2 Wheel Tractors - Buying & Using

[Libertine]

Darren et al:

Though I would post some links to some of the other 2 wheel tractor sites. (Some of these are better than others-some load a bit slowly). The first one below shows the real flexibility of this type of equipment.

Ferrari tractors & lots of implements

MAB tractors - several walking models

Goldini site

Iberica tractors

Grillo site

BCS dealer with lots of extra stuff

For you chinese tractor fans: Chinese 2 wheel tractors

Old gravely equipment site/info/refs: Gravely info site

JEH

PS Darren - did I recall you said you bought a Goldini? Did you get that in US, or import directly? Any problems with parts/service?

 

[Darren]

That's quite a post. I think this thread will be the definitive TBN reference on two wheel tractors. The Goldoni is available in the US. I bought mine from:

EARTH POWER EQUIPMENT INC.

30 East Fourth Ave. - P.O.Box 8396
43201 Columbus, OH - U S A
Phone. 001 614 294 4618 FAX 001 614 294 6014
earthpowereqt@aol.com

Earth Power supposedly stocks parts, but I've never needed to order anything.

 

[Libertine]

Darren:

Thanks for ref & kind comment - unfortunately, some members (judging from some of the posts made in my "bet" thread) view them as trivial, and they are definately not. For someone needing a real piece of versitile, flexible, hardworking, life-time quality equipment for a smaller property they are definately worth considering. Much cheaper than a CUT or even subCUT.

Any way thanks. I had thought mainly on the BCS to replace my Gravelies I sold 6-8 months ago, but that Goldini looks real solid too. Are lots of implements available (chippers/rotary plows/etc? Take care.

JEH

 

[Darren]

I haven't followed that thread. Anyone who actually tries a diesel powered 2 wheel tractor will never think it trivial. I think the Goldoni weighs about 400 lbs. The dealer told me he's had some rather hefty folks try to stall one. Didn't happen. The torque of the diesel is very noticeable. The Goldoni at 12 hp has 1/3 the power of my Kubota L3710. I've run Gravelys and they're great machines but the Goldoni is in a different class.

Lots of European companies make attachments for the machines. I've got the literature for a backhoe and a mini round bailer. The Ferrari tractor website has pictures of a seed drill, and a flail mower among others.

 

[DavidBradley]

I cant belive someone hasnt mentioned my namesake. The David Bradley sold for years through sears. It didnt have all the fancy pto suff the new ones have, but it worked, and very well. We used one for years to garden 1/2 acre. My grandfather used one to garden about 3/4 acre. He had the really cool Super 3 with reverse. You could buy all kinds of attachments including a sawmill. By the way after 50 years, both still run. Check out this site.

web page

Dave

 

[ZJ_HR]

Darren,
Are you looking for this picture? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ZJ_HR]

...or maybe this one? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Libertine]

Darren:

<font color="blue">I think the Goldoni weighs about 400 lbs. </font>

A bit heavier than the BCS which is around 300 with electric start. I like the torque characteristics you are talking about-one of the things I liked about my Gravely 6.6L (over the 7.6L) was it was also that way. Anyway, think I will look into the Goldini. Also I should have repeated again that this thread was suggested by Dave_in_NY so you should thank him.

DavidBradley:
Thanks for the ref to the site. I had forgotten about them, I know they are popular collectors items. You sometimes see them at antique power shows. And, no doubt, work just as well today. I've seen Graham tractors, but didn't know David Bradley made them. Thanks again.

ZJ_HR:
Thanks for the pics. I have seen the CAEB baler work. Uses aluminum rollers around the chamber to form the bale (rather than belts), so it can bale lots of stuff besides staight hay. When I first saw one I was a bit skeptical, but when I really looked at it and saw one actually working it does a real nice job. They are expensive ($6k-$7k) but cheap compared to the smallest CUT sized balers (I think the smallest square baler by NH et al) is around $15k and up. You can create the bale as tight as you want, then initiate a wrap cycle to wrap it. When done, lift the lid and pop out a nice 50 lb (more or less) bale about the size and weight of a small square baler. Again, thanks for posting the pics.

