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Tractor buying advice?

T

TDobber

New User
I've narrowed down my choices of buying a loader tractor to two. One is a 1975 John Deere 401c diesel industrial. The other is a 1969 :Ford 3000 gas industrial. Both run good and everything works. Prices are nearly equal. (4700 for JD and 4500 for Ford)

As far as use, I plan to move big bales, do driveway grading, scrape up manure, dirt work, etc. Any advice?
 
(quoted from post at 19:00:23 04/24/19) Do industrials have 3 point hitch , PTO ?
Click to expand...

Both have 3 pt hitch. JD has pto too, ill find out if the Ford does.


The JD is heavier duty I'm sure, with about 15 more hp. I know a lot more about gas engines than diesels as far as fixing or troubleshooting.
 
Either will do the job, the deal maker is diesel vs gas and a bit more power in
one if the condition is the same.
Ben
 
Any way to determine the lifting ability of each loader?
Which has the widest front tires? Lifting round bales puts a lot of weight on front tires. Small tires go down in the mud.
Which tractor was the strongest looking front axle and spindles?
Cold weather starting may be something to think about.
Condition of tires may be another deciding factor. New Tires aren't cheap.
Let us know what you decide.
 
Could come either way... Dedicated loader tractor (industrial) rarely had a hitch, most green versions did have both
 
I have a 3000 Diesel. I started out with gassers because I couldn't afford Diesels. Hands down, Diesels are more reliable and much less baby sitting.

The 3000 is a super tractor for the intended work function associated with a 35+ hp tractor. Parts are readily available and cheap. Reliability is second
to none.....my opinion after 40 years of sorting through this and that color, this and that sized machine to 100 hp.
 
My vote if for the diesel I hate cleaning carburetor every time you want it to run good. Keep the fuel with a good fuel conditioner in the
diesel and it will be much better than the gas.
 
I will only point out that almost anyone can take a carburetor apart and put it together you really can't rebuild injection equipment without more knowledge and
equipment. On the other hand if you feed it clean fuel a diesel will probably go a long time before any fuel system problems. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
 
I'd say it comes down to condition of both. Clutch life? Rear tires? Leaks? Wiring faults?

If both will do the job, the fuel cost is going to be similar(maybe a bit more with gas), I want the one that is going to spend more time on the job and less time in the shop.
 
(quoted from post at 07:25:25 04/25/19) I'd say it comes down to condition of both. Clutch life? Rear tires? Leaks? Wiring faults?

If both will do the job, the fuel cost is going to be similar(maybe a bit more with gas), I want the one that is going to spend more time on the job and less time in the shop.
Click to expand...


Strongly leaning towards the JD 401c due to a stronger hydraulic system, engine, more weight for lifting big bales. I also like the single lever bucket control and reverser function.
Ford ended up with some tire issues and funky hydraulics that were very jumpy and erratic. Ran good though.
Thanks for all the input!
 
(quoted from post at 04:26:07 04/25/19) Any way to determine the lifting ability of each loader?
Which has the widest front tires? Lifting round bales puts a lot of weight on front tires. Small tires go down in the mud.
Which tractor was the strongest looking front axle and spindles?
Cold weather starting may be something to think about.
Condition of tires may be another deciding factor. New Tires aren't cheap.
Let us know what you decide.
Click to expand...


Lift capacity is 5000 for the 401c and 2000 for the 3000 Ford. I believe the Ford is about 2000 or 3000 lbs lighter as well.
 

I took your advice Leroy after looking at the JD401c today. Major leaks, shifting problems, etc. I wish I didn't have to drive 200 miles to find out.

Anyway, tomorrow I am looking at a nice International Industrial 2444 gas that a guy bought for $4700 3 years ago, put $1500 into it, and will sell it for $3500. No leaks or issues. Sounds too good to be true, but I guess I will find out. Has heavy duty loader, 3 point, and PTO.

My 4th and 5th option are a Massey Ferguson 180 with a nice new looking loader on it, and an Oliver 1800A with a loader with bale spear. Both of those are asking $6000. Both have about 5000-6000 hrs.

Good, bad, ugly on any of the above Tractors? As you can guess, I am not particular what brand or color a tractor is. I want it to be functional and reliable. I grew up driving mostly Allis Chalmers and Minneapolis Moline.
 
