Phew, that's allot of money for a 9600. I know my take on the matter is if its broke/worn then it needs replaced, but rarely am I the one spending the money.

Like you say, its up to the customer. We have folks come in and complain they spent 1k, then others that you spent 15k and they shrug and say, "still cheaper then buying new"

 

That would be what I call a Mexico Special.

I would guess that putting 20 in wouldn't be too bad, 30 might be a bit much. It all depends on how much your customer has to spend, how much he is planning on using it, and what he is willing to let slide for now. A lot of stuff will last forever if he only runs 70 hrs. a year, but won't make it very far if he needs to put on 300 hrs.

 

My son and I just completed rebuilding our 9500, concaves, bars, elevators, feeder house, misc bearings, and this machine has 1600 sep. hours. I can't imagine parts that is needed on one with 3092 hours.And by the way, it has been hard work for this 65 yr old.

 

He should've hired you to look at it before he purchased it, it would have been money well spent.

 

That's what I've been saying!

 

Just an engine rebuild is one thing. That list is way to long for me! The parts will be very expensive and on top of that, if he has you do it, his labor costs will be enormous. The 9x00 series wernt near as labor friendly as cih, gleaner, and Massey of the 90's. Sounds like its not even worthy of the salvage yard.

 

If he is planning running it a few years atleast he will know what he has as long as it aint getting a bit thin in places.

 

If it was me I'd rebuild the gear cases and replace anything that won't make a year. Leave what isn't essential for next year. Walker bearings cranks etc. this way if it piles up one the first year( engine, main gearcase, rocks,fires etc) he still has money in pocket and salvageable parts

 

Dad and I just got done putting 30 grand into a 94 9600. Lots of money, labour accounted for more than half the bill. Dad bought it in 2006 coming off a greenlight the previous year, and has probably done over 6000 acres since. We never put a cent into this machine other than oil changes and worn belts. So 30 grand is only 5 grand per year r and m. We know the machine and if we get a couple years out of it without spending too much more its worth it. I don't know about sinking dough into an unfamiliar machine. Its like opening Pandoras box.

 

Exactly... if you're seeing $20 to $30k going in, you know it's only going to get worse. Too bad he didn't get it inspected better before the sale.... at auction it's always buyer beware.

 

What's bad in my opinion, say he spent $30,000 on the combine and $20,000 on repairs, he's still going to have a combine that's worth $35-40,000 at best. If he dumps a lot of money into it, I sure hope plans on keeping it for awhile.

 

I would I guess hope I inspect the machine better before buying but on the other hand a machine fixed in as new condition for a fraction of the price of new is worth something I mean 9600 is an extremely reliable machine if you keep up with maintanence why not fix it you could spend $60,000 on a new combine and still end up with a piece of junk. In the construction industry I hear of guys spending a hundred grand on a $30,000 doze because they know when its done they have a like new machine for a quarter of the price of a new one. Everybody treats ag equipment like its disposable one guy told me I was wasting money painting my grain truck boxes yet his are rusted so bad they leak grain I still got 10 years more life outta my box a new box is $20,000 or more who's stupid now?? or a guy also told me buying new tires for a $30,000 4Wd was a waste of money why not buy a newer tractor with better tires well fact is its rare you would get a decent condition 4WD with new tires for $47,000 and I know what I got in this tractor. Yes if I had to sell it tomorrow I wouldn't recoup my cost of tires though if the tractor had a major component fail and it wasn't deemed fixable I can always remove the tires. Guys around here think they are saving money by cutting corners on maintenance running machines till they are wrecked then trading on new or newer so it makes me very fearful of the newer option I hear guys having $90,000 work orders on a 2 yr old combine so rather than repair they trade off some poor sucker buys there trade and has nothing but problems hence why a lot of big farmers iron is at Ritchie Bros the dealers don't wanna sell it locally they know its FBR

 

Alfred, you make a very good point. I know folks who trade equipment every 2-3 years, just so they can avoid "troubles" How often can you trade into a newer combine or tractor for less than $30,000? I love new stuff just as much as anyone else, but I can never seem to justify trading newer just to void a few repairs. Repairs can be expensive, but they rarely ever cost more than a new one would.

 

I know a few guys that trade every year just so they can avoid a grease gun!

 

We do 50 plus inspections every year at my shop and there is always a few units like this. Most of the time the guys will spend the $ and make it good because either they know the machine and have had it for a few years or they bought it for the right price and can justify spending the bucks. It's the old girls like these early 9600s where you have to question the value. I bid on a 1990 9600 last year that had a blow hydrostat. Good combine with low hours for the year and good options but to get it running would've cost at least 4-5g with rebuilt pump/motor. I drew the line at 18g. A wrecker paid 23 for the unit. I guarantee they got their money back in a couple weeks. They probably had a waiting list of guys for the major parts. Cab, engine, final drives, front tires and they were even up. So with this kind of value for salvage you see the tipping point for repairs.