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Newbie bought a tractor. Now what?

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rick6432

New User
Greetings. I am a 55 year old retired heavy truck mechanic, and I just bought a running but beat up 1949 Case VAO tractor. I know nothing about such machines, as far as using them. I bought it because I have a few acres of deeply furrowed land from 30 years ago, and I want to smooth it out for recreational use, and maybe a garden. My Case has a drawbar, but nothing else. Is there something missing? What implements can I use? Where do you find them? I know, you're laughing now. Why didn't this guy just hire someone to fix his property? I am a hands-on type, and I have a lot of mechanical ability and tools. I like doing things for myself, and well, there's nobody around for help anyway. Any advice will be greatly appreciated and acknowledged. Thanks!
Rick
 
Sounds like someone plowed it and went away. What you could use is a "drag disc" with a smoothing board behind. The "rank" is adjustable so you can cut the soil up, then smooth it out. For many years we used pull type equipment and farmed well. After that, a mower, cultivators, and on and on. Have fun and be careful.
 
First off. Welcome to your new hobby. Or should I say lifestyle. Don't know much about the Case but for starters you should just start reading the posted messages for the Case tractors. A lot of very common sense people on board. I am sure they will direct you down the right path to keep your case running and get the implements attached as you need them. Also try skipping around to the other boards as everyone else has similar questions that can be found all over.
 
Thanks for the input. I'm doing already what you suggested. There are hundreds of thousands of posts here. I've been reading like crazy. I'll never live so long to read all:)
I've been web cruising and buying books too as I go. It will definitely be a learning experience. Thanks.
 
Thanks for your reply. Will a drag disc pull with only a drawbar, or am I missing some 3 pt hitch parts?
 
If you look at the forums on this site you will see the CASE forum. Those guys are great. As far as Case equipment goes it was some of the finest most durable Machinery ever made. There are a number of work-arounds and equipment that you can use to get the job done. Welcome aboard..
 
1949 is about when Case came up with its version of a 3pt they called a Eagle hitch. Without pictures of your tractor I can not tell if it has missing parts or it never had one. A VAO is a bit small to do much dirt work, and not having hydraulics or a 3pt limits your choice on impliments. There are pull type disc's that are rope controlled, a 8 footer would work well for you, but good luck finding one. Anouther option would be a chisel plow with twisted spikes, but I have never seen one small enough for your tractor. What recational use do you have in mind for your land.
 
Hi, Scott. Thanks for your reply. The 2-1/2 acres I want to fix are like 20 feet behind the house, and filled with old furrows a foot deep, dozens of 3 foot anthills, briars, and 4 foot tall weeds. We just want to clear it so we can walk on it, maybe grow grass and a small garden, and just generally make it look nicer. I have all the time in the world and would spend a lot of time on it if the implements are small. I have photos, but being a newbie here, I'm still trying to figure out how to post them.
 
c3468.jpg
 
A drag disk is what you what, they were designed to be pulled by a tractor like yours. I use a small Case disk behind a Farmall H (which also has just the drawbar) and it works fine. you'll have to hunt around to find one though, maybe advertise on craigslist or in the local paper. It shouldn't cost much more than scrap metal but an implement dealer will probably want $$$ if he knows you want it.
 
He's hooked, first the tractor then equipment. Won't be long and he will be farming,You came to the right place for all your answers. Welcome. Jim
 
The drag disc will work well behind your tractor except for the 4 ft. tall weeds. I haven't had much luck shredding with a disc, and it's tough to pull a shredder without either 3 point or hydraulics. So you will want to either hire someone to mow it first, or get a tractor with 3 point so that you can mow it, or drag a disc over the weeds for a few weeks then hire someone to mow it. A heavy offset disc would probably eat the weeds but you're short about 100 HP of pulling one.
 
Rick check out the Case thread on this form, Lots of good people there. Also a couple of good Case men on www.nnalert.com forum
 
u need not have hydraulics or 3 point hitch. drag type shredders are abundant & cheap. some have double blades. just dont try 2 turn 2 short, & pull mower driveshaft apart & grease male shaft by hand. u maay want an over running clutch on the pto output shaft, then the mower, she wont shove u through a fence when u want 2 stop. be blessed & be thankful, 1936 rd 4 cat, 1921 nichols & shepard 25-85 steam tractor, 4 sale
 
You do not have an Eagle hitch. You do have a 540 PTO without a guard on it, please get a guard. There are pull type PTO rotary mowers that work excellent. I have 2 old disc's a 8' JD and a 10' IHC that are not on wheels, no hydraulics. To put the gangs in neutral (what I call it,discs not cutting) you pull a rope and back up. To engage you just pull the rope while going foreward. Trip clutches use a cam driven by one of the ground wheels, trip'ed by pulling a rope, the cam lifts the implement out of the ground. Grain drills with trip clutches are common and cheap. Plows not so much. Graham Hoeme invented the chisel plow , the early ones had trip clutches but the collectors have them now. As someone else said you can use a rachet jack on a regular disc, but the first time your disc plugs up and starts bulldozing (and you will know what that means the first time it happens to you) or you get stuck you will understand why that is not the best idea. Have fun be safe.
 
Hey Rick, Welcome to the forum. Enjoy your tractor. I can't speak for everyone, but I'd like to see a picture. Retired at 55? Sounds good.
 
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