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Jim Jordan

08-26-2004 20:40:16

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I have been reading the posts for a while and decided to introduce myself. I dont own a tractor yet, but have been looking at M"s. My wife tells me that I don"t need a tractor and she is probably right , I don"t, but I do need to split wood, maintain a driveway that sometimes has snow drift up to three feet deep in it and I would like to do some gardening. I know that a M is more tractor than I really need, but both my father and my grandfather worked at the Farmall plant in Rock Island while they were making them. Jim

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Gene

08-27-2004 23:14:08

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

If the M Farmall is what you want then that's the way to go.

I suggest going for a smaller tractor. You could get a cute little Cub and present it to the wife as an anniversery present. Works every time. Well, at least for the first tractor it does. It's after the second, third and fourth trator that you really need to become inventive.

Gene

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Jim Jordan

08-27-2004 22:21:22

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

I replied to some of your posts and would have replied to them all, but this is taking a lot of time so I am putting the rest into 1 reply. First thanks for the welcome. Second my wife thinks that we would get more use out of a 2 1/2 ton dump than a tractor. I want the tractor now and maby a smaller truck with a dump later. My ford ranger is not enough truck but it gets me by. I have had several people try to tell me that what I need is a Ford 8N, But That is not what I want I have also been told that all I need is a garden tractor, to which Iusually reply that that is what I am looking at, that it is just a large garden tractor. Some people try to tell me that I would be better off with a Kabota or a John Deere. I have seen Kabota"s and am not impressed. The sound of a 2 cylinder Deere working a field is a part of my childhood that will always be with me. But when International Harvester opened the Farmall tractor plant in Rock Island, Illinois in 1924 My grandfather went to work there. In don"t know if he was there when the plant opened or started later. But I know that he worked there. When My father finished High School ib 1928 he went to work there also. I nknow that they were both layed off during the depression and that they were both working there again as machinists to make the H"s and M"s. My grandfather died in February of 1947 at the age of 65. My father became a draftsman and continued working a Farmall until 1970 when he could no longer work. He died in December of 1971 at the age of 61. I took tours of the Rock Island plant several times while I was growing up. I believe that my father wanted me to go to work at for Farmall also, but I didn"t like factories and wanted to do something different. After spending 2 years in Germany working on Fighter aircraft I worked as a auto/truck Mechanic for about 10 years. I worked in Chrysler and Dodge Dealerships until there were more mechanics than there were jobs for them. I had wanted to open a independent garage but by this time our government had regulated automobiles into throw away pieces of plastic that were too expensive and ran bad. I wanted out and that tractor factory started to look pretty good. I decided that when they started hireing again that I was going to get a job there. Tenneco Bought out IH and closed that plant and the government bailed Chrysler out. But by then I was studing electronics. I don"t work as a mechanic any more but my sons do and I have a connection to Farmall tractors that is older than I am.

Jim

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scotty

08-28-2004 04:32:38

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan , 08-27-2004 22:21:22

Hi Jim, Really enjoyed reading your post and all the other guys posts also! Welcome to the board, you will really enjoy this board! I say get the tractor you want, and I can see why you want that particular tractor, you wont be happy with anything less! A few years ago I thought I needed a Cub, well when I layed my eyes on an A I had to have it. I have since added a Super A and a 32 hp diesel with FEL, and all on only 10 acres! Im still looking for my first bulldozer, as you can see it never ends! Good luck and welcome.

scotty

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Dave 2N

08-27-2004 18:13:46

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

Jim-

Just wanting one is justification enough!

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chris

08-27-2004 17:55:34

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

I am guilty of having a tractor that I don't need but trust me if you have one you will try to find a use for it. but the bad part if you want to call it that is you will soon want another. go ahead and get it if you want it your wife will evenutally get used to the idea.

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Jim Jordan

08-27-2004 19:39:41

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to chris, 08-27-2004 17:55:34

I can always find uses for a tractor or 2 or 3. I believe that after the first big snow that I clear in a few minutes instead of taking 4 hours or more with 3 or 4 people , including her using shovels she will think that we should have bought one sooner.

Jim

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farmallman

08-27-2004 17:23:21

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

It make a great conversation piece. Go for it :)

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Hugh MacKay

08-27-2004 16:05:12

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

Jim: You need at least three tractors, maybe more. I once farmed and had 7 tractors, 2 skid loaders and 4 trucks. I thought for retirement one little Super A would be enough, along with my 130, and now I have a 140. I mow grass with the Super A, have a full set of center and rear mount cultivators for the 140, and a snow blade on the 130. I have a whole host of single point fast hitch implements I can use on the 130 and 140. But you know what, I don't have a good vehicle for a front end loader, hmmmmm now what I need is a good skid steer loader. Then I may need a larger tractor to haul what I load with the loader. You see it is a never ending need.

