What tractor to buy?

vecair · Jul 16, 2017

Need yalls advice on what tractor to buy to pull our horse arena drag. Its a heavy drag with many tines. We have an old JD 301 loader which works fine unless its wet then some wheel spin when the drag is loaded with mud. Anyway need something smaller without a bucket and have been looking at John Deere Model M's which are about the perfect size but wondering about power? Want vintage and simple. So any advice or help will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers from Prescott Arizona!

Gary

9njunkie · Jul 16, 2017

If your looking for small... I would choose a Ford 9N or 8N. Espically if you don't have need for a loader. Nice compact tractor that's simple to work on and won't break the budget. Plenty of lift power on the 3 point lift system. Parts are easy to get anywhere and it has more HP then the John Deere you mentioned.

Good luck

jeffcat · Jul 16, 2017

That little M has far less power than you are used to. Neighbor has
one. Weird sounding lopsided 2cylinder engine. Think we are talking
about the same tractor.

Eldon (WA) · Jul 16, 2017

Allis Chalmers WD45, twice the power of an 8n at half the price! Even a WD or CA would work great.

Traditional Farmer · Jul 17, 2017

If you really want to go cheap since you don't need hydraulics or PTO and Old Allis Chalmers WC would work great or look for a tractor that has a broken PTO
or hydraulics that won't work those goes cheap most of the time.

Ultradog MN · Jul 17, 2017

I agree to buy a Ford for the factory 3
point. You can pick up all sorts of
different tools which increase it's
usefulness - boom poles, rear scoops, rakes,
back blades, mowers, etc.
But skip the Ns. The 9/2Ns don't even have a
real drawbar which he needs for his drag.
And reverse on the 8Ns is outrageously fast.
Look for a 50s or 60s Ford 600, 601, 2000 or
the like. They are equally nimble, simple,
reliable, have good parts availability,
don't cost much more than an N and are way
more tractor.

tracto-man · Jul 17, 2017

I'll second a ford or a WD 45

NoNewParts · Jul 17, 2017

funny coincidence.....
My John Deere M just left here on a trade.
Fun little tractor, with some weight, it will pull a drag just fine (It's what I used it for)
But....even though it had a rear lift, it's not a 3-point, so limited in its uses.

I'd buy a Ford...like said, not an N (not picking on N's, I like em)
but, a 600,601,800,801 is a FAR better tractor.
Good 3-point, plenty of power, a bit light though (weights or loaded tires will completely transform them into a do-anything machine)
Parts for the Fords are plentiful and cheap, and simple to work on.
Find one with power steering and a 5-speed...and you won't need to ever look again

I will give a nod to a JD 420 or equivalent and/or a MF 135...good machines, but you will need more money to get a good one.

Tequila · Jul 17, 2017

I suppose it would depend on what you need it to do. I have a JD M, totally restored, neat little tractor, good power for its size. No 3-point lift,
and about 14 HP. Hard to get on and off for old timers. I also have a Massey Fergeson 65 high crop. Just under 46 HP, 3-point lift, two speed
independent PTO 4-cyl Perkins Deisel. Like new. I am too old to use them much, going to let them go. I am in Utah just north of Az. I have
considerable experience with these tractors , if I can help with your decision let me know how to get in touch.

vecair · Jul 17, 2017

Original question asker here. Thanks for the fantastic advice gentlemen! Many ideas I did not think about not being a 'tractor head' and many thanks for helping me out. More info here is we have a JD 301A bucket loader with three point and we use that for everything else. The 'new' drag tractor will be just for that, dragging the arena but that said having a three point and PTO would not be a bad idea for future help. I must say I pined for something unusual since I am a machinery guy. Something on the shorter/lower side just so its easier around the arena and if the female wants to try her hand at it. Anyway just wanted to thank all of your for your help. Not that many tractors out our way like back east so may be taking a road trip to find what I need.

Cheers from the Wild Wild West!

vecair · Jul 17, 2017

Hi Tequila,

Thanks for the reply. I would be interested in your tractors, maybe both as I just like the M for liking it

MF would be the right unit for our drag unit. If you could send some pictures, details and prices I would appreciate it. Email is: [email protected]

Where are you in Utah? Sure makes it closer than back east!

Thanks and cheers from Prescott!

Gary Bunn

ptfarmer · Jul 17, 2017

The MF 135, or a Ford 2000, or 3000. Don't get a gasser get a diesel. The 135 with the Perkins diesel will run a long time on a tank of fuel, plus parts are plentiful, and relatively inexpensive.

oldtanker · Jul 17, 2017

First thing I'd do is check local dealer support before selecting a brand. CaseIH supports Ford and New Holland and New Holland can support Ford and CaseIH. AGCO supports AC, MF and others. I think they support Oliver and White too. JD supports JD. Here for example we have good support for JD, CaseIH/New Holland/Ford and Kubota. Support for anything else is a 60 mile drive for very poor support. So here I'd tell you to stay away from AC, MF, White and Oliver. That's not saying they are bad tractors. That's just saying support is going to be online buying and do it yourself plus over night shipping if you really need it. Don't get me wrong on dealers either. There are bad JD, CaseIH and New Holland dealers out there too. Just talking my local area.

Here for your needs I'd look into the hundred and thousand series Fords, similar sized JD's and mid 60'-70's IH.

Rick

farmer boy · Jul 17, 2017

That's not necessarily true. Don't buy a Ford hoping that a Case IH dealer can get all the parts for it. There are a
lot of part numbers that won't come up at all at the Case IH dealer, some that come up with as a good number, price and
all, but show brand violation, which means Case IH can't order it, and some parts can be ordered.

vecair · Jul 17, 2017

Thanks but only JD dealer here. We do 99% of all our own work and can fabricate most things we need. Found everything we need so far on the web for our 1974 301A. Pretty light use just a drag tractor thats why vintage is good for us. We can't justify an expensive rig or using the JD dealer as their cost are high. Just to rebuild the hyd lift cylinders would have exceeded the cost of the tractor itself! DIY here.

ptfarmer · Jul 17, 2017

(quoted from post at 11:07:21 07/17/17) That's not necessarily true. Don't buy a Ford hoping that a Case IH dealer can get all the parts for it. There are a
lot of part numbers that won't come up at all at the Case IH dealer, some that come up with as a good number, price and
all, but show brand violation, which means Case IH can't order it, and some parts can be ordered.

I can look up a part in the New Holland online parts for a Ford, and get them from my local Case construction equipment dealer. Some parts they had, the others they could order. The only parts they couldn't get were the obsolete parts.

ptfarmer · Jul 17, 2017

(quoted from post at 11:24:36 07/17/17) Thanks but only JD dealer here. We do 99% of all our own work and can fabricate most things we need. Found everything we need so far on the web for our 1974 301A. Pretty light use just a drag tractor thats why vintage is good for us. We can't justify an expensive rig or using the JD dealer as their cost are high. Just to rebuild the hyd lift cylinders would have exceeded the cost of the tractor itself! DIY here.

So true, repacked the lift, and bucket cylinders on a JD 8875 skid steer. JD wanted over $600.00 just for the four kits, the New Holland 885 skid steer is the same skid steer except for the engine. Got all four seal kits for just under $200.00 from New Holland.

What tractor to buy?

vecair

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9njunkie

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jeffcat

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Eldon (WA)

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Traditional Farmer

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Ultradog MN

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tracto-man

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NoNewParts

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vecair

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vecair

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ptfarmer

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vecair

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