Recommendations for rookie...

[aaroncmh]

Tractorbynet said I had to introduce myself so I'm Aaron and I'm looking for a CUT I suppose but most likely something older. Stared looking at 8Ns then after reading and talking to people maybe moving up to a Ford 600 or 800.
Then I see a Massey 65 that looks nice and more powerful? ha, ha
I really can't believe how many different tractors there are and how many people buy them.

Looking primarily to run a rotary cutter...some sections bi-monthly then other monthly and maybe some twice a year...have to see how it goes (or grows I guess ha, ha). Regular mowing probably not required from this tractor.
Also want to use a blade for snow removal and pull a disc for a mx track.

We were looking at some with loaders that are pretty cool but I guess a loader on a farm tractor isn't always the best idea? However none of it will be my livelihood and it won't be used daily or anything. We (me and my father-in-law are going to share it) are looking for a reliable tractor to do some work and because they look fun and are pretty cool.

And lastly we are on a budget...hoping to stay under $4K or so (not necessarily for the hog and blade too).

Thanks looking forward to hearing all the expert opinions...I'm guessing I'll be more confused after I read about all the new options. ha, ha
I've never had acreage or a tractor before so I'm learning.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[johnrex62]

Tell us a little about the acreage, how much, flat or hilly, type of cover; grass or brush, tall or short, thick or thin, rocky, etc.

The more we know about what you want to do with the tractor, the better suggestions you will get on what to look for and what to avoid.

We have tons of members with even more tons of experience and three times as many opinions. I am sure you will get some advice, welcome or not. :laughing:

 

[mmurphy]

Welcome, Aaron. I love my 8n as a toy but, winter time 3 PH a little slow. I have a loader on mine, that makes it awful hard to steer unless moving, then puts to much weight on front giving less traction. If you do not need loader it would probably work just fine. If you are going to mow with it they do not have live PTO, so a over run adapter stuck on would be a good idea. That will be results for a lot of the older tractors too, so do take time to search ideas of what you can live with and or not. Also think about hydraulic remotes for other possibilities.

 

[MarkV]

As John said your needs and experience have a lot to do with what is going to work well for you. I think you are a bit tight on the budget to get what is going to meet your needs, as I understand then now. A loader is never a bad thing if you don't have other equipment to move materials.

MarkV

 

[k0ua]

Well here come the opinions:laughing: I started out just like you. wanted to spend about $4000, could not find anything locally. did not know for sure what I wanted.. I wanted to mow about 7 acres. wound up with a Long 2360 new, at $9000. financed it, paid it off and traded up to a new New Holland 4 wheel drive, Hydrostat transmission with a nice loader.. Financed it too:laughing: Here is what I have learned.. good used tractors are hard to find, if they are really good, most people dont let go of them. of course there are exceptions. someone dies etc. but in general you can buy new for not much more than you can buy good used tractors. You were probably confused about some of the terms. like "live power" or position control or overrunning clutch etc. without explaining each of these things, lets just say there have been many many innovations in the tractor world since the 8N was the hot setup. The loader is one of those things you did not have a need for until you get one. Then you use it every day. Think of it as the worlds handiest wheelbarrow. (it dices it slices, it makes supper!) You will find a new use for it every day, if you have a place to maintain. Things you do with it just don't get done any other way because they are too hard to do. Then to top it all off, you become addicted to using the tractor and reading about them and all the mechanical things that go with them:thumbsup: and then you wind up here for your "tractor fix" where you spend the day in the hydraulic section learning more about "power beyond" and control valve stacks.. yes my friend, this is how it begins, I haven't found the end yet 4 tractors later. I am sorry for the length of the post. Good luck
James K0UA

 

[aaroncmh]

k0ua, I've already seen it happening...started with the 8N and like you said the more I read and the more I look the more money I want to spend. And I can rationalize any purchase. Its a bad habit I did it 3 times with motocross bikes - start out looking at nice used ones and end up getting a Kawasaki card and a new KX.

And yes I think the loader would be great...especially on a newer tractor. I went to a new friends place today and he recommends a Ford 800 (which can be had for $4K). Especially over the N series...1000 bucks more and twice the tractor he says...meanwhile he has a sa-weet Ford 3910 in the garage that looks brand new and has a 7 1/2' "Woods" finish mower attached. ha, ha

Oh yeah, the land is not hilly but it gently and nicely rolls in the back. The untouched section isn't all that thick and it appears to kind of reach a ceiling height. It appears too that most of it could be knocked down with the bush hog except for a couple of weeds that turned into trees. In the very back of the property there is a ravine and trees...not planning to do anything there.

Thanks for any reply...can't wait to get started.

 

[k0ua]

Sounds good, especially the gentle rolling, around here if you want a flat place to stand, you have to make it (with your front end loader:laughing . Well anyway good luck. And I bet if you do get a tractor it wont be your last one. You start down this road and there is no escape from the "dark side" But in all seriousness you will get a lot of use and enjoyment from it. There is nothing like mowing with your tractor in a field to make you forget the stress of work.
Good luck my friend.
James K0UA