Loader Tractor

flhr62 · Oct 3, 2011

I have a Ford 4000, but due to after market power steering I can not put a loader on it. From what I have read the Hydros look to be the best loader tractor, but they are not very plentiful around here. Should I hold out and keep looking for a Hydro or just get a gear drive. I am about to have some land cleared and the loader would just be used for odd jobs. Its other main use would be mowing. I would prefer an IH or Case but open to suggestions.
Thanks, Mark.

flhr62 · Oct 3, 2011

Sorry for the double post.

Dave_Id · Oct 3, 2011

Many name brand tractors such as Massey, have the manual gears but they have a shuttle shift, so you can readily move from forward to reverse in whatever gear you have it in. My Massey was a '96 253, although I bought this one new, I know nothing about the tractors coming out in the last few years.

mkirsch · Oct 3, 2011

Hydros are nice when they work, but God help you when they quit. The repair bill is astronomical.

Diesel hydros sell like gold, but gassers are a bit of a dog on the market because they're so inefficient.

If you're used to a gear drive tractor, you won't miss the hydro.

oldtanker · Oct 3, 2011

Many of the industrial tractors, Ford, IH, Case, MF and others were available and can be found used with 3 point and PTO that were equiped with a shuttle shift. I've got one on my TLB that I've learned to love. Select the gear to operate in, and drive, hit the brakes and shift F to R or R to F. Makes loader work very nice!

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Oct 3, 2011

Why not get the best of everything with a older/used tractor loader backhoe?? You get shuttle shift loader backhoe and everything is heavy duty! Cleaning up after a clearing project a backhoe would be hard to beat! Bud.PS,Not talking about a small import or 3 point junk,just a cheap older construction TLB.Bud.

Harold Hubbard · Oct 3, 2011

Even without a shuttle, a tractor that has reverse in the range trans rather than the speed trans isn't too bad to work with. My loader tractor is a MF 175 and is a real dog. If you use low range, then reverse is slower than death, and if you use high range, you are pretty much underpowered or out of control in any forward speed. Personally I also want to be able to shift with my left hand and control the loader with my right. Of course I have been spoiled by using industrial equipment,(dozers, loaders, backhoes) with torque converters and dedicated forward reverse shift levers. It's pretty hard to fight an un-synchronized gearbox after you have done it the other way.

IH fan · Oct 3, 2011

Slickest loader tractor (other than a skid steer) that I have operated was a M-F 204 Work Bull with a foot shuttle/throttle combo. Kept both hands free for steering and loader. Hand throttle set the engine speed, but the foot throttle/shuttle could increase the speed above the hand setting.
There may be others with this set-up, but it sure beats shifting.

JimB2 · Oct 3, 2011

Hi, the IH 74, 84 and 95 series make a good loader tractor. Like a 684, you have a FWD and REV in every gear. One shift lever at left hand. Some come with optional Fast/Rev but most had T/A. If you are operating in soft ground, I would suggest 4WD.

JimB

David G · Oct 3, 2011

Having a hydrostatic loader tractor is nice, but there are drawbacks. Repairs on a clutch tractor should be a lot less than repairs on a tractor with hydrostatic or power shift.

Those feature are convenient, but cost more to purchase and repair. I also believe a clutch tractor will dig better than a hydrostatic, due to no slip.

flhr62 · Oct 9, 2011

Thanks for the replys. I will broaden my search a little more.

Loader Tractor

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