"Why don't you get a new one?"

[oilwell1415 563]

This is a follow up to a post from a few days ago, but I didn't want to contaminate his post with green paint.  I stumbled on this video a while back and wanted to post it, but couldn't find it.  Then today it popped back up in recommended videos so I'm posting it now.  We seem to talk about this pretty frequently on here and I know it is also an issue with garden tractors and mowers.  My mom has a Snapper ZTR that's probably 6-8 years old and you can't work on it without some electronics background.  The seat broke last season and she had it held together with bungee cords because a new seat was about $400.  The brackets use a bastard bolt pattern that doesn't match anything else, so I made some adapters to mount a $100 seat from the local farm store on it that's nicer than OEM.  But it also has a safety switch built into the seat that can't be easily and reliably bypassed, so I had to modify it to fit in the new seat as well.  Big pain in the rear, but it should last her as long as she needs it.  Anyway, back to the video.  You'll have to look past all of the green tractors, but this exemplifies why we all love our old tractors.  If you don't want to watch the entire 11 minute video, just fast forward to about 10:45 to hear the guy say what we've all said a million times.

 

 

Edited March 17, 2020 by oilwell1415

[Pullstart 62,796]

That makes it hard to make a living as a farmer, I’m sure!

[bottjernat1 2,190]

2 minutes ago, pullstart said:

That makes it hard to make a living as a farmer, I’m sure!

That is why a lot of farmers in my area are looking for the older deeres like the 4430's and ones like it and of other colors. Way less computer crap. But also with any computer crap out there there is always away around there tech.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,493]

Excellent video - Thanks for posting.

 

Unfortunately, same problem with cars, washing machines, you name it... 

[CCW 1,292]

Heck, for thirty dollars I was able to repair and continue using our 30 year old clothes dryer.  Of course that $30 part was a switch.

[oilwell1415 563]

48 minutes ago, bottjernat1 said:

That is why a lot of farmers in my area are looking for the older deeres like the 4430's and ones like it and of other colors. Way less computer crap. But also with any computer crap out there there is always away around there tech.

 

I saw another video the other day that goes hand in hand with this one talking about people looking for older tractors that are in good shape.  They are skyrocketing in value because of the demand.  Tractors that have been parked in the back 40 and left for dead for years are being resurrected and used because it's cheaper than a simple repair on a new one.  Like this video said, it's $2000 just to get your tractor to the dealership and home.

Regarding getting around their tech, I disagree.  For a long time you could do that, but on many of these systems today there is no cost effective way to bypass the computers and still have a capable machine.  You may be able to bypass or replace something to make it run, but the computer is still controlling everything else and won't do anything if it isn't getting the correct signals from the engine.  Once you got the engine running, you'd have to completely redo all of the hydraulics and electrical systems to work as well.

 

38 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Excellent video - Thanks for posting.

 

Unfortunately, same problem with cars, washing machines, you name it... 

 

 I don't know enough about the specifics of tractors or washing machines to comment on those, but the government is driving the bus on the cars.  They have upped the standards on fuel mileage and emissions to far that they can only be met with computerized powertrain controls.  They have doubled down with enhanced safety regulations that have added weight and complexity to the cars.  All of these electronics require more wiring, more wiring adds more weight and cost.  The added weight hurts the mileage, and on and on.  They have been forced to abandon simple things in response to all of this.  I don't doubt they do things specifically to force you to the dealership, but the bulk of the issues are government driven.  I suspect it is similar with everything.  In the last few years the government has managed to ruin the gas can, so why should anything else be different?

[crank 5]

Thanks for posting this, that's what they are doing with a lot of our products. Big business is taking away our rights for their profits. I hope they can get this new bill passed,but with all the money working against us it will be a real battle.

[oilwell1415 563]

Meant to add this to my last post but forgot.  Right to Repair is not new like this video suggests.  It has been a thing in the auto repair industry for a long time.  Probably at least 15 years.

[hotajax 223]

I admit I don't know crap about BIG tractors.  But there were these two really frugal brothers in my area who were farmers.  They had some absolutely huge old Oliver brand tractors that looked like crap, but these guys swore by them.  Chalk up another fan of older equipment. 

