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tractor recommendations

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munklepooh

04-22-2005 14:58:18




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I am lost when it comes to shopping for a "yesterday" tractor. I do not have a lot of experience when it comes to these types of tractors. My wife and I have about seven acres. We mow about 5 of that and plan on landscaping it. We also have a 100" x 100" garden which will more likely grow bigger in the next few years. As well as a 700" gravel driveway to maintain. With my lack of expierence in this field, I am hesitant to making any choices just yet. Is there any advice that anyone could offer to this "rookie"? Thank you in advance.

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munklepooh

04-24-2005 03:43:54




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
My many thanks to all who responded to my posting. I have found all your responses very helpful! It reassuring to my wife and I to be able to come to a place like YT and get information like this.... Thank you YT and to all of you that responded. It is certainly appreciated.

May God bless all of you,

Munkle



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Griz

05-02-2005 23:09:18




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 Forget the Kubota in reply to munklepooh, 04-24-2005 03:43:54  
I put in another 8 hour day on an B6200. Hell has to be an improvement. With the reputation of the Kubota's, I thought it would be an enjoyable experience to use one. I couldn't be more wrong. I've been moving dirt from a pond project. I've been filling in low spots in the lawn. So I run mostly across a smooooo th lawn. My wife says I look like a bobble head when I'm riding it. After a couple hours of this thing, I feel like someone has beat me with a bar of soap in a sock. It rides like a small riding lawn mower. I'm so cramped up I can't move my legs. I'm only 5'9" , a peddle car has more room than this thing. The Kubota belonged to my father-in-law, rest his soul. This thing must have helped push him toward his grave. He was a short man about 5'2". He was a very meticulous man, always took very good care of things. I wondered why the left front corner of the seat was worn through. I discovered why. He must have gotten off this thing the same way I do. That is grab my right pant cuff and drag it over the the transmission and then side off the left side of the seat. You can't stand up after 2 hours on one of these things. I told my wife how beat up and cramped I was. Since I'm borrowing it from her mother, she said not to say anything to about it because her father dearly loved the Kubota. She thought that would upset her. When we visited her she noticed I wasn't moving very spryly. I told her I was a little stiff. She told me her husband, always got cramped up and had a sore back for days after mowing. It eased the pain slightly to know other people had the same problems. It might help if they put springs in the seat. I have an old Ferguson T020 with a box blade. I've been using it to grade after I move enough dirt. It's a time for healing when I ride the Fergy. I know there are a lot of better choices for a tractor than an old Ferguson. It does what I want it to. The Kubota is not one I would want to own. I hope it is not in the will.
Maybe one of you Kubata fans can tell me how to use this. This Kubota has a hydrostatic transmission. The right and left brake peddles are right above the go peddle. How do you brake the right or left wheel and keep your foot on the go peddle.

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Griz

05-02-2005 23:08:55




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 Forget the Kubota in reply to munklepooh, 04-24-2005 03:43:54  
I put in another 8 hour day on an B6200. Hell has to be an improvement. With the reputation of the Kubota's, I thought it would be an enjoyable experience to use one. I couldn't be more wrong. I've been moving dirt from a pond project. I've been filling in low spots in the lawn. So I run mostly across a smooooo th lawn. My wife says I look like a bobble head when I'm riding it. After a couple hours of this thing, I feel like someone has beat me with a bar of soap in a sock. It rides like a small riding lawn mower. I'm so cramped up I can't move my legs. I'm only 5'9" , a peddle car has more room than this thing. The Kubota belonged to my father-in-law, rest his soul. This thing must have helped push him toward his grave. He was a short man about 5'2". He was a very meticulous man, always took very good care of things. I wondered why the left front corner of the seat was worn through. I discovered why. He must have gotten off this thing the same way I do. That is grab my right pant cuff and drag it over the the transmission and then side off the left side of the seat. You can't stand up after 2 hours on one of these things. I told my wife how beat up and cramped I was. Since I'm borrowing it from her mother, she said not to say anything to about it because her father dearly loved the Kubota. She thought that would upset her. When we visited her she noticed I wasn't moving very spryly. I told her I was a little stiff. She told me her husband, always got cramped up and had a sore back for days after mowing. It eased the pain slightly to know other people had the same problems. It might help if they put springs in the seat. I have an old Ferguson T020 with a box blade. I've been using it to grade after I move enough dirt. It's a time for healing when I ride the Fergy. I know there are a lot of better choices for a tractor than an old Ferguson. It does what I want it to. The Kubota is not one I would want to own. I hope it is not in the will.
Maybe one of you Kubata fans can tell me how to use this. This Kubota has a hydrostatic transmission. The right and left brake peddles are right above the go peddle. How do you brake the right or left wheel and keep your foot on the go peddle.

