Advice for first tractor please

[Tharg]

40 does sound good I must admit. The smaller 25 would be useful running around in our smaller fields which are flat and soft

 

[Farmer495]

Budget plays a big role here.

Size is the next, do you have to fit it in door ways or in buildings?

A 695 would do everything fine if it fits and play with a 5 or 6 foot bushog/topper. 695 built in UK too.

 

[paulsharvey]

On the used machines, part availability is a big issue. Even some of the Massey Hinomoto 1980s machines you Really have to do some homework, parts numbers comparison, ect to find parts. I don't really mean the easy stuff (filters), or the Major stuff, like critical engine parts, I mean starters, alternators, ect. So, if you are really thinking about one of these machines, do some Google research on parts, just to make sure they are available.

Edit: I donr mean All used machines, but at about 30 years old, so early 90s, some things become hard to get, and that's regardless of brand.

 

[Tharg]

I only have a small shed like extension to a field shelter or , if I can persuade Mrs Tharg to move the carriage, a small hay barn big enough to park a car

 

[Tharg]

Budget plays a big role here.

Size is the next, do you have to fit it in door ways or in buildings?

A 695 would do everything fine if it fits and play with a 5 or 6 foot bushog/topper. 695 built in UK too.

Oops please see reply further up!

 

[Tharg]

So, "harrowing", I read that as a disc harrow, but I might be wrong. 25hp should be a 4 to 5 ft disc, a 35hp should be good with a 6 ft. If Harrowing is more like a chisel plow, or something else, soil will be the main factor.

With ground engaging work, like a plow, disc, cultivator, chisel plow, ect, you need the power to run at the speed it works best at; but what works in my sandy soil, may not work in yours.

If harrowing is more of an arena drag or spike harrow drag for breaking up manure, even a 25hp should pull a 7 ft no problem.

It would just be a chain harrow over the grass to beak up the manure

 

[paulsharvey]

It would just be a chain harrow over the grass to beak up the manure

Ok, that is a really low HP requirement. Virtually anything in your 25-40hp search will do that fine.

 

[paulsharvey]

I will admit, when I hear UK, I think of 3 extremes; major urban city (London), post apocalyptic industrial waste land, with or without Mad Max and zombies (Birmingham), and a desolate artic wasteland devoid of any life (Scotland), so, I don't have a good idea on how the used compact tractor market is over there.

 

[RayIN]

A consideration; look at the HP requirements for a flail-mower compared to a rotary mower. Also, a flail-mower does not perform well where there are rocks in a field, also it has a full-width roller to set cutting height.
For your scenario, I'd suggest a 30-35 hp utility tractor. If tall grass and weeds are bogging down the engine, it easy to use a lower gear.

 

[Tharg]

Well, all of a sudden I have some options!
What do you think about these?
Case IH 695 and a David Brown 1290