I can tell you this much, if you have a Farmall SM, 400, 560 or 656 with a loader and a skid steer loader, you will find the tractor loader gets used very little. My personal opinion is start with a small tractor and a skid loader.

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Jim Jordan

08-27-2004 19:55:10

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Hugh MacKay, 08-27-2004 16:05:12

If I was looking based on what would fit my property and probable uses. I would be looking at super A"s or 140"s. But I really want a tractor that came out of the Rock Island plant while both my father and my grandfather were working there. That limits me to tractors built before 1947. My father continued to work there until 1970 so there are a lot of candidates for a second tractor. Besides after I have the one that I want I wouldn"t mind havivg one built in Chicago or Louisville.

JiM

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Martin

08-27-2004 15:01:42

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

I agree with one of the previous posts about "if needing a tractor is a prerequisite for having one, I'm in big trouble" well, that's me as well! Welcome, and I have to say, even if you don't need one, go for it!

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Kendall

08-27-2004 10:12:45

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

Dont need a lot of things. Dont need color tv, cable tv,microwave, dont need Grand Marquis, Dodge Cummins diesel, Harley Davidson, 24ft camper, 19ft boat with 305 V8, Dont need a 1950 Super A right in the middle of Dallas, but everyone need a hobby and that insatiable desire to tinker and fix is my hobby.(and I like tractors) Get that Super M with a 3 pt hitch, a snow/grader blade and a log splitter that runs off the tractor hydraulics. The first time your wife drives down that clean driveway on a snowy day and sets in front of a cozy fire with wood you personally split, you"ll be off the hook.
PS- Confucius say better to have more tractor than you need, than need more tractor that you have. (ie- Dodge 2500 Cummins turbo diesel- I NEVER worry about what I can pull or haul)

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David in UT

08-27-2004 10:02:40

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

Welcome Jim!

Well...if needing a tractor is a prerequisite for having one, I'm in big trouble ;-). For me, it's all about the restoration process. I spend all day sitting in front of a computer screen, talking on the phone, and participating in way too many meetings. Very little of my day includes doing anything tangible.

So, hammering on some sheet metal, turning out a rusty bolt, installing a new ignition switch...all of these things seem to balance me out. I consider it therapy to keep me sane. I probably wouldn't feel the same if I had to do it for a living.

I don't have any real need for a tractor, unless being in the 4th of July parade is a need ;-). That said, I'd sure like to have some space to plow and plant someday.

In any case, welcome to the board! (btw, my wife is very supportive of my tractor habit...I'm sure she'd be happy to talk to yours ;-)

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Jim Jordan

08-27-2004 20:10:59

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to David in UT, 08-27-2004 10:02:40

Hi David, I was in Utah recently. I have a daughter living in Vernal who got married out there in June. I saw the first tractor brought into the Uinta Basin. It was a 1928 Farmall F20 which was made the first year that my dad worked for Farmall. It was a static display at a museum in Vernal but I foynd myself thinking it almost looks like it could be cranked over and run.

Jim

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David in UT

08-28-2004 07:04:50

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-27-2004 20:10:59

Jim,

Thanks for the tip -- next time I headed out Vernal way I'll make sure I take a look!

-David

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Dave in CT

08-27-2004 08:09:47

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

I had to fill the same needs (except the snow never gets up to 3 foot drifted). I bought a '47 H and have been very happy with it. I have hardly any experience with tractors but here's my 2 cents anyway. I liked the fact that the H was the 2nd largest production tractor made - makes me think I'll still be able to find parts for a while and, so far, I've had no trouble. If you have a lot of choices where you live, I'd look for something that has beefed up or 'live' hydraulics (the later super Ms and super Hs do), a three point hitch (makes your tractor more universal in terms of what implements it can use) and a wide front end. Some of those with more experience than I tell me the WFE isn't all that important but I'm loooking for a little more floatation. Also power steering would be a big plus - especially if you plan to add a loader.

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Jim Jordan

08-27-2004 20:53:53

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Dave in CT, 08-27-2004 08:09:47

I wasn"t really looking or even thinking about a loader, although I do see where it would be useful especially for my driveway. My son tells me that a tractor without a loader is useless. I like the M because they were all built at the Rock Island plant where my father and grandfather both worked. Most of the H"s were made there also and it is not hard to determine where or when they were made. Around here, Northern Illinois M"s seem to be going somewhat cheaper than H"s. Other than the engines they are pretty much the same. Most parts interchange and are not too hard to find. Ilooked at a M that has been converted to 12 volt electric and live hydraulics. It is in good condition but was built during the middle of the 47 production run. I wanted one that was no newer than a 46. I know where there are 3 Farmalls sitting, right around the corner from the one that I looked at. One is a H, I cant see the other 2 well enough to tell if they are H"s or M"s but I can tell that they are one or the other. One of the 2 that I cant Identify has a loader on it. There is also a plow sitting with these 3 tractors and I nbelieve that it is a 3 bottom which would be too big for a H. I saw a tractor in a back yard in town a couple of weeks ago. It was too dark to know what I was looking at that night. But when I went back in the daytime I saw a M with one rear tire half flat and the other about 3/4 flat, it has a loader on it and looks like it has been in that same spot for years. I haven"t been able to contact the owner yet but I know that the city is after a lot of people for having "junk" in their yards. Some people have been given warnings for having lawn mowers that they were using sitting outside overnight. I know 2 people who live within 5 blocks of this tractor that we could move it to till I could arrange to move it the 6 miles out to my place. It needs a lot of work, but I am capable of doing all of it myself and feel that time spent working on it would be good for me. I just need to get over there when the guy is home and see if I can buy it.

