MACHINERY AND TRACTOR The Fendt 724 has become the tractor of choice for operators at Stud Farm Contracting.
Eight years after its launch, Fendt’s 724 remains a favourite for many buyers. But can it go the distance? One Essex contractor believes so, and his 8,000-hour model remains the firm’s go-to tractor. Geoff Ashcroft reports.
Buying with confidence
O
ver the last 10 years, brothers Charlie and Alastair Kruse have been gradually expanding their business, Stud Farm Contracting. Based in Maldon, Essex, their firm carries out a variety of tasks, including contract farming, alongside general contract operations and, as the business has grown, so too has its tractor and machinery fleet. While its tractor choices all stem from the Agco stable, colours are
mixed. Front line cultivations power comes from a 400hp Massey Ferguson 8740S, while general purpose tractors include a Valtra T254, Valtra T213 and a pair of Bavaria’s finest – a 2012-model Fendt 724 and a 2002-model 716. Charlie explains: “Our Fendt journey started with a 9,000-hour example of a 714 complete with front-end loader, which was swapped for the 716 when I needed more power. I kept the loader and fitted it to the 716.”
He says the 716 was sourced through local dealer Crawfords, and was a one-owner, 4,000-hour model with full service history.
Serviced “The tractor had been really well cared for, regularly serviced and was known to the dealer,” he says. “It did have a new transmission fitted before we bought it, so it never really looked like a risky purchase.” That was 10 years and 10,000 hours ago and the 14,000-hour
tractor is still going strong. The key, say the brothers, is to keep on top of regular servicing and make use of genuine parts and filters, along with regular greasing. A recent dyno test showed the tractor is producing a very healthy 170hp at the shaft, and it has not been tampered with. “We have been inside the back-end and done the brakes, and also replaced a turbo, but that has been the sum total of it over 10,000 hours in our hands,” says Charlie. “We have spent around £7,000 on it, so the 716 has been a very cost-effective purchase.
Reliability
Charlie (left) and Alastair Kruse say service history and original parts are good indicators of tractor longevity. 4 | JULY 2020
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“It now spends its days on a post-knocker, so the plan is to run it towards 25,000-30,000 hours. We will probably change its oil at 250hour intervals instead of every 500.” Such reliability has spurred the brothers on when it comes to managing depreciation and making the most of mechanical reliability. And in 2017, when they found themselves looking for more power, the brothers purchased a used Fendt 724. “The 716’s original owner had moved up to a Fendt 724, and when it
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