Old Stuff Versus Todays Cheap Crap Unbelievable Comparison

Anonymous-0 · Aug 31, 2010

We needed a hay elevator for my wife's horse barn and found an old Red Cross Mfg. unit locally that was made in the late 50's. Paid $100. The farmer used it all the way up until the early 80's and it sat in the barn ever since. Still has the ORIGINAL Sears Roebuck motor he bought new for it. Motor was solid rust on the outside and I thought it would never work. All I did was grease it up,oil the chain and vacuum out the mice nest in the motor and replaced the mice eaten/dry rotted power cord.

Worked flawlessly and put up 100 bales.

Compare this to my wifes friend who paid $1600 for a new elevator and the motor burnt up after 3 years and one gear sprocket broke and the chain is eating into the housing. 500-600 bales per year usage. It was not abused if that is what you are thinking (they take really good care of their stuff) and the hubbie greased it regulary.

BTW: We also still use my parents hand me down 1970's Hoover vacuum. Actually bought a new Hoover several years back and after 2 years the drive gear ate into the pasltic housing so we are back to using the old Hoover. and until we got HDTV last year the 1978 model Zenith TV that was also my parents hand me down....Oh and the Vizion TV we bought? Lasted 14 months and the power module burnt out. $385 to repair.

Anyone else have similar stories of the good old stuff versus todays crap?

We are truly on a race towards the bottom in terms of quality.

OldFarmTractor · Aug 31, 2010

I was thinking of trading in my better half. I figured I could get a couple of low mileage 30's for the tired old 60 year old model.

By the time you consider the upkeep on even one 30's model, dining, clothes, makeup, massages, housekeeper, new car and everything else, I decided the a slightly worn 60 year old model would do just fine.

A rebuild to include hairdo, outfit, massage and a ton of compliments and I will be in fine shape for quite a few more years.

And what the heck, I don't think I could even keep pace with those newer models!

1936 · Aug 31, 2010

As I have been told they all fit about the same so hold off on the trade up or down.

PJH · Aug 31, 2010

Are you wired for 230??

One must be careful, you know!!

Paul

MarkWV · Aug 31, 2010

at one point manufactoring was to spec with materials that would last a "lifetime". Now everything is engineered to run or operate within a "reasonable life expectency" sells more that way some call it "planned obsolence" (sp)

Dutchman · Aug 31, 2010

Something I been saying for awhile is ...

WHAT will the tractors of today be 50 - 60 years from now ... or will they be sitting in a fence row with little things wrong ... electrictrons {sp] not working and too expense to fix ..{ the mouse thing }

The older tractors 50 years old or older , all you need is spark, fuel, compression .. and still running ..

Mark

showcrop · Aug 31, 2010

We bought the house where we used to live in 1978 and the contents came with it no extra charge. There was an old Filter Queen vacuum that looked pretty deteriorated but it still worked good so we used it. 32 years later it still works well, two new hoses and two new cords. It still sucks the dirt up, and it must be 50 years old now.

Bus Driver · Aug 31, 2010

Depends on the power supply to the motor. Long cords kill motors. Voltage drop kills motors. So your motor might have had a much better power supply.

olliekid · Aug 31, 2010

i couldnt agree more dutchman

Bob/wis · Aug 31, 2010

Had to replace the compressor unit on our milk tank his summer. After we had the new/used unit inplace and working. The guy checked the serial number and came up with the age of the old compressor. It was made in 1956. Over the last 10 yrs we had to spend money each yr to keep it going. but, for the most part it was maintence items. The only reason for the replacement was a lightening strike fried it.
Bob

Ultradog MN · Aug 31, 2010

It's a toss up I guess.
I sure wouldn't trade my late model Chevy for one with points. Get 100K miles without a tune up, tires last 70K, front brake pads get 125K without replacement.
I wouldn't trade my modern windows for some inefficiant old single panes, my digital electric alarm clock for a wind up job or jet travel for the train either.

buickanddeere · Aug 31, 2010

Amen Ultradog

Cockshutt Mike · Aug 31, 2010

Well i cut loose of older model better half and in place got slightly used and a lot newer model, very cost effective. Best thing i ever done, older one very costly to maintain, matter of fact it's still costing me. Oh, wait a minute maybe your talking about other older is better. LOL

Tx Jim · Sep 1, 2010

(quoted from post at 23:03:04 08/31/10) It's a toss up I guess.
I sure wouldn't trade my late model Chevy for one with points. Get 100K miles without a tune up, tires last 70K, front brake pads get 125K without replacement.
I wouldn't trade my modern windows for some inefficiant old single panes, my digital electric alarm clock for a wind up job or jet travel for the train either.

I wouldn't trade my '91 JD for a new one that if computer goes out one is stranded in the field or if sensor goes out trans won't shift or 3pt won't operate!!!!!!!!! And then those little CID engines that are suppose to outlast an engine that has 150% more cubic inches.

