Latest News From Used Machinery

An International Harvester 856 diesel tractor, a Peterbilt 389 Glider kit day cab semi and a collection of John Deere 55 series tractors are just a few pieces of equipment that have caught Machinery Pete's eye lately.

This week Machinery Pete – Greg Peterson – takes a deep dive into used equipment auction data and what it might mean to the dealer network, and an auction up North nearly sets a price record on a two-decade old tractor.

The intricacies of modern planting systems complicate preparing for the first day in the field. Farmers now have to worry about components and systems that didn’t exist 10 years ago.

A recent farm equipment auction in Iowa set a new highwater mark for used John Deere 55 Series tractors.

Oil and fluid testing answers both short- and long-term questions about the internal condition of engines, transmissions and hydraulic systems.

Machinery Pete predicts descriptions of used equipment won't be enough to create buyer trust in the near future.

Water alone will cool engines, but “coolant” improves cooling system performance.

Don’t pull the radiator until you’ve replaced the radiator cap.

When comparing 2023 to 2022, the average auction price for a John Deere S780 combine dropped $54,977, or 15.8%. How low will that number go?

Replacing worn closing wheel frame bushings on planters is a recurring expense and chore. The kits work well, and they aren’t hard to install.

7 ways to make an acetylene torch slice rather than mangle metal.

A new version of the chop saw is quickly relegating those original soot-covered noise machines to the back corners of farm shops.

We've all had one of those horrible, no good, very bad days.

Here are some tips and tricks about U-joint maintenance and repair.

For example, at Lawrence Crom’s retirement auction, his like-new 2021 Case IH Maxxum 150 tractor sold for $133,000, plus a $1,250 online buyer fee. That’s a new record-high auction price on that model.

Go ahead and buy the special pliers or tools to remove those annoying plastic fasteners. You might as well order a bag or box of replacement rivets, too, because trying to reuse those rivets is a waste of time. 

Inverter welders are not for welding structural steel all day long. But for repairs around the farm, their economical cost, light weight and ability to use 120-volt or 220-volt power supplies make them practical.

When should dielectric grease be used? What is dielectric grease? Why should you care? Talk to lubrication experts or specialists who work on electronic systems and you’ll get a dozen confusing answers.

Machinery Pete shares a unique combine recently listed for sale and what it means for your farm’s equipment plan going forward.

Times are different, which means trying to predict how used farm equipment values will behave coming out of a strong up cycle into a slower, tighter period in the ag economy is dangerous.

That box of assorted rubber O-rings under the workbench in your shop might supply the cure to leaky hydraulic connections, or it might just interrupt the leak for a day or two.

As usual, there was a ton of fireworks in the auction market at the end of 2023. One sale on Dec. 29 by Swenson & Sons in Minot, N.D., featured several incredible tractors in good condition.

Arc welders rarely wear out, but they can become out of date. Here’s a look at modern welding options for farm shops.

Using WD-40 or motor oil on drill bits to lubricate and cool the tip results in an oily mess. Add a drill bit lube stick to your Christmas List, rather than another pair of socks, this year.

After botching many welding jobs, Dan Anderson has established baselines for any weld he now attempts. For example, positioning his helmet closer versus further from the arc allows him to better monitor the weld puddle.

The price of new machinery pulls up on the price of used equipment - but this effect is quickening.

Sometimes it’s necessary to do things that aren’t by the book to get crippled machinery moving again. Here's how Dan Anderson used a penny and a dime to fix a hydraulic cylinder on a folding spray boom.

A sheet of copper or aluminum roof flashing, a couple hours in the shop and an internet pattern can allow even a fumble-fingered klutz to make a present that has the appeal of roses and the durability of sheet metal.

Three recent farm auctions in Kentucky, Missouri and Iowa provide perfect examples of how supply is rising yet prices are still strong for used tractors, particularly pre-DEF, pre-Tier IV models in good condition.

According to lubrication experts, some of the additives in modern lubricants might settle to the bottom of a container during long periods of storage. Does that indicate a problem?

Twist drill bits, carbide-tipped hole saws and annular cutters will do the trick when you need to make big bores.

Supply is rising while demand is falling. This points to better used planter buying opportunities late this year and into 2024.

There are many misunderstandings about grease guns. Here are several helpful tips.

The top five trends Machinery Pete predicts for 2024.

After decades of making service calls and visiting farmers' shops, here are a few simple yet clever ideas I have run across.

High-pressure power washers do a great job cleaning farm equipment before winter storage. However, there are places that shouldn’t be exposed to water at high pressure.

You're likely done or on the downhill side of harvest. Here are seven to-dos before you park equipment to make sure it fires up next year, to be mindful of electrical components and to keep away moisture and varmints.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In the case of this photo, the damage is obvious while the mind is left to wonder what the mechanic on his cell phone is saying to the person on the other end.

Timing is everything. Machinery Pete's recommendation for when to host an equipment auction is quickly approaching.

Soybean platforms sometimes become bulldozers, “pushing” dirt with one end of the cutterbar. Here are 5 things to check when that happens.

Titan Machinery—the largest Case IH and New Holland dealer– spans 150 locations on three continents.

Every experience is a learning experience — even when a combine is stuck in a gully.

Industrial equipment — skid-steer loaders, wheel loaders, excavators and backhoes — has become agriculture’s mechanical equivalent of a utility player. Here’s a list of machines that might fit well in your lineup.

As it stands right now, it looks like 2022 will be the high-water mark for used construction equipment values.

A Bobcat Toolcat, a Polaris Ranger and a John Deere Gator have all topped $30,000 at auction.

Bottom to top? Top to bottom? Farm mechanic Dan Anderson explains the ideal method.

A pair of plows crafted by the hands of John Deere, and possibly the first to break dirt west of the Mississippi, rest on an Iowa farm.

Reel settings influence grain loss and groundspeed. Take the time to get them right.

When warm, corn head grease is near liquid, which allows it to flow into all the nooks and crannies of oddly shaped gearcases. So, to live long and prosper, the answer is yes.

In 2000, the highest auction price paid for any tillage tool that year was $28,500. Today, that number tops $140,000 and easily ranges from $80,000 to $120,000.