Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new.

   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new. #11  
I also feel the 2355 is a much heavier built tractor than the E series you mentioned.

Indeed, the 2355, 2555, 2755 etc were closer to the 6000 series than the 5000 series in terms of weight, size, features, etc.
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new. #12  
I too work a lot of hours and am getting to the point I don't like to spend my free time working on everything, even though I do a lot. Have you priced getting someone else to put a clutch in your JD? That way it would not take so much of your time and it would still be a lot cheaper than a new tractor.
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new. #13  
Hey neighbor - the tractor I have no idea about but the jd709 I do know.

hate to hear of one wore out to the point of no return.And to think I DEEPLY desire one.

I member a guy named farmwithjunk - sorta describes me:laughing:

point is how much for the 709 to a nice guy like me?
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new.
  • Thread Starter
#14  
I think life is making the choice for me.
In the last 10 days had to get roof replaced due to a storm (Farm Bureau covered most of that thank goodness, still out $2,000 to get the best roof on it.) Septic tank is acting up, that's never cheap, and as of last night one of the AC units the compressor isn't kicking on. It's about 12 years old, I figure it's about time for it.
So - my old John Deere (which I used a lot this weekend) is looking a lot better to me this morning.
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new. #15  
We had an older Case/IH with 10,000+ hours on it. I was busy building the house and bought a newish Kubota to use so I wouldn't have to be fixing it all the time. It was all small stuff but you would waste all your time fixing it instead of using it.

I'm glad to have the Kubota but I did replace the IH with another big high houred tractor to have some backup muscle and to run my disc mower.
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new. #16  
I think life is making the choice for me.
In the last 10 days had to get roof replaced due to a storm (Farm Bureau covered most of that thank goodness, still out $2,000 to get the best roof on it.) Septic tank is acting up, that's never cheap, and as of last night one of the AC units the compressor isn't kicking on. It's about 12 years old, I figure it's about time for it.
So - my old John Deere (which I used a lot this weekend) is looking a lot better to me this morning.

Same thing happened to us a couple of years ago, $6000 for the septic system sure cut into our plans. This year we had a $2500 roof repair AFTER buying a new M8540.:mur::mur:
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new. #17  
Yea its always something.

You might consider putting cornhead grease in the 709's boxes - beats the heck out of constant refills.

I have to use grease in my 5',6' and 10' shredders - doubt I'll ever get around to putting in seals.

Good luck neighbor!
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new. #18  
Repairs for most people come in 3 varieties:

1. Standard Periodic Maintenance

This is not only the daily check the fluids and lines, but also the every 400 hrs / 1200 hrs filter and fluid changes, and adjustments to things that loosen up, get dinged, stretch, etc.​

2. Fix or replace a broken part.

Could be as simple as a light, or as bad as a clutch disk replacement. Still, it's only a single part.​

3. Overhaul a system or assembly

Think of rebuilding an engine, or a transmission. Not just a simple part replacement, but making that system as good as new.​


There's a 4th level of maintenance that people rarely do, other than collectors, hobbyists, or fanatical mechanics, and that's what military types would refer to as a depot-level re-manufacturing. An overhaul of that nature is equivalent to overhauling every system on the vehicle or equipment, not just the system you've been having problems with. You just about completely disassemble the tractor, spec all the parts, replace the ones that don't pass muster, and then reassemble the entire tractor. What you have then, is the same tractor, in just about factory new condition.

That kind of an overhaul requires either a complete motor vehicle garage/machine shop to do it in; or a lot of barn floor space, time, hoisting equipment, time, tools and did I mention time?

The benefit of all that work, and money is you have a tractor that shouldn't require anything more than the periodic maintenance that a new tractor requires. And should be cheaper in the long run. But that mostly depends on what your time is worth.
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new. #19  
I'll second the grease in the gearbox recommendation. It sure beats worrying about burning up the box if the seals give out. I've done it with a few. If you need to change the grease you can just put a little solvent like diesel into the box with the grease and run it for a couple of minutes then drain.
 
   / Trying to decide on new iron. Fix old or buy new.
  • Thread Starter
#20  
I'll second the grease in the gearbox recommendation. It sure beats worrying about burning up the box if the seals give out. I've done it with a few. If you need to change the grease you can just put a little solvent like diesel into the box with the grease and run it for a couple of minutes then drain.

Oh yeah. That baby is getting packed with grease this weekend.
 

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