Changing an old tractor for a newer smaller tractor. Does it make sense?

Fluppen

Hi all,

I have a DB 1690 in decent working order as my main tractor. The other tractor is a Zetor 3511 (used to be the main tractor).

The 1690 is a good beast but has always been heavier and bigger than I really need. It does maybe 150-200 hours per year mainly topping/mowing and moving bales around the yard. I'm wondering if it makes sense to trade it in for something smaller and a little lighter on the land and easier on the clutch foot.

minerleague

Fluppen wrote: »

Hi all,

I have a DB 1690 in decent working order as my main tractor. The other tractor is a Zetor 3511 (used to be the main tractor).

The 1690 is a good beast but has always been heavier and bigger than I really need. It does maybe 150-200 hours per year mainly topping/mowing and moving bales around the yard. I'm wondering if it makes sense to trade it in for something smaller and a little lighter on the land and easier on the clutch foot.

Ah here no queue jumping now! been looking for a while myself, makes perfect sense but comes at a price.

emaherx

Fluppen wrote: »

Hi all,

I have a DB 1690 in decent working order as my main tractor. The other tractor is a Zetor 3511 (used to be the main tractor).

The 1690 is a good beast but has always been heavier and bigger than I really need. It does maybe 150-200 hours per year mainly topping/mowing and moving bales around the yard. I'm wondering if it makes sense to trade it in for something smaller and a little lighter on the land and easier on the clutch foot.

In a world of rising fuel prices it hardly makes sense running a bigger tractor than you need.

You'd probably also improve your carbon footprint.

Jb1989

Fluppen wrote: »

Hi all,

I have a DB 1690 in decent working order as my main tractor. The other tractor is a Zetor 3511 (used to be the main tractor).

The 1690 is a good beast but has always been heavier and bigger than I really need. It does maybe 150-200 hours per year mainly topping/mowing and moving bales around the yard. I'm wondering if it makes sense to trade it in for something smaller and a little lighter on the land and easier on the clutch foot.

If the prices make sense, of course its acceptable.
Found out what your tractor is worth and what you want to buy Instead, and annalise costs.

_Brian

Maybe look to advertise your 1690, they are gaining in value and that may not be reflected in a trade deal.
Is it 2 or 4wd, turbo or non turbo ??

There are DB specific groups on Facebook may be worth a try.

Fine Day

_Brian wrote: »

Maybe look to advertise your 1690, they are gaining in value and that may not be reflected in a trade deal.
Is it 2 or 4wd, turbo or non turbo ??

There are DB specific groups on Facebook may be worth a try.

Great tractor them 1690s & well ahead for there time. People loved them. Manual gearbox are more desirable compared to the hydra shift models. There were ok but costly to repair when mistreated.

Fluppen

Thanks for the input everyone. I guess my biggest worry is that I end up with a tractor that is worse than what I have because I think I'd be better off with a smaller one 😋.
Having had a very quick look it seems like I could actually make a profit on selling the 1690. It's 4 wheel drive, manual transmission and no turbo. I've attached a picture, the loader is actually for a 1490 and is a bit on the small size, it also needs some repair. if I keep the tractor I'd get a bigger loader.
What would be a good general purpose 80ish hp tractor. I have very little knowledge or experience of tractors outside of the two I have. The Zetor 3511 just always works no matter how long it sits idle but the implements I had were slightly too heavy for it, of course when I put the same ones on the 1690 they were too small so a comfortable middle ground would be good.

Fine Day

Fluppen wrote: »

Thanks for the input everyone. I guess my biggest worry is that I end up with a tractor that is worse than what I have because I think I'd be better off with a smaller one 😋.
Having had a very quick look it seems like I could actually make a profit on selling the 1690. It's 4 wheel drive, manual transmission and no turbo. I've attached a picture, the loader is actually for a 1490 and is a bit on the small size, it also needs some repair. if I keep the tractor I'd get a bigger loader.
What would be a good general purpose 80ish hp tractor. I have very little knowledge or experience of tractors outside of the two I have. The Zetor 3511 just always works no matter how long it sits idle but the implements I had were slightly too heavy for it, of course when I put the same ones on the 1690 they were too small so a comfortable middle ground would be good.

If the 1690 is going well then do not upgrade. You have a fine tractor there. Looks good. The yoke you know is better than the yoke you don't know. Keep it is my opinion.

