Sanity check again ?

[Satamax]

Hi everybody. 

I bought a pig. 

A JCB fastrac 145 with tons of issues. 







Well, it deeply needs TLC. Broken windscreen. Suspension spheres needs changing, or to be charged with nitrogen. (suspension like Citroen cars)  Electrical and hydraulic circuit needs to be sorted out. Some lights need replacing. The PTO disengaging needs work, as well as the 4WD, which is engaged all the time. The front axle shaft is removed. But i have it. The hydraulic cylinders are shot.  The gearbox is working. But it has lots of play in the levers. I know where the papers are, but i am not sure i can import it properly in france, without too much hassle. 

Lots of people tell me to get rid of it as fast as i can. I have buyers. 

Might be worth fixing it a bit and doing the papers before thought. 

Front axles and gearboxes have a bad reputation.  But it would do me for several reasons. I can tow 16.9 metric tons, legally with it. And it can pull wood. With a three point hitch winch. Which i have. 

What is your opinion guys ? 

As some Brits would say, it is clapped out. Kindof. 

[sprucebunny]

That's a cool looking machine ! Looks like it could be handy in the woods or for it's crane.

I'd work on the import problem while also starting on the least expensive repairs if it's close enough.

[DDW_OR]

my 2 cents

Paper and Pen
write down EVERYTHING you find needing repair.
next research the price and time to do each repair
add 30% to the total.

now is it worth it.

[Riwaka]

Cost to replace complete rear axle in a Tigercat 630E with re-manufactured axle US$25K plus additionals.

What is against crossing borders with an old Fastrac? The engine emission regulations and the engine has no DEF etc?

Some Brit contractors were replacing older Fastracs with generation 7 Fendt 728 tractors. The Fendts go the same top speed.

There is a history group in the South of England called 'French Army Reenactment Group' they meet and drive around in old French military vehicles.

George Saunders (youtube channel) has shown many Fastrac videos over the years.
video title 'Low hour Fastracs - more progress on my 3170'. That episode featured Fastracs that had been used for spreading salt. Features Olivers- Luton.repair garage 

[barbender]

 That type of tractor is a machine category that is not seen in North America. They look like they would have many uses.

[Satamax]

What is against crossing borders with an old Fastrac? The engine emission regulations and the engine has no DEF etc?

Hi everybody. Thanks a lot for the replies. 

Riwaka. No problem to cross borders, it is already in my yard. The problem is, by law, in Europe, you need to have your vehicle registered in your country of residence. Pretty much.

I can get British papers in my name, using the address of an ex girlfriend.  But the local coppers will give me grief after a while. Been there, done that with a land cruiser from italy. Four years, i have driven with a one inch import file, in the vehicle. 

[Satamax]

my 2 cents

Paper and Pen
write down EVERYTHING you find needing repair.
next research the price and time to do each repair
add 30% to the total.

now is it worth it.

Thanks a lot for the reply. 

The mater is not the actual repairs. May be 5000€  May be less if i'm frugal. 

It is the risk of the gearbox blowing up. And not being able to find parts for it. It is a unicorn 

If i was sure to be able to keep it without loosing too much. I'd keep it for sure. 

[mudfarmer]

Sanity check? You're nuts! But the kind I can identify with

For real, you were looking at old JD skidders. If the transmission in one of those blew up you would be hunting for parts too. That thing looks super handy and like it could do some work. Always a gamble if you can't spend the coin on new equipment

[Satamax]

Always a gamble if you can't spend the coin on new equipment

Thanks a lot Mudfarmer. That what i need to hear. 

[barbender]

Do you have an ex girlfriend in Italy too?😂

[Satamax]

Do you have an ex girlfriend in Italy too?😂

Nope, but some good friends there. One already offered to "house" me there on paper. When i wanted to buy a VM90 

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iveco_VM_90

[Saha Poika]

Hi everybody.

I bought a pig.

A JCB fastrac 145 with tons of issues.







Well, it deeply needs TLC. Broken windscreen. Suspension spheres needs changing, or to be charged with nitrogen. (suspension like Citroen cars)  Electrical and hydraulic circuit needs to be sorted out. Some lights need replacing. The PTO disengaging needs work, as well as the 4WD, which is engaged all the time. The front axle shaft is removed. But i have it. The hydraulic cylinders are shot.  The gearbox is working. But it has lots of play in the levers. I know where the papers are, but i am not sure i can import it properly in france, without too much hassle.

Lots of people tell me to get rid of it as fast as i can. I have buyers.

Might be worth fixing it a bit and doing the papers before thought.

Front axles and gearboxes have a bad reputation.  But it would do me for several reasons. I can tow 16.9 metric tons, legally with it. And it can pull wood. With a three point hitch winch. Which i have.

What is your opinion guys ?

As some Brits would say, it is clapped out. Kindof.

Looks like a cool machine. I have never seen anything like that. Seems good and very versatile from my little experience in equipment.

[Cruiser_79]

Why does it have the bonnet of a 3000 series 
Fastracs are cool, over here really rare. Newer standard tractors reach same speeds and have good supsension, but always a solid rear axle. The fastracs have suspension at the back as well, and disc brakes all around. I would like to have a 3000 series fastrac but not many mechanics are experienced with these things and parts can be a problem they say.
Since it's British all people hate it before they've seen it..

This poem is written by an Englishman, and probably true  

[barbender]

😂😂😂

[Andries]

Dutch people in Canada hold the same opinion.

[Satamax]

Why does it have the bonnet of a 3000 series 
Fastracs are cool, over here really rare. Newer standard tractors reach same speeds and have good supsension, but always a solid rear axle. The fastracs have suspension at the back as well, and disc brakes all around. I would like to have a 3000 series fastrac but not many mechanics are experienced with these things and parts can be a problem they say.
Since it's British all people hate it before they've seen it..

This poem is written by an Englishman, and probably true  

Hi Cruiser. I don't know why it has a bonnet from a 3000 series. It's been messed with a lot, on the isle of Lewis. And since then, three owners who had no clue on how to fix it. 
For the moment, i'm trying to sort out the papers, with the last British owner. 

[Cruiser_79]

I've been to the Hebrides and isle of Lewis as well. Good  winds and waves for kitesurfing   
But I'm surprised it ends up for sale. People over there seems to abandone their broken machinery on the place where it broke down, and just work around it next years. Probably getting scrap from the island has always been more expensive than just let it rot. 
I think the older fastracs arent bad, but they have their electrical issues and probably need some more maintenance than a regular tractor. And personally i don't like the Perkins engines. I have a few machines with Perkins, and my brother has 6 Massey Ferguson with Perkins'. They run quite okay but they leak everywhere, you need at least 5 buckets for cathing oil per machine.

If I ever have money I would like a proper 70 km/h 3000 series; airbrakes, suspension all around, cummins 6BT, manual gearbox with 3 powershifts. Sounds perfect!