Tractor suggestions thread...

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Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby meby » Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:44 pm

He guys, i'm starting to look for a tractor this winter/spring and would like suggestions about if there are any lemons to avoid and good ones to look for. Color doesn't really matter, so leave that for another thread. :mrgreen: I'm looking for something in the 50 - 60 hp range, 2wd and new enough to have 3 pt hitch and live pto. Diesel preferred, but I might consider a gasser. I've run a number of tractors for other people, but don't have a lot of experience owning/fixing tractors and am looking for suggestions.
Thanks,
-Matt
-1991 D-250 bone stock
-2000 Ford Windstar TDI Diesel 5 spd
-1997 Civic Hatchback
-Case 530 CK
-Old Huskee Garden Tractor w/Cub Cadet deck, Simplicity Snow-blower, loaded tires & chains - is it weird the tractor is modded more than my truck?
-Speedex Walking Tractor.
-BCS Walking Tractor


www.ebyfarmsllc.com
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby AHineman » Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:50 pm

How much $$$ you talking?
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby meby » Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:54 pm

Cheap. $3,000 to $5,000, so nothing newer. Oh, and I'm not really fond of hydrostat drives, but I guess thats a moot point as they are probably out of my price range.

Edit: I don't mind doing some tlc.
-1991 D-250 bone stock
-2000 Ford Windstar TDI Diesel 5 spd
-1997 Civic Hatchback
-Case 530 CK
-Old Huskee Garden Tractor w/Cub Cadet deck, Simplicity Snow-blower, loaded tires & chains - is it weird the tractor is modded more than my truck?
-Speedex Walking Tractor.
-BCS Walking Tractor


www.ebyfarmsllc.com
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby ellis93 » Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:59 pm

Price range? :edit: I'm late
That'll determine a lot.

As much as I HATE to admit it....if you want to work something,then resale it later,buy Deere. Only draw back is the price of parts,giraffe nuts high on EVERYTHING Deere brand,aftermarket kinda high.

Example.....I bought a German made 2030 orchard tractor for 1500$. Hydraulic pto,auxiliary outs,.....manual steering (I'm a young man so it doesn't bother me....much :lol: ). You can add p/s to one for about 2gs...Deere parts.
93 D250 ,5 speed,4.11s,k&n autometer tach pyro trans boost guages,GDS 60mm h1c 14cm,honed 5x10,hplp/reg,1/8 timing,M+H M2 fuel pin, tims cooler tubz
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby AHineman » Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:05 pm

An older Ford (newer than an 8n but pre New Holland) would be my choice in that price range. Something like a 4610. Don't know what shape it would be in for that price, but all the ones I've been around seem to be good old tractors.
Andrew

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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby 1STGENFARMBOY » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:49 pm

A 4000 ford will make a good smaller tractor, I have one with a loader and it is as handy as a pocket
on a shirt, I gave 2,600.00 for it ( gas) and haven't done anything to it, i don't think you could pull a 4 bottom all spring with it as it seems to have alot of blow buy and it's pretty noisy, but I keep clean oil in it and it has been great. massey makes some 50-60 hp stuff that is priced reasonable, I also love a D17 or D19 AC
too, with the hand clutch they are handy as well......green and red is just to much $ for something
like you want.


of course a 3020 or 560 would be awesome but pricey...
93 W250 STD CAB, AUTO 3.55, GAUGES, 80HP DDP STICKS, DENNY T ,16CM HOUSING, 60MM GILLETT, VE MAXED,BHAF, BHFF, 366 SPRING,P/S INTERCOOLER, TIMS COOLER TUBS, TIMMING 1/8 BUMP,4in TURBO BACK TO DUEL 5IN STACKS,33 12.50 BFG, HOLLEY BLACK, CONVERTER COOMING.
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby cmann250 » Wed Dec 18, 2013 7:16 am

How much are you going to use it? If you're doing 100 acres of hay and 25 acres of garden/crops, go with a diesel. If you're at 25 acres of hay with some road side mowing and plowing the driveway in the winter, a gas tractor would do. I love my 460 with power steering, fast hitch, dual remotes, and great hydraulics, but it guzzles gas like no other.

I'd normally say stay mainstream (Farmall or Deere), but you can get into some cheap diesel power in an Oliver. A 1750 through a 1955 is 60-110 horse and I have seen all sell for around your budget. The smaller older ones usually go well within your budget. The -00, -50, and -55 series would all have 3 point and decent hydraulics.

