Farm tractor models to avoid

[bill in ny]

that was the point i was trying to make to duffster.

 

[RickB]

I guess I should have made it clear that you have to know what your talking about and not post something you read on the back of a bathroom urinal. IH made some really good models and so did MF not sure why you two posted what you did. I was hoping to make this a serious thread to help people and not have people who didn't know what they were talking about or were biased towards a particular brand post. Next think all green, blue, and red tractors are junk. Thanks.

It is impossible to post a question like that and get meaningful information. For every brand and model with significant flaws, there will be dozens if not hundreds of satisfied owners. I have read responses in similar threads of content owners of John Deere 1010's and 2010's for Pete's sake. There are probably thousands of Allis Chalmers tractors that won't stay in third gear due to in inherent weakness and intolerance to gear grinding, but if you happen to have Persian Orange in your veins, it's just an inconvenience. You reap what you sow. Whatever your intentions were in starting this thread, the predictable result was brand bashing.

 

[Duffster]

I guess I should have made it clear that you have to know what your talking about and not post something you read on the back of a bathroom urinal. IH made some really good models and so did MF not sure why you two posted what you did. I was hoping to make this a serious thread to help people and not have people who didn't know what they were talking about or were biased towards a particular brand post. Next think all green, blue, and red tractors are junk. Thanks.

that was the point i was trying to make to duffster.

Wow, did either one of you see the just kidding part at the bottom?

 

[bje0003]

In the 80's Massey Ferguson went from the 1100 series tractors (which by the way are great tractors) to the 2000 series. The Perkins engines in the 1100 series were great, except in the 1085 which were bad to blow head gaskets due to a lack of bolts. Once Massey switched over to those square cab 2000 series tractors they started having problems due to bad parts in the 24 speed power shift transmission. The 2000 series were still equipped with the reliable Perkins engines but had ALOT of problems with the transmissions. The seals need replacing every couple of years in the powershift transmission. From personal experience I have found that pound for pound the 135 massey ferguson is an extremely strong tractor and gives very few problems. It also has a fantastic draft control for cultivating and moldboard plowing operations.

 

[beersngars]

I have heard to run from Belarus tractors. Poor reliability and parts are a problem.

 

[Tractor Shopper]

Well I can honestly say I know very little about Belarus tractors but my neighbour growing up has a 75hp which I'm guessing is a early 90's model and it has been a terriffic tractor. He has a few large plowing contracts as well the tractor always worked on the highways bush hogging (so lots of hours year round) and doing everything you can imagine in between this tractor would have a tonne of hours on it. Just guessing but 12 to 15 thousand hours would not be a stretch for this machine and the only thing i could say bad about it would be that it probably rusted out worst than a Deere or a Ford of the same year would have.

I can also say that the operator of this tractor was exceptional so this would make the tractor look alot better than some and all maintenaince would have been keep up top notch.

I'm surley not saying that Belarus tractors are the greatest tractor out there but this particular tractor was a very good one, it had the advantage of great maint. and a very good operator but on the other hand I just bought a new McCormick and if it turns out to be be half the tractor I'll be very happy.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

I agree with the anything with IH on it Now for the reason, I've got a IH 2544 industrial myself and 90% of the time when I go to get parts for it the dealer gives me the old "no part available" line and I end up needing to search out a heavily used 1970 part for my tractor that is selling for twice the price of a new one If only I could somebody who wanted a big old tractor that wanted to trade a compact for it

All that said the IH 2544 is a very dependable tractor, -20 degrees you go out and tap the starter with that tractor sitting outside and it fires right up, I've yet to see a day when I've struggled to start it. It's the best running engine I've ever had, compared to my father's 2009 Kubota that sounds like a dying critter when it starts, the sounds that come out of that little diesel are enough to make you cringe Obviously the Kubota is an excellent machine it just sounds scary on startup

 

[rtimgray]

I've always heard that the older Ford tractors with the SOS "Select-O-Speed" transmission were poor choices. We have a Ford 5000 with SOS that we used for years cutting hay and never had any problems (except for the power steering).

It was a gas engine, and I will definately agree with the earlier poster that the older large gas tractors develop quite an appetite for the $3.00 (or more)/gallon fuel. Ever since we got our DK55, the Ford 5000 has been parked.

I also had a JD 2010 backhoe for a while and the "mystery shift" transmission on it did not work very well.

An I had a Belarus 420AN - a rugged tractor, horrible electrical system, very heavy, no dealer support but finding parts was never a problem. The problem was half the time when I got the parts, they were already broken and they were quite expensive.

Hmmmm - Ford 5000 SOS, JD 2010, Belarus.....I must be a slow learner.

Take care.

 

[Chuck_Lind]

In all fairness, each manufacturer has one model they wished they didn't produce; whether it be IH, John Deere, MF, New Holland....any of them.
Same with automobile manufacturers...with one exception: The Yugo..they were ALL bad.

 

[bjr]

I met a fellow that had worked in a equipment rental place and he said they'd stopped buying Kabota machinery because of replacement part prices. I've stayed away from Kabota for that reason. I've owned a couple of older Fords and found parts getting spendy for them as well. The current tractor is a Chinese Jinma and haven't needed any parts in the the six years I've owned except some lug nuts which I ordered online no lug nuts from any of the local big tractor dealer would fit. That's the experience from me. bjr