Used Machinery
Machinery Pete makes a trio of John Deere tractors his weekly Pete’s Pick of the Week. He also shares advice for farming’s next generation and information on an upcoming auction.
A sizable inventory of shop and hand tools is nice, but innovation can accomplish most jobs.
An International Harvester 856 diesel tractor, a Peterbilt 389 Glider kit day cab semi and a collection of John Deere 55 series tractors are just a few pieces of equipment that have caught Machinery Pete’s eye lately.
This week Machinery Pete – Greg Peterson – takes a deep dive into used equipment auction data and what it might mean to the dealer network, and an auction up North nearly sets a price record on a two-decade old tractor.
The intricacies of modern planting systems complicate preparing for the first day in the field. Farmers now have to worry about components and systems that didn’t exist 10 years ago.
A recent farm equipment auction in Iowa set a new highwater mark for used John Deere 55 Series tractors.
Oil and fluid testing answers both short- and long-term questions about the internal condition of engines, transmissions and hydraulic systems.
Machinery Pete predicts descriptions of used equipment won’t be enough to create buyer trust in the near future.
Water alone will cool engines, but “coolant” improves cooling system performance.
Don’t pull the radiator until you’ve replaced the radiator cap.
When comparing 2023 to 2022, the average auction price for a John Deere S780 combine dropped $54,977, or 15.8%. How low will that number go?
Replacing worn closing wheel frame bushings on planters is a recurring expense and chore. The kits work well, and they aren’t hard to install.
7 ways to make an acetylene torch slice rather than mangle metal.
A new version of the chop saw is quickly relegating those original soot-covered noise machines to the back corners of farm shops.
We’ve all had one of those horrible, no good, very bad days.
Here are some tips and tricks about U-joint maintenance and repair.
For example, at Lawrence Crom’s retirement auction, his like-new 2021 Case IH Maxxum 150 tractor sold for $133,000, plus a $1,250 online buyer fee. That’s a new record-high auction price on that model.
Go ahead and buy the special pliers or tools to remove those annoying plastic fasteners. You might as well order a bag or box of replacement rivets, too, because trying to reuse those rivets is a waste of time.
Inverter welders are not for welding structural steel all day long. But for repairs around the farm, their economical cost, light weight and ability to use 120-volt or 220-volt power supplies make them practical.
Many farm shops now function at the level of a commercial repair shop. Here are options to increase the efficiency of shops that hum with activity 12 months a year.
When should dielectric grease be used? What is dielectric grease? Why should you care? Talk to lubrication experts or specialists who work on electronic systems and you’ll get a dozen confusing answers.
Machinery Pete shares a unique combine recently listed for sale and what it means for your farm’s equipment plan going forward.
Times are different, which means trying to predict how used farm equipment values will behave coming out of a strong up cycle into a slower, tighter period in the ag economy is dangerous.
That box of assorted rubber O-rings under the workbench in your shop might supply the cure to leaky hydraulic connections, or it might just interrupt the leak for a day or two.
As usual, there was a ton of fireworks in the auction market at the end of 2023. One sale on Dec. 29 by Swenson & Sons in Minot, N.D., featured several incredible tractors in good condition.
Arc welders rarely wear out, but they can become out of date. Here’s a look at modern welding options for farm shops.
Using WD-40 or motor oil on drill bits to lubricate and cool the tip results in an oily mess. Add a drill bit lube stick to your Christmas List, rather than another pair of socks, this year.
After botching many welding jobs, Dan Anderson has established baselines for any weld he now attempts. For example, positioning his helmet closer versus further from the arc allows him to better monitor the weld puddle.
The price of new machinery pulls up on the price of used equipment - but this effect is quickening.
Sometimes it’s necessary to do things that aren’t by the book to get crippled machinery moving again. Here’s how Dan Anderson used a penny and a dime to fix a hydraulic cylinder on a folding spray boom.