Looking to buy a tractor strictly for bush hogging

[RollingsFarms]

I've decided my farm needs a tractor STRICTLY for bush hogging. The day I find what I'm looking for, I will bring it home, hook it to the bush hog, and that will be it's life forever. This puts me in the used market, something from the 60's, 70's, 80's and MAYBE early 90's(although the few early 90's I've come accross at the price I'm looking to spend look pretty beat to you know what.). Make doesn't matter...well I take that back, yes it does. I want something I can get parts for so I've been thinking of sticking with John Deere, Massey Ferguson, Ford/early model NH....something like that. She don't hafta be pretty, but she don't need to be junk either.

I NEED independant pto, live is not a consideration, btdt got the t-shirt. 2wd is all I need, transmission really doesn't matter(or maybe it does, someone help me out??). The tractor needs to be at LEAST 40 pto hp to run my John Deere MX6. I don't mind going bigger, but i know I won't need a 70 pto hp tractor. I also might get rid of the MX6 and try to find me a Bush Hog brand 6' cutter, haven't decided yet. Maybe I can get lucky and find a good tractor that comes with a decent bush hog? never know.

what I'm willing to spend, I've set a maximum of $11,000....I figure that would get me what I'm looking for after searching through various places and comparing prices. What I need to know is are there any specific models I need to be looking at that would make a good bush hog only tractor?

 

[dusty3030]

JD 2155 with a canopy would be a nice one in your budget.
Heavy built, can handle cat 2 stuff, strong 3pt lift, easy on fuel, and parts still available from JD.

 

[RollingsFarms]

JD 2155 with a canopy would be a nice one in your budget.
Heavy built, can handle cat 2 stuff, strong 3pt lift, easy on fuel, and parts still available from JD.

that's one of the models i've had in mind but man are they tough to find. when you find one they don't seem to last long. there is one in SC not but a couple hours from me i'm going to look at. looks to be in REAL good shape but has turf tires on it and car looking tires on the front.

 

[slowzuki]

Ford 5610, 6610 etc. Case/IH 585 or 685. Not a fan of the JD's in that age. Used silly amount of fuel compared to other brands. Frequently see Kubota M6800's in that price range, great little utility tractor.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Ford 5610, 6610 etc. Case/IH 585 or 685. Not a fan of the JD's in that age. Used silly amount of fuel compared to other brands. Frequently see Kubota M6800's in that price range, great little utility tractor.

i'm deffinatley keeping an eye out for a Ford 3610, 4610, 5610, 6610 but haven't found any close yet. the Kubota 6800's are tough to find in 2wd and no cab or loader. i'm not familiar with the Case IH 585/685 but i will do some research on them, forgot about adding Case IH to the list.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

You're in the right price range for a NICE Deere 2440. They're rated at 60hp pto, but that's wound out WFO screaming.....@ 540 rpm on the pto, you're looking at something more like 1800rpm engine speed where you'll more likely get something like 53 or 54 hp pto....

They were built from 1977 (as '78 models) to mid 1982. '80 to 82 models were built in Mannhiem Germany. Earlier ones were built in Dubuque Iowa. Early models were for the most part a 2030 with different decals.

I've got a 2440 and a 2640. Had the 2440 since new. Good tractor overall, IPTO, 4X2 tranny, They were offered with several tranny options including a 4X2x2 shift on the fly hi/lo. I'd avoid that one from all I've heard. 219 cu in diesel 4-cylinder.

I've seen a few low to average hour 2440's in the $8000+ range, mint condition above $10,000.

Beyond that, I'd look for 255/265 Masseys, 4000 series Fords, 574 IH...all of which can typically be had for less than the Deere's of that size.

 

[JiminGa]

there's a JD 5103 on machinefinder in Madison Ga for $10900, that'll fit the bill nicely and it ain't very old at all.

 

[RollingsFarms]

You're in the right price range for a NICE Deere 2440. They're rated at 60hp pto, but that's wound out WFO screaming.....@ 540 rpm on the pto, you're looking at something more like 1800rpm engine speed where you'll more likely get something like 53 or 54 hp pto....

