New(er) or old?

[Buckeyeguy]

My wife and I are moving to about 6 acres, and I am trying to decide on a tractor for light use (working the land, manure spreading, etc.) I am leaning towards a 9N or Ferguson TO-20. I know my way around tractors in general (my grandfather had a Ferguson for years and I learned a lot about it). The land is flat, so I don't need 4wd, and I don't need a diesel. Ideally, I want something that is affordable and relatively cheap to operate. I can handle most repairs myself, so older doesn't bother me. The one thing we will need is a loader. I seem to remember reading something about a non-hydraulic loader for older tractors, or maybe I imagined it? Anyone have any info about that or where to look?
Any advice is welcome - should we go with older and cheaper or spend a little more for a newer tractor with a loader (or at least one that is a quick-attach)?
Thanks - Jeff

 

[Farmwithjunk]

My wife and I are moving to about 6 acres, and I am trying to decide on a tractor for light use (working the land, manure spreading, etc.) I am leaning towards a 9N or Ferguson TO-20. I know my way around tractors in general (my grandfather had a Ferguson for years and I learned a lot about it). The land is flat, so I don't need 4wd, and I don't need a diesel. Ideally, I want something that is affordable and relatively cheap to operate. I can handle most repairs myself, so older doesn't bother me. The one thing we will need is a loader. I seem to remember reading something about a non-hydraulic loader for older tractors, or maybe I imagined it? Anyone have any info about that or where to look?
Any advice is welcome - should we go with older and cheaper or spend a little more for a newer tractor with a loader (or at least one that is a quick-attach)?
Thanks - Jeff

There's something about old tractors. Once you've been around them, you have to have one of your own. (or maybe 12) They'll handle chores just like a new one. I've got 5 old ones myself.

There's something about a new tractor. 2 of my old ones were new when I bought them.

4WD, on a loader tractor especially, is a nice option even on flat ground. Better use of power and weight.

Now there's a 3rd option. Get a NEW one and an OLD one BOTH!

 

[flusher]

My wife and I are moving to about 6 acres, and I am trying to decide on a tractor for light use (working the land, manure spreading, etc.) I am leaning towards a 9N or Ferguson TO-20. I know my way around tractors in general (my grandfather had a Ferguson for years and I learned a lot about it). The land is flat, so I don't need 4wd, and I don't need a diesel. Ideally, I want something that is affordable and relatively cheap to operate. I can handle most repairs myself, so older doesn't bother me. The one thing we will need is a loader. I seem to remember reading something about a non-hydraulic loader for older tractors, or maybe I imagined it? Anyone have any info about that or where to look?
Any advice is welcome - should we go with older and cheaper or spend a little more for a newer tractor with a loader (or at least one that is a quick-attach)?
Thanks - Jeff

9N and TO-20 are good choices. You may be able to find one with a single arm bucket.

Also consider something like a Yanmar 1500 with a Koyker loader. Those sell for $6-7K

 

[john_bud]

I would move up to the hundred series or even the thousand series ford tractors. You will gain live hydraulics, maybe live PTO (depends on transmission), power steering, locking differential (3 cyl thousand series) and more. Price will be from a couple grand to 7500. Depends on age, condition, options and location. Auctions are a good place to cruise.

jb

 

[roxynoodle]

I've never seen a fully hydraulic loader on a 9N. Doesn't mean they don't exist, but I haven't seen one. That was what steered me away from the old tractors when I was looking for one with a loader. I also have a Yanmar with a loader and it does a great job for me. It is 4wd though. In 2wd it gets stuck pretty easily. I also caught the old tractor bug and bought a Farmall H last week for pulling my manure spreader. If you are going to pull the spreader with the same tractor used for loading it, I would probably go bigger than a 1500 if you decide to look at a Yanmar. A 2210 would be perfect, nice size tractor with powershift.

 

[ovrszd]

My wife and I are moving to about 6 acres, and I am trying to decide on a tractor for light use (working the land, manure spreading, etc.) I am leaning towards a 9N or Ferguson TO-20. I know my way around tractors in general (my grandfather had a Ferguson for years and I learned a lot about it). The land is flat, so I don't need 4wd, and I don't need a diesel. Ideally, I want something that is affordable and relatively cheap to operate. I can handle most repairs myself, so older doesn't bother me. The one thing we will need is a loader. I seem to remember reading something about a non-hydraulic loader for older tractors, or maybe I imagined it? Anyone have any info about that or where to look?
Any advice is welcome - should we go with older and cheaper or spend a little more for a newer tractor with a loader (or at least one that is a quick-attach)?
Thanks - Jeff

Maybe commit to a dollar figure so these folks know what you mean by "spend a little more".

