Lets talk tractors

[rusty ol ranger]

Ok...yet another one of my "wtf should i do threads"

I need more tractor out at the old house. My dad (who lives there) sold his 8n years ago because it needed alot of work and with the hydro system being about gone and being having very little compression it was only about good to drive around on.

My 48 Cub puts in a valiant effort doing things i try to do with it. But honestly its a bitch to change between impliments, and that tractors been in the family since new and i dont like feeling like im beating on it doing things a cub probably shouldnt be doing. Not to mention being very limited with impliment selection due to having to use cub specfic tools and it being an ordeal to change stuff out thanks to no 3pt.

Anyways...

I dont want to spend over like 1500-2k....obviously less is better. Not super concerned about looks just want function.

Ive been gravitating toward N fords for the fact i know what theyll do and theyll do anything i can see myself needing to do. They also meet the requirements of having a 3pt and standard PTO. They are also wide front (just for piece of mind).

They also meet budget requirements.

But seeing as how once you get past the N fords and the Letter series farmalls im not super well versed on whats out there. Id wouldnt object to a farmall C if i could find one wide front (were these made?) And had a 3pt conversion.

Anyways....my question is there anything else really in that price range that meets my requirements, in the 20-30hp range i might be missing that i should look at?

A modern SCUT diesel would be ideal (espicially with a loader) but im not dropping that kind of money....so those are kind of a non issue here.

All opinions and input appreciated.

 

[franklin2]

You will never get anything decent for that price sorry to say. A good tractor holds it's value.

The main problem with the 8N's and most other older tractors, they do not have live PTO. The pto they do have is tied directly to the rearend gears. So you push in on the clutch to stop the tractor, and the pto stops also unless you put the transmission in neutral and let out on the clutch.

But the worst part is trying to bush hog with one. Those one-way bearings that install on the pto are mandatory for these old tractors. That bearing lets the tractor drive the bush hog, but will not let the bush hog drive or push the tractor. You do not realize how important this is until you run up on a fence row and the bush hog pushes the tractor right through the fence, and you are standing on the brakes.

Sell everything you have and buy a new Kubota with zero percent financing(if they still offer that deal). It will be a lifetime purchase you will never regret.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You will never get anything decent for that price sorry to say. A good tractor holds it's value.

The main problem with the 8N's and most other older tractors, they do not have live PTO. The pto they do have is tied directly to the rearend gears. So you push in on the clutch to stop the tractor, and the pto stops also unless you put the transmission in neutral and let out on the clutch.

But the worst part is trying to bush hog with one. Those one-way bearings that install on the pto are mandatory for these old tractors. That bearing lets the tractor drive the bush hog, but will not let the bush hog drive or push the tractor. You do not realize how important this is until you run up on a fence row and the bush hog pushes the tractor right through the fence, and you are standing on the brakes.

Sell everything you have and buy a new Kubota with zero percent financing(if they still offer that deal). It will be a lifetime purchase you will never regret.

I find decent runners around for that price.

i doubt bushhogging is something i would do. Seems like the 8n had an overrun pto didnt they? Just the 9n and 2n didnt.

either way thanks for the input

 

[scotts90ranger]

That and the N's unless they had the Sherman adder in the transmission went too fast to do some things with finesse...

If it were me I'd look for a Ford 2000 or 3000 from the '70's, gas versions are usually cheap and they're a good all around tractor... I'd probably shy away from a select-0-speed (10 speed automatic, when they work they're fine but finding ones that are still good is a gamble). Anything with a loader adds at least $1k to a price...

I have no regrets with my old Kubota L260, if you managed upon one of the old L210 through L260 tractors they're decent, the 2 cylinder in the L260 sounds horrible but I think that's just a 2 cylinder diesel thing... it's pretty sweet with a 4 speed PTO though so you can run light load stuff at full PTO speed at idle, but it's live with no overrun clutch, have hit things and got really stuck because of it mowing... game changer with the inline clutch...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

That and the N's unless they had the Sherman adder in the transmission went too fast to do some things with finesse...

If it were me I'd look for a Ford 2000 or 3000 from the '70's, gas versions are usually cheap and they're a good all around tractor... I'd probably shy away from a select-0-speed (10 speed automatic, when they work they're fine but finding ones that are still good is a gamble). Anything with a loader adds at least $1k to a price...

I have no regrets with my old Kubota L260, if you managed upon one of the old L210 through L260 tractors they're decent, the 2 cylinder in the L260 sounds horrible but I think that's just a 2 cylinder diesel thing... it's pretty sweet with a 4 speed PTO though so you can run light load stuff at full PTO speed at idle, but it's live with no overrun clutch, have hit things and got really stuck because of it mowing... game changer with the inline clutch...

Id like to find one with a sherman trans. They seem to be a bit rare around here.