(quoted from post at 14:25:04 04/27/19)
I took your advice Leroy after looking at the JD401c today. Major leaks, shifting problems, etc. I wish I didn't have to drive 200 miles to find out.

Anyway, tomorrow I am looking at a nice International Industrial 2444 gas that a guy bought for $4700 3 years ago, put $1500 into it, and will sell it for $3500. No leaks or issues. Sounds too good to be true, but I guess I will find out. Has heavy duty loader, 3 point, and PTO.

My 4th and 5th option are a Massey Ferguson 180 with a nice new looking loader on it, and an Oliver 1800A with a loader with bale spear. Both of those are asking $6000. Both have about 5000-6000 hrs.

Was the 401c listed in Montello? I saw that one and was curious, but not curious enough to drive 2+ hours to look. Where were the major leaks? Did it start right up and run smooth? Did it have actual shift problems, or was it just the nature of the beast? Shifters between the legs aren't for everyone.

Good, bad, ugly on any of the above Tractors? As you can guess, I am not particular what brand or color a tractor is. I want it to be functional and reliable. I grew up driving mostly Allis Chalmers and Minneapolis Moline.
Click to expand...
 
(quoted from post at 14:25:04 04/27/19)
I took your advice Leroy after looking at the JD401c today. Major leaks, shifting problems, etc. I wish I didn't have to drive 200 miles to find out.

Anyway, tomorrow I am looking at a nice International Industrial 2444 gas that a guy bought for $4700 3 years ago, put $1500 into it, and will sell it for $3500. No leaks or issues. Sounds too good to be true, but I guess I will find out. Has heavy duty loader, 3 point, and PTO.

My 4th and 5th option are a Massey Ferguson 180 with a nice new looking loader on it, and an Oliver 1800A with a loader with bale spear. Both of those are asking $6000. Both have about 5000-6000 hrs.


Good, bad, ugly on any of the above Tractors? As you can guess, I am not particular what brand or color a tractor is. I want it to be functional and reliable. I grew up driving mostly Allis Chalmers and Minneapolis Moline.
Click to expand...

Was the 401c listed in Montello? I saw that one and was curious, but not curious enough to drive 2+ hours to look. Where were the major leaks? Did it start right up and run smooth? Did it have actual shift problems, or was it just the nature of the beast? Shifters between the legs aren't for everyone.
 
(quoted from post at 19:55:37 04/27/19)
(quoted from post at 14:25:04 04/27/19)
I took your advice Leroy after looking at the JD401c today. Major leaks, shifting problems, etc. I wish I didn't have to drive 200 miles to find out.

Anyway, tomorrow I am looking at a nice International Industrial 2444 gas that a guy bought for $4700 3 years ago, put $1500 into it, and will sell it for $3500. No leaks or issues. Sounds too good to be true, but I guess I will find out. Has heavy duty loader, 3 point, and PTO.

My 4th and 5th option are a Massey Ferguson 180 with a nice new looking loader on it, and an Oliver 1800A with a loader with bale spear. Both of those are asking $6000. Both have about 5000-6000 hrs.


Good, bad, ugly on any of the above Tractors? As you can guess, I am not particular what brand or color a tractor is. I want it to be functional and reliable. I grew up driving mostly Allis Chalmers and Minneapolis Moline.
Click to expand...

Was the 401c listed in Montello? I saw that one and was curious, but not curious enough to drive 2+ hours to look. Where were the major leaks? Did it start right up and run smooth? Did it have actual shift problems, or was it just the nature of the beast? Shifters between the legs aren't for everyone.
Click to expand...

Yes it was. It ran well, but after sitting a short time it was leaking from underneath with a major puddle about the size of a dinner plate within about 5 minutes. The shifting problem is that it wouldn't go into park, and the gears ground unless reverser was in neutral, but maybe that was normal. A lot of chatter inside when raising & lowering the 3 point, but may have been low on fluid. The bucket was rusted through but repaired, and not done well but still functional. I just wanted something that I didn't have to put money into right away. Guessing you could get it for quite a bit less as it is. Shifted good on the road but had major play in steering and was hard to keep straight. It would be hard to find a loader with the lift capacity of that one though. 5000 lift and 7500 break out force.

The Massey 180 is at St. Joes Equip and the Oliver is at Portland Imp. The IH 444 (Actually must be a 2444 if industrial) is in MN.
 
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