What Older Reliable Tractor for Small Farm?

[arodrigz]

Hi all, we've recently purchased 23 acres split up into fields, pond and trees. Some of the land it tillable, about 6 acres. I have a JD2320 but it is a bit underpowered for some of the things that I need to do. I'm looking for an affordable and reliable older tractor between 40 to 80 hp. The max I could spend is $4k but if it can be had for less, that would be great too.

Let me know what you think. I was looking at Massey, but not too keen on multi-power.
Thans for the info.
Alex

 

[diesel lover]

As far as older equipment for under 4000$ there is quite a lot out there. Cut a loader and 4wd out of the equation and that's more than possible!! Your price is still a bit low but not impossible to do. Do you plan to keep the John Deere or sell/ trade? It may be worth keeping as backup and for all the smaller jobs around.

If you do not have 4wd try to get loaded tires or wheel weights and a diff lock these can help quite a bit.

 

[diesel lover]

Just an idea here I looked at tractor house at the tractors available 40 to 99 horse power. I set price limit at 6000$. Quite a few Massey ferguson 135 and also Alis Chalmers d-17. Both great machines!! I tried to look at IH/case 666 but most are in the 5,000 and 6000$ range.

What are the main task to preform ?

 

[arodrigz]

Just an idea here I looked at tractor house at the tractors available 40 to 99 horse power. I set price limit at 6000$. Quite a few Massey ferguson 135 and also Alis Chalmers d-17. Both great machines!! I tried to look at IH/case 666 but most are in the 5,000 and 6000$ range.

What are the main task to preform ?

I would turn to this tractor for things like plowing (it would be nice to pull a three bottom plow; with the 2320 I can only pull a 1 bottom), disking, bush hog (I can only pull a 4' or maybe the woods 54" rotary cutter with the 2320), plastic mulch laying, planting (if I can borrow a planter), thought about getting a sickle mower or something similar for mowing around the edges of the pond and a water ditch line on my property, etc. It would do the major pulling jobs.

I've been looking at Massey's 100 and 200 series but would like to stay away from the multi-power. 2wd drive is fine but would like rops. There is a 175 on craigslist right now for $4500. I've emailed the owner but have not heard back yet. I have not checked out the Alis Chalmers d-17 and IH/Case machines.

I don't know much about old tractors so don't know what to look for as far as reliability. Would love to see a short list, like what you've given above and maybe a few more choices to look at and maybe their pro's and cons.

Thanks for the help.

 

[arodrigz]

Thanks for the heads up on the wheel weights and differential. Had not thought about that.

I'm keeping the JD. It has a belly mower that I use to mow my main yard. I also use it for loader work and I just picked up a 7' snow plow that I'm going to rig up to work with the quick hitch. It's light enough that it does not destroy my yard but heavy enough that I can do many jobs around the property. It's just not big enough to do some of the farming tasks and too small for a sickle mower. The big issue is that most decent implements seem to require a 30hp min and up tractor. The 2320 is only 24hp. I was talking to a farmer friend who suggested that I just pick up an older tractor with up to 80hp and I would not have to worry about what I was putting behind it.

 

[flusher]

Hi all, we've recently purchased 23 acres split up into fields, pond and trees. Some of the land it tillable, about 6 acres. I have a JD2320 but it is a bit underpowered for some of the things that I need to do. I'm looking for an affordable and reliable older tractor between 40 to 80 hp. The max I could spend is $4k but if it can be had for less, that would be great too.

Let me know what you think. I was looking at Massey, but not too keen on multi-power.
Thans for the info.
Alex

Multipower is an option--not all Masseys have it. My 135 diesel does. The MP is stuck in low range now--need to split the tractor to fix it. So a diesel or gas MF 135 without MP would meet your requirements. I paid $3600 for my 135 in 2006. Check eBay and Craigslist--135s show up there frequently.
Check out 1960s vintage Ford and Farmall tractors. Something like a Farmall M or a Ford 800 or 900 series tractor would also work for you. Parts are available for these tractors from parts stores and from dismantlers.

Good luck.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would look at something a bit newer than a M series Farmall something like the 706 is close to what in the 80HP range. If you can find one with a wide front end, so much the better. I don't know if you can find a good 80 HP tractor for $4K though in any brand, I am thinking more like $6-7K. It seems that the smaller Fords for sale are priced way higher than other brands and 4K might get you a 2000 in rough shape but the good thing about them is parts availability.
The 1960-70s Farmall IH tractors should still be easily serviced also and may offer better bang for the buck than the old Fords

 

[jenkinsph]

I wouldn't leave out any of the popular brands of the day when shopping in this price range. It would seem to me it really depends on what is the best deal you can find for the money. I would buy the best tractor I could find that fits the bill regardless of brand whether it is a Massey Ferguson, IH, Ford, Deere, or others.

 

[wolftree]

International Harvester tractors from late 60s into 70s are possible: 444, 454, 504, 560, 656,706. For $4000 they will probably not be show tractors. John Deere 1010, 1020, 1520, 2010, 2020 would also be good choices as well.

I am not certain that I would advise the letter series Farmall's ( A-M)for anything other than drawbar work (transmission pto).

 

[GreenWannabe]

One point I would add, check any prospects to be sure they have a three point hitch, as most manufacturers did not earlier than the sixties. International, Allis Chalmers, and Case all had proprietary hitches, for instance. Ferguson, Massey Ferguson, and Ford were the only manufacturers offering a three point hitch then, although third party manufacturers made hitch conversion kits.