Jim

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rustyfarmall

08-27-2004 06:48:43

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

Welcome aboard, you sound as though you are thinking pretty much like I did a few years ago, I thought I needed to somehow justify a need for a tractor before I should purchase one. I then justified my need by reasoning that a Farmall H with a Woods belly mower made a lot more sense fincially than an over priced riding lawn mower which would do nothing more than cut grass, so I went out and found that H. I have never been sorry or regreted it for one minute. My "need" has now grown to six tractors. After all, one tractor might break down, this way I will always have a spare.

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Jim Jordan

08-27-2004 21:13:47

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to rustyfarmall, 08-27-2004 06:48:43

My daughter who lives at home just spent $1000 for a lawn tractor that will probabbly not last more than 3 years. She did this after I told her that a old tractor or even a older Cub Cadet would last longer than what she bought and could probably be bought for about the same money. The tractor dealer next to Walmart where she got the "lawn tractor" at had a Cub Low Boy in his discount row that she went right past to buy the new mower. She didn"t even look at it because she wanted something brand new. I have looked at tractors that are older than I am that will probably be plowing gardens long after I am gone. Those old tractors are pretty tough.

Jim.

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The Mrs. Red

08-27-2004 08:30:03

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to rustyfarmall, 08-27-2004 06:48:43

The Red has used that line way too many times. I ain't buying it anymore.

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Mrs. Rusty

08-27-2004 11:55:48

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to The Mrs. Red, 08-27-2004 08:30:03

I just tell him it's his money, if he wants to fill up the shed with junk it's ok with me.

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Jeff In Ontario

08-27-2004 05:53:39

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

Welcome Jim! My personal opinion is much the same as Schmidty, I think an M is a bit too much power for what you want, you might want to find a A, C, H or something along those lines, however that"s just my opinion ,,lol . Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this discussion board as much as I do! ---Jeff

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Jim Jordan

08-27-2004 21:33:31

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jeff In Ontario, 08-27-2004 05:53:39

I know that a M is more tractor than what I need. If I was looking based soley on what I will be using it for I would be looking at super A"s or Super c"s. However I really want a tractor that was produced at the Farmall tractor plant in Rock Islend, Illinois during the time that both my father and my grandfather were working there. I believe that My grandfather started working there in 1924 and that my father started in 1928. I know that they were both working there as machinists in 1930. I know that they were both layed off later in the 30"s and that they both returned to work there after the depression. I know that they both worked on F20"s but I really dont want anything that old, at least for a first tractor. Since my grandfather died in February of 1947 and may have been off work for a couple of months before that I need to get a tractor no newer than a 46 if it came out of that plant while they were both working there. That limits my choice to either a H or a M and I think that I can get a M cheaper than a H. Although I would buy a H if the right tractor came along at the right price. I have had some experience with tractors built in the 40"s and 50"s but have not been on one in over 30 years.

Jim

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Schmidty

08-26-2004 22:08:28

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

I"m fairly new here myself and in the same situation. I have a 1/2 acre vegetable garden so an A or B would work fine but I like sittin" tall in the seat of my neighbors "55 300. My Dad"s "39 H has been stored for years and I"m looking at a "53 H with a loader. The knowledgable people that frequent this site will give you honest up-front answers, if they can"t they"ll find someone who can!

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Nathan in MN

08-26-2004 21:31:06

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Re: Hi Guys. in reply to Jim Jordan, 08-26-2004 20:40:16

Well, I don"t post on here a whole lot, but let me be the first to welcome you to the board. I am in a very similar situation as you, don"t really need a tractor, but want one anyway. The only difference is that I had to convince my mom (I"m 16). I"ve been working on a 1955 Oliver Super 88 diesel, which is definitely WAY more tractor than I need, but that"s not the point, now is it? ;-)

Anyway, good luck have fun, and be safe.

Nathan in MN

P.S. For help convincing your wife that you need a tractor, go to the Tractor Talk board and do a search for "How Do I Convince Mom I Need a Tractor?" I posted it a while back, and, well, my mom finally gave in...

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