recommend an old tractor for me

[Paul Pless]

looking into buying another small tractor
not really looking for a major restoration project
not looking for a 'classic' tractor showpiece either
but one that needs a bit of work doesn't bother me

really want an all mechanical/hydraulic tractor with very very few electrics beyond glow plugs and starter and lights (lights optional)

about fifteen acres of land, mostly rolling hills, not much forest, two acres of it manicured
about 1/4 mile of driveway that will need heavy snow removal

primary uses will be mowing hay fields, land scaping, gardening, pasture maintenance, snow removal, lifting heavy ****

things that i want:

• diesel of between 30 and 50 hp
• awd
• hydrostatic or shuttle shift
• category 1 three point hitch and rear pto
• front end loader capable of lifting 1000 pounds
• rear blade
• off road tires
• bush hog
• tiller
• a front mount snowblower would be nice
• auger - post hole digger

things that i very specifically do not want

• no electronics
• no solenoids between the controls and the hydraulics
• no solenoids between the pedals the hydro drive

[Paul Pless]

wouldn't it be nice if someone made a snowblower that attached directly to a tractor's front bucket without having to remove the bucket???

[John B]

Sounds exciting, the new place I mean...

[LeeG]

I highly recomend an old tractor.

[Ron Williamson]

How old?
Hydrostatic will be rare with older iron.
Left hand shuttle shift wouldn't be too hard to find and almost as nice as hydro
R

[Paul Pless]

shuttle shift would be fine
i'll go back and edit my op

[L.W. Baxter]

why does it have to be hydrostatic?

also, don't you want forks and a quick-change loader.

[Paul Pless]

How old?

seventies to nineties i think
anything from the 2000's till now people are awfully proud of price wise
i definitely want it to come with a factory loader
i don't want some cobbled together aftermarket loader

[Paul Pless]

why does it have to be hydrostatic?

also, don't you want forks and a quick-change loader.

i'm fine with forks that pivot down over the front bucket

[L.W. Baxter]

won't your grapple get in the way of that...

[SaltyD from BC]

For your needs a decently maintained 1970's to 90's Ford, Deere, New Holland or other reputable brand should do the job. 3 point hitch and a front end loader or ability to add one and Bob's your uncle. Before you pull the trigger have a look at how far away the nearest service/parts place is that deals in the brand. Even if you're doing your own repairs, getting parts and advice from nearby is worth a lot.

[Paul Pless]

won't your grapple get in the way of that...

don't need a grapple or thumb
think of this as a gentleman's tractor
not for skidding logs or sawmilling

[David W Pratt]

I don't know squat about tractors, but the guy who brush-hogs our fields uses a battery powered angle grinder to resharpen the blades in situ. He says it is the best tool he ever bought.

[John B]

By solenoids , do you mean the various safety switches to stop you doing stuff when you're doing the other thing?

[Paul Pless]

I don't know squat about tractors, but the guy who brush-hogs our fields uses a battery powered angle grinder to resharpen the blades in situ. He says it is the best tool he ever bought.

i used to use a belt sander before getting a battery angle grinder myself

[Paul Pless]

By solenoids , do you mean the various safety switches to stop you doing stuff when you're doing the other thing?

no

modern compact tractors have solenoids and relays between the pedals and the drive
and they have solenoids and relays between the joystick and the hydraulic cylinders

they're prone to damage in the field, they're prone to water damage, they're prone to all the electrical gremlins that british sports cars were known for; also they are dependent upon a complex and usually unarmored wiring harness hanging off the sides and bottom and rear of the tractor

i've owned eight tractors from a 1950 8n al the way to a 2015 kubota
there's a lot to say about the convenience of some of the newer tractors
but all of the newer tractors at some point baffled me beyond my ability to repair it in the field
i can't remember ever needing to send any pre 1990 tractor i owned to a shop to be repaired
i will say the newer kubota was pretty nice - my neighbor burned that up, along with 2005 kubota in my barn

[bluedog225]

Subscribed.

I’ve been using a cordless drill and a little diamond file to sharpen my little electric chainsaw in the field. It’s great.

