What Kind Of Front End?

Hi all, well I have been thinking about the usability of my Super C Farmall, and I think that I could get a lot more done, if I had a narrow front end on it...

As some of you may know, it is VERY easy to change front ends, so I plan on keeping the wide front end on the tractor, and putting it on in the winter because I think it will do better for plowing snow...

But for the summer discing, plowing, and mowing, I want a narrow front end...

So, I HAVE a 1949 C with a narrow front end (two wheels) and I have the option to buy a Single Wheel front end to put on it. Sooo, when I restore this C, will it have more value with the single wheel?

One the other hand when I put one of the narrow fronts on my Super C, which one will do better for traction/stability for when I am using it? I am assuming that the normal narrow front would be my best option, but I am curious to see what you guys think!!!

Also, if someone would be so kind as to continue the "Craigs List Find Of The Day" tomorrow I would greatly appreciate it, as I am not going to be available....

THANKS!! Bryce

My personal opinion, the double and single narrow fronts were common but in different area's. Therefore, were only un-common in an area where the other was common. I would say the double narrow would have more traction/stability over the single front. Haven't driven a single front C, but have heard story's and it stands to reason.

There wont be much (if any) difference in value.The single is good for following a water'mark'/currigate and not much else.They tend to 'push' on a corner rather than turn the tractor.They also tend to 'sink' further into the soil hampering 'performance'.You will hate the single.The narrow is the best of the two.I gladly sacrifice the tighter turning radious of a narrow for a wide any day.A wide will straddle a windrow of hay,a narrow will run over it.I dont think you will notice any difference in productivity between the fronts.I have removed the narrow fronts from both SC and SH and replaced with wides.These days,I dont own a single narrow front(wides all around)I have no desire to go back to a narrow of any kind.Keep the wide.....JMHO

Red,you are correct.A single and wide were more common in furrow irrigation ares.The narrow is common in the nonirrigated areas.Here we see a lot of singles and wides.Darn few narrows.

Get a wife, and
compromise...

Bryce, Haven't you been on this forum long enough to know that you can't go ten feet with a NFE tractor without it tipping over on you? Personally I prefer them I have seven and five are narrow.

I own both types. It makes no difference plowing. Narrow is better for cultivating IMO. Wide is better for raking and hay work, loader work and in soft ground. If you have a dual narrow front and get one flat you can still work, can't with a single of wide front. Stability is more a function of tractor length and weight distribution and rear wheel width than simply narrow or wide front, and operator error is the really big factor.

As far as resale, a wide front is probably best.

Narrow fronts are better for everything.The wide fronts are awkward to use,hard to steer and you can't turn short.The only place I see them is at shows where collectors want all the options on a tractor.

Leave it as a wide front....

I personally prefer a narrow front for maneuverability, when haying I have used a NF tractor for the last 4 years with no problems. I especially like the narrow front in the woods as it turns tighter and I can fit between trees that I would not clear with a wide front. The narrow front rides rougher because if one wheel on the WF goes in a hole the front end of the tractor only drops half as much, but if both wheels drop at once there is no difference.
Zach

It depends on your terrain and applications. If you already find your wide front end gets in the way, you will probably like a narrow front better.

If you add a three point hitch or have a fast hitch, a WFE will add extra front end weight. I never cared for pre-1960 WFE"s because they didn"t turn very short and they steered harder than a narrow front. In open fields, that"s not as much of a problem. For yard work and mowing, I prefer a NF.

Resale price may depend on what is common in your area. Generally, any change in tractor price is about the same as the price difference between the front ends by themselves.

I am for sure going to keep the wide front. I would probably sell the tractor with it if I ever had to...

I would also like the wide front for plowing snow in the winter, mainly because I think it has better traction than either type of narrow front....

A lot of you guys are saying that you would rather have a wide front for haying, why? I am going to be raking a LOT of hay with this tractor, and it will be following a 9ft swather, so that should give you a good idea of the size of the windrow...

I like the idea of the narrow front because a person could easily make nice tight corners, I did a lot of raking in the same fields this year with my TO-30 and it did great, but my tires ended up on the hay anyway?

I think I am still going to try out the narrow front end this summer and see how I like it, but I will probably end up putting the wide front back on it for the long run... Just wanted to see what you guys think!

Bryce

It all depends, but in general, the narrow front end is better only for tight maneuverability. It might be needed for certain loaders and cultivators. And mounted corn pickers, etc.

Otherwise for everything else, a wide front end is far superior.

As well a single tire front end is a specialty deal, they sink into mud way too easy, they give a very hard harsh ride.

Unless I had to have a single tire front end for my implement, I would consider it a negative on the selling price, tractor would be worth less. My back would be more sore from the harsh ride. I don't like narrow front ends for mowing or raking hay, they mush more hay into the typically muddy ground around here.

A wide front end gives better flotation, better ride, a bit more stable, handles mud way better. I would pay extra for a wide front end machine most of the time.

The typical 2 tire narrow front end is sort of the standard, and would pay average for that.

I grew up with dads tractors running the farm, 3 narrow front ends and 2 wide front ends, and it is no contest really, the wide front is better for everything always except tight maneuverability..... My back still hurts from some of those narrow front end rides on plowed ground, when you're a kid you don't understand how to slow down.......

Paul

I like narrow front for moving wagons around, other than that, a wide front handles and rides better.

I guess I should say, here in my back yard, we deal with mud all spring and fall long, with about 4 days of dry weather in a typical summer - or so it seems. So here we need the floatation to carry us over the mud, and a single tire front end is just a very, very rare thing. We cut hay an hour after a rain, so we can get the 4 dry days to let it dry before the next rain. Everything we do is based on working in wet clay soft mud..... If you work hay with a single tire, you will basically be ruining the field 'here' by rutting the field and pressing the hay into the wet ground. You need floatation and you need to straddle windrows, and you want front and rear tires to run in the same path to run over as little of the hay (both cut and living shoots) so as to wreck as little as possible.

We don't like front tires on a roll a bar rake here either, as those extra tires just make more wet hay as it pushes cut grass down into the moist dirt.....

In other regions, I see a single tire works better for those conditions sometimes?

I forget sometimes, here and there things can be so different.

Paul

Alright good, this is the kind of information I wanted to know! I think I will probably keep the wide front, and now buying a single wheel is out of the question... Bryce

You just basically described what it is like growing in northern ID!!! We fight mud year round in places, and field compaction is a big, big problem.... I think I should just forget the idea and leave the wide front on there!!!

Bryce