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I am leaning towards a 9N or Ferguson TO-20. I know my way around tractors in general (my grandfather had a Ferguson for years and I learned a lot about it). The land is flat, so I don't need 4wd, and I don't need a diesel. Ideally, I want something that is affordable and relatively cheap to operate. I can handle most repairs myself, so older doesn't bother me. The one thing we will need is a loader. I seem to remember reading something about a non-hydraulic loader for older tractors, or maybe I imagined it? Thanks - Jeff

TO-20s and Nseries Fords didn't come with power steering....If you want a loader look for a tractor that has PS, other wise you'll really wish you had....The non-hydraulic loader on an N or Ferguson was probably the "trip bucket" type, ie. used hyd to lift loader buck up buck had mechanical trip to dump the bucket as you will have no "curl" feature. Find a good 4 or 5 series International (diesel or gas). Has live hyd and live PTO and PS. Probably in the $4-6K range for good ones. Good Luck...Bobg in VA

 

[Soundguy]

For usually only hundreds more than a 8 or 9n, get a hundred series.. preferably a *6* model. For instance.. a 660.. it will have live pto. Sometimes you find factory ps on the 600 series.. it was an option.. but not as popular. Dump another couple hundred bucks into the budget and look for an 01 series.. like a 661, 861.. etc.. Still live pto.. and more likely to have PS.

The hundred series could tote a loader better.. and it was more likely to be a hyd loader.. whether by a front stinger pump.. or from thractor's engine mounted pump, and a aux tap on the hyd top cover. Sometimes you get lucky and the laoder is a stinger front pump, AND there is an aux hyd spool tap / remotes on the top cover. ( the ford 722 1-arm hyd laoder on my ford 660 uses 2 spool valves onthe top cover for laoder controlls.. but with loader not installed.. they make for a good 4gpm da and sa remote..

Again.. another few hundred and you get to the thousand series.. a 4cyl 2000/4000 from 62-64 is just an update of the 6x1 and 8x1.. try to find a 65+ 3 cyl model.. 8spd tranny and independent pto and ps.. etc.

Soundguy

My wife and I are moving to about 6 acres, and I am trying to decide on a tractor for light use (working the land, manure spreading, etc.) I am leaning towards a 9N or Ferguson TO-20. I know my way around tractors in general (my grandfather had a Ferguson for years and I learned a lot about it). The land is flat, so I don't need 4wd, and I don't need a diesel. Ideally, I want something that is affordable and relatively cheap to operate. I can handle most repairs myself, so older doesn't bother me. The one thing we will need is a loader. I seem to remember reading something about a non-hydraulic loader for older tractors, or maybe I imagined it? Anyone have any info about that or where to look?
Any advice is welcome - should we go with older and cheaper or spend a little more for a newer tractor with a loader (or at least one that is a quick-attach)?
Thanks - Jeff

 

[Agro-oti]

I'd tend to agree with the consenus,look newer with power steering. Check out the David Browns (very underated tractors over here),Case 430,530, Massey 35,50,65 etc.,Allis Chalmers D series,along with the others already mentioned.

 

[daTeacha]

Most folks around here don't think of the N series Fords as good loader tractors. I had one and could barely steer it with the bucket empty. The loader was run by a hydro pump mounted on the front of the tractor and the loader arms pretty much made it impossible to get on or off the tractor any way but over the 3 point. There was no ROPS to go with the Dearborn loader, either, which made me more than a little edgy on my hilly ground.

However, if you're determined to have an N series with loader, there was a Dearborn (nee Ford) loader made to fit them. I don't know how hard it would be to find one now. I sold mine at an auction (separate from the tractor) for $900. Got $1800 for the tractor at the same sale. Taking the loader off the tractor was a major operation involving making an A-frame structure to hold the thing up and driving out from under it.

If you need a loader, do yourself a favor and consider a tractor that was intended to carry one. Power steering, stronger front end parts, etc. are something you might regret not having. On the other hand, will a 3 point scoop work for you?