[gleaner l]

Needing to buy a good used tractor. Everyone says the old 71,7200 magnums are bullet proof. I know guys with them, and love them. Wouldn't even think of selling it.
My concern is the age of these tractors. A few years from now they are 30+ years old. What will parts availability be in the future if I need something?
Just looking for thoughts on whether to look for an old magnum or go for something newer. Have seen a few good looking MXM's, MXU's.
Looking for 130-150hp.
Thoughts, suggestions welcome.

 

[redline73]

I'd go for the 71 and 72 series. There will be parts available for a long long time.

 

[farmin cowboy]

Go with the 7100, 7200 series. I've got a 7120 12,000 hrs and I would not think of selling it, been a workhorse without any problems. MXU should all be in the scrap yard as far as I can see. Had one of those until warranty run out the dumped it and from what I've heard the MXM was about the same. Had an MX 135 second best tractor ever owned next to the 7120.

 

[BoSoT]

I'de go for the 89series tractor, bit newer, same trouble free tractor. I got a used 8920 with over 13000 abused hours on it when I got it. But with tender love, a little maintanance and not abusing it, I ve put on another 1000 hrs on it

 

[cptusa]

71/71/8900 series Mags are simple, reliable, and bullet proof. These tractors are the end of the line if you want to work on them yourself. They also demand a premium price tag. They outpace sales when compared to the 8000 or even 8010 series JD's which by far had a nicer cab at that time. You will not go wrong with that era of Magnum if it has any form of reasonable care at all.

As far as comparing it to a MXM of MXU, that is an unfair comparison the 71/72/89's being a large frame tractor and the MXM/MXU's being a small frame. The only thing you can compare on those 2 is the shade of red.

 

[gleaner l]

Any thoughts on MX135, 6400 hours, cummins 5.9l, 3pt front hitch and pto, new tires,looks clean inside and out, $39,000 list price.

 

[lambear]

I have 2 7220's and a 7240.. love them! our first 7220 has 13000-14000 hrs..

 

[SouthernSK]

We have a 7220mfd and it is the best tractor we have ever owned. I personally would stay with a 71, 72, or 89 series and avoid all the electronics of the MX's. The electronics gain you nothing but unnecessary complication, problems, breakdowns, and frustration. These older magnums are simple and very reliable. To bad they still do not make the same series.

 

[farminflyboy]

As far as comparing it to a MXM of MXU, that is an unfair comparison the 71/72/89's being a large frame tractor and the MXM/MXU's being a small frame. The only thing you can compare on those 2 is the shade of red.

Even the shade of red is tuff to compare as most of the old 7100 series are kind of pink ish white with red patches by now

 

[Bart 66]

I bought a new 7230 in 1994,and has now about 4500 hours on it. Based on the comment's here I should be good for another 40 years.

 

[gleaner l]

Have located a 8910, 4690 hours. Photos look good. It's 6 hours away from me but thankfully I have a good buddy who is an hour away that is going to take a look at it for me. And he knows CaseIH tractors like the back of his hand.
It's had one owner, who I talked to last night. Main work has been on a round baler,manure spreader and a 25' seed drill. Should not have been over worked.

 

[gleaner l]

Hope to have the paper work done Monday and a truck arrange to deliver.

 

[BoSoT]

you won't be disappointed. Just check the planetary on the front diff, change oil if necessary. 8910-20 got a lighter duty front diff than the 30- 50.

 

[CRToney]

mX135 are decent tractors too.

 

[Jason72]

Wish we could buy a new magnum 7140 I would be first inline.

 

[Willy Nilly]

Wish we could buy a new magnum 7140 I would be first inline.

While those old Magnums were rather durable new tractors are many orders of magnitude more productive.

 

[SouthernSK]

Willy Nilly I am just the oposite. Our older magnum and other units like it are more productive for us because of less breakdowns and electronic issues. The only down side of these reliable older series of tractors was the smaller size or horsepower. I wish Case IH at the time made the 9300 series of 4wd in the 500-600 hp range with a simple engine like a N14. If they did I would not own a STX with a the electronics. The electronics has gain me nothing but more breakdowns and repair costs.

 

[Willy Nilly]

Willy Nilly I am just the oposite. Our older magnum and other units like it are more productive for us because of less breakdowns and electronic issues. The only down side of these reliable older series of tractors was the smaller size or horsepower. I wish Case IH at the time made the 9300 series of 4wd in the 500-600 hp range with a simple engine like a N14. If they did I would not own a STX with a the electronics. The electronics has gain me nothing but more breakdowns and repair costs.

My experience with tractor electronics is that if it doesn't go wrong by the time of the first service it will be ok.

We have two tractors at work that when they were launched were very sophisticated and marked the end of the world (that's what the nay sayers said that the time) one will be 19 years old in 3 weeks time and will have turned 10,000 hours. Aside from an odd switch the electronics have been almost trouble free. It will be mechanical problems/wear that finish them off.

For me, electronic gain far more in productivity than they loose in down time.

 

[csfi]

I agree that the older magnums and for that matter the older deere's too were very reliable machines. Would I trade my R series to get one............no, sorry the newer tractors are way nicer to run and much more productive for me. The electrical grimlins and emission stuff especially is an annoying though.

 

[farminflyboy]

While those old Magnums were rather durable new tractors are many orders of magnitude more productive.

Did you use common core government math to calculate that? Our 7140 pulls a 33' cultivator at 8mph, is there a tractor out there that can pull a 330' cultivator or a 66' cultivator at 40mph? Because an order of magnitude is 10x more. What makes new tractors sooo much more productive? Auto steer is an easy retrofit. Suspension I can see, but still not 10x more output. I agree that they are nicer but, only when the emissions crap is working.