Why do you have the tractor(s) that you have?

jwitty

Member
I got my farmall m because my grandpa (who is still alive) which used a farmall m on the family farm when he was my age (18 ish). I'd also like to get an H because he also had one too. Then I'd also like to get a 730 diesel john deere because my great uncle had one. What's your story?
 
Bought my Massey with FEL at auction by accident. Didn't intend to have winning bid. Been one of Best Buys I've ever made. Bought ford 9n bec it looks like a good project. Engine is stuck and I want to see if I can get it going again.
 
Unless it's one I didn't know was bought later, my 9N was my Grand Daddy's first tractor. It was
bought 12-22-39 for $630, plus a planter, two bottom plow, PTO belt drive and a 6 foot disc harrow
for a total of $900 and change. It also has a Sherman step up.
 
Bought a 51 Farmall Cub in 1996 when we purchased 7 acres after getting out of the Air Force.
Bought a 50 John Deere A in 2011 for a project tractor from an uncle. It had not run in several years. Still working on it.
Inherited a 40 Farmall H, a 43 Farmall H and a 50 Case VAI from my Dad when he passed away in 2015.
Would like one more tractor but have not found the right one yet.

Rodney 8)
 
Tractors are like candy in that you can never have too much/many. LOL Some of the ones I have are family tractors but the majority are just because I want them. My son's laugh when I work my ground in that I never have to unhook a tractor to do any of the operations. I mean all year not just planting. LOL.
 
They all just followed me home!

On a more serious note, my Oliver 990 I bought because they're somewhat hard to find, and they're wild pullers. I knew the owner's grandson, made it easier to buy. My Moline M602 was a straight up impulse buy at auction because I thought it was way too cheap (and it was cheap, it's an amazingly straight survivor), a couple of Deeres in rough shape were inherited, and the others were bought just because right time and place. I think I have 8 or 9 all told.
 
I grew up with IH and Farmall, so that's what I have now...But I have owned others, just don't have that real connection or love of the other makes I suppose, although I can appreciate them all.
 
For me, some my dad had, some are my uncles. Most I've had to keep running myself. Still look at and wish I could fill in some holes with more. I grew up on a JD620. Farmed in my teens with a JD720 gas, got replaced with a 4320. Wish we still had that 720, would like to get a 720/730 Diesel.

Never had a Oliver, Case, or AC.
 
I wasn't fortunate enough to inherit any tractors. In 1987 when I moved to the country I bought a Kubota B5200 tractor with a front loader. It wasn't near as big of a tractor as I needed but all I could afford. After a little more than 20 years I pretty nearly wore it out doing more with it than it was designed. I then started looking for a bigger tractor with a front loader that I could afford and found a 1959 Case 210B so I bought it. Then before long I found myself trying to restore both of them. Only the Kubota I didn't put the front loader back on. I just use it with a bush hog.
 
I just have old tractors my Dad had,we worked on
them together and went to quite a few antique
tractor functions on them together along with my
son. The first one we got is a 56 Massey 333
Diesel. It's a close resemblance to the 33 diesel him
and my Grandfather had when he got out of school.
The second is a 44 2N Ford which closely
resembles the 39 9N my great Grandfather bought
that was the first rubber wheeled tractor on our farm
my Dad rode along with my uncle and grandfather.
The third one that didn't get finished before he
passed almost 6 years ago but runs really nice and
is all together is my Grandfathers on my mothers
side Oliver 66 I think is a 1956? Maybe my personal
favorite is our 85 3505 Massey we still use a lot. I
spent a lot of hours with Dad either in that tractor
together or just in the same field. It was our main
work tractor for quite a few years.
 
Here are mine in order of acquisition:
Allis WD--Dads first tractor he bought new in '52..used this fall to pick ear corn
JD 2010--needed a tractor to get into the produce growing business
JD 4020--needed more power for tillage and had always heard how good they were
New Holland TC48DA--bought it new for only 60 monthly payment of $300. Nice little outfit with a loader.
JD 3020 gas--priced right at an estate sale, needed something to pull the sweetcorn planter
Ford 4000 4 cyl--gift from FIL who no longer used it. Very handy for cultivating melons
JD 2510D--bought it off ebay b/c many on this site like the 2520 but those are too pricey. Hay making tractor.
Ford 3600 diesel--near by auction and it was going too cheap. Now I won't have to unhook the sprayer all summer.

Still looking for a late model Oliver 550 and a MF 135 cause I used to drive my Uncle's a lot.
 