Sometimes progress is backward

buickanddeere · Sep 1, 2010

I wouldn't trade my '91 JD for a new one that if computer goes out one is stranded in the field or if sensor goes out trans won't shift or 3pt won't operate!!!!!!!!! And then those little CID engines that are suppose to outlast an engine that has 150% more cubic inches.

Sometimes progress is backward

Deere does make plain jane simple tractors with simple controls. I too am leery of the Deluxe models with more senors and tech than the space shuttle.
As for HP from the Dubuque TI four cylinder engines? Compare the HP per cu inch of the 6.8L/415cu/275HP",8.1L/494cu"/350HP and 9.0L/549cu"/400HP engines. Nobody complains about these Dubuque and Waterloo engines in the 7000 and 8000 tractor chassis.
That 9.0L/549cu" engine is based on the old 4010/4020's engine but with over four times the HP.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 1, 2010

Some is better older some is better newer.Just have to pick and choose compters are definitely better than 20 years ago but try to find a decent hammer these days and it won't happen unless you
float a loan and buy a Snapon so it goes.Definitely do not want a tractor with all the complicated electronics

Billy Shafer · Sep 1, 2010

I know in the generator world. The ones you can buy today. Will be in the scrap pile. While the ones built fifty years ago are still running.

big fred · Sep 1, 2010

I dunno, if I'm on business travel I might prefer taking a train. Imagine getting paid for 3 days for a trip across country in a nice roomy relaxing rail car vs one day for a cramped flight. ;o)

Tx Jim · Sep 1, 2010

(quoted from post at 07:10:46 09/01/10) ]Deere does make plain jane simple tractors with simple controls. Nobody complains about these Waterloo engines in the 7000 and 8000 tractor chassis..

b&d
I agree that JD does make some NEW plain Jane tractors. And I don't call those 276 cid engines exactly Waterloo technology.

S2710 · Sep 1, 2010

neighbor bought a newer tractor with the same horsepower as my Ferguson and he has had it in the shop a half a dozen times for computor things. I have never done anything to my tractor and it will out pull his. His biggest advantiage is that he has power steering and I don't. By the way he tipped his tractor over where the 60 year old Ferguson goes all the time.

buickanddeere · Sep 1, 2010

(quoted from post at 13:23:11 09/01/10) neighbor bought a newer tractor with the same horsepower as my Ferguson and he has had it in the shop a half a dozen times for computor things. I have never done anything to my tractor and it will out pull his. His biggest advantiage is that he has power steering and I don't. By the way he tipped his tractor over where the 60 year old Ferguson goes all the time.

You are comparing some apples and oranges there.
I can recall of tractors going to the shop for several sets of plugs,wires,rotors, points, condensers. When the mechanic was missing carb or valve problems.
Odds are the mechanic has very limited electrical/electronic knowledge/experience and minimal diagnostic tools. The tractor will be back to the shop for "computer problems" until the "mechanic finally guesses the faulty component.
I'll take my "new" standard chassis tractor on side hills That would roll the 1953 model 50 rowcrop which has the wheels narrow for mounting the cultivator.

buickanddeere · Sep 1, 2010

(quoted from post at 13:12:21 09/01/10)

(quoted from post at 07:10:46 09/01/10) ]Deere does make plain jane simple tractors with simple controls. Nobody complains about these Waterloo engines in the 7000 and 8000 tractor chassis..

Click to expand...

b&d
I agree that JD does make some NEW plain Jane tractors. And I don't call those 276 cid engines exactly Waterloo technology.

Only the 8.1 and 9.0 mentioned are waterloo. The smaller engines are built on the Dubuque/Mannheim 300 ancestry.

JML755 · Sep 1, 2010

(quoted from post at 19:51:11 08/31/10) at one point manufactoring was to spec with materials that would last a "lifetime". Now everything is engineered to run or operate within a "reasonable life expectency" sells more that way some call it "planned obsolence" (sp)

Mark, I agree 100%. What bugs me is when something breaks and you dig into it to find a part made of plastic that shouldn't be, i.e. gears, bearings, brackets, etc. I also agree with Ultradog (et al) that the design of newer stuff CAN be better but it's the quality of the parts inside that can be lacking.

Another example of quality: I was at Home Depot yesterday buying some 4" Sch 40 PVC fittings and pipe. Bought a number of couplings. Happened to check one on a piece of pipe and IT WAS TOO SMALL. Checked the SKU, right part & description but the wall thickness was just a hair bigger. Ended up test fitting ALL the parts just to make sure and found another that wouldn't fit. Figured it was bad China stuff, looked at the part and found MADE IN USA embossed on the fittings.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 2, 2010

Besides your arm muscles got bigger than his.

Old Stuff Versus Todays Cheap Crap Unbelievable Comparison

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