Choosing a tractor...

sleuth · #1 02/20/14, 11:05 PM

I'm getting a nice tax check this year and am going to take the plunge and buy a tractor. Budget is $3K but hope to keep it less than $2500.

I'm needing an auger and grader to start, and I'd like to get an endloader or excavator in the near future. Would prefer a live PTO, power steering, and a wide front wheel base. Based on another thread I know I should look at a Ford 8N ahead of a 2N or 9N. Plan is to use it for digging post holes, maintaining the driveway, gardening use, brush-hogging & mowing, and potentially planting/harvesting 10 acres.

Here's what's available in the neighborhood. I've never bought a tractor before and would love to hear everyone's thoughts on these and compare/contrast with one another.

1. Ford 8N
2. Ford Jubilee
3. Ford 801 Powermaster
4. Ford Workmaster
5. Ford 640
6. Ford 850
7. Farmall 140
8. Farmall Super A
9. Allis Chalmers D15 Series II
10. Allis Chalmers B
11. Power King 2418
12. International Harvester 184
13. 1950 Massey Ferguson T020
14. 1965 Massey Ferguson - not sure of the model.
15. 1964 John Deere 1010
16. Long 360
17. Satoh S650G
18. Iseki TS 1910
19. Iseki TS 1610

Also, thoughts on the following?
1. Gas vs. Diesel
2. 6V vs. 12V
3. Minimum Horsepower to do the above tasks.

Thanks in advance everyone!

Old Vet · #2 02/21/14, 01:34 AM

Try to find a dealer with parts for any of them and a place that will work on them. That will narrow down the list. All of them have enough HP to do the job. Stay away from the Super A because it doesn't have a 3 point hitch and 9 N because it doesn't have a live pto or a 2 stage clutch. Diesel is the best for the money you have to spend.

Yvonne's hubby · #3 02/21/14, 02:47 AM

Any of these will suit your needs... I would look at price and condition next.
2. Ford Jubilee
3. Ford 801 Powermaster
4. Ford Workmaster
5. Ford 640
6. Ford 850
14. 1965 Massey Ferguson - not sure of the model.

jwal10 · #4 02/21/14, 10:10 AM

The Long 360 is the newest and is a diesel. Is there a dealer and support for parts for them close to you....James

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-trac...-long-360.html

jwal10 · #5 02/21/14, 10:13 AM

The allis D-15 is a nice tractor, a few diesel were built. Is there an Agco dealer near?

....James

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-trac...lmers-d15.html

jwal10 · #6 02/21/14, 10:20 AM

Diesel vs gas is your choice, no more than you use it fuel is little difference. Cheaper to keep a gas up. Cold starting a gas is easier to maintain. 6v vs 12 volt. 12 volt is more modern. Many were made 6 volt, if maintained they get the job done. Horsepower depends on how and what you are harvesting. Hay....small squares 30 hsp. min. Rounds- baler may need up to 70, big round bales weigh a lot needs heavy tractor and loader to move.

FarmboyBill · #7 02/21/14, 10:41 AM

What people are not saying, but I imagine, thinking, is that, you cannot get ALL that you want in a tractor for $2500 without putting another $2500 in it to make it do what you want.

FarmboyBill · #8 02/21/14, 10:42 AM

Your going to have to decide which is more important to you, Spending $4000 for a tractor that will do what you want, OR spending $2000/$3000 for a tractor that will do general farming chores.
I can tell you that almost all the tractors you listed, you will find too small to do all you want, in the amount of time you want it done.

fordy · #9 02/21/14, 10:51 AM

..............$2,500 is your down payment ! BUY , more tractor than you need............BUY a diesel...........With a Frontend Loader............50 to 60 hp , IF you're smart ! People who buy a small tractor with a small gas engine , soon , figure out they screwed themselves because they didn't have enough sense to look past their nose and evaluate the size of the jobs they could be accomplishing . 1-60hp diesel tractor = 20 Mexicans with shovels and picks . , fordy

sleuth · #10 02/21/14, 11:06 AM

Looks like dealers for about any of them except JD are about an hour away. The only ones I couldn't find a dealer for was Iseki & Power King. So it looks like regardless of what I pick, I'm likely to be buying a lot of parts online.

JLMissouri · #11 02/21/14, 11:15 AM

I would rather buy with cash anyday than make payments on an expensive tractor used rarely. That mentality finds you with all new equipment and barely being able to make the payments, but I guess that is the new American way.

A dealer is important if you cannot work on your own equipment, otherwise it isn't that big of a deal. I rarely buy parts through a dealer, get your parts used or new online and you will save money. If you can't turn a wrench, then it is important to find someone who can.

There are a lot of good tractors on your list. The AC B and Farmall 140 are a little underpowered compared to the rest, but have enough power to do the jobs you are looking to get done. If it were me I would avoid the foreign tractors due to lack of available parts and I prefer old American iron.

Diesel is almost always better than gas. It is more expensive to initially purchase, and more expensive to work on, but will be more efficient with better longevity. For a garden and such diesel wouldn't be a deciding factor for me. A good gas tractor can be had at a cheaper price.

I have been very happy with my 8N, but it isn't that best choice for a front end loader, and many of the tractors you listed are not either. For light work they will be fine, but power steering is nice with a loader.