[Stepney 2,325]

And this is why my daily is an '85 Ford with a pig-iron inline 6, my washer is a wringer type Maytag, and my mower is a WH..

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

3 hours ago, hotajax said:

Chalk up another fan of older equipment. 

Old  rules !!

Edited March 18, 2020 by The Tool Crib

[JCM 9,130]

This one starts the same as it did when I picked it up from the dealer in 1986, just pump the accelerator 3 times or 5 if it's really cold and the Quadrajet and LT9 small block comes to life even after 34 years without any lights or messages on the dash.

[Pullstart 62,796]

 

[ebinmaine 67,279]

If all goes well my next vehicle will be 30 years old. Not new....

 

 

[hotajax 223]

14 hours ago, JCM said:

This one starts the same as it did when I picked it up from the dealer in 1986, just pump the accelerator 3 times or 5 if it's really cold and the Quadrajet and LT9 small block comes to life even after 34 years without any lights or messages on the dash.

 

That truck is a real beauty.  Just don't let the Maine black bears get to it.

[ebinmaine 67,279]

3 minutes ago, hotajax said:

 

That truck is a real beauty.  Just don't let the Maine black bears get to it.

Most bears wouldn't want nothing to do with that thing. However. My nickname actually is Bear.

 

This particular Bear would be somewhat less than upset if I was to suddenly own that truck.

 

[oilwell1415 563]

15 hours ago, JCM said:

This one starts the same as it did when I picked it up from the dealer in 1986, just pump the accelerator 3 times or 5 if it's really cold and the Quadrajet and LT9 small block comes to life even after 34 years without any lights or messages on the dash.

 

You've had much better luck with yours than I had with mine.  The two years we owned our 86 GMC we spent more money keeping it running that we spent buying the truck.  I never really had any brand loyalty before that, but the 1990 F-150 I replaced it with rolled over 490k miles this week and is still running great with very few issues over the years.  Turned me into a Ford man.  

[JCM 9,130]

Sorry to hear you did not have good luck with GM. I believe they now are nothing like they were back in the day, but what is. I started out with Ford and once I bought the 70 Chevelle SS in turned me into a GM fan and never looked back. I have owned 7 GM trucks and 2 cars all of those new except for one car and have had extremely good luck for the most part. You never know, I just might own another Ford someday ?

[oilwell1415 563]

I drove a 69 Pontiac LeMans in high school that was a great car, so we were a little shocked at that 86.  In it's defense, an idiot ordered it new.  It had been a fleet truck and was ordered with the new for that year 4.3L Vortec V6, 2.73 axle gears, three on the tree, and the towing package.  That truck couldn't pull a decent sized hill empty, never mind towing anything.  They came with the same carb as a 454, so you hit the gas, had a sandwich, and then started moving.  It never had a chance.

[tom2p 2,394]

On 3/18/2020 at 11:40 AM, oilwell1415 said:

You've had much better luck with yours than I had with mine.  The two years we owned our 86 GMC we spent more money keeping it running that we spent buying the truck.  I never really had any brand loyalty before that, but the 1990 F-150 I replaced it with rolled over 490k miles this week and is still running great with very few issues over the years.  Turned me into a Ford man.  

we had a few Ford F-250s - late 70's thru early 90's Ford 

 

also had a couple GM - late 80's thru early 90's 3/4 ton - including one diesel 

 

we had good service from all - Ford and GM

 

the GMC diesel was the most fun to drive and the kids loved it - primarily because of the sound  lol

 

this diesel engine in that GMC was not as good as other diesel engines offered by other manufacturers (especially later) - but still fairly good 

 

 

but my fav was the early 90's F250 - really liked this truck 

 

it had a 351 - not the larger engine and unfortunately not a Power Stroke diesel - but still ran well 

 

however - the problem with that F250 was everything rusted and I mean *everything* 

 

not just the standard items including body panels or whatever - but both fuel tanks, oil pan, pumpkin covers, all lines - fuel, trans, power steering ... all rusted through ...  it was crazy - and not uncommon from what I learned 

 

( note - none of the trucks were used for snow plowing or salt hauling  etc )

 

 

Edited March 20, 2020 by tom2p