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What tractor would you buy?

C

ChampagneNBeer

Member
Hi All,

Thinking about picking up 1 or 2 new-to-me tractors - wanted to ask what you would buy and what you think would be a goood price - to help me get started looking.

Currently down to one tractor (806D) and don't like the idea of having 1 workhorse nor using for light duty work like sickle mowing.

Goal: one for light duty work (mowing, hay work, bailing, moving stuff etc) and another for heavy duty work (plowing, discing, drilling etc).

Thoughts? Price that is good deal?

On aside - not afraid of wrenching, but defintely not a fan of down time nor teardowns, nor paying someone $5k for a $2500 tractor cuz they painted it 😀
 
I was going to ask about the size of your farm, I knew you had given more details in one of your posts so I did a search and found it, in short it is 400 acres. ..see link... Outside of that would you mind adding what state you are in? The thing about an M that you posted about is it’s lack of live hydraulics and a live PTO, and as others have said it wasn’t even a runner. It sounds like right now your hay crop is the immediate concern. Anyone of those tractors Delta Red mentioned would do you well. As David G said what is your budget? If your in a cooler or hotter climate area you may want to consider going up a little on budget and get a cab tractor with AC and heat. Very nice to have an A/C in summer and heat in spring and fall even winter if you need to deal with snow. Which leads me to the other recommendation of a quick tach loader. I would suggest something in the 50 to 80hp range. I hear New Holland and Kubota make some very nice machines. I would recommend a 1990s vintage, you can tell I spending your money, Lol!
Earlier post with farm description
 
Pretty open and subjective based on what buying, but as example:

If an older, under 35hp tractor, think $3-$3500 should get me a decent one.

If bigger and newer, say 60-100hp, from the 60's or so, I really think it should be around $5-$7k.

When I see people asking $15k for an 806 I shake my head as I cannot see anyone paying that.

Down road, thinking 1066 or 1206 etc - would go $10k + on that.
 
Hi Red,

In northern MI (but no snow work) and not too worried about getting something immediately as I can do work with the 806 and I guess White 4-2010 and fix the 400 in the near future (once I clean out the garage 😆).

Also, open to driving pretty much any distance if good deal.

I agree on the loader - been looking for a little loader since I sold my backhoe and other loader (both were much too large for my needs, well, the backhoe wasn't but I was dumb back then 😆).

BUT - definitely should pick up something before winter so next year am good to go.

Regarding two tractors, one big and one little - you think just one? - could see that.

For budget, thinking $3k'ish for something 35hp or so and $5k'ish for something in the 55hp range and $8k'ish if around $100hp.

If getting up over 105hp, then $10k +

For new tractors, I cringe thinking about dropping $40k for something that has less butt than a tractor from 1955 (4wd is nice though).
 
Ohh, forgot to add.

I am by no means a farmer - trying to be, but lots of learning still to go.

And for acerage, yeah, currently have about 400 acres of field open, could bust that to over 800 acres but would need to do some clearing work and put the D6 back into service 😀
 
In today's tractor market the pricing is about opposite what you listed.The older large tractors 70-100 HP don't usually bring near what the 25 to 50 HP ones do in the same shape.Loader in good working order will about double the price on older tractors lots of times.
 
I agree today's tractor market seems opposite for someone looking to do work.

When I see folks asking near $10k for a "restored" tractor with 25hp, no hydraulics, no power steering, a tranny PTO etc, I chuckle - but I am not a tractor collector, so who knows.

On the opposite end and for my current intentions, anything over 120HP seems too much tractor - maybe if things work out and this farm thing turns into a real business I will feel different about it, but for now spending a few thousand here and there is fine while I learn and try things out.
 
With your location in the west, I would think IH tractors in the 66 and 86 series would be readily available, and priced right. They are too old for the big timers to have any interest in, and tractors like the 966-1066 were very popular in the 1970’s era. Really good Diesel engine, and reliable. They built tens of thousands of these tractors, and getting parts is not a worry.
 
