Tale of 2 Tractors

tessiers · Apr 20, 2015

Was looking for a 60 to 70 hp tractor for our small haying operation, didn't really need the hp, just the weight. I have a couple of smaller tractors but they are working to their limit with the haybine and I can't haul a wagon behind the baler. They will be used for raking and tedding. I found 2 local that were in my budget (I don't want to borrow money).

First was a 3020 JD diesel, jungle shift, hours not known, working condition from a friend of the family. If I had one complaint it would be rear tires were poor. He's had it a few years, motor is pretty tight, everything works as it should. 2 rear remotes, filled rears, weights on front. $3000 cash

Second one was a 5000 Ford Gas, 8 speed standard shift, I never did check the hours. Decent tires, motor sounds good, everything works. 1 rear remote, filled rears, and 6' bush hog. $3500

Long story longer, I bought the 3020 about a week ago. The owner of the 5000 stopped in this weekend, and asked if I was still interested, I gave him the old no money spiel, and told him I chose the diesel. He asked If I was interested in bartering, he wants a garage built and my family are all carpenters. We ended up shaking hands, I gotta build a 28x32 garage, for the tractor, he pours the slab and buys all materials.

So if anyone has any advice on either a 3020 Deere or a 5000 Ford, I would like to hear it good bad or indifferent. We will be pulling a 9' haybine, small square baler, or 6' flail chopper for green feed. Actually having 2 will be awesome when I need to hay and chop green feed at the same time.

oldnslo · Apr 20, 2015

Both darn good old tractors. The 5000 Gas will be much easier starting in the winter but will suck gas if being used hard.

Ford shift pattern is easier to get loads moving since you can go from 5th through 8th gear. The 3020 jungle shift is usually very difficult to get from 4th -7th to 6th - 8th with out grinding.

3020 I believe is also a little less prone to lofting the nose when using the 3 point hitch.

On our 5000 Ford the PTO brake was wore out so the PTO didn't stop turning with out a load on it. Reasonably simple fix just never was enough of a concern to take the time to repair it.

rankrank1 · Apr 21, 2015

Both are well respected tractors. I would say you done real good.

The Deere diesel sounds like a bargain even with worn tires, but better yet you know some of its history too. Really for haying massive amounts of tread on tires are rarely needed so if the tire casings themselves are good then I would not fear using em as is. I would like to find me a decent Deere like that for that bargain price of money. If I had to get nit pickey I do not personally care for the exhaust sound of the 3020's with certain mufflers as they can sound goofy but a muffler change would likely fix that. Also the crankshaft counterbalancers can be an issue if not serviced properly on rebuilds and some parts for the balancer can be scarce, but other than that I think this will be a fine haying tractor.

The Ford is a fine tractor too. Rock solid simple yet timeless design. Many consider the 5000 model the best tractor Ford ever built. Although most prefer the diesel; I would not fear the gasser. The gasser will likely never have the block cavitation problems that the Ford diesels of that era were known for.

When do we get to see pics?

tessiers · Apr 24, 2015

rankrank1 · Apr 25, 2015

Looks someone already may have changed that muffler on that 3020 looking to improve the goofy exhaust tone they sometimes do have or simply opted for a cheaper replacement when needed. I was thinking all 3020's had oval mufflers but I could be wrong on that. If it sounds good though I would keep that muffler.

No chance that Deere is a 3010 is there? Round muffler, repainted stenciled decals that are not orig would have me checking the original serial tag to confirm as well as some casting numbers to insure that a hybrid tractor has not been made which would not be a huge deal really.

Looks like someone put a cherry bomb as a muffler on the Ford. I mowed one summer fresh out of high school on a little Ford 2000 with a flail mower on the rear of it for most of the summer with a cherry bomb on it. It was too loud. The next year after I left (only a summer job for me while in college) when one of the veterans had to run the tractor the muffler got replaced with an original since I was no longer there.

I believe the Deere will end up being your favorite, but the Ford 5000 is a heck of a tractor too.

Thanks for the pics and I still think you done good. I certainly would volunteer for some seat time on that Deere or even the Ford if you only lived a little closer to SW Ohio....

yanmars · Apr 25, 2015

After you use each for awhile you will have a favorite. You should be able to use both for a number of years and lose money on neither.

foreman Etexas · Apr 25, 2015

tessiers said:
View attachment 422212 View attachment 422213

I liked my Ford 3000 gas tractor,it's where I learned not to put the spark plug wire on the coil with it running. I let my uncle have it,until later date.
Do I see a 5 tractor count in the pic with JD in it?

tessiers · Apr 26, 2015

foreman Etexas said:
I liked my Ford 3000 gas tractor,it's where I learned not to put the spark plug wire on the coil with it running. I let my uncle have it,until later date.
Do I see a 5 tractor count in the pic with JD in it?

Yes, 5 there, plus a MC crawler, and Thomas Skid Steer not in pics. They actually go in a shed in winter, but we take them out for Maine Maple Sunday, kids like tractors. The 3020, 5000, 1970 Massey 135 diesel, 1953 Ford NAA, and the bastard child 2005 JD 790. Only new tractor I ever bought and the last I hope. Why would I want a new tractor when I could have 2 or 3 old ones?

According to the serial number JD is a 67' 3020, I never considered what it sounds like, if it pulls I'm happy. It is a cherry bomb on the Ford, I was thinking on the drive home that ain't gonna work.

Tx Jim · Apr 26, 2015

tessiers
If you're not going to till the soil the tires on the 3020 will last a long time in the hay field. I've been raking hay with a 6700 Ford tractor for yrs that the rear tires look worse than the JD rear tires. I think $3K for the 3020 is cheap power

foreman Etexas · Apr 26, 2015

tessiers said:
Yes, 5 there, plus a MC crawler, and Thomas Skid Steer not in pics. They actually go in a shed in winter, but we take them out for Maine Maple Sunday, kids like tractors. The 3020, 5000, 1970 Massey 135 diesel, 1953 Ford NAA, and the bastard child 2005 JD 790. Only new tractor I ever bought and the last I hope. Why would I want a new tractor when I could have 2 or 3 old ones?

According to the serial number JD is a 67' 3020, I never considered what it sounds like, if it pulls I'm happy. It is a cherry bomb on the Ford, I was thinking on the drive home that ain't gonna work.

Yeah the cherry bomb may get old after several hours running it. I would own 10 tractors if my wife would let me...