using older tractors today as there main tractor

I would really like one 60+hp modern type tractor, live power, live hydraulics, power steering etc. About what the MF would be if it would stay together.

Give me a 25 year old tractor with a good maintainence program and breakdowns will be less than the new. I have seen a lot more tractors less than 5 years old down in the past ten years than ever before in my life. I doesn't matter whether it's tractors, trucks or cars. In the 60s and 70s I owned 4 cars, 5 trucks and 5 tractors that were never seen by the dealer after the day they were new. You try that with this electronic junk of today.

Just go down the page a bit, there is a discussion , re: the boys from Wall St. The Wall St boys prosper only because of the inept public.

I also get a great kick out of these guys trading tractors for tax reasons. Claim 30% depreciation on their income for a tractor that looses 30% of its value the first and subsequent years. Like you say upgrade those implements, that is where the big technological advances are today. Add items like GPS, etc.

Back in the 70s you didn't need to spend much mney before the car or pickup were 5 years old, then it was only tires or exhaust, maybe a battery. I guess like I said to Paul, manufacturers are going to destroy the car and pickup, then declare there is no demand. Then corperate excutives will be able to burn all the fuels left in their SUV's.

You probably don't have a good loader tractor, but what the H#$%, you could probably buy a good articulated loader, a real loader, maybe you already have one. I bought a 40 hp skid steer loader in 1972, 2 years later I bought a 2nd one and retired my IH 2000 loader forever. I saved enough on tractor repairs to pay for the skid steers and I didn't have to put up with an annoying loader hanging on the front of my 560 every time I wanted it for field work.

One other thing Larry, with those IH engines you only need one power shift change in any field. A friend got me to do some disking for him. First day I used his new CIH 90 hp, second day I used his 886 with 360 engine. (same disk) That evening he was looking for my praise of his new purchase. He said, "great having the multipul speed power shift." I said," yes it is great but remember the 886 went up the hill without shifting even the TA." He then got me in the cab with him to show me how it was done. (new CIH) He started down field disking, at about 3 mph, I reached over and shifted the power shift to about 5-6 mph, the new CIH died before he could depress the clutch. He said, " what did you do that for." I said, " because the 886 was pulling the disk at 5.5 mph with no shifting anywhere in the field." He got out of tractor in a huff, jumped in his 4x4 Chevy pickup, forgetting he didn't have it in 4 wheel drive he burried it in loose soil. I then had to take the time to pull him out. As he was leaving I said,"this is truly a productive tractor."