new to tractors

Hi Everyone, New here and to the tractor /farming world. Looking at buying a tractor for the farm (26 acres Horse hobby Farm) right now I'm looking at a 990 David Brown with the Diesel engine & trip bucket or a Massey Ferguson 135 gas engine with a trip bucket. We live in a cold climate in Central Ontario Canada. Looking at using a bushhog, finishing mower, post hole auger, manure spreader & maybe snow blowing.etc. no haying at this time. Just wondering as to peoples opinion on both.

Also, looking it anyone has any experience at converting trip buckets to hydraulic buckets. Read in an earlier thread that someone did it for around $300 a loader but they didn't give any specifics on how to do it or what they used.

Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Diesel for fuel economy but in your climate a gasser will be more reliable for you in winter. If you give a diesel the right additives on time and can plug in the block heater it will be fine in winter. But if you have no experience with diesels in the cold you will almost certainly have it gel up on you a few times while you learn.

I would suggest the MF 135. I believe parts would be more available, and are a good reliable tractor. Do not know much of the David Brown tractors. Will also know about dealer support in your area as well.

Thanks guys for the replies I do appreciate it. I left out some info sorry. the massey is from 1975 and has around 4000 hrs new rad and totally rebuilt power steering system (power assist) and its the 4 cyl continential engine.

The David Brown has 2157 Hrs from the late 60's and has a "in line water heater system" thats what the guy tells me. and it comes with a grader as well as the trip bucket.

I like the name of the Massey but like the HP of the David Brown.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Central Ontario? That coveres a lot of area.
You missed a low hour Massey 265 for $4000 a few weeks ago in Tiverton.
Stay away from the N series Fords. No live hydraulics, no power steering, no live pto, scanty brakes, too fast 1st gear and low power.

Welcome to the board. You'll find contributors here are very helpful, and by and large their advice is as good as you will get anywhere.

I'd vote for the 135 because six years ago I was in your situation and a lucky purchase of a 1960 Massey Ferguson 35 with Perkins Diesel (many hours on a broken tach) has served me very well for about six hundred hours to date.

A neighbour converted an old Freeman trip loader to full hydraulic, including downpressure on both the lift and the tip functions. With the reinforcement, controls, new cylinders and hoses, it came to a $2200 upgrade for the '35. And it was worth it. On the other hand a new loader would have looked better and had more strength, so it's a trade-off.

Operating a loader on a 135 involves learning to manipulate the diverter valve which directs flow either to the 3 pt hitch OR to the loader. It takes some learning, but the system works.

Make sure there's lots of room to get on and off the tractor with the loader installed. The Freeman was a tight squeeze for me, so I had the welder move the post forward about six inches on one side. It was still strong, but a bit lopsided. The only time I regret the asymetric mod is when I look at a picture of the tractor; the rest of the time it's great for getting on and off.

Your tractor will become very important for snow removal. Start looking for a deal on a 5' snowblower. Don't worry that it's 6" narrower than the tractor. 135's handle 5' bush hogs and blowers very well. You will need a serious snowmobile suit, full-shielded helmet, and most importantly, heavy, waterproof mitts. Blowing snow from an open tractor is a real man's job. But it works.

Enjoy your farm.

Rod
The Walnut Diary

A diesel might be nicer for fuel economy but you're not talking about a 100 HP tractor. Early 1975 is the last year for US built 135's. 135's are highly sought after tractors and very economocal and simple to run. Parts are never a problem and a reasonable price. To me it's a no brainer over a David Brown. You need a cylinder(s) and another spool valve to convert the bucket to hydraulic. Dave

Hi, At least in USA, a Continental eng 135 would
be of production to approx mid 1969. After that
they had a Perkins gas, or diesel. Maybe you can
post a s/n. However, when I see "cheers" that may
make a difference where tractor is built. Chuck

I thought someone posted a while back that some later US 135's had Continental engines because Perkins couldn't keep up with demand? No UK 135's were gas and even if there were the odd exception, I'd bet they'd be Perkins. Dave

135's will do 6 ft. if it's not really heavy going. Depending on you driveway, you might be fine just using a rear blade for snow. Snowblowers can be really slow and you have to look backwards the whole time. Dave

I guess I'll be odd man out here and say everything else being equal and provided you have dealer support the DB is much more tractor. It has a lot more power, The "in line heater" is probably a thermo-siphon electric heater for winter. Diesels are much less problematic in general than older gassers. They have a more sophisticated hydraulic system. They have a two stick tranny with one synchromeshed. I had an 885 for about for years I traded it for a DB-Case 1490 because I needed bigger equipment. I never had any trouble with it, the only thing I didn't like was kinda cramped to get on and off. Most people don't know that half of the white Case tractors they have seen were built by David Brown. They were never as big in the US as in Canada so they sell pretty low here.