They were built from 1977 (as '78 models) to mid 1982. '80 to 82 models were built in Mannhiem Germany. Earlier ones were built in Dubuque Iowa. Early models were for the most part a 2030 with different decals.

I've got a 2440 and a 2640. Had the 2440 since new. Good tractor overall, IPTO, 4X2 tranny, They were offered with several tranny options including a 4X2x2 shift on the fly hi/lo. I'd avoid that one from all I've heard. 219 cu in diesel 4-cylinder.

I've seen a few low to average hour 2440's in the $8000+ range, mint condition above $10,000.

Beyond that, I'd look for 255/265 Masseys, 4000 series Fords, 574 IH...all of which can typically be had for less than the Deere's of that size.

the 2440 was on my short list as far is Deere goes, but i remembered your comments about how loud the engine was...that it was one of the loudest diesels you'd ever been around on a tractor. didn't know if that would be something that would be a negative as far as making it a good bush hogging tractor or not. i know how much more you said you liked the 2640 over the 2440 too(or so i thought i remembered you saying once before). what are your thoughts on a 2155, '89 model??

there are a couple MF's close to me i plan on going to look at as well. one is a newer model 533 that can be had for around $10,000 and it only has 192 or so hours on it, and the other is a 245 i believe, but the price is the same as the 533.

the older Fords are tough to come by around here, you just don't see many but i have kept my eyes and ears open for a good'n. same with the older IH utility tractors. tough tough tough to find in this area. finding one that's in good shape is even tougher to find. theres an IH 574 for sale near me with a bush hog but noth are slap worn out. the guy selling it even admits that it's being sold as a "fixer upper". at $4,500 i can see why.

if you happen to come accross a good deal for a tractor you think would fit the bill please shoot me an email.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

the 2440 was on my short list as far is Deere goes, but i remembered your comments about how loud the engine was...that it was one of the loudest diesels you'd ever been around on a tractor. didn't know if that would be something that would be a negative as far as making it a good bush hogging tractor or not. i know how much more you said you liked the 2640 over the 2440 too(or so i thought i remembered you saying once before). what are your thoughts on a 2155, '89 model??

there are a couple MF's close to me i plan on going to look at as well. one is a newer model 533 that can be had for around $10,000 and it only has 500 or so hours on it, and the other is a 245 i believe, but the price is the same as the 533.

the older Fords are tough to come by around here, you just don't see many but i have kept my eyes and ears open for a good'n. same with the older IH utility tractors. tough tough tough to find in this area. finding one that's in good shape is even tougher to find. theres an IH 574 for sale near me with a bush hog but noth are slap worn out. the guy selling it even admits that it's being sold as a "fixer upper". at $4,500 i can see why.

if you happen to come accross a good deal for a tractor you think would fit the bill please shoot me an email.

Wear noise reduction earphones.... She is a loud one though.

I like the 2640 because of....MORE POWER!

Never been around a 2155. Did run a 2555. Good tractor....

500 series Masseys are a good tractor. Avoid 400 series like the plague.

And there's a 5103 w/ loader and MX7 mower on Louisville Craigslist now for $8000. But I'm fairly certain it's a scammer.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Wear noise reduction earphones.... She is a loud one though.

I like the 2640 because of....MORE POWER!

Never been around a 2155. Did run a 2555. Good tractor....

500 series Masseys are a good tractor. Avoid 400 series like the plague.

And there's a 5103 w/ loader and MX7 mower on Louisville Craigslist now for $8000. But I'm fairly certain it's a scammer.

will do if i come accross a 2440 or a 2640. i'll make sure they knock off enough so i can buy some noise reduction earphones:thumbsup:

there was a decent looking 2155 about 2 hours from me that i was thinking of going to look at that's why i asked about it.

that 533 MF is really nice and in the pics it has a bush hog attatched to it, i'll have to ask if that's part of the deal or not. still a good price for such a new low hour tractor though.

that Craigslist has to be a scam because a 5103 w/ fel here is going for 12,000 right now.