It is a sickness or maybe I did not have enough toys as a child? There are close to 20 tractors here now but I do buy and sell some. I have eight or nine that will not leave here as some were dad's and I still have the 4 I started farming with. There is no such thing as to many 3020-4020's. Tom
 
Well let's see here.. I have my grandfather's 1941 Case SC Center Exhaust that he bought in the early 1970's. That one will never leave the family (at least while I am around).. My 1947 Farmall M and Farmhand Standard loader I assembled to mimic the 1940 Farmall M my grandfather had. The current owner of his tractor has no interest in selling. My 1942 Farmall H belonged to my best friend's aunt and was used for many, many years giving haunted hayrides to people all across the metro area here in MN. My 1938 Farmall F20 I fell upon for a good price. Always wanted a pre-'39 IH, and found one by accident. As luck would have it, I found another for parts in the same week. I was able to revive the '38 which hadn't run since the 1950's the last anyone knew. And last but not least - my '42 John Deere Unstyled A (home built). Always wanted a two cylinder, and this one I also fell upon for a good price (but was ROUGH internally). All tractors except the Case SC were stuck.. I really like bringing them back from the dead. Not in it for the money, I'm in it to keep my sanity!
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Kens YouTube Channel
 
Hi! My name is Andy and I have a sickness. It started with just one, a 1937 JD A, unstyled. Then a Farmall H because my maternal grandfather had one, then an M because my father and maternal grandfather each had one. Then a Cub to mow with. Then for no reason, another Cub, Farmall A, SA, B, C, SC, SH, SM, SMTA, SMTAD, more M's (11 now), O-6, 100, 2-300's, 400, 450 (why oh why don't I have a 200?), then my grandpa's M and my dad's F-14, an F-12, and F-20 (I need an F-30), Allis B (2), JD H, JD B (2), JD A (styled), 1936 JD D (third owner, second owner bought it in 1938), and recently a Farmall WD-9.

If I had a problem I'd admit it.
 

One day I looked out in the yard and there
were 3 Fords and bunch of other iron
there.
Only explanation I can come up with is a
magnetic personality.
 
(quoted from post at 18:19:32 10/25/17) Because I have a sickness. Hi. My name is Greg
and I?m an addict!

Mine kinda parallels that nutrisystem thing....I had four, sold them....then wound up with close to 100. Oh well....
 
I have the Ferguson TO-20 that my grandfather bought new the week I was born. If I had a nickel for every hour I have mowed or
raked hay with that old Fergie, I'd be a rich man. He gave it to me in 1978. HE had it overhauled, painted and put four new tires
on it before he gave it to me. There is still engine paint on the spark plugs.
 
I have dad's 53 dc that he bought in 55, always been on the farm. Then I bought a 400 to mount my mounted picker on. Then I got the 1030 because I always wanted one.

But for me it's not about tractors, I only get those to pull my machinery collection. And it's alk case. 2 combines, a 77 pull type like dad had and I used to chase around the field so he could dump on the go. And an 1160. A 955 swather for cutting oats for the combines. 4 wagons for hauling bales and grain. 2 bakers a 200 a d 220, dad had one of each. Of course a number 10 pull type mower and another mounted one will fit on a vac tractor to be bought yet.
A model 281 hay rake. A 454 4 row planter.
2-4 row cultivates, one mounted for the dc
and a later 3pt model. A late 60's
grinder/mixer and an older belt drive hammer mill for feed. A 14' Finnish disc and a 16' heavy disc. Still need to add a few pieces, a plow, hay conditioner, potato digger to name a few.

My plan is to have a small farm with a few animals and do it all with just Case equipment. Got most of the stuff now, just need to get it all rebuilt and find the right place to work it.
 
I first drove a Ford 9N and then we got a Massey 35 Diesel. I traded the Massey for a Ford 4000 and then I was hooked. It finally felt like we
were getting work done on time,in time. I ve kept on adding to the collection as our hay operation has grown. There's another 5000 in the shop when this picture was taken. Very fond of the Fords.
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Was looking for a WD 45 and dad said take my WD. He bought it new in 51. Needed overhaul and new tires. Few years later needed a bigger tractor and found a D-19. That's two. Years later a farmer I knew was having a farm sale and he had a Farmall 450. When I was home dad had a 400. That's three. When in the 7th grade dad bought a F-20 so always wanted one. Found one of them 4 years ago. That's four. Son bought a 986 a few years. It hooked to the hay processer. Wife has ask me a few time why I need so many tractors. Don't dare get them all out in the front year at the same time.
 
Well dad started farming with oliver and moline. I remember when he bought his first case.It was a 400 gasser. I have it and 2
830 s EH and com. The one I farmed with. I have a Z moline and a 720D. I always wanted a 2 cylinder. Would like to have his 77
oliver but probaly won t happen. RB
 
Guess I have been living your dream....been farming with JI Case equipment for 49 years. Newest tractor is a 83 4690 back to a 1929 model L Case. 75 to 80 tractors (all Case) here now.
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Grew up on AC and Oliver tractors so look for them,also I'm always looking for a bargain in any brand so I have a variety.Almost never buy a tractor that I couldn't turn around and make a good
profit on, with a lot of tractors I never 'need' to buy one.
 
