tractor recommendation

[roxynoodle]

I am considering buying an old ag tractor for pulling my manure spreader. Right now I'm pulling it with my truck (need my tractor to load it and can't pick it up to hook up to the tractor when it is loaded). It is an old spreader, probably a New Idea from the 50s. I was all set to buy a 1940 Farmall (B I think) from a friend but now he doesn't want to sell it. Someone is selling a Farmall BN for $1100 that isn't too far away. I looked up the BN and saw info that there were only about 1500 of them produced, which makes me think parts would be hard to come by. Someone else is selling a Farmall 300 for $1500. I have not seen either tractor yet. The only use for this tractor would be pulling the spreader and possibly an interesting restoration project for me. Any info anyone can give me would be appreciated. I also saw what appears to be a nice AC on ebay. It is going off today though and is 165 miles away, which doesn't leave me time to go look at it.

 

[MadReferee]

Go take a look at the Red Power forums. All the old IH Farmalls are discussed there. It is a very active forum and those guys can answer just about any question you have about those tractors.

 

[shvl73]

Is there room on the tongue for a trailer jack as a temporary solution for hooking it up to the tractor?

 

[roxynoodle]

I'm not sure, it is the type you pull with a drawbar. This is a picture of it, although maybe I should go out and take a picture of the tongue.

 

[roxynoodle]

As you can see, I keep it propped up on that old can. I use a ball mount without a ball in the hitch on my truck, get lined up best I can and then lift it off the can, kick the can out from under it and pin it. I can do this empty but not full. Once it is attached to the truck, I load it and then spread. I used to have an old truck that I didn't mind using to spread manure but sold that one last year after seeing the post-Katrina gas prices. I really don't like using my newer truck to do it.

 

[Kaliburz]

A crank jack or even a plain old bottle jack would help in hooking things up when loaded....

 

[shvl73]

From the looks of it a trailer jack would easily mount to it. There are different ratings, get one that is at least 2000lb capacity. They have a caster so if you're not perfectly lined up you can nudge it a bit. They also have a swivel with a locking pin to swivel it up out of the way from damage. Cheap $ too. Even if you want another tractor anyway, an inexpensive temporary option.

 

[dgl24087]

Northern Tool has a variety of trailer jacks. Trailer Jacks from Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[mjarrels]

Just buy a drawbar and put between lower lift arms of 3 point. Use by dropping 3 point hitch hooking up spreader, lifting and drive away. A block of wood and drawbar makes it simple. BUT it is nice to have more than one tractor.

mark

 

[shvl73]

Just buy a drawbar and put between lower lift arms of 3 point. Use by dropping 3 point hitch hooking up spreader, lifting and drive away. A block of wood and drawbar makes it simple. BUT it is nice to have more than one tractor.

mark

That's a good idea, inexpensive and easy. If your tractor won't lift it, you need to load less, get a larger tractor or a smaller spreader.