Simple farm tractors are history

[RayIN]

Todays farm tractors are packed with electronics and gadgets.
This is the dash of a Massey Ferguson today:

 

[Hay Dude]

Oh heck yeah. Mine looks a lot like that.

Sensors for everything. Each sensor costs money to replace and might even stop the tractor from running.

Don’t forget the baler monitor and the armrest ISOBUS monitor!

 

[Hay Dude]

You can still buy 35+ year old tractors that are simpler, but they are pretty wore out by now. You’d have to hope you can get parts for them.

 

[RayIN]

My 2002 only has 5 idiot lights, 3 gauges & 551 hrs. It'll last my lifetime. I do have a built-in theft prevention, if I don't hold the PTO lever back the ignition will not work, gotta replace that safety switch some day, but it's low on the important list.

 

[mllud]

My 2002 only has 5 idiot lights, 3 gauges & 551 hrs. It'll last my lifetime. I do have a built-in theft prevention, if I don't hold the PTO lever back the ignition will not work, gotta replace that safety switch some day, but it's low on the important list.

There are some tractors like yours out there in good condition to be bought.

Mine is a 1999 3010 new Holland with 5,775 hours recently bought. It's a plain Jane tractor in function like the 1960's units. A more modern engine with a few more safety interlocks to deal with.
I didn't want all the electronics that need dealers to troubleshoot issues.

What Hay Dude says is pretty much the case that most simple tractors are wore out or getting close. Simple tractors are fading away along with us old farm mechanics.

I like all the new fluff on newer machines but need to do my own repairs. There are still a lot off simple tractors doing work out there.
After about 2005 things got more electronically complicated

 

[mrmikey]

HD, how long did it take to really understand all the lights and the implications of certain ones being on? I would assume that it's something that you worked up to over the years each newer version getting deeper and deeper? I consider myself somewhat mechanically inclined but holy crap, I'd never figure that out.

 

[Hay Dude]

2012 added the most complexity of any one single year.
That’s when exhaust after treatment systems became federally mandated.

I purposely look for pre-2012’s, but even that’s getting on the old side now.
I have one post 2012, but someone broke the complicated part before I bought it.

 

[Hay Dude]

HD, how long did it take to really understand all the lights and the implications of certain ones being on? I would assume that it's something that you worked up to over the years each newer version getting deeper and deeper? I consider myself somewhat mechanically inclined but holy crap, I'd never figure that out.

Think of it as spaghetti wire. Each little light is connected to a sensor. If the sensor gets out of range, the corresponding light on the dash lights up for you, ruining your day

I guess it does have some advantages of warning you of big problems.

 

[loggin]

Think of it as spaghetti wire. Each little light is connected to a sensor. If the sensor gets out of range, the corresponding light on the dash lights up for you, ruining your day

I guess it does have some advantages of warning you of big problems.

I am curious as to how much of the information presented on these screens is actually useful or just gimmickry?

The thought of being stuck due to some useless sensor just irritates me..!! Never mind the cost associated with it!!

 

[mrmikey]

I guess it does have some advantages of warning you of big problems.

Good point. Part that would tick me off is the problems that are caused by add on crap that's either not needed or poorly implemented.