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Minneapolis Moline Tractors Discussion Forum
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MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U

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skirider

10-12-2005 06:53:00




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I have a chance to pick one of these up from a friend of the family but I can find next to nothing on them.

I currently have a 1944 Ford 2N and the neighbor and I are looking for something a bit larger to run a 6' Brushhog with on our properties.

Can someone fill me in on this tractor? HP, weight, were they good or not, size compared to the N, readily available parts etc?

I'd appreciate it as I found very little on a search.

Thanks,

James

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Bob M

10-13-2005 06:23:34




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 Re: MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U in reply to skirider, 10-12-2005 06:53:00  
James - As others share below, the U is good for some tasks and very poor for others.

Unfortunately the U is not particularly well-suited for bush hog work. With ground speed (non-live) PTO, a hand clutch and no 3 point, safely operating a bush hog will be difficult at best. Also the U is not a particularly nimble tractor - even one with a narrow front end (the UTU).

That’s not to diminish the U – they pull like an ox, will run just about forever, and I like the way they look (I own a UTU myself…) But there’s other tractors out there much better suited for bushhogging than the U.

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Hoot

10-12-2005 11:32:35




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 Re: MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U in reply to skirider, 10-12-2005 06:53:00  
I have seen a few with added-on hydraulics and 3-point lift but most of them were just set up to drag plows and the like. They do that extremely well.
I have a 47 UTS and like it for what it is, which is a heavy-duty, hairy-chested piece of early American iron. It is not complicated to work on and the main design flaw, some 60 years later, seems to have been a dumb exhaust manifold which tends to rust out, crack, and burn the paint off of the sheet metal. It is not particularly agile though, and I think if I was looking for something vintage to do some serious brush hogging with it would be a early 60s Ford 800 series. They are big enough, reasonably inexpensive, parts are readily available and they have a live PTO and , of course, the 3 point hitch. If you are set on a MM then likely a 5-star would work as well. Just my opinion and I am not an expert by any means.

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Specter

10-12-2005 08:08:14




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 Re: MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U in reply to skirider, 10-12-2005 06:53:00  
Well, I'm not an expert on Minnie Mo's, but I know a bit about the UTS's, as there are dozens of them around my neck of the woods.
The UTU was the tricycle front end type, and the UTS was the standard tread type.
Roughly 40 horsepower
Weighs 6000 lbs.
Five speed transmission ranging from about 2.5 mph - 14 mph
No three point hitch.
They are quite a bit bigger than a Ford 2N, even a little bit bigger than my own John Deere model A, I think.
I don't have any experience working with a MM model U, as I only have Deeres at this point, but I have heard good things about them. They were a strong old tractor. Be careful with road gear, though.
I hope that's enough to help you James.
Specter from Alberta.

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skirider

10-12-2005 08:15:11




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 Re: MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U in reply to Specter, 10-12-2005 08:08:14  
Appreciate the reply!

No 3-point huh? That makes it a little difficult to run a brush hog with! Appreciate the heads up.

James



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Lerou

10-12-2005 17:32:10




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 Re: MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U in reply to skirider, 10-12-2005 08:15:11  
No 3 point, Hydrolics? a lot had no hydrolics and what they had was not a good system, Live pto? possible but doughtfull and it was not a goon system, size egual to a G or 70 Deere but not as nimble, Power depends on year and head modifications 35 to 55 HP. I had a 44 U that had had put on it the live PTO unit and the hydrolic unit, Liked the looks of the Minnie but after had it found out it was not usfull and had it only a couple of months and traded it on a Ferguson. Mine put out 55 HP and with 3-14 plows could not keep the front end on the ground, and with that live pto system the left brake was ustless, I could not stand on it hard enough to even know you were on the brake. And you would need a 7' to cover tire tracts. Stay away from it for what you want to do. Mine if it would not have had the live PTO would have worked OK on a disc or the like

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sawtooth

10-12-2005 18:51:46




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 Re: MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U in reply to Lerou, 10-12-2005 17:32:10  
In our neck of the woods is a farmer who is a Minney fan. Every year he enters one of them- a UB- in a couple somewhat informal old iron pulls. It's fun watching- he's got it bored out with M&W's, he says it's showed 109 hp. on a dyno. He pulls at a good pace and doesn't run out of power. I've seen it compete with the likes of an AC 190XT and others similar. I'm impressed how they hold up.

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deadeye

10-13-2005 05:49:39




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 Re: MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U in reply to sawtooth, 10-12-2005 18:51:46  
There is another drawback that should be considered. The "U's" all have a hand clutch except for the "UB". They all have plenty of power, but it would take 3 men and a little boy to operate unless you have a little experience....deadeye



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skirider

10-13-2005 05:54:04




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 Re: MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE MODEL U in reply to deadeye, 10-13-2005 05:49:39  
Thank you for all the reply's.....

All are good points and my dad reminded me of the hand clutch last night....not an option I'm in favor of!

They are good looking old tractors but it doesn't sound like they were designed for anywhere near what I am looking to do.

Again, Thanks!

James



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