Auctions!!!!!

yes i hate online auctions , i never even went to look at the stuff in the three auctions that were nearby this year

sure good for ritchie bros tho , 10% buyers fee on every item

[AlbertaFarmer5]

One other potential benefit of diesel electric hybrid equipment, would be that it may not be obsolete as quickly as straight diesel would be.
If and when we ever come up with a way to economically store electricity, or small-scale nuclear generators, or something we haven't even thought of yet, the hybrid equipment may be able to be repowered, whereas the pure mechanical powertrain will become boot anchors.

[cropgrower]

Sure miss the old on-farm auctions where farmers and wives met neighbours that they never saw for years.

yes i hate online auctions , i never even went to look at the stuff in the three auctions that were nearby this year

[Misterjade9]

What happened to the electric sprayer that Rogator was touting a few years ago?

[Sheepwheat]

Sure miss the old on-farm auctions where farmers and wives met neighbours that they never saw for years.

And there were deals to be had.

[sumdumguy]

Sure miss the old on-farm auctions where farmers and wives met neighbours that they never saw for years.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

How long before we have desiel-electric hybrids for 4wd’s? Do away with traditional transmissions and differentials. Downsize these overgrown hydraulic pumps. Go all electric on cart fans, meters ect. I’ve heard rumblings of this possibly but that’s about it.

Check out the Cat D7E (the modern one, not from the 60's).

It is exactly as you describe, diesel electric. Massive torque. Low maintenance. Fewer moving parts, more productivity.

No belts, everything is either direct drive, or electric drive, or hydrualic drive.
But surprisingly, still uses differential steer.

I've been a proponent of diesel electric farm machinery for a long time. Imagine how easy it would be to put the power direct to the wheels on any implement instead of dragging dead weight around with a massive ballasted tractor. Electric actuators instead of hydraulic cylinders, eliminate all the issues with phasing and linkages, infinitely variable speeds and reversing of everything.

Or this all electric combine:

https://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=25749

[workboots]

How long before we have desiel-electric hybrids for 4wd’s? Do away with traditional transmissions and differentials. Downsize these overgrown hydraulic pumps. Go all electric on cart fans, meters ect. I’ve heard rumblings of this possibly but that’s about it.

[helmsdale]

And back then, there wasn't a lot of difference in the technology between the truck and the tractor. I'm right out of the loop on new, but it seems to me tractors have made a quantum leap since then, while trucks still use mostly the same powertrain components. Is that accurate?

Somewhat...

Drivelines from flywheel back are certainly beefier than they used to be. Transmission progress is likely somewhat similar as well... Not alot of new trucks are ordered with manual transmissions anymore. Engines have advanced quicker in commercial than the ag fleet because they were forced to. There's no "autosteer" in trucks yet, but tractors dont have collission avoidance systems with radars, individually controlled/actuated brakes. The adoption of "tech" however has likely been a greater driver of cost on the ag side than it has on the commercial side.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

For comparison's sake...

1994 9880 new holland 4wd with 400hp was somewhere around 140-150K at the time.
1994 W900 with a 400 cummins was in that 125-150 range depending on options.

And back then, there wasn't a lot of difference in the technology between the truck and the tractor. I'm right out of the loop on new, but it seems to me tractors have made a quantum leap since then, while trucks still use mostly the same powertrain components. Is that accurate?