Another First Tractor Post

[dwwaldron]

I have an 11 acre farm and am confused with all the available makes and models of tractors out there.

My Budget is $2000-$3500.

Most of the time I will be using it to Brushhog 4-5 acres of level brambles.

I would also like to be able to break up and disc/till a half acre for a garden plot once a year.

I was looking at a Ford 8N, but was told the 8N wasn't good due to the lack of a Live PTO for breaking ground.

I have switched my search to a Ford 2000,3000, or 4000 but still not sure if these are a good option.

Not stuck on a Ford but I'm not super mechanically inclined so i'm thinking the simpler the better.

Any advice?

Thanks
DW

 

[flusher]

For $3K and 11 acres of mowing, discing, tilling tasks, my 1964 Massey Ferguson 135 diesel (45 hp engine, 37 hp pto) would work fine. Cost: $3600 in Jul 06.

If you'd rather have a gas tractor, something like a 1950s/60s Ford 800 series would do. Those sell in the $3K range. Other options: John Deere 40, 420; Farmall H.

Good luck

 

[bobmisi]

I agree with the MF 135. They are bullet proof with the perkins diesel. You can find Fords with the same perkins diesel for that kind of money. I've had gas and diesels and they can both be good. Gas is usually easier for a non mechanically minded person to understand and work on, but most diesels require only minimal maintenance and can be handled by a novice with the help of these forums. Perkins diesels are hard to beat...........

 

[Soundguy]

so.. how many pto powered disc's have you seen? I havn't seen many

an 8n is fine for hogging, plowing and discing.. but fore the same $$.. I'd get something like an 53-64 model.. IE.. naa, 600, 700, 800, 900, 601,701,801,901 2000/4000 4 yl.

the 8/9/4xxx models have the larger 172ci engine. 6xx+ are 55-64 models and better than the 53-54 naa due to axle seals and hyds..e tc.

personally.. I'd look for a nice 8xx or 9xx with power steering.. will make a great hog, plow,disc machine.

the 7xx/9xx and 4 cyl rowcrops like a 4000 set up up a lil taller, and can have wide or the common narrow trike front.. some don't liek them.. but they turn on a dime and give you change.. and for flat land.. are great.

going frice for a 00/01 ford is 2000-3500$ depending on modle, tires, condition..e tc. many times you can get implements with that. I bet you could find a tractor, hog and 6' disc for your price range in that size of a ford.. quite easilly in fact.

sure.. a 3 cyl might be a lil newer.. but you get more hp out of say.. a ford 861 than a 2000/3000 3 cyl.. though the 3 cyl jobs can get you into an 8spd tranny, and the ability to run the tiller ( expensive ) that you may want.

things to avoid: avoid models with an 10spd SOS powershift tranny.. *8* or *7* if a 59-64 modle.

they are usually cheaper, and if not maintained.. can be a problem and expensive to fix. they do not tolerate lack of maint as well as a plain old crashbox.

the 4 spd fords ( *4* )are basic but work for mowing and discing and plowing. the 5 speeds ( *5* ) give you a lil more play.. and the 5spd with live pto ( *6* ) are the best in that line..

soundguy

I have an 11 acre farm and am confused with all the available makes and models of tractors out there.

My Budget is $2000-$3500.

Most of the time I will be using it to Brushhog 4-5 acres of level brambles.

I would also like to be able to break up and disc/till a half acre for a garden plot once a year.

I was looking at a Ford 8N, but was told the 8N wasn't good due to the lack of a Live PTO for breaking ground.

I have switched my search to a Ford 2000,3000, or 4000 but still not sure if these are a good option.

Not stuck on a Ford but I'm not super mechanically inclined so i'm thinking the simpler the better.

Any advice?

Thanks
DW

 

[dwwaldron]

Thanks for the advice. This helps out quite a bit.

 

[Soundguy]

just post on back now and then and let us know how you are doing.. if you hit any snags.. we are here...

 

[dwwaldron]

just post on back now and then and let us know how you are doing.. if you hit any snags.. we are here...

Picked up a Ford 860 Diesel today with a 6' bushog.

Looking forward to learning all about it.

Only snag so far is the 3 point worked great at first, but isn't lifting like it should after an hour of use.

 

[Soundguy]

does it lift at all after a while? or not at all.

is it a square vane pump, or a cylindrical piston pump. the early units had a sqaure vane pump that would wear out. best fix is to get a working piston pump and the plumbing to mathc.. bolt on repalcement.. all external parts.

that's assuming it's got correct utf oil in it, and not something weird like super thin 10w oil.. etc..