_Brian

Theheff wrote: »

If the 1690 is going well then do not upgrade. You have a fine tractor there. Looks good. The yoke you know is better than the yoke you don't know. Keep it is my opinion.

Completely agree.
That’s a great tractor in good condition, there s higher spec loader that’s more suited if your planning on heavy work, but that one is fine. The DB were easy on diesel compared to most tractors.

davidk1394

Theheff wrote: »

If the 1690 is going well then do not upgrade. You have a fine tractor there. Looks good. The yoke you know is better than the yoke you don't know. Keep it is my opinion.

Yep this exactly. If you know whats in the machine and it's reliable it's worth a lot more to you than what someone will pay for it. The DB's are very economical on fuel. I have a 1394 here and it'd run on the smell of diesel

Fine Day

davidk1394 wrote: »

Yep this exactly. If you know whats in the machine and it's reliable it's worth a lot more to you than what someone will pay for it. The DB's are very economical on fuel. I have a 1394 here and it'd run on the smell of diesel

We had a 1494 also in the past. Was a very good tractor also. Agree they are very economical to run and you do not need to be a genius to keep them going. I assume parts are still readily available. There are still a very popular tractor both here and across the water considering they finished production nearly 40 years ago.

Donald Trump

Keep the one you have and know unless it is giving you trouble. Especially for 150-200 hours a year.

Whatever fuel economy you might gain would probably be fairly quickly wiped out with a trip to a mechanic to fix what used to be someone else's problem.

davidk1394

Theheff wrote: »

We had a 1494 also in the past. Was a very good tractor also. Agree they are very economical to run and you do not need to be a genius to keep them going. I assume parts are still readily available. There are still a very popular tractor both here and across the water considering they finished production nearly 40 years ago.

There are plenty of Facebook groups like this one https://www.facebook.com/groups/1586323688271492/?ref=share
& MTP in Mullinahone, Tipperary specialize in DB tractors and parts. Very nice men to deal with and a wealth of knowledge

Mooooo

Would be mad to change a tractor that's going well imo, weight saving would make feck all difference after, if worried about land perhaps wider tyres would be worth looking into but if it's too wet for that it's too wet for any machine.

minerleague

Theheff wrote: »

If the 1690 is going well then do not upgrade. You have a fine tractor there. Looks good. The yoke you know is better than the yoke you don't know. Keep it is my opinion.

when I was younger this would have been my advice too ( plenty more productive places to spend money on etc. ) and if your land is in one block ( no road work ) and your happy to let contractors do majority of work, then this makes sense.
However 35 + years driving older tractors with heavy clutches and little comfort, and little noise protection leading to knee and back problems I'd now say mind your self and buy as good as you can afford. nothing wrong with keeping a good classic ( most are going up in value ) in the yard if it has payed its way.
Finally what would Dublin bus drivers sat idf you told them they had to go back to driving buses from 1960/70/80s? why should a farmer be any different :cool:

Jb1989

minerleague wrote: »

when I was younger this would have been my advice too ( plenty more productive places to spend money on etc. ) and if your land is in one block ( no road work ) and your happy to let contractors do majority of work, then this makes sense.
However 35 + years driving older tractors with heavy clutches and little comfort, and little noise protection leading to knee and back problems I'd now say mind your self and buy as good as you can afford. nothing wrong with keeping a good classic ( most are going up in value ) in the yard if it has payed its way.
Finally what would Dublin bus drivers sat idf you told them they had to go back to driving buses from 1960/70/80s? why should a farmer be any different :cool:

You have a point, entitled to comfort at some stage of life, electric shuttle and button gears do preserve knee joints, as much as people give out about electrics.

Bass Reeves

There is for and against. What you have is not bad it gear ration in R2&3 are fairly well matched 2nd forward 2&3. This is a near shuttle but on a floor change I presume. Is there a decent seat in it. 150-200 hours a year is hardly enough to consider changing for.

In theory it should only cost you 10k to change but more likely 15k+. I sit it out at present the tractor market is crazy. What really are you looking for a lighter or a more modern tractor.

One option is to leave the DB there as the workhorse and buy a small 2wd we maybe with a loader when prices drop. The Zetor 3511 is surly worth 4-5k maybe more. When prices drop a set up like below will set you back maybe 12-15k in a small Zetor, McCormick or a Case tractor. When tractor prices are in a slump nobody wants a 2wd

https://www.donedeal.ie/tractors-for-sale/massey-ferguson-4335/28242933