Got two Allis Chalmers WDs. One was grandpa's on mom's side, the other was grandpa's on dad's side. Would love to buy another one some day, but need to fix up the two I've got!
 
Dad left me his Allis-Chalmers Model M crawlers, his F12, and Farmall A. I used his M's in my disking business, and through the years I picked up a few more. I started mowing with a MF T020, then bought a MF231, then a JD 401 industrial for bigger mowing jobs. Probably will not get anymore, unless that special one comes along. Stan
 
My first tractor is a 1951 WD Allis given to me by my Dad. His first tractor is a 1950 WD. I have since added a 1929 20-35 E, a Bobbette, a WD-45 hi-crop, and a 1937 WC. I also have a couple two wheel walk behinds. I also co-own with my Dad another 1/2 dozen tractors. I collect for a few reasons: I love just about anything mechanical, The older or more unique the better. I like seeing engineering at its finest. I like bringing something back to life and proving people wrong. I feel a need to save/preserve history and to show that old is not useless and obsolete. The most important reason why I collect and have tractors--my Dad. I think helping me tinkeron old tractors keeps him young and going. They are something we both have a passion for. He is completely amazed at what I can do with a hand full of tools and I love to see his smile and his look of astonishment when I do/fix something that he thinks is near impossible. To sum up I will have the LIFE LONG ILLNESS and am always looking for another piece of old iron providing I can sneak it past the wife!
 
Some are here for daily use, some are "specialty". The latter are mainly because I remember them as a kid. I've got a Farmall A that I didn't
really want but traded for. It turns out to be a perfect tractor to auger with and run the hay elevator. It's got a belly mower and that comes in
handy on occasion. Then I have an 8N Ford. It's good for mowing electric fence paths and blading light snow close to the sheds. It just sits
around otherwise (unless you want something done at road speed). Then I have a Farmall M hooked permanently to the mixer grinder. That's
what we had growing up and it is a really handy combination. I grind a good bit of feed and it goes through the gas, but it's so handy to put
places with that narrow front. I also have an 886 IH with a loader that I use for dry weather winter chores and raking and square baling. It's my
go-to loader tractor for chores where heat, a/c, or dry clothes are desired. It's also the only cab tractor that is large frame that doesn't have
duals which also puts it right in the middle of most chores. It plows terraces as well.

The rest are Deere because the dealer support is near and they are used daily. I guess the 4020 isn't, but it is the handy chore tractor (loader)
when the weather is nice(no cab). It used to be dualed up and used for planting but it's had a loader on it for over 20 years now. The 7800 is
used for planting but also has a loader on it. It is handy in really nasty weather for chores because it is MFWA but has duals on the back which
are a pain when feeding. The 4440 gets used for all of the spraying and the moco. The worst mistake I made was getting rid of another 4440
that didn't have duals on it. I figured I could get buy with only one of those tractors. Wrong. That's when the 886 was purchased. The last one is
the old 8430. Good old tractor. Cheap horsepower. It's been here since new and only in the last 1000 hours or so did it go in for a new 50 series
engine. It pulls the field cultivator and disk. This time of year it also pulls the big grain cart. It's in dire need of 8 new tires but I just hate to throw
that much money at it. There's nothing wrong with it but it's a dinosaur. It would cost me a mint to replace it with another that could do its job so
her place in line is pretty secure as long as the quad range holds up. I'm better off with the old girl.

Eight tractors, one farm. It sure isn't enough, though. I still have to unhook equipment sometimes. I better keep looking.
 
Started with Nancy's John Deere 48A that was her father's.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/JamesLHowell?feature=mhsn">Bought a few more</a> along the way to work on our farm in NE Texas.
 
I have inherited the MI and 40S from Grandpa to Dad to me. Still use the 40 regularly, the M, once in a while.

The first tractor I bought to farm with is a 1989 JD 2355N, Narrow for in the grape vineyard. Has been the most reliable, best fit tractor I could ever ask for, 6K hours now. For ten years or so, it was the main tractor here, handled everything.

Added a 5400MFWD with FEL to manage manure from the cows, etc, and a 5500N with cab for spraying. And now a 1973 4430 to pull the MOCO.