Most importantly, make sure they have good tires! Two metric equivalent 18.4-38s are about $1500 each new.
Caleb, Certified Shade Tree Mechanic Extraordinaire :mrgreen:
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby diesel freak01 » Wed Dec 18, 2013 7:25 am

Find a local farm auction is my suggestion. I have seen them go cheap and really high but you may get lucky and find an auction nobody goes to. I like the Kubotas but they may be out of your price range im not sure. You may get on pulloff.com and see what you can find there. Sometimes they post good project tractors that need some TLC.
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby Farmboy » Wed Dec 18, 2013 10:19 am

I would suggest 2 websites.

The 1st being http://www.tractorhouse.com
This is very usefull for usefull for checking prices and availiblity on just about any make or model. You can also search by what you are looking for and leave the make and model open. Only draw back to actually buying something from there is trying to find one local enough to go and pick up.. so it may be more helpful for just price checking.

The 2nd is http://www.tractordata.com
This site has anything and everything you could ever want to know about a given tractor. Helps when there is that obscure tractor on craigslist that you have never heard of.
1990 W350 4X4 NOW INTERCOOLED 5-speed. Boost/Pyro. Few light tweaks to the pump. Now a dually with an aluminum flatbed!!
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby DodgeFreak » Wed Dec 18, 2013 10:20 am

I like case.....the old case...730 is a good all around tractor. Ive worked on case and jd. And i think case is much easier. Kinda like Ford and Dodge....
92 D350 Cab and Chassis. Auto stock, wiring gremlins. 330k miles
92 W250 Ext cab rotted completely out. Auto, pump maxed, 215 ppump nozzles, Denny T2 pin.
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby 1STGENFARMBOY » Wed Dec 18, 2013 12:13 pm

Yeh like Caleb said, Oliver is a good tractor and you can get some nice HP for few bucks.

be ware of a gas 6 banger though, they will bun a bunch of fuel.

I can cut rake and bail 10 acres on 12 gal of gas on a D17 with a 9ft hay bine.
93 W250 STD CAB, AUTO 3.55, GAUGES, 80HP DDP STICKS, DENNY T ,16CM HOUSING, 60MM GILLETT, VE MAXED,BHAF, BHFF, 366 SPRING,P/S INTERCOOLER, TIMS COOLER TUBS, TIMMING 1/8 BUMP,4in TURBO BACK TO DUEL 5IN STACKS,33 12.50 BFG, HOLLEY BLACK, CONVERTER COOMING.
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby meby » Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:36 pm

We farm about 45 acres at the moment. I have been looking at the Ford 4000 series as there are a decent amount of them around here for reasonable prices. I'm using my FIL's Ford 4000 gas right now. Anybody have an opinion on the Ford select-o-speed v. the manual gear box? I really would like a diesel though, I mean lets face it, they are addictive. :D

So is the bottom line that there aren't to many lemon models of tractors?
-1991 D-250 bone stock
-2000 Ford Windstar TDI Diesel 5 spd
-1997 Civic Hatchback
-Case 530 CK
-Old Huskee Garden Tractor w/Cub Cadet deck, Simplicity Snow-blower, loaded tires & chains - is it weird the tractor is modded more than my truck?
-Speedex Walking Tractor.
-BCS Walking Tractor


www.ebyfarmsllc.com
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby Farmboy » Thu Dec 19, 2013 5:41 am

meby wrote:So is the bottom line that there aren't to many lemon models of tractors?


No. We are just saying that you have an equal chance of getting a lemon no matter what brand you get... :lol: They all break!
1990 W350 4X4 NOW INTERCOOLED 5-speed. Boost/Pyro. Few light tweaks to the pump. Now a dually with an aluminum flatbed!!
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby cmann250 » Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:45 am

Farmboy wrote:No. We are just saying that you have an equal chance of getting a lemon no matter what brand you get... :lol: They all break!

True, true! It boils down to what little features you really want and what quirks you want to deal with.
Caleb, Certified Shade Tree Mechanic Extraordinaire :mrgreen:
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"Whatever!" - Coach Jerry Smith
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Re: Tractor suggestions thread...

Postby redneckroot » Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:06 pm

I would even look at some of the industrial older Ford tractors sometimes you can pick up one from a college cheap. Also after restoring our old cletrac and oliver crawlers I'd suggest getting something that is easy to find parts for. It sucks to be working one and have to either buy another one for parts or wait two weeks to find the parts and wait for them to get shipped in.
1990 Restored with a bit of aftermarket goodies might be for sale?
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