Both of these tractors have strong, and weak points. What dealer is the closest to you agco for the Massey / CaseIH for the David Brown . The old DB tractors and the newer case tractors are basically the same and your CIH dealer can get you parts. To say that the Massey has had the power steering rebuilt is not uncommon , they are bad for that. And the tranny will lock up ever so often , and you will have to remove the tranny oil fill cover and knock the gears apart with a pry bar. Older DB tractors had a bit of a growl in the tranny. If your drive way has a hill , then tire chains are a must to blow snow up hill.

I can count on you can't I?
Though over the long haul I'm starting to agree with you on those Ns. Not ready to so gleefully trash them as you. But in hitman's case I agree.

Driveway is flat no hills. As for dealers there are no Massey around as far as I know and the nearest Case is about 1 hr north of me( there maybe others). A friend is a diesel mechanic and owns a large truck repair shop so getting parts might not be a problem with either tractor.

Cheers

I should have seen the Muskoka tag on there sooner. Near Three Mile Lake, Bracebridge or where?
Taking Bala as a wild and somewhat central Muskoka location. Here is a list of JD dealers.

Dealer Location Distance
1. North Gate Power Equipment
1689 Winhara Road
GRAVENHURST ON P1P1V5
Canada
7056458464
E-mail us 24.0 kilometers

Detailed Map

2. ALLAN BYERS' EQUIPMENT LTD
RR #7 - 5666 Hwy #12 South
ORILLIA ON L3V6H7
Canada
7053252746
E-mail us 51.9 kilometers

Detailed Map

This is a Gold Star dealer. Learn more at http://www.JohnDeere.com/GoldStar 3. MCLAREN EQUIPMENT LTD.
3464 HORSESHOE VALLEY RD W.
PHELPSTON ON L0L2K0
Canada
7057342424
E-mail us
Visit our web site 59.2 kilometers

Detailed Map

This is a Gold Star dealer. Learn more at http://www.JohnDeere.com/GoldStar 4. Huron Tractor Ltd.
1618 Country Rd. 42 S., RR 1
Stayner ON L0M1S0
Canada
7054286232
E-mail us 78.9 kilometers

Detailed Map

5. York Region Equipment Centre
772 The Queensway S.
KESWICK ON L4P4C9
Canada
9054762681
E-mail us 87.3 kilometers

Detailed Map

Either should be fine for what you are looking for with you added info post. I've always loved DB's, great tractors that get a bad rap from a lot of ppl. They start well cold, best of anything I've ever had, positively miserly on fuel use, and way more effective power than what they are rated. But.... the electrical systems had to be designed by someone who loved darkness, if there is a seal its going to leak, and everything is behind something else when you go to fix it.

As to the MF... lots of them made, good reliable machines with a solid reputation. When I was teaching wrench turning we put a lot more hydraulic pumps on MF tractors than everything else combined. Other than that a good proven platform without the quirks of the DB's. For the price and hours though I'd get the DB.

I've run both and if they were in equal condition I'd take the David Brown,dealers to me are no big deal as dealers/parts suppliers the World over are
only an email or phone call away this day and time.

Actually I beleive that in winter the fuel companyies already have additives in for cold wheather.I have never had a deisel jell up unless we use summer fuel left over from ordering to soon.If you have a serculating block heater(heater is a must)You can usually get away with 4 hrs pluged in.A shelter is a huge asset.That DP might even have glow plugs,or a manifold preheater.

How do you find the Muskoka tag from board info?

(quoted from post at 07:12:24 09/08/10) How do you find the Muskoka tag from board info?

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Just figured out that I need to be in Modern View in order to "View Profile"
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Hi guys thanks for the replies. I appreciate everyone's input. I got a few pics of the two tractors that I have called about (not yet gone to go see, 4 hours away). So I grabbed copies of the ads for both so you can have a look...

Now here is the Case David Brown 990



asking price for each are $3900 CAD... and separate is asking $850 for the 5' Razorback Bush hog, I think is a little over priced.

Cheers

The DB with the prong bucket will be nearly useless to push snow with. It's intended only for picking up round bales of hay or manure with a lot of straw.
The small shallow bucket on the Massey is 50% too narrow, 50% too low and 50% to shallow for pushing snow. It's intended to scoop gravel on a small loader.

Ya I wasn't liking the trip bucket idea...was thinking of taking it off and add a proper loader but that can be expensive...

Anyone from Ontario on here? do you know of any places online besides buy and sell and kijiji to look for tractors? I can't seem to find anything.

Cheers

Neither of those loaders are worth much. $850 is too much for that Bush hog. $3900 isn't a real bad price for a running 135 but I think a little high for that one with the really poor paint job. Might have been better if it wasn't painted?? The $3900 price would be more appropriate for a diesel 135 in that shape. If it ran good and everything worked properly, I think I'd offer about around $3300 for the tractor or maybe $3900 including the Bush hog. The DB looks like it could be worth about the same but I think parts could be a problem down the road because they weren't near as popular as the 135. Dave

Ya thats what I was thinking...the paint jobs are scaring me a little and its not like they are close by to go look at... and ya the price of the bush hog is to high.

Thanks Dave.

Cheers