Which tractor/equipment

I am new here so I will dive right in with some questions. We have a little over 9 acres of which 5.5 is hay about 2 pasture and 2 yard. We also have 3 horses and currently 1 steer. We have been baling our hay (small squares) on a half share with a neighbor that has horses also and it has worked great for 3 years. But as we were getting ready to bale 2nd crop this year we got to talking and his hay mow is pretty much full and he doesn't need the hay anymore and doesn't want to bale for the money. He said that he would continue with our arrangement until I can find my own equipment but it was time to start looking. He also isn't getting any younger as he is 72 years old. I know that I could hire someone to do it but nobody around has a small square baler and I don't like depending on somebody when we get a window to bale and they are busy putting up there own hay (I don't blame any farmer for that because there stuff has to come first) but that window might be the only one. I know that I'm not going to get rich doing it myself but I enjoy "pretending to be a farmer" and have been around it my whole life. To make a short story long I found a completely restored ford 861 new tires/rims, tire chains and a back blade for $6,000. But I also found a wd45 that is in very good shape with a 3 point, and loader for $2800. I know that either one would run a small square baler but it seems like parts for the 45 are more readily available, and cheaper. What do you guys think? I know the ford is restored but parts are still gonna break and when they do I need parts and that parade ready paint won't matter much if I have hay cut and am waiting on a part. Thanks in advance for any info.

OK..Bob andtraditional Farmer are not allowed to post in this thread..The rest of you behave yourselve else you can't play niether...........

Get you a nice red & white or blue and white tractor. If you have someone that would round bale the hay for you after you prepare it you'll be amazed at the freedom those round bales give you. MOST horses adjust to free choice hay quick and do much better than eating quick cause they know they'll run out or the others are gonna get into their share. I put up 3-500 small bales of hay /straw and hate every single one of them. Good Luck.

I would rather have the Ford. Before I go too far,
I don't own a Ford or Allis. I have used both, and
the Ford is handier to get off and on, drives
better, and it may have a live PTO with a two
stage clutch. the Allis only has a live PTO if you
use the lever on the right to stop the tractor
between high and low range. Allis parts may be
cheaper because there is no demand. Parts for the
Ford should be reasonably priced and easy to find.
Ford will have a 3 point hitch, the Allis won't
unless it is aftermarket. The ford also has depth
control for the plows. The Allis does too, if you
have the original plows. The Ford will be easier
to resell. The Ford seems to be a little over
priced, unless it is extremely nice. Around here
it would be a $4000 to $4500 tractor. The Allis
would be in the $5800 to $2000 range.

Thanks I thought the ford seemed a little high but I haven't seen it in person but supposedly it had a ground up restoration. I am definately not set on just those two tractors or anything but I have never heard a bad thing about the allis tractors (or fords for that matter) and the allis' seem to be a little less $, but maybe you get what you pay for. All of the farmers that I have worked for had 4020's for the baler but I can't swing something that big.

The Allis does not have a high and low range- that"s the later D series. AC has live power with the hand clutch, and it"s handier than using a two stage foot clutch.

(quoted from post at 11:08:18 09/20/11) The Allis does not have a high and low range- that"s the later D series. AC has live power with the hand clutch, and it"s handier than using a two stage foot clutch.

Click to expand...

Each to his own, I really hate the hand clutch on the AC's and really didn't like the power director on the 190XT that I owned and then got rid of because of that! I really like true lie power!

Rick

I think you should look for a Farmall/International. I have an International 464 Diesel and a Farmall 140 and I bale 14 acres of coastal bermuda horse hay (about 2000-3000 bales a year). The 464 (about 40-45 horsepower with a live PTO) has incredible fuel economy and ample power. It will pull a square baler and a full wagon behind with no trouble, as well as a 7'10" Vicon disc mower. The 140 is great too because I can use it on my 1 acre garden to plow, disc, plant and cultivate. It has the power to pull 2 14" plows at 3.5 mph (2nd gear). The 140 also teds the hay using a 2 basket tedder, and rakes with a John Deere bar rake, as well as pulling 6500 lb hay wagons down the road in high gear.

Good luck with your farming ventures,
SF