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Szrachnor
05-21-2006 10:32:58
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Re: 544 vs 574; need specs and opinions in reply to BSer, 05-21-2006 07:55:45
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My opinion is based on the fact that I worked in a salvage yard in CT for about 15 years. The neat thing about the salvage yard perspective is you get to see the common problems with certain machines while owners of a single machine only get to see the problems that arise with their particular tractor. Also, in CT we don't see a lot of hydro's, just gear drives, and you didn't specify which ones you were looking at. Keeping that in mind this is what I've seen: 544's are a salvage yard gold mine. We can sell everything top to bottom, left to right, front to back. What this means for you: you COULD have undesirable breakdown at just about any point of the machine, especially if it's been worked hard or abused. The other thing I've noticed about 544's is that in this part of the country they're hard to get parts for. They were kind of a hybrid 504 that didn't have a lot of interchange of parts with other tractors. The 574 on the other hand, interchanges parts with other 74 series machines and aftermarketer's have picked up some of the common problem items (such as front axle extensions). In general in the yard, we brought in 574's and made quick sales on tires and rims, sheet metal, engines and engine systems, front ends, three point hitch and some other minor parts. The transmission, rear end, axles, brakes, fixed drawbars, hydraulics and lift system just sat there....for years... If the machine came in with a hydro(which up here is more commonly found in the 2500 series) it was drained, removed, palletized and shipped out to a mid-west salvage yard where there was a waiting list. What this means for you: The 574, unless abused, has a much sturdier drive train, brakes and hydraulic system behind it kind of like the H's and M's of old. In my opinion it was a really, really good design and I look forward to the day I have to open up a 574 rear and actually repair something. Hope this helps. Szrachnor
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