Tractors?

cj777

cj777

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Location
Durham, NC
I'm finally getting out of the City and moving to some land. I'm in the process of purchasing a house with right at 6 acres of cleared land. I'm obviously not going to be able to tackle this with my push mower. Approximately 3 acres have not been mowed in around 2 years. Additionally, there is about 100 yards of gravel driveway that I need to maintain. To me this sounds like a good excuse to buy a tractor (used). The downside is I grew up in Durham and know nothing about them. School me. What do I want, where do I look, attachments? Advantages of antique tractors vs riding lawn mower vs zero turns? Budget is probably around 3-4k although I would like to stay lower if possible.
 
Are you going to need to do more than bush hog, finish mow, and box scrape? If not, one of the CUT (compact utility tractors) could do all of that easily. Add a loader and you should be able to handle most anything on your "farm".
 
If you can find a used ford/new holland 1920 these tractors are bullet proof and most anyone can work on them.
 
Was about to say I'd sell you my Mahindra...2 years old, MAYBE 20hrs of run time. Paid $45k for it at the time, would take $30k...but, you only have 3-4k budget. If it were me, I'd say don't bother. My brother and I maintain properties similar to yours for our lawn care bidness...we knock everything down about once every 6 months for $150/hr...usually doesn't take us that long. Gravel driveway, realistically, you'll get a truck bed full, and push/shovel it off the tailgate. IMO, tractors are more trouble than they're worth. Only time I really used mine were for retaining walls down at the lake...even then, a bobcat woulda been more useful.
 
I don't think you'll find a decent tractor at a budget of $3-4k. Sometimes you can find some of the older B-series Kubotas for around that range. They're small but can do a lot. One thing to look out for is that some of the models have a PTO that goes the opposite direction you need for most implements.
 
Get a Massey Ferguson 35 Deluxe with a Perkins Diesel($3000-4000), a bush hog ($500), a scrape blade ($400), and a box blade ($500). Best overall tractor for your application in terms of power, size, cost, maintenance, and simplicity.
 
There are dozens of Ford 8N on CL in your price range. My uncle has had one for years and does basically what you are explaining. They're cheap and because there were so many made parts are usually easy to come by... Just my .02
 
RobMcBee said:
There are dozens of Ford 8N on CL in your price range. My uncle has had one for years and does basically what you are explaining. They're cheap and because there were so many made parts are usually easy to come by... Just my .02
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That's kind of the route I was thinking of going. I know they'll be slower than a newer alternative but should handle most if not all of what I would want to do
 
jeepinmatt said:
Get a Massey Ferguson 35 Deluxe with a Perkins Diesel($3000-4000), a bush hog ($500), a scrape blade ($400), and a box blade ($500). Best overall tractor for your application in terms of power, size, cost, maintenance, and simplicity.
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Thanks, will look into these. Is there any place better than craigslist to look?
 
Really old tractors are cool, but you have to careful with them, they have no "save me from myself" safety features

if you start it in gear, its gonna go, same with pto, some of the older machine the PTO implement may have enough inertia it can push the machine if shut down and not allowed to spool down before dismounting (bush hogs can do this) not saying tis to scare you away, but more to inform, you're not familiar with the equipment ( nor am I ) there are a lot of things to consider and be mindful of.

that said, with its work out clothes on,
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mowing trim
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if you have a lot of smaller trees, or shrubs, this isn't the type of machine you want to mow with, you're better off with a ZTR or lawn tractor, if you want/need a loader, you'll be getting a ROPS ( roll over protection) as well, the loader can cause instability when raised loaded or unloaded depending on terrain. if you get a loader, also get 4wd, it helps a lot, you can always not use it, but damn sure nice to have if you do need it ! 4wd is also nice to have using box blade

another thing to be mindful of, old machines need repairs, and other consumable parts like tires. the front tires on mine have been discontinued, as have the rears, on a 4wd machine, just tossing on any ole tire can get real expensive. after some careful tire selection for the front I came "close" to what it had, and use air pressure to account for the rest. they're slightly under inflated to decrease roll out slightly. I don't drive in 4wd for extended periods, just where needed and only in loose conditions where tire spin is expected. Rear tires are on the horizon, just need to pony up ($$$)

diesel is the way to go, can be more expensive to repair but generally run longer and have better power.
the older gas machines work fine, but with the hours you'll use the machine, todays gas will kill a carburetor with fuel going to shit before you realize it. part of the reason i went to diesel, i got tired of having to rebuild a carb every couple weeks on my old gas lawn jockeys
i keep Seafoam on hand and pour some in every tank full, had few issues since. change oil every other year ( i put maybe 25 hrs a year on it ) blow it out and grease every third mowing. check fluids before using it every time.

no, mine is not for sale (it was at one time) this is the best tool i never knew i needed till I got it, and i'm quite happy with it.
 