JEH

 

[ZJ_HR]

Goldoni Super Special 130 or 140 is about 30y old construction. We have lots of it's copies here. Original new one is just a little nicer and more ergonomic. It has rubber shock absorber on handles, so you can have better feel on handles. It's gearbox has casted iron heavy duty housing.
People here on hills use it in woods, and haul trailors heavier than ton. And these Lombardini diesel engines on them are unbeatable.
I'm not sure, but BCS in similar class has aluminium casted gearbox, as on my pic.
If you can afford, buy this machine, new or used.
IMHO, this model is one of the best machines ever made.

 

[ZJ_HR]

This one is over 25 years in use. It is produced in my country, and with locally made engine and parts.
Never repaired up to now.
Just tiller blades replaced a month ago.

 

[ZJ_HR]

This is early model, without turnable handles, welded as you can see. All new models have turnable handles, and can push some attachments (manily hog or finish mower 1m wide), like Gravely.

 

[Libertine]

ZJ_HR:

Thanks for pics. Am I seeing it correctly? - it appears that the flywheel on the front is for a hand pull starting rope??? Does the diesel start ok that way or is it a bear (i.e. the high compression of a diesel engine)??? I guess the lombardini engine is very solid - I seem to recall Darren has had good service with his.

Am going to request literture from the importer today. You can get the lombardini on the BCS also. Also, do you know if they have cheapened the Goldini since BCS bought them out awhile back? That often happens in the US when one company (focused on mass marketing) buys out a good quality, old line manufacturer they often cheapen the product to play on the reputation. Of course, BCS does have a decent reputation itself, at least in the US.

Again, thanks.

JEH

 

[Dave___in___CT]

Darren...


I got the diesel engine info. from the Rarth Tools site...

"Yanmar 7, 10 HP"
"Lombardini 8, 9, 10, 11.5, 14 HP"

...they custom install 'em...


Interesting thread here !

Dave...

 

[ZJ_HR]

Hm, I didn't hear that BCS bought Goldoni. Goldoni is bigger company, acc to my knowledge, but now i'm confused /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

This old machine on pictures have just starting rope. Electric start is expensive luxury here, and nobody want it. Here these machines are used mainly for tilling in vineyards and orchads, and once started, they run for a long time. As most of people use this tractors only part time of year, electric start (which is nice) is not necessary. Additional battery needs maintenance, and and more parts can go wrong.
It's not hard to pull rope for start, just need to know a trick how to properly do it. And this Lombardini diesel starts on first pull, even in winter. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Libertine]

ZJ-HR:

<font color="blue">Hm, I didn't hear that BCS bought Goldoni. Goldoni is bigger company, acc to my knowledge, but now i'm confused </font>

I spoke with Goldoni importer here in US (who's supposed to be sending me lit). He says BCS doesn't own them. So . . . perhaps not. Anyway, based on what another importer (in California) said, Goldoni's with the 12hp Lambordini engines (the older engines that have been used for many years in Ferrari & others) can't be imported anymore because of the US government that doesn't want people to have them now (supposedly because of "emissions" - we'll all get asphixiated!!!). Anyway, one dealer is now bringing in a make called Brillo (in the US that's a trade name for metal cleaning pads!!!).

JEH

 

[ZJ_HR]

Sorry to hear that. But I'm sure that they will replace these excellent engines with "green" Lombardini. I'm not sure that they want to loose US market. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Libertine]

ZJ_HR:

Thought I would post a couple pics of the work 2 wheel tractors can do for the folks. These were taken from pics of lit, so not too good. I havn't used this particular rotary plow, but I had one on the Gravely and it produced a nice, fluffy seed bed on the first pass. These are supposed to work even better and easier to handle since they are pulled rather than pushed. You can see how easy it is to build nice raised beds.

JEH

 

[Libertine]

and this is the plow that produced those results (sorry about the pic quality, was taken from lit).

JEH

 

[Libertine]

and this is a 2 wheel tractor running a hay baler. Notice the slope - I dropped a protractor on it and its about 20 degrees. These could operate a 30 degrees or more. Again, sorry about the pic quality.

JEH

 

[ZJ_HR]

Thanks for pictures-
This link shows walk behind (model Maestral) like one I have, and attachments available. I have older model, 15y old, with some modifications I did, and repainted to orange.