What Farmall to choose

I am looking for an older Farmall to garden with...mostly to cultivate and side dress. I like a Cub, but they are sort of limited. Then comes the A and Super A and the 100, 120 and 140. From where I am standing, there isn't much difference in the price of any of these tractors....but you take what you find. Therefore I want to know what the weaknesses or advantages of these particular models. Sure, a late production 140 with all the bells and whistles would be great.....but I haven't seen one offered for sale in my area. Mostly Cubs and older stuff are available. Thanks.

Every implement that was ever designed for any of SA, 100, 130 or 140 will fit all of them. The exception being fast hitch implements, but the fast hitch itself can be installed on any of these tractors. I would personally look for one with a fast hitch as that hitch is far superior to any 3 point you can install on these tractors. Make note of that, "I said any 3 point you can install on these tractors, not any 3 point hitch."

Yes I agree these tractors are expensive compared to much larger tractors. It's a clear case of supply and demand. Lets face it, you can store them anywhere the building is 10'long, 7'wide and 7' high, little more if you have implements. I was also allowing room to walk around the tractor. They are very economical to operate and with good maintainence will run for years and years. I have in the past made the prediction that an operating Super A will outlast man on this planet.

I have 3 of these tractors, a Super A, 130 and 140 and roughly 18 implements to fit the tractors. My plows and disk harrow are factory IH 1 point fast hitch. The mid mount cultivators are factory IH, but ground working tools have been changed to modern S tines. I have 2 planters, 1 sprayer and a rotary hoe all modified 3 point implements changed to 1 point fast hitch. I have 3 cultivators, platform carrier, a bed shaper all 1 point fast hitch and all fabricated from the ground up. If you would like some photos send me an e mail. I can also tell you all the things I've done wrong and had to change over the past 45 years. Probably the single biggest mistake was fabricating a 3 point hitch and trying to use 3 point implements as 3 point on these tractors.

Only one problem, the ideas I can put in your head can cost $10,000. over night. If you were to ask me what I have invested in my 3 tractors and 18 implements it would scare you. I don't even look since it crossed the $30,000. mark. Will I ever get it back? Only if my children want them.

Thank god for men like you. Honestly, in the past year that I have been lurking here, I have enjoyed and gained more knowledge from what you have shared than all the rest. This is not a slight to anybody, just an honest compliment that is well deserved. What you have said is exactly what I was wanting to hear....a detailed explanation of the whys and hows involved...thank you so kindly. I am 48, have owned 4 tractors in the last 20 odd years.....an Allis CA, a JD 430, a JD 1050 and I just bought a new JD 5320 last summer. The JD is too wide to get through the garden but just big enough to do the other chores (55 pto horse). So rather than try to widen the planter (an ancient IH 2 row) and try to modify everything else, I am going to try to find a small farmall to do the garden work...about 2 acres worth. If money was no object, I'd look for a late model 240 diesel...but money is an object since I just dropped $32K on a tractor and loader. I am hoping to find a retired tobacco farmer no longer needing his cultivating tractor.

From the tractors you listed, they are newer versions of the same basic tractor. The Super A on up had hydraulics which the "A" didn't have.

I am in eastern KY. Just about every tobacco farmer here had one of these or an Allis B to plow out the tobacco. Now that the tobacco program is gone, you'd think these tractors would be everywhere for sale..... wrong! They hang onto them for the garden and when they do sell, they ask more than I think they are worth. I see them sold on ebay and sometimes the prices are good..... .if a person is willing to drive several states away to get them. With gas prices what they are and a 10 mpg truck and trailer....I'm not doing it.