[DUMBGRUNT]

Digital controls are not always better.

[Disambiguator]

I prefer analog cars for the same reasons.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yep. A tenth the price of a new tractor and just as capable. And the farmer can usually fix it himself.

[crz]

Not only that, but the manufacturer dealers are the only ones with the computer programs to diagnose the problems that come up with all this new shit.

[VanDeKoik]

Saw a video where a farmer said he has to send his modern tractor to the company because it was impossible to fix it on his own due to all of the software and electronics that only a authorized tech can access. His vintage tractor, he points out, could be repaired in an afternoon

[dhs12345]

I’ll be looking for a basic Jeep. I wonder if they can be found anymore — standard transmission, crank windows, manual 4WD, etc.

[headstamp 2]

I had worked in the garage for a local electrical utility back in the late 90’s early 00’s.

As soon as the electronics began permeating the diesels (emissions) we watched reliability go straight down the toilet.

[Ellendra]

And my dad makes fun of me for not wanting the newest, most expensive tractor.

[jonascord]

This article carefully dances around the basic fact that Deere has licensed and copyrighted the software. If a Deere super software tractor breaks, the owner CANNOT diagnose the problem.

He has to wait for a Deere authorized diagnostic tech to come out and tell him what's wrong with it, and lose his farm if he tries to hack the diagnostic software, because he is looking for a bad limit switch and can't wait for a Deere factory man to charge $300/hr plus travel mileage to make a field call.

John Deere went 100% Harvard business school model, renting/leasing farm machinery instead of selling it, and is whining about how Kubota is stealing their business.

[fruser1]

What are the eco regs like for these?

That’s what drives the price and repairability of autos and appliances.

[vetvetdoug]

My Ford 1962 840 Diesel Powermaster is reliable but parts can be a problem to find at times.

[TheNext]

TESTABILITY

The Engineering world calls it Testability.

Farm tractors and Semi tractors are trash because they are not designed testable, so a layman can test and fix it.

Trash.

Rent, not Own.

They own it, not you.

[tomkat]

Dad bought it new in '91, and when he passed he left me a 318 Deere to take care of this acre out in the country.
It's an analog beast.
Burns a bit of oil and it's not as shiny as it used to be, but with a relatively inexpensive rebuild this spring, that Onan engine will doubtless outlast me.
When the Troy snowblower started to freeze my feet and wear me out, I got a 54" Deere blade for our 150' 25° slope driveway and it makes what was a dreaded chore (almost)> fun   :-)

             

[setter]

I have a gas 1973 Ford and a New Holland tractor we purchased a few years back.

I will take the newer tractor any day. 1000 times more comfortable.

The New Holland starts easier, runs better, easier controls and uses half the fuel of the gas tractor.

[outofsalt]

I buy all my lawn care power equipment from the same shop.
They say it will all be EFI in a couple of years to meet EPA codes. Four stroke carburetor engines will no longer be available for weed whackers, blowers, mowers...
Computers needed for maintenance. Yay.

[Redleg Duke]

My retirement hobby is restoring old woodworking machines (Old Arn).

Built before accountants took over design!

[redcatcherb412]

My 1940 Ford 9N still starts when I press the starter, still moves when I put it in gear and blades or scoops as needed. It's hard to believe I can charge the battery and after 3-4 cold winter months it will still start in about 30 sec. of cranking. The PTO can get cranky on holding pressure at times, but is dependable enough to get stuff done on my few acres.

My 89 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is the same way. They built them to last back then.

[Alas Babylon!]

Great. Just when I was in the market for an older, CHEAPER tractor.

[GOPJ]

Same thing is happening with washing machines, dishwashers... and other household tech horrors.

[NativeSon]

You’ll get my Case 444 when you pry it from my cold, dead, greasy hands!

[catnipman]

“Digital controls are not always better.”

ESPECIALLY on basic devices that don’t really need them and where rugged, bullet-proof reliability is needed

i always bought washers and dryers with mechanical timer knobs rather than expensive-to-repair, failure-prone “digital” controls

i marveled at the main washplant pump that kept failing on the Ness crew on “Gold Rush”, where the mechanic finally pulled of huge amounts of grotesquely complex exhaust controls and then had to connect the pump to his laptop and make digital settings to trick the pump into thinking all that failure-prone garbage was still attached and functioning correctly ...