FWA Tractors

MNfarmboy83 · Sep 23, 2013

I"m looking for some input... I"m going to be buying a FWA tractor this fall. I am thinking of Ford, Case ih, or John Deere from the late 80"s to the early/ mid 90"s. Something in that 85 - 100 HP range. Has to have a cab and loader. I am looking to spend no more than 25,000. I am currently looking at a 2955 JD with just under 10,000 hours. Someone told me a tractor with 10,000 hours is like buying a pick up with 100,000 miles. You should get some good use before needing any major repairs, but expect to put some $ into it here and there. What are your thoughts on that comment? And any thoughts on this tractor or any other tractor is appreciated. Thanks in advance for your input.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 23, 2013

My pickup has about 101000 miles, and about 3400 hours.
I've seen more tractors trashed before 10000 hours than I have seen make it.
Today I wouldn't buy a loader tractor, or any newer, larger tractor for that matter, that has the typical old fashioned dry engine clutch. I have a mid 90's CaseIH Maxxum which has a hydraulic direction reverser. I imagine most companies offered it by then.

IaGary · Sep 23, 2013

I"m with bob.

10,000 hours is more like 200,000 miles than 100,000 on a car.

If the price is right 10,000 hours is still okay, if the tractor was well cared for.

Gary

oldtanker · Sep 23, 2013

Bob and Gary are right. 10K hours is getting pretty close to a major engine overhaul. Plus no matter how good it looks on a dealers lot you have no idea how it was treated. I don't own a MFWA tractor but I do have 2 tractors with loaders. A 1206 Farmall and a TLB. The TLB has a shuttle shift forward and reverse. Guess which one is nicer to operate and faster at loader work? So the advice on something with a shuttle or reverser is good advice too if you plan on using the loader a lot.

Rick

Bruce from Can. · Sep 23, 2013

I have 2, 4 wheel drive loader tractors.5640 Ford 68hp CaseIH 5140 95hp I like them both quite well. The ford has a dry clutch and it was replaced at 5000hrs, The Ford now has 7500hrs runs every day to feed cows. The CIH has a wet clutch and 6500hrs, never been worked on.Bruce

VicS · Sep 23, 2013

My son set out to buy almost the same thing. Our JD 4040 has 8800 hrs. It has never been overhauled, engine or transmission. But it has had a lot of down time from things like hydraulic lines wearing holes in them, hyd pump drive, water pump,hyd cooler leaking, rad leaking. The list goes on and on. A good tractor but 8800 hrs and it is 35 yrs old. Thought we wanted a 6410 JD. The one we found was 38000 and had 3500 hrs. did have a good loader with self leveling bucket. Then we found out you could buy a new Kubota 90 engine hp for 44000. This is cab-air 4X4 shuttle and 12 speed trans, but no power-shift. 16.9X34 rear tires. Went to look and drive one ended up with a New 126GX with every option. Glad we moved up to the 126 hp one. will pull the 4040 tools with ease. and costs 12 dollars a hr less to run, on diesel fuel alone. We have ran it 200hrs already so has saved over 2400 dollars in fuel. We also priced a 6125 JD it was 30000 dollars higher. Also new Kubota's have 0% interest for 5 yrs. Sorry this sounds like a Kubota commercial, never thought we would own one. Vic

JD Seller · Sep 23, 2013

I am a JD man and I would RUN like the wind from a JD 2955 with 10,000 hours with a loader on it. They had a great motor just everything behind that was not the greatest. They have a dry clutch. The hydraulics are a nightmare to work on once they give you any major trouble. I would stay away from that model with those kind of hours.

I would look at a JD 6400 MFWD with those kind of hours and not be too scared of it. They have a wet clutch. The hydraulics are not an issue on them. Real early models can have electrical issues but most of them should be worked out by now.

Also you numbers on hours are off too. 100,000 miles would be more like 3000 hours. A 10,000 hour tractor is more like a 300K car.

If the motor has been overhauled and the hydraulics are top notch than MAYBE, but that is a BIG MAYBE.

Also the 85-100 HP MFWD cab tractors are always a hot seller. So finding a "Deal" on one is going to be tough. Most of what you find in the $25K range will be well "used".

RodinNS · Sep 23, 2013

Only a fool would tell you that... In that class of tractor, particularly one that's got a loader mounted on it... at 10000 hours of nominally hard work, it's about worn out or has already had a litany of major repairs. It really doesn't matter what color it is. Deere's of that vintage and size were knows for hydraulic issues, high pressure leaks, brake problems and eventual liner problems in the engine.
Ford's in that range will have had a couple hydraulic pumps by then, steering pumps, the engine will be quite tired... the model you're looking at in that size... the 7710 is WELL known to be turned WAY up.. so it could have that much more wrong with it. Clutches in both could be a problem if it got worked hard on loader work.
I'm less familiar with the red ones but I'm quite sure you'll find similar issues.

A 10000 hour tractor is a heartache looking for a home at less than half the money you're talking about.

Rod

paul · Sep 23, 2013

I'm with the others - 5000-6000 hours is about time you start looking for things to go wrong on a tractor, at 10,000 you are living on the thin edge....

ESP with front wheel assist, that is a big major stuff to fail, and parts are hard to find for the old MFWD systems.

ESP with a loader on it.

Paul

JMS/.MN · Sep 24, 2013

FWA and MFWD are two different animals. ASSIST vs full-time front wheel drive. 2955? never been impressed as a tillage tractor, no matter the hours. MFWD, my 4450 has around 8-9xxx hrs, like the 4240, and the 4430 I sold with 11,xxx hrs. All first engines, trans (except the 4240 at 8xxx hrs), first rear ends. 4430 used a pint of oil every 100 hr oil change, since 1983. Granted, some figure an OH at 10,000 hrs, but alot depends on previous care. I bought all of mine at 2-3xxx hrs, change engine oil every 100 hrs....never overhauled a JD.

MNfarmboy83 · Sep 24, 2013

Thanks for your help guys! I did look at Kubotas also but they looked to me like they would be a little light to do the field work I need to do. And I have not seen many (any for that matter)of them on farms while on road trips. Did consider a 6400 but they are about 10,000 more. But in the long run, it sounds like maybe I would be better off with a little newer machine.

Ken Macfarlane · Sep 24, 2013

1. What kind of hour meter? 10,000 pto hrs is different than 10,000 key turned on hours.
2. What kind of hours? Local golf course has mowing tractors that are perfectly serviced with whatever they need but they run 40 hours a week in season mowing fairways. They sell them with 5-10,000 hours on them but they are in very good shape vs a chore tractor from a farm with the same hours.

dieselpup · Sep 24, 2013

There are plenty of 10000 hour tractors but I would look it over very carefully. One thing to pay attention to is the trunions on the front axle of your Deere. If the bearings have ever failed and worn the housing it can be a tricky repair. I haven't tangled with a 2955 but have spent a good bit of time on the front of a 2755 with similar hours.

MNfarmboy83 · Sep 24, 2013

The 2955 I was / am considering had a new clutch put in at the local JD dealer at about 8500 hours. I don't know the history of the tractor before 8000 hours. I do know the guy who has it now is very meticulous and if it needed something it would have been done and with new JD parts. He did replace 1 front hub since he owned it (along with the clutch). He used it for haying and feeding/ cleaning up after about 100 head of young stock. The tires are about 30% all the way around, On a scale of 1 to 10, I would say it's a 7.5. All the lights work along with the air and heat. That's all the info I have on this particular tractor.

FWA Tractors

MNfarmboy83

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Bob Bancroft

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IaGary

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oldtanker

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Bruce from Can.

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VicS

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paul

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