I'm am IH guy and have been for years. After the H and M I would not even bother with those models between them and the 06 series. There were just to many issues with them. They just seemed to have a lot of things that were an after thought on them, like a lot of other makers back then. The problem with the 06,56,66 series was the lack of hydraulic capacity. Puny little 12 gallon hydraulic pump and never had more than 2000 psi pressure. If you are going to farm 400 + acres over time get something with more and better hydraulics. Creature comforts are also better in other tractors. I will say the 06,56,66 series were and still are pretty simple to work on though. for a loader tractor you want to move up to MFWD on it. To many times your stuck with just 2wd in spring in cattle lots and such. loader on a 100 horse tractor will allow you to still use the tractor for other jobs like pulling wagons or drills for wheat or beans. Even can pull 8 row planters with them. Deere has some of the best ergonomic improvements over the years after you get past the 2 bangers. if you go there move up to the 50 series or so for the large frame tractors like the 44 45 47 models. I've never had to much tractor and lots of times to small of one. So don't get so hung up on a big tractor to do small light jobs. I've seen guys put 200 hp tractors on augers cause that was what they had available at the time.
 
Check out the late Summer and Fall consignment auction sales,I've gotten some real deals at auctions from now to Jan 1st.Love November auctions,hunting season and holidays cuts down on folks showing up and having money to spend.To get a good deal gotta be like a Buzzard just sit and wait and pay attention.
 
An Essex Tri Directional tractor is a fictitious machine referred to on this site as one that provides the very best ....and the very worst...of all features any tractor could have, and then some. A direct competitor to the infamous Hoyt Clagwell. Sorry, verified pictures do not exist!

Ben
 
Bill, That is what I was thinking! He could get one the smaller models ( 110 or 120 )for the light work, and the bigger one (either a 1940 or 1950 ) for the tillage. They didnt make too many of those big work horses, but they are out there. Bill
 
I would look at 90 or 94 series case ih. 2090 Around here they go $10g. With loader
Cheaper on fuel than any jd. I just sold my 4230 with loader and wrecked trans for $5000
Had 10 calls in 1 hour all wanting to come pick it up that day. Should have asked more but I didn’t think it was worth more.
 
For a nice all round chore tractor an IH 544 is a handy tractor, only drawback is the runaway torque amplifier. A late model IH 756 with the German diesel can also be a handy tractor. Just my opinion, which we all have.
 
Modest cost and high value is a Farmall 350 (or 300) with 12volt conversion to alternator. (most are converted) They start when cold, have live Power Take Off, and hydraulics.
If I wanted a little newer, I would with a 90s Kubota. Jim
 
H Farmall. You can never have too many of them.

I have three, and a friend of mine who ranches in the Nebraska Sandhills has six, each with its own job on the ranch.
 

my standard answers would be

for big go with a White 2-105 or Case 1070 or newer equivalent (watch power shift) Bigger you can aways go with a later 3 digit Whites with the Cummins engines. i've seen them all over the place price wise (dirt cheap to crazy $$)

for the smaller 40-50HP I'd look for a 530 Case or a mid sized Ford. not a FOrd fan but they are common as grass and easy to get parts for. the Cases are well built and they made lots of those as well

grandfather in law had a IH 444 and it was a handy little tractor but only 35-40ish HP and i've heard not easy to get parts for (??)

if you want mid-sized which you kinda already have i'd look at a 770/870 Case or 2-70 White or 1655 Oliver
 
I would approach this with a lot of thought as to how much time I was going to spend using this tractor. Definitely get some modern features like power steering, live pto, live hydraulics, 3point hitch and I would even include a good cab with a c and heat. Remember it is not what you spend but what you bring home. Tractors are a lot like women. Good woman not cheap-----cheap woman not good. Good place to shop is a Mecum auction, their will be four to five hundred tractors to choose from of all makes and vintages. I would be sure to get something that has parts availability.
 
Here's one. (;>))
cvphoto50497.jpg
 
If you are an IH man consider a 656 or the newer 666 with its better TA if for no other reason. Most likely none available with four wheel drive, some would have a loader, and readily available used with 656's being much more numerous. These are mid 60 horsepower tractors with power steering, live PTO, 3 point, etc. My preference would be a diesel but there are gas ones out there as well. A quick search shows a range of hours and prices and locations but probably few if any with a cab if that makes a difference or is a deal maker or breaker. Both are small frame tractors so they should be a little more nimble than their higher horsepower stable mates.
 
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