What is a GREAT 80ish hp Tractor - That Is a Hidden Gem?????

Bill VA · Nov 12, 2016

70 era tractors like a JD4020 and IH Farmalls fetch some big prices, i.e. $10k or more.

However, occasionally I see some very late model tractors with 80ish hp that sell for less, New Holland TN models, don't know the ages, but Hesston labeled Fiat tractors. Saw a MF 383 for sale, under $6000.

What are some reliable make and models that are in the 80ish hp range that are otherwise good, reliable tractors - parts are not an issue, but don't stand out like a JD or Farmall and just don't command a high price - yet get the job done, day in and out?

What are these hidden gems?

Just curious.

Thanks,
Bill

Ray IN · Nov 12, 2016

I have always thought a ford 5000 diesel would be a very handy size tractor. I have seen them for 5 to 6 K. Not sure if they are quite 80 hp--prob little less.

centash · Nov 12, 2016

Ford 7000, 8000 series were a decent tractor. Ben

crawlerjohn · Nov 12, 2016

A Case 930CK is a good reasonably priced tractor also a 1855 Oliver.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 12, 2016

Do the ford 7-8000's have SOS trannys?

Dad bought the first 6000 and for me, an SOS is a deal breaker.

centash · Nov 12, 2016

No, had optional dual power which is similar to many shift on the go options like the t/a on Internationals. Ben

LAA · Nov 12, 2016

The Hesston labeled fiats are good tractors but I have to agree with crawlerjohn on the JI Case tractors, especially the 930 or the 1030 -- both reliable and tough, fuel efficient too in my experience, and those era tractors are crazy cheap.

jon f mn · Nov 12, 2016

A case 870 is 85 hp and as tough and reliable as they get and can have standard 8spd or an excellent power shift. They may be the most fuel efficient tractor made. The 970 at 93hp is also great. Both can be found for 5-8,000.00

DeltaRed · Nov 12, 2016

1080 and 1085 Massey. Couple of those in the neighborhood.Have given good reliable service that seem to run on fumes.Classmate from high school had a AC 185 'Crop Hustler'.

tomstractorsandtoys · Nov 12, 2016

The Perkins engine in those tractors were great but they have the poorest hyd of any tractor of that era. They pump the hyd oil from the rear end thru the hyd pump then they filter it. So we remove all the junk from the oil after it damages the hyd pump? There is an aftermarket kit that adds a filter back at the trans before the oil goes thru the hyd pump and that fixes the problem. I am all Deere but my wifes brother had a 1080 and I really enjoyed running that tractor. Tom

Eldon (WA) · Nov 12, 2016

(quoted from post at 06:16:54 11/12/16) 70 era tractors like a JD4020 and IH Farmalls fetch some big prices, i.e. $10k or more.

However, occasionally I see some very late model tractors with 80ish hp that sell for less, New Holland TN models, don't know the ages, but Hesston labeled Fiat tractors. Saw a MF 383 for sale, under $6000.

What are some reliable make and models that are in the 80ish hp range that are otherwise good, reliable tractors - parts are not an issue, but don't stand out like a JD or Farmall and just don't command a high price - yet get the job done, day in and out?

What are these hidden gems?

Just curious.

Thanks,
Bill

Brought this Allis 185 home last spring for $3300. Sold the ROPS and fenders off of it for $1200, and used it all year with an 80" Howard rotovator. It has already paid for itself. Good tractors are out there, you just have to watch for them and jump on a deal when it comes around.

Eldon (WA) · Nov 12, 2016

Allis 6080 I bought thru Auctiontime for $3400 a couple of years ago. New radials on the back and new fronts.

Jeff M NY · Nov 12, 2016

Even though I am all red, I think the Oliver's are good tractors.For 80 horsepower I would suggest an Oliver 1750 or 1755. Have had both in the past. Both are strong enough for big work and I think are nimble enough on smaller equipment as well. A little smaller and a 1650 or 1655 at around 65 horsepower and a little bigger an 1850 at around 90.

Trouble is I think a lot of people are figuring this out. Have been to auctions where they are starting to bring more and more. Any brand of tractor in good shape will bring a good price and junk will bring junk price. Just have to look for a good deal. They all have their strong and weak points. No 1 brand has it all.

