Author	[Modern View]
Dan C in Maine 02-18-2013 17:29:27 70.16.72.248 Report to Moderator	I have an 850 with front loader, loaded tires and chains. It has been extremely reliable and is a real work horse. Everything works as it should, and aside from normal maintenance, the tractor has needed no work. I use it on my wood lot for maintaining my roads, keeping up several 1 acre food plots, and logging. Since I am using the 850 with a logging winch in the deep woods for the majority of its running hours, I really should have a rops (and fops too for that matter) and would certainly appreciate power steering. Adding a rops/fops would run about a grand, and that price tag got me thinking. Should I put money into the 850 or would it make more sense to sell it, and with the proceeds and the money I would have spent on adding extras to the 850 , step up to a model that already has the extras. I really like the stability and functionality of my 850, but theoretically, if I were going to step up, what would be a good model to look for, given the use I described? [Reply]   [No Email]
Texasmark1 02-22-2013 06:53:36 198.45.243.137 Report to Moderator	Re: Step up from 850? in reply to Dan C in Maine, 02-18-2013 17:29:27   I had a 4600 which was a farm tractor on a larger frame than your current one. Had PS and a solid canopy over the dr. station which served as a ROPS. 200 cu in 3 cyl diesel, independent PTO. Bought it for $6000 and served me well. Mark [Reply]  [No Email]
Dan in Maine 02-20-2013 06:23:20 70.16.98.106 Report to Moderator	Re: Step up from 850? in reply to Dan C in Maine, 02-18-2013 17:29:27   Thanks for the feedback. Think I"ll price things out and see what makes the most sense in the pocketbook. [Reply]  [No Email]
soundguy 02-19-2013 05:51:07 107.41.51.62 Report to Moderator	Re: Step up from 850? in reply to Dan C in Maine, 02-18-2013 17:29:27   by the time you figure rops AND ps upgrade.. I bet you that you are in for 1500-2000$ might be cheaper to find a machine with all that stuff already. if you don't want to loose any HP.. you will have to step up to a 4xxx+ model in the 3 cyl series.. or a 8xx/4000 4 cyl witht hat stuf already attached. look thru the adds and see what the prices of loader tractors with rops and ps are then compair. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 02-19-2013 04:38:25 174.30.216.68 Report to Moderator	Re: Step up from 850? in reply to Dan C in Maine, 02-18-2013 17:29:27   Hi Dan, If the 850 runs good and is doing the job it may be wise to keep it and add the rops. But if you really wanted an upgrade then I would recommend something line a 1965 - 75 4400 or it's newer sister the 515. The 4400/515 will be heavier by about 1000 lbs, have most of 10 more hp, and likely have other features like integral power steering, independent pto, differential lock, wet disc brakes and an 8 speed instead of 5 speed tranny. But all of that on a platform not much larger sizewise than your 850. Ford took a huge leap forward with the introduction of the 3 cylinder tractors in 1965. [Reply]  [No Email]
Royse 02-18-2013 19:03:25 69.36.49.151 Report to Moderator	Re: Step up from 850? in reply to Dan C in Maine, 02-18-2013 17:29:27   You might look for one of the industrial x000 series with a ROPS. A low center of gravity version might server you well for your use too. Similar to this one that George recently "stole". 4110 Some of the industrial versions were made without 3 pt though, so watch for that. On the other hand, sometimes the devil you know beats the devil you don't. I have tractors here that I have more into than they'll ever be worth. Except when I turn the key in sub-zero temperatures to plow snow. When they start, like I know they will, they're worth every penny. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dan C in Maine 02-19-2013 04:20:19 70.16.100.149 Report to Moderator	Re: Step up from 850? in reply to Royse, 02-18-2013 19:03:25   That's a good point. The 850 has been incredibly reliable. It's never not started, no matter how cold, and, within the limits of how I use it, it's never not moved what I hook it to. And, I know the machine very well, so my comfort level is high. Perhaps adding a rops is a beter choice in the long run. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 02-19-2013 04:14:56 174.30.216.68 Report to Moderator	Re: Step up from 850? in reply to Royse, 02-18-2013 19:03:25   4110 is really just a 3000 with a little bit larger gas engine - 192 vs 158 ci. [Reply]  [No Email]
Vito 02-18-2013 17:34:48 68.118.193.1 Report to Moderator	Re: Step up from 850? in reply to Dan C in Maine, 02-18-2013 17:29:27   A tractor friend once told me the more modern the tractor the more can go wrong and costs a lot more to repair. Vito [Reply]  [No Email]