Tractor Suggestions

[MasseyWV]

As some of you know, I'll be in the market for a used tractor soon and have more or less settled on a Massey Ferguson 135 but it's a little larger than what I think I'll really need so I'm still considering alternate possibilities.

I'm a typical homeowner with just under 3 acres of land and the tractor will be used to complete a number of small earth moving projects and to maintain our gravel driveway which is about 1000 feet long.

When the time comes, I'll have a maximum budget of $5000 and would like to keep the price at or below that amount. If anyone would like to make any suggestions, I'd be happy to consider them.

 

[wcampbell47]

So why would you spend $5K on a tractor that may not be exactly what you want and the last year of production was 1975 (according to tractor data dot com), doesn't have 4wd, doesn't have a front loader and so on.

Zero dollars down and 0% interest for 60 months (you are working on their money) will get you a new tractor with warranty with many features not available on a 1975 tractor.

 

[MasseyWV]

So why would you spend $5K on a tractor that may not be exactly what you want and the last year of production was 1975 (according to tractor data dot com), doesn't have 4wd, doesn't have a front loader and so on.

Actually the Massey 135 can be equipped with a loader, and often is, but that is another subject.

I would like to have a newer 4x4 tractor with a loader but given the limitations of my used tractor budget, it may or may not be possible. Buying new would be great but I am having difficulty justifying the considerable expense that it would entail.

Zero dollars down and 0% interest for 60 months (you are working on their money) will get you a new tractor with warranty with many features not available on a 1975 tractor.

Financing is not an option, I will be paying cash.

 

[Mark Page]

How about a MF 35. I had one and it was great machine. If you want to engage the ground like grading you really want all the machine you can get or you'll be disappointed in it's limited traction.
I'm glad your happy to hear my suggestions.

 

[MasseyWV]

How about a MF 35. I had one and it was great machine. If you want to engage the ground like grading you really want all the machine you can get or you'll be disappointed in it's limited traction.
I'm glad your happy to hear my suggestions.

I originally considered the Massey 35 but tentatively settled on the Massey 135 because it was a newer version of the Massey 35. Ultimately, I may go with the Massey 135 precisely for the reasons you suggested but wanted to consider alternate possibilities before committing myself to a specific type of tractor. I had also considered the Ford 8N but it was too old and geared too high.

Rather than covering it all again, here is my original thread about the subject of the Massey Ferguson tractors:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...pricing/232899-massey-ferguson-135-150-a.html

 

[Soundguy]

a mf 135 and 3c is a mighty fine matcvh.. you won't be shy of pwer on any big jobs you scare up.

 

[whistlepig]

You can't go wrong with a MF135. It's an overbuilt tractor. It's the most stable tractor that I have ever used on steep slopes.

 

[MasseyWV]

Don't get me wrong, I like the Massey tractors, as evidenced by my TBN username, but the purpose of this thread is to consider alternate possibilities. Preferably tractors that are somewhat smaller than the Massey 135 and were manufactured within the last 30 years or so.

Suggestions?

 

[RollingsFarms]

You could find a ford 3000 in that price range. Might have to look some, but when you do fine it buy it cause it'll be go e soon. I missed out on a 3600 recently from messing around too long debating it when I should ha e been counting out the money in the owners hand and loading it on my trailer.

 

[MasseyWV]

You could find a ford 3000 in that price range. Might have to look some, but when you do fine it buy it cause it'll be go e soon. I missed out on a 3600 recently from messing around too long debating it when I should ha e been counting out the money in the owners hand and loading it on my trailer.

The Ford 3000 is a great suggestion and while I haven't mentioned it, I've also been looking at it as an alternate possibility to the Massey 135 since it is in the same size range. The only problem is the size which is the main reason why I have been hesitant to commit myself to the Massey 135.

Perhaps I should have spoken in terms of horsepower but for some strange reason my visual brain just doesn't think that way, probably due to my inexperience. My thinking is that perhaps something in the 20-30 horsepower range might be better suited to my desires but I am not sure.

Most of the work I will be doing is very limited, with the exception of grading my driveway which will be somewhat more taxing but if any serious work is ever needed I will simply hire a dozer like I've done before. I do have some heavy work that needs to be done but it exceeds anything that could be done by the kind of tractor I'll be able to afford so it will be hired out to a dozer/backhoe contractor when the time comes.

Size wise, my mental picture is of something comparable to the Kubota BX series, or perhaps even a little larger like the Kubota TLB. I realize that I will not get a Kubota BX or a Kubota TLB for $5000 so please keep in mind that I am only citing them for comparison purposes. Also, I am not brand specific at this point so please feel free to suggest anything that may be appropriate except perhaps brands like Jinma, Izeki or other brands that may have quality or parts issues.

 

[Soundguy]

to get soemthing in the 20-30hp range.. you will be getting a scut... all the ford and mf tractors the siz of the classic N, 00, 000, and mf 35/135 etc.. are going to be in the 30hp range and up.. to go smaller you will be looking at the jap subcompacts... which are going to have inferior parts support compaired to ther older brothers... especially when it comes to front axle parts.. and steering components..

