Is 3200 hrs high for a L4330?

[Hd883chopper]

2010 L4330 4x4 w/ FEL

Hi folks,
I’ve got roughly 3200 hrs on my tractor and since I’m not the first owner (I’m the second) I’m not exactly sure how it was treated before I got it. Now it does seem that it’s in pretty darn good shape for the hours and fairly well taken care of but the time will come where I will need some bigger repairs I would think.

Just wondering from some of you who have run these tractors a lot longer than I have, what are some of the bigger ticket expenses that are coming my way with a machine that has this amount of hours?

I know it may be difficult to answer because a lot of it depends on how the machine is treated, but assuming it was treated well and serviced regularly, there are some repairs I would think that are inevitable. I’m thinking things like a rebuild, a major transmission fix or something similar to that. Big expensive stuff.

Basically I’m just wondering what big ticket items may be coming my way as these hours climb. From what I understand 3200 hours is somewhat on the top and before things start going wrong.


Thanks.

 

[NHSleddog]

You can hit 10,000 hours pretty easily if it is cared for and was a good assembly to begin with.

If you figured the tractor was worth 40.00/hr for the work it has done, it has already delivered $128,000.00 in value. Even if you only thought the tractor output was worth 10.00/hr that is still 32,000.00. Fortunately for you it has delivered a lot of value prior to anything bad happening.

 

[Hd883chopper]

You can hit 10,000 hours pretty easily if it is cared for and was a good assembly to begin with.

If you figured the tractor was worth 40.00/hr for the work it has done, it has already delivered $128,000.00 in value. Even if you only thought the tractor output was worth 10.00/hr that is still 32,000.00. Fortunately for you it has delivered a lot of value prior to anything bad happening.

That is good to hear. I know I take care of it, but with over 3k hrs from the other guy, I don’t know how he maintained it. Seems to be cared for though. Just read another post on here from another person saying their transmission is out and it only has 1800 hrs. This makes me cringe

Any major repairs or rebuilds coming due to the hrs? Any parts known to fail at or around an hour mark?
Thx.

 

[fruitcakesa]

My old 2004 L4630 GSTC had 2400 hard commercial hours on it when I got it and I put 800 more hours on it over 4 years.
Other than PM and a front wheel bearing I did no other repairs on it. It was a solid machine

 

[mcfarmall]

The condition of the outside can be a good indicator of how the previous owner cared for it. As a general guideline, people who destroy things aren't usually worried about sticking with the maintenance schedule. To those folks, the only thing that matters is the finish line. There's a difference between use and abuse. Nomex suit is on and ready for the flaming darts.

 

[Crash277]

The condition of the outside can be a good indicator of how the previous owner cared for it. As a general guideline, people who destroy things aren't usually worried about sticking with the maintenance schedule. To those folks, the only thing that matters is the finish line. There's a difference between use and abuse. Nomex suit is on and ready for the flaming darts.

no need for nomex, if Im searching to buy something (truck for example) used and pictures show it dirty, coffee cups on the floor, 1“ of dust on the dash. It’s not going to make my list to go and look at. My BX is far from immaculate but I wash it on a regular basis and follow the maintence schedule. I also have waxed it a few times. I expect it to last my lifetime.

 

[Hd883chopper]

My old 2004 L4630 GSTC had 2400 hard commercial hours on it when I got it and I put 800 more hours on it over 4 years.
Other than PM and a front wheel bearing I did no other repairs on it. It was a solid machine

I like to hear stuff like that. My tractor is definitely the biggest machine investment I have besides my truck. Glad to see you got another 800 out of it under regular use. I don't think I'll be putting anywhere near 200 hrs on it per year but we'll see. Thanks!

 

[fruitcakesa]

The tires were like this when I got the machine from Florida,
they looked the same 4 years later and never lost any air or beet juice

 

[Hd883chopper]

The condition of the outside can be a good indicator of how the previous owner cared for it. As a general guideline, people who destroy things aren't usually worried about sticking with the maintenance schedule. To those folks, the only thing that matters is the finish line. There's a difference between use and abuse. Nomex suit is on and ready for the flaming darts.

I agree with you whole heartedly. Although it may not ring true always (but honestly what does) I agree it is a good indicator. I only expect to put 100 hrs on it a year but I've never had a machine with a meter that worked for me to track. I'm ok with prior use but as you said, abuse is different.

With regular use, can I expect many more hours before a engine rebuild or a transmission issue? A few pics of my "new to me" machine for reference. It seems in pretty good shape for a 2006 with 3200 hrs me thinks

Thanks!

 

[Hd883chopper]

no need for nomex, if Im searching to buy something (truck for example) used and pictures show it dirty, coffee cups on the floor, 1“ of dust on the dash. It’s not going to make my list to go and look at. My BX is far from immaculate but I wash it on a regular basis and follow the maintence schedule. I also have waxed it a few times. I expect it to last my lifetime.

I agree 100% on the sale pic's. An owner that has pride in their equipment will show better pics with a good write up. Hoping to get a couple thousand hours out of this one before something big and expensive happens. Thanks !

 

[D2Cat]

Your 2006 machine with 3200 hrs is 213 hrs/yr, which is 4 hours every week of the year. Have to have some pretty serious, steady projects to use a tractor that much. Use Kubota fluids in your HST, change engine oil regularly with a good diesel rated oil, grease the thing regularly and you won't wear it out.

 

[D2Cat]

Hd883chopper, not knowing your familiarity with tractor safety, the picture you have with the loader bucket up and rolled back..... reminded me to say always keep your loader as low to the ground as possible. A high center of gravity can cause a tractor to roll at the most unexpected moment. Be safe.

 

[Hd883chopper]

Hd883chopper, not knowing your familiarity with tractor safety, the picture you have with the loader bucket up and rolled back..... reminded me to say always keep your loader as low to the ground as possible. A high center of gravity can cause a tractor to roll at the most unexpected moment. Be safe.

Hey there, oh yea I always operate the FEL as low as possible. I had thought about selling it at one point and that pic was done just to demonstrate the ability to rise high and the reach. Good point though and I think all rookie tractor operators need that told to them at some point. I know I needed that advice some years ago and never forgot it.

 

[freewheel3]

Hd, the fact that your unit has a phone number on the side of it indicates to me that it probably spent at least part of it's life in commercial service.
This isn't always a bad thing as sometimes that means that it might have been on some kind of maintenance program. And while 3200 hrs isn't low, if the machine has been properly serviced, and not abused, 10,000 hrs is easily obtainable.
Warm it up, cool it down, don't over rev or overheat it, keep up on the maintenance, operate it correctly and it could outlast you.
Watch some youtube vids of these tractors in service in 3rd world countries, see the hell they are put through, and you'll probably have a lot more confidence in the longevity of your tractor.