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Owning old Iron vs renting new Iron

Zac chandler

Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2019
Messages
9
Location
Birmingham
As I lurk through this forum I read a lot about “should I buy a dozer for farm use and or odd jobs”
I was this guy that asked my self that question since 2017 when I bought my hobby farm or fun farm.
I just hunt the property and let kids play in the woods and not a computer.
Every weekend I dreamed about what I could do with a Dozer. I can clear this, grade that, build what ever.
Like most I started out hiring someone. They do a good a job or maybe not, but most of the time you would do it different. Nothing wrong with that.
So you look at renting next or at least I did. Then I ran numbers $4500 a month plus fuel and I’m a weekend warrior. You think you may be able to get 40 hrs out of a months rental and for that and your the same cost of just hiring someone. So back to square one.
So what do you do you look at buying. I wanted a track hoe and dozer but no budget for both. So I bought a track hoe first. I purchased a 1999 kumotsu 220. I paid $24,000 for it and ran it for about 70-80 hrs and it broke a lot. Nothing I couldn’t fix except once and had to pay $3k for some wiring gremlins and a computer to tell them what. After flushing hydraulics and parts etc I paid $7000.00 in repairs and about $1500 in fuel.
I sold it a year later when I felt like the turn table was going out for $25,500.00 the guy who bought it is still running it he said some minor repairs but a good machine. I was very happy with what I got done. All 70-80 hrs was de stumping which is hard on the machine and operator.
If your keeping count I’m minus $7000.00 for 70-100 hrs.

Now fast forward I look at about 25 dozers over the next two years. I go to auctions I talk to different dealers and operators to get a grasp of the size I need. I decide I want a older machine with lower hours.
I come across a 1998 650G. I buy it from a large dealer. I get oil samples sent off. I get the entire machine serviced. Any leaks repaired such as hydraulic lines that needed gaskets etc. Every thing checks out I’m out the door $33,000.00 not to bad for A clean machine with no droop or lag and smooth shifting.
1 hr in I blow the rear main seal. I was pushing a old farm stead and likely wrapped barb wire in it. I don’t have a shop or hoist and most importantly time to repair so there goes $2500.00
Before I hit two hrs I spring a oil leak I don’t see while running and throw a rod through the motor.
That’s a $18,000.00 mistake. This is rare but google parts dozers. There is 100’s and 100’s with blown motors.
Dealer has offered to pay half the repairs. Since I didn’t get 2 hrs. So now I’m $43,500 in a $30,000.00 machine.
Total loss $13,500.00

So my take away. First I run skidsteers and mini x’s for a living. I’ve owned them for 15 years and they break but never hurt as bad as yellow iron. They always seem easier to repair.
Second my experience is extreme but shows it can happen to anyone. I don’t know what I could have done different. I had kumotsu guy who had nothing to do with the sell tell me my track hoe should last another 1000 hrs if not more with no issues he can see.
I had a independent Johndeere guy look at this dozer not affiliated with the sell tell me it be a great farm dozer.
Saying all this after I get my feet back under me I’ll rent this year or try to hire out someone to do my urgent road repairs and try buying again because it’s suoer nice to have your own equipment and convenience is worth a lot. However it can be extremely expensive to run yellow iron.
Lastly I feel you need to be way more mechanically inclined then you think you need to be. Everything is stupid heavy and really big. A shop is almost a must when working on them.

If you agree or disagree chime in. Everyone’s situation is different.
 

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Old Growth

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2019
Messages
188
Location
PNW
Your equipment may have been expensive, but the experience and education your gaining is PRICELESS.
Lol!



"Be an owner operator, it'll be great", they said!!
 

john chamorro

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Messages
63
Location
San Antonio Valley Ca.
I bought a D5 B in such bad shape that Cat wouldn't take it in trade from a pipe line company. It was pretty straight but abused. I paid 7k. The bones were good and I started the rehab process. It needed complete undercarriage and 1 final rebuilt. It also had 1 swing frame tweeked. When all said and done I was in it just south of 30k. That was 20 plus years ago. It has needed a few things like a trans pump and the other final rebuilt. I have regroused it twice! It works and works hard. If you can twist bolts then I wouldn't be afraid of a used older machine.
 

GODSDOZER

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Messages
134
Location
East Texas
Occupation
Dirt Contractor
I have never bought a new piece of yellow iron in my 30 years of doing dirt work. The numbers just never added up. I have owned D9 cat to small John Deere's and everything in between. Excavators and ADT's. My largest expense ever was around $20K on a final drive. These machines made a few million over the years. I think you just have had some bad advice and bad luck :)
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,434
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Owned a Orphan Allis loader, NEVER AGAIN. Worked on as much as used, basically at break even AFTER sold off scrap junker used for parts and sold the loader to another fella. He has had damage and the machine sits as well winter so cannot use. I used it over seven years but only as a Farm use machine, never got my moneys worth of it.
 

Volvomad

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
476
Location
Ireland
The older the machine,the bigger the toolbox and the washers to keep it together. Some days you will spend more time under than on the machine so you got to love spanners.
 

john chamorro

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Messages
63
Location
San Antonio Valley Ca.
One thing I look for in evaluating a machine isn't necessarily the wear but the condition from side to side. If there's worn bolt heads down one side and new on the other then someone has already been there. Now it depends if the work has been done correctly. If it has new paint, new bolts ect. I'd be looking really hard at why it's for sale.
 
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