Little Grey Fergies/Massey 35/135 for vegetable farming

[Tbolt76]

I'd like to know if anyone is using little grey fergies (TO-20,30,35) or Massey Ferguson 35/135's for farming veggies. Specifically, I'm wanting to know what size disc you might be using, and I'm assuming you are pulling a 2 bottom plow. Also, is anyone cultivating with them as well, and what crops. I'm curious to know if anyone has spread out the wheel track for 2 row, row crop style cultivating. Are they any limitations for these tractors beyond the obvious? Anyone using them to creep along using a transplanter, can you turn down the idle enough to do that in 1st gear. Gas vs. diesel, any differences? I've seen some YouTube videos of guys in England using them for a good range of stuff. Thanks in advance.
Tom in NC

 

[jeff9366]

You can adjust both front and rear wheel width on a 2-WD Ferguson. (All Ferguson's were 2-WD)

On 4-WD drive tractors the front wheels lose the width adjustment but rears should adjust.

You need to research the PTO arrangements on tractors of this vintage. Not nearly as simple to use as today's PTOs.

The key metrics for Three Point Hitch mounted Disc Harrows are: Pan diameter and pan spacing. Here is all you ever need to know about selecting Three Point Hitch Disc Harrows: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/308251-disc-harrow-selection-18-45-a.html?highlight=

Diesel tractors have torque better suited to tractor applications than gas engines. Diesel tractors use 1/3 the fuel of same size gas tractors.

I have no experience with Massey 35/135 but from reading on TBN parts probably more available for the Massey-Ferguson 35/135, compared to "orphan" Ferguson.

No power steering on Fergusons.

Not too many Fergusons were built in Detroit or imported into the USA. Parts may be difficult. Parts probably good in Britain, but are the parts interchangeable?

 

[Tbolt76]

Jeff9366,
Good info, thanks for your thoughts. I liked the write up on disc harrows, well done. I'm hoping someone will chime in about parts availability on the older Ferguson "orphans". Seems to me later Massey's 135/235/240's shouldn't be much of a problem getting parts from, even if you have to go to the dealer.
Tom

 

[Tompet]

I have a TO20 that was from farm my dad grew up on...still putts along. They have no problem pulling a two bottom plow or 6' disk. It used to pull an 8' that was left out in the field which it didn't need to transport it very far, but it transports the 6' fine. They were built to pull which they do very well.

The TO's run too fast for tiller use and if using a brushhog you need an overrunning clutch which is about $50. The 35's (different than TO35) and 135's would be a little better as some had two stage clutch etc. it's pretty easy to find all the statistical differences of these models online. The TO20 steers very easy without power steering.

Just about every part is readily available for all the models you listed.

You're right in England they seem to be quite popular. There is a JohnUK online in another tractor forum that wrote a series of papers on the TO models that were really impressive. One in particular I used was on brushhog setup. Many people think you need limiter chains ore "Zane thing" to operate a brush hog with these models. What the paper outlined was using a fixed head (or drill hole and bolt on newer flex head type), and using the draft control of the 3 point to follow the contours of the land. Worked great.

Good luck on your search.