Tractor Sizing Bobcat 863 seems too big for my needs

[mtk51]

Hello everyone, new guy here looking for advice.

I live in Minnesota and am helping a friend who lives in California manage his 44 acre horse stable west of Minneapolis. He had to fire his current managers for several reasons, equipment non-maintenance being one of them.

The previous manager purchased a 2002 Model 863 Bobcat for the farm. It is used for manure handling and to move snow around. There are currently 9 horses on the farm. This 75 hp machine seems too big for the job at hand.

I have located a Model 610 with a 30hp Wisconsin air-cooled engine. This seems to be a more appropriate size, and the extra money from buying down would really be handy to get some of the other equipment fixed.

Questions:
1. Is the 610 big enough?
2. How reliable is the Wisconsin engine? Had them on combines back in the 60's and they seemed to run forever.
3. Any other thoughts?

Mark

 

[Duffster]

Hello everyone, new guy here looking for advice.

I live in Minnesota and am helping a friend who lives in California manage his 44 acre horse stable west of Minneapolis. He had to fire his current managers for several reasons, equipment non-maintenance being one of them.

The previous manager purchased a 2002 Model 863 Bobcat for the farm. It is used for manure handling and to move snow around. There are currently 9 horses on the farm. This 75 hp machine seems too big for the job at hand.

I have located a Model 610 with a 30hp Wisconsin air-cooled engine. This seems to be a more appropriate size, and the extra money from buying down would really be handy to get some of the other equipment fixed.

Questions:
1. Is the 610 big enough?
2. How reliable is the Wisconsin engine? Had them on combines back in the 60's and they seemed to run forever.
3. Any other thoughts?

Mark

Run the 863 for a while. You will get used to it. The 863 is a bit big for it's ability but you will find that you want every bit of that ability before long. SS's are never big enough. I wouldn't even consider something the size or vintage of a 610. Especially being gas.

 

[20 20]

I have to agree with Duffster 100% on this one. It would be like trading in the farm tractor for a homedepot riding lawn mower.

 

[mtk51]

Thanks for the input.

It's paid for and certainly is a very capable machine. We'll keep it.

Fortuna Farm - Long Lake, MN

 

[mtk51]

Just a quick update.

Had a mechanic look over the BobCat and he came up with about $2000 of required repair and maintenance. Loader bushings are shot, drive has never been adjusted, way overdue for filters, desperatly needs two more tires, etc.

Since the farm is already a losing operation, I have decided to trade it off to a local equipment jockey for a 1968 Ford 3000 with a 3-point and full hydraulic bucket and a newly restored Farmall H. We also buy our hay from him, so he will throw in some hay on the deal also. He has a good reputation for standing behind his equipment.

Seems to be the quickest and cheapest route to go at this time. We currently don't have a tractor that can haul the manure spreader. The Farmall should do just fine at that. The Ford will handle the Woods mower this summer and the loader will have to take over manure handling and snow moving. I've got my eye on a 3-point mounted snow blower for $600. Hope to get down and see it this weekend.

Going to miss the BobCat for moving snow.

 

[20 20]

good luck with the new venture. I often think about trading something that needs repairs for another used machine, but then I figure how many repairs will the {new} used machine need????