased. Where LS fits in this is beyond my ability to understand. But obviously it fits in there somehow. Otherwise you would see no duplication in parts, etc.

I was hoping someone much more educated than I in this subject would post with some hard data to explain the very, very muddy waters we are discussing here.