 

[MasseyWV]

to get soemthing in the 20-30hp range.. you will be getting a scut... all the ford and mf tractors the siz of the classic N, 00, 000, and mf 35/135 etc.. are going to be in the 30hp range and up.. to go smaller you will be looking at the jap subcompacts... which are going to have inferior parts support compaired to ther older brothers... especially when it comes to front axle parts.. and steering components..

A subcompact or SCUT is exactly what I had in mind but I'm not accustomed to using the terms so it didn't occur to me until now.

What you are suggesting coincides with what I've been finding while conducting research but I was hoping that I might have missed something. That said, I'm almost certain that I'll ultimately go with old iron like the Massey 135 or the Ford 3000 but wanted to try and eliminate any lingering doubt first.

With regard to size, the thought that keeps ringing in my mind is: "Sure it's bigger than what you want but bigger is usually better."

 

[Soundguy]

for instance.. try to find a crankshaft for a ford 1100 or 1300.. or a front 4wd axle for a scut like that. you'll be looking a long time..

on the flip side.. just about every nut and bolt made for a ford 3000 or a mf 135 can be bought, new, salvage, or repop.

it's a numbers game. the later jap scuts were made for a couple years each and moved on.. the older models were made for like a DECADE.. etc.. you churn out a few hundred thousand of a modle, and it tends to have good support.. especially when it shares a ton of components with other models.
i can hit my local cnh dealer and buy odd parts off the shelf for a ford N.. like tranny gasket... yet go ask for something for one of those scut's i mentioned.. likely NOT on the shelf.. that ford 4spd trans gasket was used in a bunch of models...

soundguy

 

[MasseyWV]

for instance.. try to find a crankshaft for a ford 1100 or 1300.. or a front 4wd axle for a scut like that. you'll be looking a long time..

on the flip side.. just about every nut and bolt made for a ford 3000 or a mf 135 can be bought, new, salvage, or repop.

it's a numbers game. the later jap scuts were made for a couple years each and moved on.. the older models were made for like a DECADE.. etc.. you churn out a few hundred thousand of a modle, and it tends to have good support.. especially when it shares a ton of components with other models.
i can hit my local cnh dealer and buy odd parts off the shelf for a ford N.. like tranny gasket... yet go ask for something for one of those scut's i mentioned.. likely NOT on the shelf.. that ford 4spd trans gasket was used in a bunch of models...

soundguy

I know exactly what you mean and parts availability has been one of my greatest concerns from day one, regardless of what I eventually purchase. There's nothing worse than having something that's broken down and discovering that you can't get the parts you need. Been there, done that, one too many times.

 

[RollingsFarms]

you MIGHT be able to come across a decent John Deere 650/750 which will be in your desired hp range. Those were jap made(yanmar) but parts for them shouldn't be too hard to find being a Deere. I've noticed the prices for the 650/750/850/950/1050 going up though here lately. I sold my 950 3 years ago for $5500 with only 1,200 hours and I'm seeing ones with 1,500 or MORE with price tags of $6,000+.

 

[Gary Fowler]

750 JD is nice little 19 HP tractor with a very frugal Yanmar diesel engine. I dont know if they came with Power steering, but my BIL has one and it isnt. I see them advertised for 4-5K usually with a 4' bush hog. They are very narrow wheel spacing though, his has turf tires and is not more than 4' wide and the tires are at their widest. I dont think I would recommend it for hilly terrain.

 

[MasseyWV]

you MIGHT be able to come across a decent John Deere 650/750 which will be in your desired hp range. Those were jap made(yanmar) but parts for them shouldn't be too hard to find being a Deere. I've noticed the prices for the 650/750/850/950/1050 going up though here lately. I sold my 950 3 years ago for $5500 with only 1,200 hours and I'm seeing ones with 1,500 or MORE with price tags of $6,000+.

The John Deere 650/750 seem like they might be a good choice if the price was right. Also, I thought the Mahindra 2615 was sized about right, although I have yet to see one that is priced anywhere near my maximum budget, unless it was completely trashed.

 

[dex3361]

I like to watch the tractor auctions online. It gives a good base of what the value of a given tractor may be. You may also find a tractor that you have to bid on here. Auction Time

 

[MasseyWV]

Oh a whim, I went to my father-in-laws house and took a good hard look at his Massey 135 tractor which has been my first choice all along but I still can't shake the feeling that it's larger than what I want but it sure is a nice heavy built tractor.

The smaller tractors, suggested so far in this thread, are much closer to the size I would like to have, but there is that dreaded issue of price. It seems that the smaller used tractorss are more expensive than the larger used tractors, regardless of their condition.

I've got half a mind to wait another year and buy a new tractor, but then I'd have to play the dealer pricing shell game, which I would rather avoid entirely. That, and I don't want to have to wait, yet again.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[BigBoyinMS]

If the price is right for the Massey you could buy it and use it till you find exactly what you want then sell it. As popular as they are, they trade pretty well.