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Rod F.

04-23-2005 06:32:20




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
Might I suggest that you decide whether you want an old tractor to play with and restore, or a little more modern used tractor to perform the jobs you have to do. If the latter is the case, I would suggest going past 1965 with any Ford you might look at. A 2000, 3000, or 4000 would do what you want. A 4000 would be my choice. 8N's are cute and all that jazz, but for what they often cost, are simply poor value for a work tractor. You might find a good 3000 for little or no more money. Also, ditto on what Leland said on the Kubota. Some of those old ones can be found fairly cheap, and they will probably last you quite some time. On the other hand, if you want something to tinker with, an 8N, NAA, or 600 or 800 series tractor would do your jobs and certainly provide some tinkering time. Good luck.

Rod

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Leland

04-23-2005 00:58:48




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
I know I am going to catch a bit of crap for this , but look for a kubota they are good on fuel comfort level is better than an older tractor, the kubota has hydrolics and live pto which is a must for safety and if you take care of it it will last for ever there are several 30+ year old kubotas still going around here. And the older tractors that guy's here want you to buy one thing parts thru the years for these will become harder and costly to buy as time passes and these little orange tractors will out last anything that the big 4 american companys are selling today.

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Arizona Bob

04-22-2005 20:51:49




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
On the ytmag.com main page they have Research & Info and under that Articles. Within articles they have:

Buying Your First Tractor: Choosing the Right One Buying Your First Tractor: The People You Buy From Identifying the Make or Model of Your Tractor Differences Between the Ford 9N and Ford 8N New Hitches For Your Old Tractor Tractors and Winter Putting Horsepower to the Ground (Tractor Traction) Using Your Tractor: Creating a Seed Bed Storing Your Tractor Maintaining Rubber Tires Tractor Operator Safety - Loader & Backhoe Operation Helpful Hints to Lengthen the Life of Your Tractor Using Your Implements: The Bucket Loader Using Your Implements: Plow and Disc Choosing, Mounting and Using a Bush Hog Type Mower Trailering Your Tractor Tire Fluids Horsepower Defined Engine Basics: Spark Plug Cleaning Tractor Implements and Their Use Ford Part Numbers


Read some of this stuff and you"ll be better prepared to select a tractor to meet your needs.

Bob

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Gentleman Farmer

04-23-2005 08:26:29




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to Arizona Bob, 04-22-2005 20:51:49  
From the standpoints of capability, useability and maintenance, I'd have to agree with Kubota. I know that folks on this board are die-hard proponents of the big old American-made agricultural giants (I love 'em, too), but for small-scale operations it's pretty hard to beat the Kubotas. Small, powerful, dependable, versatile. Run like a Swiss watch. Very mechanically reliable, low fuel consumption rate, and you can get any number of 3-point implements for whatever your agricultural focus will be (i.e., if you're into *small-scale* woodcutting, you can get winches, log trailers, etc., and if you're doing typical plowing/planting stuff there's a whole range of those implements, too.) I bought one for my dad after he retired, and he loves it. His is just under 30 HP, has four-wheel drive (you'd be surprised how useful that is, especially when dealing with springtime mud season!) and uses very little diesel during a full day's work. The tractor came with a loader and bush hog (which he uses to keep the pastures from growing in), and plows and harrows for the vegetable gardens were the next purchase. I also bought him a box scraper and York rake to maintain the gravel road down through the fields. The tractor's small enough to transport fairly easily: Folks in our community kept calling him and asking him to do small jobs for them (usually gardens or minor landscaping), so we got a trailer and can haul the tractor to these jobs with a full-size pickup truck (just be sure to equip the pickup and trailer with electric brakes). With adequate care and attention, maintenance is next to nothing -- just an oil change once or twice a year, mostly.
Do yourself a favor and look at the smaller Kubotas. Just be sure to buy one big enough, but not too big!

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Bob T.

04-23-2005 12:21:41




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to Gentleman Farmer, 04-23-2005 08:26:29  
I was looking at a newer Kubotas and settled ona 18 hp 00' model for a riing mower(no compact tractor) and it's made in Gainesville,GA just like the 20-35 horse Kubotas I was looking at. More American than buying a JD or NH compact, they are still built in Japan! LOL.



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Galen

04-22-2005 19:16:47




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
Another question: Is your place on a slope or flat? For general utility work I'd check out an 8N. I have one I use for mowing, spraying, 2 bottom plow, harrow, disc,.....No live PTO, but most tractors didn't have it back then. Easy to learn, easy to use, easy to fix, easy to find parts. Mine even came with a small front end loader.