Diesel for sure. We just went and got my pappaws old tractor if has been sitting 5-6? Years threw a battery in it trained tank refilled primed right up and scared some white face hornet's out of it....

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
I have a diesel Shibaura SD1540 (Shibaura, a Japanese company, makes New Holland and Ford tractors under 30hp). It is 4WD and has a track of only 48". It's a great size with great power and while I wont be pulling an 8 row disc with it, it does everything I need. I got it WELL under your budget. You just have to look.

It also has 4spd trans with hi and lo, 2spd PTO and diff lock.

ai7.photobucket.com_albums_y252_ponykilr_F1035FA9_00C1_4DA9_993D_354AA03D5EBB.jpg
 
cj777 said:
Thanks, will look into these. Is there any place better than craigslist to look?
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Craigslist is hard to beat. I got my Massey 35 for $2300. It's a gasser, but it's been a great tractor for the I years I've had it. Most of the stuff 1960 and newer will have a "live PTO" which means the PTO keeps spinning when the clutch is pushed in. Older stuff like 8Ns drive the PTO off the clutch so they stop spinning when you push the clutch in. Not a big deal with a scrape blade, but really annoying with a bushhog or tiller when you're trying to back up to a fence line or tree and inching with the clutch.

If you want a loader, go with a 4wd tractor, but they are generally very overpriced these days. If I were you, I'd find a 2wd tractor from the 60's or 70's that cranks and runs good, and try to find one with some implements included in the $3k price range. Use it for a couple months, and figure out what you really need from a tractor without investing much in it. Then either keep it, or sell it for what you've got in it, and buy what best suits you. Implements are interchangeable, so they will fit any tractor you will probably buy (there are different sizes of 3pt hitch, but you've gotta get over 50hp before that becomes an issue).

Plus older tractors just look cool. When I was looking for one, my wife wouldn't let me buy certain ones because they "look like a window unit AC"
 
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Also, I've never done much research on Oliver tractors, but there seem to be some really good deals on them since they aren't a "big" name.
Oliver Super 55 Diesel Tractor
 
Maybe pay someone for the first year or so and see if its something you really need or want. Then if it is that will allow you to save a little and take your time finding the right machine for you.
 
If you have a few acres to mow, find a local cattle farmer that will care for it just for the hay. They will fertilize it and cut it for hay twice a year. Make them cut the ditches too so they don't grow up. If you do buy a tractor, a pulverizor is the best way to smooth a gravel driveway.
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You sound like the perfect candidate for a compact utility tractor. Basically an over grown lawn mower.

Are you going to keep all 6 acres finish cut? If so I'd look for something with a 72" mower at least
 
You could also check into the yanmar grey market tractors. They were built for use in Japan then imported to the US. They don't have all the newer safety features, but are on part with older tractors. They make the 19 1/2 horse power diesel for John deere. They are also generally in your price range.
 
k5-1402 said:
You could also check into the yanmar grey market tractors. They were built for use in Japan then imported to the US. They don't have all the newer safety features, but are on part with older tractors. They make the 19 1/2 horse power diesel for John deere. They are also generally in your price range.
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and can be tough to get parts for, not all grey market tractors have US equivalents, I looked at a few before i bought the Kubota i have now, a couple needed "stuff" to make them whole again, stuff the current owners couldn't find or source affordably., hence the reason for sale. be careful with this
 
BigBody79 said:
You sound like the perfect candidate for a compact utility tractor. Basically an over grown lawn mower.

Are you going to keep all 6 acres finish cut? If so I'd look for something with a 72" mower at least
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That's pretty much the plan right now. At a minimum 4-5 acres will be finish cut
 
A buddy of mine will sell you enough goats to keep it mowed down. And then once a year invite all of us for a thanksgiving goat BBQ!
 
criket said:
A buddy of mine will sell you enough goats to keep it mowed down. And then once a year invite all of us for a thanksgiving goat BBQ!
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Have you used goats to clear an area? I've got a small area I've thought about trying to clear with goats. Lot's of briars and weeds/vines
 
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