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Harold Hubbard
01-21-2002 05:31:34
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Re: BALING hAY in reply to James, 01-20-2002 19:35:56
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The M will do it. The big question is ,can you? I have run a M for nearly 35 years now, and every year I look for excuses to let somone else do it, or use a newer tractor that has power steering, live PTO,live hydraulics, a real seat, etc. On the other hand I can guarantee that when I get on that tractor and push the button, it will go, and it will keep going, and get the job done. The only thing that has been done to it, besides regular oil changes, is one valve job, two or three clutches, a starter, generator, and some radiator repairs. It has done all the baling, first with an IH 45, then with a NH 289. About half the mowing since 1988, PT 7, PT 10, Hesston 1091, as well as a lot of the raking and tedding in the 90's. This is on 60 to 80 acres of mixed Vermont sidehill and river bottom farms, 6-8000 bales a year. The M also runs the woodsplitter, 50+ cords a year, and does a lot of the utility hauling, dump wagon, fence building etc. Every year I threaten to put power steering on it, but there is always something else to suck up the money. As someone else said a 400 or 450 would give you the power and weight of the M along with the modern conveniences. If you are young, dumb, and etc. etc. you would get a lot of years out of the M before you started to wish for something easier to handle. If I needed a tractor right now I would not hesitate to buy another M, provided it was in good shape.
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