Honestly most of what i would do is dragging shit around, id like to get a boom pole for it, those kind of things. Possibly one of those carryall type buckets for the 3pt so i can roll big logs into for transport, maybe a box grader. Im more after something a bit more robust and convienent then the cub.

I havent ran across any kubotas used for less then 5 or 6k. Just some of those weird off brand early 80's diesel tractors that honestly id be scared of parts availabilty with

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Factory three point is better than add-on.

Personally, once I get past implement availability I really do not care for 3pt. I am down to only having a 3pt blade... and if wishes were fishes I would dump it at the earliest opportunity.

IH 460/560 is on the cheaper side and would check a lot of your boxes.

 

[racsan]

I added a 3-point to my ‘42 allis-C and it was a $500 disappointment, my ‘64 ford 2000 is a really good tractor though. I paid $3000 for it 3 years ago. Its not exactly stock as it was originally a diesel and for whatever reason it got repowered with a gas 172 (48 hp) engine like a 4000 would have. the original gas engine would be a 30 hp 134. the NAA was right after the “N” series with a ohv 134 and could sometimes be found with a sherman, the ‘53 was known as the “jubilee” and some considered it to be a collectable. The only thing I wish my 2000 had was power steering, I grew up with a 4000 that had power steering and it sure is nice to have. my implements are a 5’ bush hog, boom pole, back blade & a reversible soil scoop. The allis was best suited for what it came with, a 6’ belly mower.

 

[RobbieD]

I wish that you guys would just stop it . . .

. . . this thread is making me want a tractor.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I wish that you guys would just stop it . . .

. . . this thread is making me want a tractor.

That's like wanting a potato chip... ya can't have just one!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So, I’ll admit up front to not be very knowledgeable yet on tractors.

Rural King sometimes runs payment plan deals on new machines. I thought about doing that a couple times. With a loader and a backhoe. But after seeing one in action vs a real backhoe, I’m not convinced it will do what I’d want it for.

Then I made an impulse buy at an auction and picked up a Ferguson TO-20, which is nearly identical to the Ford N series (Ferguson was actually the one to create the N series for Ford). Mine is a 1950 and appears mostly original. Neighbor and a buddy helped me get it going again. Clutch is almost gone though. At the moment I don’t have any working implements for it, but I’m almost done building a trailer mover/boom pole contraption (I want some input before I finish it). I have a drag style 5’ brush hog and a 6 or 7 foot back blade but both need some repairs. I’m gonna borrow a 5’ 3-point brush hog from a family friend and I’m half looking for one of my own.

My one friend picked up a Massy Ferguson 35 series and it’s surprisingly similar to mine, but has some better features. I might start keeping an eye out for one…

 

[rubydist]

A VAC Case would likely fit your needs, if you can find one with a 3 point hitch. Or a 40 JD, I think you could get those w/ 3 point hitch. Also a 50 or 60 JD if you can deal with the hand clutch, but it might be too much money. Where I grew up, pretty much everyone had JD, IH or Case tractors - all the others were very rare.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

A VAC Case would likely fit your needs, if you can find one with a 3 point hitch. Or a 40 JD, I think you could get those w/ 3 point hitch. Also a 50 or 60 JD if you can deal with the hand clutch, but it might be too much money. Where I grew up, pretty much everyone had JD, IH or Case tractors - all the others were very rare.

Late VAC had the smaller eagle hitch. Sort of a three point knockoff. The arms don't swing (set to a certain width) and they have hooked ends rather than eyes.

Some three point stuff fits, some doesn't. Center link is positioned differently which goofs up the geometry with 3pt but what fits more or less works.

It sounds archane but basically every farmer today converts their three point to the same format (although with a hook for the top link too) with a quick coupler. The bigger your implement is, the bigger pita regular 3pt is.

The earlier two cylinder deere 3pt had kind of a knock off too, I think it was mid to late 50's when the government wouldn't let ford renew their patent and everybody switched.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I found a pretty decent NAA or jubilee for 1500 with a front end loader. Guy says it runs good and works well but it needs a head gasket.

The NAA's were OHV correct not flathead like the N's?

The fergusion TO's were on my radar as well since yes they are basically an N ford. It seems like every single one of the TO's i find around here are beat to within an inch of their life.

The older cases and deeres tend to bring good money around here. I wasnt sure when they switched to 3 pts

 

[rumblecloud]

I'm with Racsan on a smaller Ford. They seem to be plentiful and parts are easy to come by. I'd prolly stick with gas too. Good luck with your search.

 

[DandysRanger]

Don't overlook the Japanese grey market tractors. I bought a Yanmar 2000BD 20 years ago and it has been a reliable and useful tractor. I use it bushhogging, hauling, rototilling, plowing, etc. It's basically a John Deere 240, I think.