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TomTX

04-22-2005 18:53:08




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
MF 135 would be good choice. Check for dealer support in your area.



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Pawel

04-22-2005 18:27:00




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
Hi

Considering what you are going to use it for whatever tractor you buy will have to have

1.)a 3pt hitch- this will lift implemets up and down-it"s a must for grading/snowplowing a driveway

2.) A pto- this will power the mower you will need to mow your lawn

Other tips:

If you are going to mow your lawn/do landscaping you will want a firly light/maueverable tractor. A large, clumsy , heavy tractor will be good in a field situation, but in your sitaution it will only squash the lawn down, be hard to manuever in the garden.

You don"t really need powersteering, but it depends on your age :D :D

I would try for a more compact/short tractor such as say, a Ford 8N style, rather than say a long heavy type like a Massey 44.

If you can find one a MF 35 would be a real nice choice- if you like the price... :D they"re real popular around here.

A JD 2 cylinder might not be the best choice- I had one and they"re not really a utility-type tractor.

An IH utility would be nice, such as a IH 300 or similar- they"re a real nice tractor, though not a "refined" as a MF 35.

I were you I"d talk to farmers in your area, go to some auctions to get a feel for machines and price, look at some private deals...

Are you planning to put a loader on it?


God bless you on your new venture!

Pawel

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andy b.

04-22-2005 17:35:46




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
first, i"d say as others have mentioned that you need to realize if you get an older tractor, you may very well be the one maintaining it. not because no one else will, but because it will end up costing you as much as a new tractor if you have to pay someone. sure, a nice old Deere, or Farmall, or Ford or any of a slew of others would be a cool tractor to own, but if you aren"t going to do the mechanical work that WILL come along with it, you may as well just go to the local Deere dealer and get a 4110 or something similar.

that said, i"m a relative tractor newbie (picked up my 1954 JD 40U four years ago for reasons similar to yours). i like it and it is very handy. it does not have power steering. while not a necessity, if you want to use a loader, power steering is a big help. i"ve driven a few of the neighbor"s old Fords with power steering, and they are like driving a new car.

also, i"d say it doesn"t hurt to go one size bigger than you think you"d need. using the Deeres for reference, if you think an old 40 may work, then look to see what a comparable model 50 in your area goes for. it never hurts to have a little extra weight or HP on an old tractor.

i love tinkering with the old stuff, and in fact the tractors i picked up after i bought the 40U have all been older. of course, the 40U has a 3-point lift and PTO, so i don"t miss those things on an older tractor. if you only have one tractor, those two items are pretty much a necessity.

andy b.

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Coldiron

04-22-2005 17:19:16




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
You might check and see if there is an antique tractor club in your area then join up. The guys in those clubs can`t quit talking tractors. You will get more information than you will be able to absorb but will go away from each meeting with a whole lot more knowledge about the different tractors than you would ever imagine. Each person has their own special likes in the old machines and you will surely have yours. Wish you the best.

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Don L C

04-22-2005 16:57:50




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
First thing, Look around your area and find a tractor that will do your chores.....but just as important, one you like to look at and enjoy driving...I like my FARMALL H it looks sharp(it has been restored)and is a joy to drive ....all the country people know about them....OK so it doesnt have live power take off,.....that isn't so bad... I get around it.....If you have never had it how can you know what you are missing.....enjoy these old tractors as they are.....the younger fellows want to modernise them ...ruins the flavor.....

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Joe Bloggs

04-22-2005 16:12:19




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
first thing who will fix and maintain your tractor.getting something old is ok if you have the skill and know how to keep it going. what you need to do is work out what size machine you need . what will you do with it. mow cultivate rake plow will you want to have a loader on it (very handy to have). when you work all that out then you will have a size range of tractors to look at. then narow it down by price? condition? best of all is find one forsale in your area. transport can be a pain.

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old

04-22-2005 15:38:47




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
For what you have a good old 8N would work ok but lack of live PTO and hyds can be a pain. Some of the othewr fords would also be good something like an 860 but it might be a little over kill but would have live PTO and hyds. Another one that would also work well for you might be a Farmall cub



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caseyc

04-22-2005 15:14:28




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 Re: tractor recommendations in reply to munklepooh, 04-22-2005 14:58:18  
even though i'm all about the row croppers i'd say a utility would suit you best, something like a 300U, have heard great things about them. good luck and enjoy. i'm sure this will turn into a big thread with lots of suggestions!

casey in SD



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