Paul in MN · Nov 12, 2016

The 8000 series had the dual range 8 speed, plus the optional dual power shift. So it had a possibility of 16 forward speeds and 4 speeds in reverse. We have 2 tractors with the D.P. and son has an IH with the T.A. The dual power is much more trouble free than the TA, and much easier to locate and service than the T.A. Some people dislike the Ford 8 speed because it is not syncro'ed. I have no trouble shifting it from 6th to 8th or maybe 7th to 8th when pulling a load on the road. It just takes a bit of practice and patience. I have been inside the 8 speed of the 9000 tractor and find the gears to be very robust. Of course a poor operator can destroy anything, but we have had much better service from our 3 Ford 8 speeds than we have had from IH's with T.A.s.

Hoping to not start a color war here!

Paul in MN

RandyB(MI) · Nov 12, 2016

I second the 870 /970 case. Low rpm long lasting engines. Depending on your intended use you can't go wrong with the straight 4spd-hi-low range trans (8spd) Powershifts are nice but at the age of these tractors you better know what you are looking at or get some re-build history on it. You can probably get the 6 cyl 970 for little more than the 4 cyl 870 since there are more of them around. Last one I sold for $ 6500 with new tires.(970)

Cowmechanic · Nov 12, 2016

Bill there are good deals around for the IH's if you look around and are patient.Bought this triple 6 farmall a few months back.While not 80 hp it's damn close.Tractor has 3600 hrs. and runs excellent.Has new drivers and batteries.There's an Oliver 1850 down the road from me thats been in a barn the last 15 years showing less than 4000 hrs.It's in good condition.Sometimes tractors like that can be had cheap.Just have to evaluate them to see if their worth it.That Oliver just might be my winter preject!

Cowmechanic · Nov 12, 2016

Forgot to mention I paid 6250.00 for the triple 6.

Paul

caterpillar guy · Nov 12, 2016

The Case or the Oliver. Would be the cheapest though I would opt for the Case. A 930 would work good and if you found a western it will probably be cheaper than the comfort king unless you have a collector looking at it also.

steve terplak · Nov 12, 2016

Second on the 1080..,not as powerful as it looks and feels like it should be, but it is a nice machine to operate and, as delta red says, seems to run on fumes. I feel like, I fuel it up half as often as other tractors.

dhermesc · Nov 12, 2016

I grew up with IH and still run IH on my hobby farm but I agree that the 870 and especially the 970 Cases are about the best there is for their period and still productive to this day.

Brown Swiss · Nov 12, 2016

Oil has to go through a fine strainer to get to the pump first. On the Olivers they don't seem to have that, so not sure what you are talking about as being the worst.

GordoSD · Nov 12, 2016

IH 966. Loads of power and the weight to use it.Find a black stripe. You should get a nice one for 5500.

tomstractorsandtoys · Nov 12, 2016

In my days of buying and selling used tractors I have seen 10 Massey 180,1080,1100,1130's with bad hyds for every one Oliver that had problems. Other than the 1755 Olivers with the two piece wrist pin bushings I never saw many Olivers with problems. Tom

showcrop · Nov 12, 2016

I bet that you can get well into the 80s with JICase and get some modern features. Tractors like a1690 or 1694. Even though Case bought out IH, it seems more like the Case tractors prior to 1984 became the orphans.

Don-Wi · Nov 12, 2016

Dad's Massey 285 only brought $4100 today after I ran it up $600 myself. It needs some work but still too cheap. At one time, every farmer in the neighborhood had one, even if they ran different brands for everything else. They're a good 85 horse tractor that is great for doing hay.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Philip d · Nov 12, 2016

Kubota M8200's have been tough as nails for us,does most of the bale moving through mud,manure loading,woods duty the works. The one we have now since new has 6000 hours of loader work on it and is still very reliable. Amazing cold weather starting too.

Philip d · Nov 12, 2016

We had one that we ran a 260 MF chopper with and did quite a bit of tillage work with it too. Head gasket replacement once a year and rings every second year. The transmission locked up and needed rebuilt too. We traded it in on a 3505 21 years ago and we still run it on a 9' disk mower and spreading manure.

Philip d · Nov 12, 2016

3505 MF has been a great tractor for us too,could likely find one fairly cheap too

Philip d · Nov 12, 2016

I'll second that too,know a few people that had 7710's around here and loved them

CCer · Nov 13, 2016

In this long list of tractors, No one listed the famous Essex Tri-Directional? How soon they forget.

rrlund · Nov 13, 2016

Not a thing in the world wrong with a White 2-70 or 2-85. An American 80 with the Cummins engine would be a great find too.

What is a GREAT 80ish hp Tractor - That Is a Hidden Gem?????

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