Is It Do-Able?

So, I have been thinking about getting a "REAL" farm tractor. Looking for something in the 40-50 horse diesel range, 2wd, older of course... Come to realize, they just are not in the budget. $6000+ around here for what I am interested in...

So, I had an interesting thought this morning...

I have this Ford 4400 Backhoe/Loader, and it is a good tractor for sure. And I am sure that it would easily handle this new swather, and even the baler.

It doesn't have hydraulics (3 point), pto, or drawbar on the back, because it has the hoe on there.

Looking in my manual (for the hoe) there are really only two HUGE bolts that hold the thing on, then the hydraulic lines? Other than that, it is a "quick" disconnect as they call it!

SO, if I was to pull the backhoe off, how hard would it be to put a pto into this thing? I would think it wouldn't be that bad? Just need a shaft and what ever engages/disengages it? Right? Then I would need to have a drawbar on it, but I would bet money that there is no difference between a Ford 4000 drawbar/frame, and the one that the 4400 would have used?

What do you guys think?

It would be a kick butt farm tractor for me for sure!!! Would handle anything I could throw at it... Might even pop the front loader off of it!

I have been kicking around the idea of giving the old girl a paint job, maybe a "kinda sorta" restoration, and having the hoe and loader off would be the PERFECT excuse!

SO, lets here your thoughts... Do able I ask?

It's an idea, but look closely for the hole for the pto to go into and it's control, also bolt holes that a hitch/drawbar would use to mount.
Those things are often not on utility tractors.

Bryce I've seen 30 series case tractors on the photo ads n here for less than 4000 I think that would make a good tractor for you. That 4400 would be nice to if it is do able

I don't believe that's doable with 4400. I have a parts tractor tractor 4400 outback and had looked into making it simular but found that despite simular outside the inner guts of trans and rear are much heavier and dif than it's ag version 4000. At least that's what I read and been told

Hi Bryce
As soon as I started reading your post, Ozlanders answer was coming to mind. There was a few ford diggers in the U.K based on tractor/industrial skid units. A lot of them it was not possible to put pto and hyds on as the castings were different. I think the one my buddy scrapped was a 13/6, 4550 or something like that 20 odd years ago, and it wouldn't swap to farm tractor spec.
You really got to do your homework on this one. Then if you could do this update can you get the digger back on if needed without major work the other way. Maybe a member here might have a tractor suitable?

Regards Robert

Bryce, one thing I learned thru the years is that sometimes you have to sell some toys to buy another one. It's better to sell one asset to buy another one as investors say. Letting go is the hard part but sometimes it can be a relief and benefit in the long run. I can tell you're already thinking something newer so you're on the right track so my suggestion is to sell off some of your other tractors and buy a nicer tractor ready to go cut hay and bale it. There may be larger cost up front but it can make you money and you won't have to invest more money to get it ready for the field. One other thing to keep in mind is. Where do you want to be 5 or 10 years from now? Just my two cents worth.

Bryce,

Just a thought...... Why not re-power your M with a Super M rebuild kit and add an aftermarket 3-point hitch. That would get you the HP your after and a new style hitch system. We put a 3-point on one of our WD-45's and it has worked good so far.

Bryce, like you when I was younger, I would see something ag related and think I could make something useful out of the farm equipment junkyard. A lot of the time it ended up back at the junkyard, with time money and effort wasted. Not always,but a lot. If you like to tinker than fine, have fun. If you want to farm, get one decent tractor and enjoy that.

any M series or allis wd will handle the jobs you describe without a problem. my grandfather baled hay with a jd B and a jd A you don't need to ruin a good backhoe to make hay. use what you got then sell some hay and in no time you will have the money to get a bigger hay tractor. but use what you got and make it pay for itself. just my 2 cents

Your best course of action would be to leave your TLB (tractor, loader, backhoe) together and use it to earn money to buy a tractor already set up to do field work! Look around and let it be known that you have a backhoe and want to put it to work! You will have to do some homework about liability insurance and underground location among other things that you need to know about starting a busness but you can do this and make some money to boot! There are plenty of people on this forum that can explain the details better than I can. Armand

I agree, however my mom does not. She is afraid of the "trouble" I will cause hiring out with the backhoe (even though I do with all my other tractors???). So the law states that it is to be used ONLY on our property...

I have thought about it all day, and I think it is just a disaster waiting to happen, it will stay as is, and I will keep "feeding the pig"! Have about $1000 right now, hope to have $3000 by the end of the year, and that should do what I want...

Have the option to by a restored (older) Farmall Super M, wide front, Live Hydraulics, bald 14.9's for $1100.

I think that is a very good deal, from a very trusted seller, and I am the only one he is willing to sell it to. I think for now I am going to plan on going for it. For the money I spend on it, it would be a VERY good tractor for what I need it to do, and it would still be collectable!

Thanks for the advice guys!! Bryce

I think you are right... This is starting to sound like a money pit waiting to happen!!!

I had that thought, but the M needs a LOT of work! Tranny is screwed up, clutch is trash, input shaft is trash, etc. Needs a full on rebuild, and I think I would be better/cheaper off just buying a whole nother tractor... THEN if need be, using this one for parts!

Yes, I agree... Have a MM RTU and a Case VAC for sale. Might be selling my 1935 JD B on the Kay Brunner wheels.... Also a few pieces of equipment, and a LOT of stuff to scrap!!

Probably have $1000 worth of scrap IF the price comes back around...

Converting a bare back loader to an ag tractor is an expensive task.

I would not.

Paul

How many "toys" do you have? Your bound to have something heavy and powerful enough for a baler and swatter. Instead of wasting time and money to hopefully not wreck a good loader.

The H, even without live PTO and hydraulics, will do those couple of tasks easy. It will just take time to get use to getting the line going with the "dead" PTO on the tractor though.

Ohhh man.... I got all kinds of good stuff!!!

Ya, I think I am sticking with the H for now.... Saving my pennies and will be buying the Super M for sure... Someday soon!

(quoted from post at 21:55:38 06/09/15) Ohhh man.... I got all kinds of good stuff!!!

Ya, I think I am sticking with the H for now.... Saving my pennies and will be buying the Super M for sure... Someday soon!

Click to expand...

If its for the haying adventure Why? A super M will not have live PTO either so in that regard will be no better than your h. While it will have more hp than your h it will be such that you really only have 1 decent gear (2nd) for cutting with your 990 mower conditioner - as 3rd will likely be too fast in most situations. supers have faster gear sets.

At least on your h you have 2 gears to use on the swather. 2nd and 3rd gear on a plain h or m are perfect swather as you call your mower conditioner gears. The h will be a miser on fuel too. Super M will drink it.

Now if you talking SMTA, 400, or 450 then I can more easily see the allure or if you just want it for wants sake...