The more I learn about machinery, the more I realize I do not want emissions gadgets, a computer controller, or any similar electronic junk. People say these contraptions are reliable, but on the other hand, the web is jammed with other people complaining about how they have failed and ended up sidelining tractors for months. Those stories (and my own mower controller story) are true, so clearly, gadgetry does cause a lot of terrible problems. And my Kubota dealer has a turnaround time of over a month, so any failure is a major pain.
On top of that, I do not trust manufacturers to continue making electronic parts, and I know full well that even if they do, the cost will eventually go through the roof, because that's what always happens. Ask me about the $450 muffler on my 1991 lawn tractor and the $340 controller on my mower.
I would like to buy only one more tractor before I die. I don't want to buy a new tractor every 5 years, and I don't want to have to deal with sourcing discontinued emissions parts or computer controllers 20 years from now. I want something reliable that will not need electronic parts or weird emissions parts. It's bad enough to be concerned about mechanical parts.
I have been thinking I might buy a used Kubota HST L5030. They don't have all that junk on them. But they're all pretty old, so expensive work might be needed.
It looks like most used tractors made more recently will run at least $25,000. For $10K, I can get an L5030 (needs loader) that could need a lot of restoration. I think I would rather spend $10K now and $15K later on restoration, and get a tractor I can keep until I die, than $25K now on a newer machine that may be a source of total misery in 10 years.
I have never bought an old tractor and paid to have it fixed up right. I have no idea what I might end up spending. Is my math reasonable?
I am handy, but I'm not the guy who splits tractors in his driveway. I would have to pay for major work like engine rebuilds. I can repack a cylinder and so on, but there is a limit.
On top of that, I do not trust manufacturers to continue making electronic parts, and I know full well that even if they do, the cost will eventually go through the roof, because that's what always happens. Ask me about the $450 muffler on my 1991 lawn tractor and the $340 controller on my mower.
I would like to buy only one more tractor before I die. I don't want to buy a new tractor every 5 years, and I don't want to have to deal with sourcing discontinued emissions parts or computer controllers 20 years from now. I want something reliable that will not need electronic parts or weird emissions parts. It's bad enough to be concerned about mechanical parts.
I have been thinking I might buy a used Kubota HST L5030. They don't have all that junk on them. But they're all pretty old, so expensive work might be needed.
It looks like most used tractors made more recently will run at least $25,000. For $10K, I can get an L5030 (needs loader) that could need a lot of restoration. I think I would rather spend $10K now and $15K later on restoration, and get a tractor I can keep until I die, than $25K now on a newer machine that may be a source of total misery in 10 years.
I have never bought an old tractor and paid to have it fixed up right. I have no idea what I might end up spending. Is my math reasonable?
I am handy, but I'm not the guy who splits tractors in his driveway. I would have to pay for major work like engine rebuilds. I can repack a cylinder and so on, but there is a limit.