[hawkeye54]

Hey, Paul - At my 10 acre place in Minnesota, I 'evolved' into a Kubota BX2350, with a 60 inch belly mower, a rear blade , but no loader or front hydraulics. I was mowing 7 areas on a fairly rolling patch of grassland, including a rather steep hillside, and did snow clearance on a 900 foot gravel driveway. This was circa 2005 to 2008 .




Rick

[Ron Williamson]

Kubota L
Lots of the big companies relabeled smaller offshore tractors and don't support them
R

[L.W. Baxter]

don't need a grapple or thumb
think of this as a gentleman's tractor
not for skidding logs or sawmilling

gentlemen don't get off the tractor when they need to grab something

[Dave Hadfield]

Hydraulics? Electrics?

That's a modern tractor, like in the 1960s, not an old one at all.

[Paul Pless]

...

[SaltyD from BC]

What's your market like Paul? Farming areas nearby, lots of tractors for sale?

[Paul Pless]

i'm in heavy farm country, just north of grand rapids, michigan
but that's a whole 'nuther level of tractoring
i noticed the farm across the street has large tracked john deere ag tractors

the kind of tractor i'm mostly looking for was more likely used commercially for home building
or snow removal or on somebody's hobby farm

[John hartmann]

We use this for pretty much exactly what you described:
EA375722-450B-40BB-82C5-70456E3DAC93.jpg
late 80’s vintage, 32 hp, 4wd. With a fork on the bucket, can lift a 1000lb hay bale. Small, but a serious work horse.

[Paul Pless]

gentlemen don't get off the tractor when they need to grab something

wisdom in these words

[Paul Pless]

made in japan, right?
i've always liked this family of fords
exactly 7the kind of recommendation i'm looking for

We use this for pretty much exactly what you described:
EA375722-450B-40BB-82C5-70456E3DAC93.jpg
late 80’s vintage, 32 hp, 4wd. With a fork on the bucket, can lift a 1000lb hay bale. Small, but a serious work horse.

[SaltyD from BC]

I'd take that Ford in a heart beat

[Canoeyawl]

Something like this then?

(You would just have to dit a sickle bar mower and train your dog to keep clear.
I have seen more than one 3 legged farm dog)

F12BEDE9-43C8-4FFC-A0E2-955D90EC78A3.jpg

[Lugs]

Perfect

[John B]

no

modern compact tractors have solenoids and relays between the pedals and the drive
and they have solenoids and relays between the joystick and the hydraulic cylinders

they're prone to damage in the field, they're prone to water damage, they're prone to all the electrical gremlins that british sports cars were known for; also they are dependent upon a complex and usually unarmored wiring harness hanging off the sides and bottom and rear of the tractor

i've owned eight tractors from a 1950 8n al the way to a 2015 kubota
there's a lot to say about the convenience of some of the newer tractors
but all of the newer tractors at some point baffled me beyond my ability to repair it in the field
i can't remember ever needing to send any pre 1990 tractor i owned to a shop to be repaired
i will say the newer kubota was pretty nice - my neighbor burned that up, along with 2005 kubota in my barn

Didn't know that, I thought you meant the safety last defeat switches. I heard them big spring clamps work well for that.. Fingers crossed on my little unit then.

[hawkeye54]

Paul, I hope whatever you settle on has a robust ROPS rollbar, at the very least - I lost a good friend and co-worker when their old tractor rotated around the rear axle and smashed her flat in a farm accident, with her kids watching.

[JayInOz]

A feller told me a yarn once about a farmer he knew who had a huge collection of antique farm machinery. He constantly went to sales and auctions looking for stuff to add to the collection or for parts to use in his restorations. Eventually he got too old and had to sell off everything and move into a nursing home. One night a fire broke out in the home, the hallways filled with smoke and there was pandemonium as the terrified oldies couldn't find the exits. This old farmer stood in a doorway and inhaled huge amounts of smoke and blew it outside until visibility improved and the old folks were saved. Later one of the staff members said that it was the most remarkable thing they had ever seen. They asked the old farmer how he was able to do such a wonderful thing. He replied It's no big deal really- I'm just an old ex tractor fan. Insert groan here JayInOz

[hawkeye54]

Since Jay brought it up - have you got any local farm auctions nearby ? Any local long-established farm implement dealers ?




Rick

[Tom from Rubicon]

Plenty around in good condition. The front mount, take a trailer hitch ball
Ford NAA tractor - Wikipedia