What The JD Folks Say

I really enjoyed everyones opinion on both forums.

RICK/GA

When I grew up on the farm in the 70's we used JD 4020's as our primary tractor. In it's size it's a well known classic. With the power shift tranny it was a fabulous loader tractor, and with the injection pump tweaked by the local dealership it was a field working fool (>115 HP).

Us and most of the neighbours always had what was called a chore tractor around the place: used for hauling manure, haying, harrowing, and other light duty work.

Ours was a JD 60 low seat std. It was a great tractor, especially for baling with the live pto and hand clutch.

Around the yard itself we used the venerable JD 110 garden tractor with a rototiller, and mower.

Our Neighbour had a D case. I always admired the power that that sucker had, and how smooth it's engine was.

Being a geek I did some research on the net before getting a tractor for my newly acquired 17 acre place last year. (Yep I escaped from the city in 2001 after almost 20 years off the farm)

It didn't take long to figure out that a small, simple 3pt hitch equipped tractor was what I needed and the 2N I got fit the bill to the T.

I agree that to some extent it's an apples and oranges comparison. The Deere's I grew up with were Field Working fools, the N is a wonderful companion in and around the yard.

I think part of the reason I didn't see more of them growing up was that in our area, Ford, didn't establish AG dealers with the same coverage as Massey, IH, Case, and JD. And to a farmer in those days, the proximity and service of a local dealer made the difference between being down for a couple of hours, vs a whole day at critical seasons of the year.

Now some day I hope to find a 60 Low seat std, and restore it, more as a tribute to my dad, and momento of where I learned what Tractoring meant.

Would one be practical around my place, not as much as the N, but with a loader, I"m sure it would see some good use.

Besides, just think what would happen if you tried mowing a lawn with a JD R... Your poor grass would be pounded underground by the weight of the Beast, and on a wet day, you'd be creating some wonderful ruts ... :D

It's all about the right tool for the Job, and the N is a wonderful package that balances size, flexibility, and reliability into a stylish package.

omg...we used to have one of those...till i seized the engine...hehe!!

I don't know, I have a 9N and like it for mucking around the 6 acres, I would like to get a JD M for the fun of it and I have a JD lawn tractor, so who knows. Whatever makes you smile.

JU

Drove all the way to SOuth GA to pick up the tranny case and they had one out for the Jub only. They found one in a different tractor and have pulled in out for me. One of my employees has a project within 30 miles of the salvage yard and will pick it up in two weeks. My engine is in the shop and is getting new pistons, sleeves, bearing, timing set. It's getting closer! That tranny case really slowed me down. That's OK though since I am still building a barn for these tractors.

I'll keep ya'll posted.

RICK GA

TD

LOL

I posted this pic on the JD board a couple of years ago, man were they PO'd

later,dave

I have a MF255 that I pull a 10 foot JD wheel disk with and a plow and the hog.

I have to hog 40 acres of hay ground because the guy that was renting it sold out his cows and now I can't give the hay away. I wouldn't like the time or pressure on the 8N trying to hog that hay down. With all the rain, the hay is almost hip high. The MF will walk a 7 foot hog through it easy. The 8N will do it in a lot longer time and with a lot of heat and cleaning out the radiator frequently and in 1st gear only. The MF is designed so the radiator never gets clogged set back from the grill like it is.

So, I love the 8N but I really like the MF when I have to hog.

The moral of the story is, there are horses for courses. There's nothing wrong with owning more than one brand.

Each tractor had its' uses back when they were new and each tractor has its' uses today. N's can do some things the JD's are not good at, and the JD's have abilities that the N's lack.

For my purposes, an N is suited perfectly and I'll stick with it. For other purposes, a JD or another size/brand would be better.

Besides, if we all liked the same thing there would be no one to make fun of...

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Had it not been for Ford/Ferguson, we might still have that funky JD two-point hitch, and i'm still opposed to the IH "Fast hitch". The little toungue is hard to line up, and it always seems to bend off to one side.

From a sheer favorites point of view, though, it seems like I like different tractors for different decades...
pre 1920's: Steam tractors
1920's: Farmall F-series
1930's: Unstyled JD A's and B's
late 30's through 50's: 9N/2N/8N hands down.
Post 50's: Nothing compares to the good ole days!