There is a lot of difference between the tractors you listed, it makes it kinda hard to compare them.

Phil V. · #12 02/21/14, 11:35 AM

Look at www.tractorhouse.com They have the tractors you mentioned with both front end loaders and backhoes on them. There's several listed in your state for sale. They all kinds of prices as well.

jwal10 · #13 02/21/14, 12:13 PM

Do you want to work or play? A posthole digger and rear blade.... that is playing. most any tractor can do that. Even without 3 pt. if you want to spend the money. I would go 3 pt. so you can upgrade your tractor and not have to buy different implements.

You want to work? Loader and haying is work. Best to have power steering, 3 pt. and live PTO, diesel is nice, at least 40 horsepower. That leaves most of the tractors on your list out.

I started out with a 454 IH gas in 1974, it was near new. I paid $3800.00. I did everything I needed to, cut as much as 500 acres of hay a year and baled 400 ton of straw. Plowed and planted wheat, pasture, clover for seed and lotus for seed and hay. Maintained roads and built a lot of fence, bush hogged the pastures and fed winters. Even dug 3 ponds and built 4 barns. Cleaned the barns and hauled manure. Plus I did a lot of custom farming and haying. It had a Dunham/Lehr quick attach loader. It can be done. But that tractor today would cost $25,000.00.

Sounds like you want to play, 8n????? It is about the only one on the list for $2,000.00

And that JD 1010???? only if it is a gas. Diesel, run away.

...James

wkndwrnch · #14 02/21/14, 12:13 PM

You need a front end loader! I have a 1957 TO-35 (Ferguson) 30 hp, 2wd, live clutch,PS,good tires,12 volt,all important "options"

wkndwrnch · #15 02/21/14, 12:32 PM

Afterthought, I started with a 6 volt 1950 8n. looked nice,ok shape,really was not meant to be my first tractor,at last one that I could depend on. No PS,many maintenance issues came up,6 volt was a struggle sometimes,headlights dim,I did find a reliable parts supplier,but seemed I always needed something. Ended up trading tractor for something else and bought my FEL TO-35

PorkChopsMmm · #16 02/21/14, 01:01 PM

I asked the same question on here a year or two ago. I went with a Ford 8N and if I could go back I think I would wait and save more money or go with a pick up truck first. Something as old as an 8N or some of the other tractors you list require more maintenance then modern equipment, and there may even be differed maintenance that you will need to be caught up on.

In the end, I decided to go with a pick up truck. I am actually trading the tractor tomorrow for a Ford Ranger. I just can't keep up with break downs on the 8N and future maintenance that will be coming up.

So long story short, if you are dead set on a tractor buy the newest/largest one you can and most likely with a loader. Every once in a while I surf Craigslist and find a tractor that would meet all of my needs for $3500 or so -- and they go quick.

COWS · #17 02/21/14, 01:51 PM

Check on local dealers for availiability of parts. Don't get an orphan tractor, which means the Long 360. The company that sold them is out of business, that model(360) was not too common, so used parts iffy.

The 1965 MF is probably your best bet. If it's a 135 it will be one of the most popular 35(actually 38.5) hp tractors sold. It almost certainly has live power. If it dosen't have power steering it cannot be added economically. It's more likely to be diesel which is good. Those diesels started reliably. If it's a 165 or higher hp that's so much the better.

The Ford 801, 850 possibly have live power. The 640 is a later model. If the Fords have a 4 cyl diesel skip them, as the 4 cyls don't have a good reputation. If the Fords have a Select-o-speed automatic transmission skip them as they are expensive to repair, IF you can find parts and anyone who knows how to work on them.

Skip the JD 1010, it was one of the early models that JD made when they went away from the 2 cylinders.

Check condition of rear tires. Tires are obscenely expensive now.

Spend your moneynow instead of wishing later you did and get somethin you can use.

COWS

RonM · #18 02/21/14, 02:03 PM

Go with any of the Fords except the 8N due to the hydraulics system....I have a JD 950- 31 HP but $2500. wont buy it...

FarmboyBill · #19 02/21/14, 04:58 PM

Pork, IF your going to try to use a pk to do what your tractor did, AND IF it were any other tractor that had did it, Id say youll be having plenty of maintainance problems with the pk also.

As I said on an earlier post, I plowed 12 acres this year that was HARD plowing. I did the same last year, and disced it which Ill do this year also. Seeding and rolling it don't amount to much.
I did it with a 1948 H Farmall that cost $400 at a community sale. I could get a 3pt attachment for it if I wished for around $400 new. I have NOT put a dime in parts for it, save 2 new front tires, and a PTO override shaft. IF you think that a 8N will do your work, youll be in heaven with a H, and yet its not that big of a tractor either, other than being built tall. A JD a or B, A AC WD, or WD 45, an Oliver 70, MH 44, MF 135, are all good tractors, and if bought in good condition you shouldn't have to buy many parts for it. IF you do, there are mail order companys that sell everything for them nearly like, Steiner or CT Farm and Supply.

dkhern · #20 02/21/14, 07:49 PM

get a diesel, front end loader, 4wheel drive, live pto pay whatever you have to