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Post by kevlar on Oct 20, 2021 19:35:10 GMT -6
Have been trying to upgrade our combine for a couple years now, went to look at another one again today, and as soon as we drive up to it, I could see a few things that needed attention. After looking it over, we figured it wouldn't be a step up from what we have now even though it was a couple years newer and had half the hours. Seem to notice it more with combines, but to be fair, that's what we have been looking at the most. Things from broken or bent panels, latches that don't work, rust all over for some reason. We have equipment that we have ran for 30 years and don't have a single blemish more on it now than it did when we got it. Do people just not care or respect their equipment anymore? There doesn't seem to be any such thing as a "clean local trade" anymore. A part of it is the dealers doing as little as they can to make a sale and just want something to come in then go out right away without putting anything into it. This machine we looked at might be in good mechanical shape, but when you see broken wires hanging there for the sieve loss sensor, some rough looking belts, and decals peeling off (this was a 2015 machine) and broken latches for some of the doors, it makes me wonder that if a guy won't fix the little things, he most likely won't do anything more important. If the dealer would spend some time and money on it they would likely have a sale, I think this has been on the lot for quite awhile now. I don't want to buy something like a combine with a hefty price tag that needs work as soon as you get it home, it's a little different on a smaller ticket item, I don't mind putting some elbow grease into it, but quarter of a million dollar machine, no thanks.
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Post by Oatking on Oct 20, 2021 20:13:06 GMT -6
Same impression with equipment. Its not like 30 years or more ago when the owner drove the machine and cared about how it ran. Now a days its lucky if the combines are greased! You always want to bring home something you can be proud of. Lots of machines never get shedded and I find the new holland paint fades to a yellow banana. I used to have two of them tr96s and tr98s and I swear the guy who had it before me grenaded them just for fun. Yikes, Those two machines drove me bonkers. I learned to always buy premo machines .
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Post by torriem on Oct 20, 2021 20:23:50 GMT -6
Even if a combine has been well maintained I still have a hard time justifying a newer machine. Fewer hours, sometimes less wear, but other than that pretty much exactly the same as what I have now. Only automation might make an upgrade somewhat worth it, theoretically. When they want to offer me less than $150 for my current combine, and want $450 for a two year old machine, it just doesn't make much sense, but apparently a lot of farmers disagree with me on that!
I find that lots of guys do notice the little things, and even intend to fix them some time, but then there's a time crunch, and they say, oh maybe next year. Actually there are a few things on my farm that I keep putting off too. Often little things that probably would make me feel better if I just did them. A hydraulic leak, for example. But I do fix quite a few little things that bring me satisfaction.
Also it's hard to find hired help that will treat the machine as if it's theirs. And some people just aren't mechanically inclined (even farmers), so they just don't notice or "feel" some things that you would probably notice immediately if you hopped on the machine. I guess it takes all sorts to run the world. I do feel like the most successful farmers I know are also natural engineers and good at fixing things.
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Post by torriem on Oct 20, 2021 20:25:18 GMT -6
Would it hurt to make a detailed list from your inspection, and use that in negotiations? If it's been on the lot a while, they might be willing to put something into if they know you would buy it.
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Post by meskie on Oct 20, 2021 20:49:15 GMT -6
Time is the biggest thing for us not fixing the little stuff. But since we built a shop a couple years ago we have been getting lots of the little things fixed as there is more time in the winter to do it. Machines can sit in the shop for a week or two and get things done. Even our chore tractors get the loaders greased and the windows/cab cleaned more often when they are inside the heated shop.
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jaymo
Full Member
Posts: 173 Likes: 76
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Post by jaymo on Oct 20, 2021 21:20:41 GMT -6
Last time I was combine shopping went to look at a machine at a dealer. Combine was priced right, but it was rusting in every little corner and crease. Must have been trucked in the winter and got soaked with salty road spray. Nasty, the machine was only 4-5 years old at the time.
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Post by slipclutch on Oct 21, 2021 5:44:33 GMT -6
A shop is a must these days. In the last 3 years by fixing and maintaining equipment we saved about 300k in trading or getting someone to come and fix. And when you fix in the winter months the blood pressure is WAY! down and it gets fix’s the right way. Not a farmer way. Lol. All you guys know what I mean “the farmer way”
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Post by skfarmboy on Oct 21, 2021 8:12:16 GMT -6
Kevlar, I sent you a pm.
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BJT
Full Member
Posts: 109 Likes: 40
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Post by BJT on Oct 21, 2021 9:18:27 GMT -6
Deere S series on your want list? I may have 3 for sale, one owner always stored inside, goes through our own shop every winter.
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Post by kevlar on Oct 21, 2021 10:02:31 GMT -6
Sorry, looking for a New Holland! Wanting to switch back to a Cr from our current CX. Would love to buy new but our farm size tells us no!
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Post by bob123 on Oct 21, 2021 12:54:04 GMT -6
Lots of rust happens at the dealer, farms trade them off and dont bother to clean them off because it's not their problem now, so they sit there all closed up and full of chaff outside for a couple months until a tech gets to it
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Post by generalchaos on Oct 21, 2021 17:58:00 GMT -6
I’m looking to upgrading my 4wd tractor so yesterday went to look at a Vers 946. First thing I notice fuel filter hadn’t been changed since 08 and oil filters 18. Turned me right off. Doesn’t cost that much to change a few filters.
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Post by kevlar on Oct 21, 2021 18:16:13 GMT -6
What kind of crop causes them to rust on the inside? This last one wasn't too bad inside, but remember looking at one a few years ago and it looked like it had harvested salt it was so bad. Not to mention the rock damage the salesman hadn't noticed, or hoped we wouldn't notice?
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Post by cptusa on Oct 21, 2021 19:22:53 GMT -6
I am exceptionally particular when it comes to maintaining, repairing, cleaning equipment. Off season everything is run through my shop, repaired, blown off, washed, waxed, lubed, cab detailed.
Last March I traded combines to a dealer a ways away. We did it over the phone and put a lot of trust in each other. New machine was as I expected and I was happy. Dealer called me after looking over my old machine and actually apologized and said the new one was not going to be clean enough for me. I appreciated that and laughed and told him they never are.
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Post by torriem on Oct 21, 2021 20:32:26 GMT -6
I’m looking to upgrading my 4wd tractor so yesterday went to look at a Vers 946. First thing I notice fuel filter hadn’t been changed since 08 and oil filters 18. Turned me right off. Doesn’t cost that much to change a few filters. While that's true, I generally prefer that dealers don't change any filters because I like to go through the machine and put on new filters of a brand I prefer and mark the date on them. But I'd also be turned off of a filter that hasn't been changed in that long... not a great sign.
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