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Twitty.......'cuz my wife saw an add inna newspaper and sent me 300-mi to inspect it. Part of a divorce settlement. Showed up inna VW Rabbit Pickup. Put $500 cash money down and said I'll be back next Sunday with the rest of the money. ($2000-total) Borrowed a flatbed and hauled away with my Dodge Cummins Diesel pick'em-up. Had my 9-yo son fer company. I mostly do brush-hoggin.' Some pasture mowing. I probably had it 3-yrs before I found the 3rd gear in the Sherman aux tranny. Rear tires are 14.9x24. Like having duals. Std tires are 10.0x28.......tractor Dell
 
'Cuz nothin' runs like a Deere??? Well, except for the old Massey. In truth, I
caught the disease from my dad. Ben
 
Funny, that's about as long as I had my used '65 3000 and found 4/8th gears. Some things just take time. Grin.
 
I retired, downsized and sold off, then came back with a little 24 hp. So the corral is old 30 and 40, 7 year old 65, and 1 year old 24 hp. I
use all of them especially when haying. About the time I think about selling the 2000, I use it and think well, maybe not. I'll just keep it.
 
Growing up on the Dairy we ran
Oliver,IH,Deere,and Long.I like the
IH's,they are a good solid tractor and they
look damn good.Most folk' s around here run
Deere's and some Ford's.Don't see too many
red ones here that's another reason I run
IH' s.
Paul
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Because my wife likes the color blue.

Might not be the main reason I guess, but it does help!

Paul
 
At the time I was born, and for another 10 years, my grandfather was a close friend of the man who owned the IH dealership in town. In the mid-1970's, IH pulled the dealership from him, and my father had about had his fill of the gasoline powered 806 IH we had at that time. Prior to then, our farm usually had one JD tractor on the place, but everything else was an IH tractor. My dad bought his first tractor, which was a 1970 model year 1955 Oliver. To sum it up; the 806, which was a lemon, was traded for an even bigger lemon. That 1955 Oliver was traded for the last brand new tractor bought for the farm. That tractor was a 4440 Deere. In the meantime, after the 806 left, and ultimately the Oliver had gone, the tractors primarily used on the farm became "green" in color, and the two remaining "red" tractors were used for mowing and powering grain augers. Some of the green tractors that first showed up in the 1970's and 1980's have been replaced by "newer pre-owned" tractors, and there have been some other models added to the fleet. There are 3 red tractors and the rest are all green. As a kid, I had always wanted to 2 cylinder JD tractor. I was in my early 20's when I bought my first one. Today I have 5. I also have a couple larger machines we use in the field. There are a few IH models I would like to own someday, but I spent most of my time learning how to drive a 3010 and 3020, and have been in anything up to a 9320 4 wd.
 
I'm limited because I only have 1/2 acre now, 3 Case 444s 4 Power Kings, and 1 John Deere. I got rid of the COOP E3,
the Farmall Super A and the Oliver 88 because I can put more than twice as many garden tractors under cover. It keeps the wife busy trying to count them.
 
The '47 8N Grandfather bought new with a turning plow. The second 8N was picked up cheap for parts. The '68 165 MF was purchased in 1970 by my grandfather, I need to restore it the brakes and steering is bad. The '53 Jubilee dad traded a '62 Chevy 1-Ton for in the late '80's and I rebuilt it in shop class in high school. The 2/3000 Ford hybrid was purchase after the motor was blown up in the first 3000 Ford we had. Dad sold the first 3000 when I was gone, still mad about that. The last tractor we purchase is a JD 5300 because we needed a bigger tractor and it was local and at a good price. I like it, dad does not like it very much. None will ever leave as long as I can help it.

I would like to have another MF 165 in better shape, and another true Ford 3000 and maybe a Ford 4000 with a front end loader.
 
1 2N here. Got it with intentions of mowing SWMBO's horse pasture and clearing driveway in winter.
Keep telling SWMBO pasture needs cutting when about 1 1/2 foot high but she won't let me till almost 4 ft high and it's too tall for mower (6ft) is too much on tractor. Didn't like snow/grain bucket for snow so fabbed up a plow for driveway.
 
Many folks, self included, have tractors their dad or grampa had. Seems they had all the tough work on which tractor to buy, and
we just follow along with their decisions.

Pete : )
 
(quoted from post at 04:27:57 10/26/17) 4430 with an intercooler? Ben

That's the way I bought it this Summer. Previous owner says it pulls well, but he got disqualified more than one time because of the intercooler. At 44 years old, and much like me, it has had some alterations along the way.

Does a great job with the MOCO and my feed grinder. I picked up a three-point chisel plow to work some ground with it this Fall, but would need to hook the plow to a tug boat right now...
 
Not on your scale but that's my reason for having 4 with my small operation. Besides I like variety....like trying to remember which tractor I'm on when I get in a tight and split second decisions are required to stay out of a fence or ditch. Duhhhhhh!
 
Ford 860 bought in Kentucky that I use to brush hog and plow snow and an 8n for puttering around cutting wood and tending fencerow.
 
Good reason. One that I have Dad bought new when I was 8 months old so has been with me for 73 years. Second wanted one that could use everything from Dads.
 

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