Howdy all, a couple of questions.

Hi. my wife and I just bought a small farm. We are looking for an older tractor with live pto, wide front end and power steering.

I am new to all of this, so I guess the question is, what should I keep my eyes out for?

I thought I wanted a 8N, only to find out no live PTO.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

Lou

Those features started appearing as options in the mid 1950s.

I presume you want a 3pt hitch as well, that would eliminate a
few Oliver and IHC options?

Paul

I personally would point you towards a Ford 4000-6000 series tractor. Lots of power, REALLY nice diesels, power steering, live pto, good trannys, and LOTS more... All in all a VERY nice tractor!! Bryce

Yes, sorry forgot to add 3pt hitch.

Don't overlook the late sixties and early seventies Internationals. They made a lot of utility models that will fit all your needs.

I have a 4600 ford diesel that covers those options.

(quoted from post at 22:42:33 05/07/14) Don't overlook the late sixties and early seventies Internationals. They made a lot of utility models that will fit all your needs.

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Model numbers? My grandfather was an IH mechanic when I was growing up, so I wouldnt mind getting an corn binder.

(quoted from post at 20:14:41 05/07/14) Hi. my wife and I just bought a small farm. We are looking for an older tractor with live pto, wide front end and power steering.

I am new to all of this, so I guess the question is, what should I keep my eyes out for?

I thought I wanted a 8N, only to find out no live PTO.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

Lou

Click to expand...

First sense this is new to you and buying used you will need it even if just for parts check out you local dealers. That means talk to local tractor owners. I don't care how good of a deal you get is you have to drive an hour each way for part it isn't that good of a deal. As an example, my area. JD dealer good, CaseIH good also supports New Holland and Ford. Both 25 miles. AGCO which covers Massey Ferguson, AC, White, Oliver, MM and a few others is only 12 miles. Parts and service are a joke. May as well be 1200 miles. If you are looking for a work tractor forget what you think you like and do some research. Some tractors while used lightly or just for show parts availability isn't that big of an issue. If you are going to work it some parts for some older tractors are No Longer Available.

Next you need to tell us what you want to do with this tractor. Just mow? Maybe push some snow in the winter? Till a garden? You thought you wanted an 8N. Would that be large enough for the work you want to do if it had live PTO? These are all questions that need to be addressed if you are looking for sound advice. So try to give us a little more info.

Rick

Ok, we have 13 acres total, about 8 tillable. Wanting something to till and plant, maybe dig post holes.

Have a snow blower so that isnt a big issue, but might be nice. Mowing? not sure on that.

Front loader would be nice as well.

In a 30 to 50 HP tractor, power steering is only
needed/beneficial with a loader. MF100 series or 200
series would be a good choice. Only models to pass
up are 235 with power steering and 130 which is
pretty rare anyway.

A really big paty of it is how much do you have to spend? $2000, $5000, $8000, more?
And, why do you need live pto if you are not even sure if you will be mowing? Or are you referring to live hydraulics?
Are you going to be planting the 8 acres every year? Do you plan to have animals and so will need hay? Going to start a vegetable farm?
Do you have the $ to buy the tillage/planting/harvesting equipment as well?
A little more about your plans there would help.
Also, what part of the country are you in?
Different brands of tractors were more popular in different areas.
Is the wife going to be driving it much or some other reason - physical reason - that you need power steering?
Are you mechanically inclined and don't mind having to fix an old tractor? Points, clutch, steering gear, carburator, brakes?
Will you have a shop, shed, place to do it and have tools? You came here looking for info and all we're doing is asking questions. But it's not as simple as you thought (it never is, right?) If you can give more info this great board can steer you toward something that meets your needs.

At least you've figured out you don't want an 8n, so you're one step ahead already. You are going to be looking for something in the mid 60's and forward. Check you local dealers, check Craigs List, so some research. Massey, Ford, Deere, Case, IHC, Oliver, David Brown, Allis and of course the later Kubota and other imports all made rigs that would work for you. Don't get stuck on one color, they all made good ones and dogs.

you say a loader would be nice,... I believe it's mandatory,..bite the bullet and get yourself a compact in the 35 HP category with a loader and 4 wheel drive and you'll thank yourself over and over...BTDT

An Oliver 550 if you can find one with power steering,or a 1255/1265.

We have an older Ford, 2810, diesel, wide front and a front end loader. It has been a workhorse and very reliable.

(quoted from post at 21:21:05 05/07/14) Ok, we have 13 acres total, about 8 tillable. Wanting something to till and plant, maybe dig post holes.

Have a snow blower so that isnt a big issue, but might be nice. Mowing? not sure on that.

Front loader would be nice as well.

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You have enough land and job requirements to justify 2 tractors.
Get a solid old 3000-5000 Ford at a reasonable price for working the dirt.
And get a more modern loader tractor for loader work.
General dirt work and mowing your land with a loader hanging on it all the time will get old quick.
And if you take the loader off for field work.....as soon as it's off..you'll need it....

You have a lot of solid options. Personally, I'd skip the compact tractors but that's me. Compact tractors don't take abuse well... which can consist of overloading which happens more than you think. There are a lot of compact tractors with bent buckets, frames and similar issues... including the name brands.

I say skip it as you sound like you're going to be working them a bit.

I do think you'd be well served by a 40-50 horse though. Now I'm an IH guy (though I have other colors too). Even a 350U Farmall with a loader could work well, though I'd recommend starting at a 504U then looking around there and on up. (454's fit really well and are/were popular around here, holding their value) and all the models close by (544/444/etc...)

There are a lot of good options in many colors. I think Ford had some good options as well as Case. If you are looking for a MFWD, Ford does seem to have more available at lower prices. You get more for your money with older tractor regardless.

Now I'll make the caveat that if you have NO mechanical capabilities you might consider buying new with a warranty. Anything much older than 15 years old will need work on occasion. Hiring other people costs a lot of money

That said you can find most parts for JD and IH no matter the model built since 1940. My newest tractor is a 74 and works great but I do work on it myself. Don't be tempted by Long tractors. Parts are really tough to find, though I've heard there is now someone who's bringing in new parts for these now, but I don't know for certain. You can find them on the cheap, but there's a reason why.

Don't worry about having a dealer nearby. Very few of them are interested in supporting anything over 20 years old. They won't have anything in stock so you have to make two trips to get anything one to order and one to pick up so it will be cheaper and usually faster to buy parts on line. One notable exception is Maibach Tractor in Creston Ohio. They keep a lot of Oliver parts on hand.

574, 584, 585,etc.

If you have mechanical ability you can own a fleet of older used tractors but none of them may be a good loader tractor...

I have brought several Ford 8N's, 850 and 3000 all with loaders none of them made a good loader tractor... I took the loaders off and all were good tractors but not loader tractors...

Do you plan to work on them are pay someone to work on them...