New to tractors and forum

[64impala]

Hi All

As the title states, COMPLETE NOOB when it comes to tractors. This is my situation. I've got 20 acres, currently rented about 10-12 to the BIL for farming/hay for his ponies. I've looking for a smaller tractor with a FEL to help with general property maintenance, and the occasional big snow drift that my ATV plow can't handle. As such, I don't need a huge tractor, I also don'thave a huge budget. ( approx $ 5000)

I've got some specific items that I would like to run on my tractor:
Tiller
Woodchipper
Pellet mill
FEL

I've been watching Craigslist in my area and found a couple of tractors and looking for advice.

The first is a Ford 8N (asking 3200) with a FEL (superior brand) with a homemade counter weight on the hitch. Looks like a 55 gallon drum filled with concrete. The second is a MF 135 gas (asking 4000) but no FEL.

I really like the price of the 8N, a little light on the HP for my needs but it has the FEL. My concern is the lifting capacity of the hitch. I want to run a PTO pellet mill and they can be pretty heavy as well as a PTO wood chipper. From the pics on the posting, it appears (outwardly at least) to be well maintained.

The MF has considerably more snort and hitch capacity, but no FEL. I'm actually leaning more towards this tractor but can't find any info on putting a FEL on this tractor. Can it be done? Does anyone have an approximate cost? As with the 8N, it appears from the pictures on the posting that it is well maintained.

The other thing is that they are both transmission PTO's. As I understand, this means the PTO is hooked direct to the tranny of the tractor. Can I run implements with this style of PTO if the tractor isn't moving? I know, probably a dumb question, but I am a nooblet 

I appreciate any assistance I can get. Thanks!!

 

[Guesseral]

I would not buy any tractor with a FEL or that I was going to install a FEL unless it had power steering, just my personal opinion. I think the ford is over priced but maybe not, I don't know anything about the MF 135. As far as the PTO yes you can run equipment off the PTO without the tractor moving simply don't put the tractor in gear. The main problem with the direct drive PTO's is that when you are using it and also driving you can not stop the PTO without stopping the tractor. If you are running a brush cutter and you want to stop when you press down the clutch the inertia (or moving mower blades) will continue to move the tractor foreword until the blades stop spinning, this particular problem can be solved with 1 $50 overrun clutch.

 

[murphy1244]

I would not buy any tractor with a FEL or that I was going to install a FEL unless it had power steering, just my personal opinion. I think the ford is over priced but maybe not, I don't know anything about the MF 135. As far as the PTO yes you can run equipment off the PTO without the tractor moving simply don't put the tractor in gear. The main problem with the direct drive PTO's is that when you are using it and also driving you can not stop the PTO without stopping the tractor. If you are running a brush cutter and you want to stop when you press down the clutch the inertia (or moving mower blades) will continue to move the tractor foreword until the blades stop spinning, this particular problem can be solved with 1 $50 overrun clutch.

Or a two stage live clutch like I have on my 135 with PS I bought for 2500.00