Hi,I would like some help sorting out tractor models and specs. Background: I am a green hobby farmer. I recently cut, raked, and bailed 4 acres of hay with a 1957 MF to35. I think I would like to get a little more tractor. The Ford 532 bailer is rated a minimum 35 horse power which exceeds the tractors. The tractor is the first tractor I purchased. It was probably not the best purchase. I think it is mostly worn out. The shifter tends to get stuck easily and it hard to change gears when the pto is engaged under load. I replaced the exhaust manifold, rebuilt the carb, and tuned up the engine. It starts and runs good but has a lot of general wear. I plan on putting the loader it came with back on and using it to turn the manure and humus pile and move heavy stuff around. That said, I would like to update to a tractor with more modern features. I would like the following: 1) Locking differential. 2) 2 Hydraulic remotes.
3) Gears low enough to run a tiller and move slow so I do not tear up the groomed areas.
4) Independent pto.
5) 180ci – 220ci engine.
6) Chassis around the size of my to35 or a ford 2000 or a little bigger. I want to plant some crops this spring and need to plow reasonably rocky fields. I looked at a JD2150 at a used equipment dealer that is on my way to work. It looked as though it fit the bill. It had all the features above but it was $12,500. I want to limit my spending to around $7500.00 if I can. I really need to size the tractor by physical size. I only have 7.5 acres and want a petite tractor with a good sized engine. I went to a local MF dealer and looked at new tractors (out of my price range). The one thing I noticed was they have several lines. They have 134ci engines rated at 50hp and 180ci engines rated at 50hp(all non turbo). The difference is at what rpm they get the torque. That is why I specified the engine displacement not hp. I do not want a 134ci engine the matter how much hp is advertised. I believe in the old drag racing adage “There is no replacement for displacement.” I tried to sort some tractor models out myself but it is very laborious. A lot of you make a living using this type of machinery and have experienced the progression of tractor technology over time and now the productivity/quality changes that new features/designs have enabled. Although this is my hobby I would like to use my time most productively. What tractor models fit the bill?
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