Vintage *play* tractor advice

[mikester]

I love old things.....on a nice day taking my 1971 Chevy to town makes my day. Ive driven it on 5K mile trips and had a blast.

I love tractors

Maybe Id love an old tractor.

Currently I have all new stuff, tractors, excavator, skid loaders etc.

I *THINK* I want an older tractor to play around with, tractor rides, hay rides etc.

My list of importance (and I admit I know NOTHING about older tractors so I may be way off on some of these)

small (I have a 40x60 building but its full of work equipment, I dont want anything to set outside so it need to be a small older tractor)
common (dont want to be scrounging parts till the ends of the earth)
electric start (dont want anything old enough that doesnt have electric start)

I *THINK* I want a diesel motor.....as all my other stuff is diesel but its not a big deal either way. Tell me more.

Kinda been looking at a Farmall Cub Lo Boy but maybe Im off base.

HELP?

I think it's a disease called hoarding, it's genetic and probably terminal. Don't feel bad everyone does it to a certain extent. Asking for help on these forums is like an alcoholic asking for help from the bartender.

 

[gstrom99]

If hay rides are in the forecast, make sure the brakes are good on whatever you choose. The old ones all had mechanical brakes. My Ford 9N always had terrible brakes!

 

[fried1765]

If hay rides are in the forecast, make sure the brakes are good on whatever you choose. The old ones all had mechanical brakes. My Ford 9N always had terrible brakes!

My Ford 8N still does have poor brakes.
It will be 70 years old in January.
I don't use it, but can't quite bear to part with it.

 

[mbohuntr]

My Ford 8N still does have poor brakes.
It will be 70 years old in January.
I don't use it, but can't quite bear to part with it.

Agreed... NO BRAKES! Once the seals get leaky, no brakes....

We used to pull loaded hay wagons on some slopes with ours... not for the faint of heart... The JD B had quite a bit more low end torque, hand clutch and excellent brakes... Always wanted to own another one, just don't want to farm, or pay to have the motor rebuilt...

I have heard some horror stories about the cylinders getting badly egg shaped and unrepairable because of the design....

 

[Tinhack]

I have a picture of 22 people on a hay ride pulled by an old JD. I would post it here but it might get me banned. The people are all women and they're all naked. :laughing:

 

[fried1765]

I have a picture of 22 people on a hay ride pulled by an old JD. I would post it here but it might get me banned. The people are all women and they're all naked. :laughing:

I have seen that picture, but don't have it myself.
Take a risk......SHARE with others!
If you don't post the picture ...."it didn't happen".

 

[Tinhack]

Naw. It's not for mixed company on a tractor forum. The fact you've seen it should be proof enough it exists.

 

[JethroB]

We once put together a hay ride. Apparently some critter had made a home in those bales, mites or chiggers (red bugs). A few days later I asked a buddy if he had been bit, he said no but his wife had - 44 times right on the butt. He said he counted them out loud as he applied calamine lotion. His wife did not think it was so funny.

 

[ovrszd]

Naw. It's not for mixed company on a tractor forum. The fact you've seen it should be proof enough it exists.

Never bring up something and then not confirm it. Makes you look cheap.

 

[rScotty]

I love old things.....on a nice day taking my 1971 Chevy to town makes my day. Ive driven it on 5K mile trips and had a blast.

I love tractors

Maybe Id love an old tractor.

Currently I have all new stuff, tractors, excavator, skid loaders etc.

I *THINK* I want an older tractor to play around with, tractor rides, hay rides etc.

My list of importance (and I admit I know NOTHING about older tractors so I may be way off on some of these)

small (I have a 40x60 building but its full of work equipment, I dont want anything to set outside so it need to be a small older tractor)
common (dont want to be scrounging parts till the ends of the earth)
electric start (dont want anything old enough that doesnt have electric start)

I *THINK* I want a diesel motor.....as all my other stuff is diesel but its not a big deal either way. Tell me more.

Kinda been looking at a Farmall Cub Lo Boy but maybe Im off base.

HELP?

Just sold our 71 Chevy half ton 4x4. We had a '72 deluxe for 30 years and drove it everywhere. It went to a friend.

My choice in an old tractor is as late a model JD B as you can find. $2500 will buy a very nice one, Every part is available and not expensive. They last forever and are easy to work on. There were a ton of options - ranging from fenders to power steering. Fully Independent PTO and the best 3pt hitch ever built. Heavy steel and quality cast iron. Near as I can tell, every option is compatible with every B ever made.
Even the wide front is interchangeable with the tricycle. Nice seat. quality umbrella, 12 volt electrics.
Lots of literature.
There is somethng heroic about a gas engine that makes its max power at 1200 RPM & pulls reliably at 200 RPM.
The engine exhaust note is unique and unmistakeable. The engine mechanicals are super quiet.
10,000 hrs is not uncommon on the engine. Ours has 12000+ and when I tore it down for inspection, everything measured nominal. Cleaned it up and put it back together with new valves, guides, rings, and gaskets...
rScotty

 

[gstrom99]

It's been three months, did Aaron decide on one yet?

 

[rScotty]

It's been three months, did Aaron decide on one yet?

There used to be at least one guy in nearly every farming town who more of less collected old tractors and just parked them in rows alongside the barn or a fence. I always meant to stop by for a chat..... but so far have only followed up with a few.
rScotty

 

[Xfaxman]

Here is a diesel 1955 MF35 next to my shop in 1994:

And on the dealers lot after I traded it in on a MF235:

 

[fried1765]

Here is a diesel 1955 MF35 next to my shop in 1994:

View attachment 683608


And on the dealers lot after I traded it in on a MF235:

View attachment 683609

Any idea what the dealer got for it?

 

[JethroB]

Here is a diesel 1955 MF35 next to my shop in 1994:

View attachment 683608


And on the dealers lot after I traded it in on a MF235:

View attachment 683609

With the spin-out rears rims. Boy those were handy with row crops. No need to add spacers for rear stability either.

 

[Xfaxman]

Any idea what the dealer got for it?

No idea and I don't even know what I paid for it back in the early 1990's

 

[Cop in Overalls]

My only advice is to buy completely restored, it will be cheaper in the long run. I have bought all of mine restored and I have paid as little as $900 and the most I paid was $2200. Keep cash in your pocket and an open mind. I find the best time to buy is in the fall or winter when people are tripping over them. If you don't "need" a particular tractor, you will do better in the long run. I am partial to the unstyleds. Look for the odd stuff.

 

[tmeric7]

I was in a very similar situation to Aaron about a year ago... Like old things, like tractors, so interested in buying an old tractor. Simple! I too was interested in a diesel, but like others said before, most tractors at the price/size are gasoline. I kept my eyes open and ended up with an AC B (1942). I agree with Cop, buy restored (or close to it). Mine was not recently restored tip-top, but it was gone over well not very long ago. Good enough to not give me any headaches yet! It came with an old rotary mower, so I've given it some work in addition to it's main purpose, joyrides with the kids. The seat is quite wide, so it works great for this!

I've used it to take wagon rides for 6-8 people without concern. I don't know how much weight everyone is thinking for a typical "hay ride" but I believe my usage has stayed within the abilities of the tractor. True, the brakes are not very effective, but the property is mostly flat and the tractor is heavy enough with the wheel weights for an enjoyable stroll.