Bi-drectional tractors

just another old geezer · Dec 27, 2010

Does anyone on here have any practical experience with the Versatile, later Ford, then New Holladd, now CNH Bi directional tractors??
These would be the Versatile/ Ford 276. The Ford 9030. Ford/ New Holland TV140 and the CNH TV145
I am considering looking into them for a loader, snow mover tractor.
Advice, opinions and warnings appreciated.

Smarty pants · Dec 27, 2010

Why stop with a bi-directional. Why not look for an Essex Tri-Directional.

nickg · Dec 27, 2010

Had a ford 9030. I didnt care much for it. There just not very operator friendly I thought. Your throttle was one of the twist throttles. I didnt think any of the controls were in a very good place either.Your loader can either be used by foot controls like some older skid steer loaders or by hand but there hard to reach and are on each side of the cab. They dont turn very well and takes a little bit to chance from a loader to a tractor. You have to take the wheels and turn them around to get your loader to fit on if its in the tractor set up. Short of it is I personally hated that tractor and would not ever have one.

KSTractor · Dec 27, 2010

20 yrs ago as a dealers salesman I set one up with a big snow blower on the engine end and loader on the cab end[ thats how they are described no front or back end] it worked great but someone sold it before we got to use it outside of our lot. If you are buying a used one get as new a one as you can as they kept making them better.They all have a hydostatic transmission that works real nice for a snow blower or loader.

Prez B O · Dec 27, 2010

That dumb joke was worn out several years ago.

Wilson · Dec 27, 2010

It's a joke????

Ky Hauler · Dec 27, 2010

You musta' bought one.

JMS/.MN · Dec 27, 2010

Look into the fire issues from burst hydraulic hoses going through the articulation area. Might be on just the older ones, but it was an issue.

Bruce from Can. · Dec 27, 2010

I ran one a neighbour had, and they are different to use as a loader. The articulating steering and the drive shaft universal joints seemed to be trouble for them. Cab was also small.

Gun guru · Dec 27, 2010

What about Quadra steer........Hmmm....

Bill in Colo · Dec 27, 2010

I have a 276 II I would not be without it. bought new in 1990 and have over 7000 hours on it. Use it daily to feed 1500 lbs. round bales and move snow. For snow removal i use a 10Ft western snow plow with a quick hitch. When feeding I carry two on the loader and one on the engine end 3pt. I've only had one U joint failure. I like the foot controls as it leaves one hand to steer and the other to use the Hyrostat control.
I think most of the problems of the 276's were corrected on the 9030.
I have several friends in Wyoming and the Dakota's that have snow blowers for cab end and dozers for the engine end

bison · Dec 27, 2010

I got a neighbor that has one of the older versatiles,i did quite a few repairs on the thing.
I can't say i like them,its hard to get in or out of the tiny cab and they are horrid to wrench on.
One is better of with a wheel loader IMO.

Pacer 54 · Dec 27, 2010

Bill,I'm with you. We have a 95 9030 and would not want to part with it. Qwik-tach Westendorf loader with Qwik-tach bale fork and bucket. A 9' dozer blade at engine end. I like the control setup, our loader is not self-leveling so both feet are busy. It might be a killer snowblower power unit,when I use ours I'm too busy changing shear bolts to notice. Not the tractors fault, that's a whole 'nother subject. Nick

JDB · Dec 27, 2010

Neighbor has had one for several years and really likes it. I used it to doze and pack his silage, loved it, best thing I ever drove on a silage pile.

Dave Sherburne NY · Dec 27, 2010

I second that.

Old Roy · Dec 27, 2010

Yep if they can get forklifts to do it -- Why not in big equipment
Air trac

RodinNS · Dec 27, 2010

I've never used one myself but there's several around the area ranging from early to late models. The older ones like the 276 had small cramped cabs and were generally fairly light tractors. As someone noted you may need to move the wheels out for loader work depending on how you want the set. PTO's were perhaps not so strong on the early ones as well... and some of the cables tended to freeze up in this climate. Some people found them akward to work with; some didn't. That's a matter of perspective I guess.
When you get into 9030's they used a Ford engine rather than a Cummins 4BTA and they had heavier axles. Generally a better tractor than the 276 from what I understand.
When you get to the TV140... the tractor was completly redesigned from the ground up. These got the new cab with more room, a 4 speed gearbox behind the hydro rather than a 3 speed... a 6 cylinder turbo Genesis engine combines with Ford's traditional heavy planetary axles instead of the drop box system that the old ones had... so you got a lot more weight, a lot more power (140 instead of 120 gross) and generally a lot more tractor.
I know the early ones around here had some problems with electrics but I'd think that would have been sorted out by now...

Rod

RAW in · Dec 27, 2010

The local airport has a New Holland for mowing and snow removal. They said it works great with blade on one end and blower on other. Biggest problem they have had is with te three point. Seems that when pushing snow up in a pile, the blade will lift the arms high enogh to bust the cover over the internal mechanism.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 27, 2010

So was prez B.O., about the same time! I hear you are finally letting those bi directional tractors in the military, now. Praise diversity (today's translation of heil...)

Galen Mitchell · Dec 27, 2010

The newer ones like the TV140/145 are way better than the older ones much heavier axles, bigger tires, etc. The best upgrade in my mind is the controls all turn with the seat. In the older ones just the seat and the steering wheel turn, making all the controls backwards, which really sucks. I think they make an excellent loader tractor. I worked at a feedyard that had one, used it for everything from grinding hay, loading feed trucks, etc.

camju · Dec 27, 2010

Worst peice of craaap I ever used was a newer ford bi derectional.

You can't load 2 bales at a time onto a semi cause there to light in the back.(no tracktion to steer with even if iot doesn't sit on the nose)
no human can learn to coordanate his feet and hands as fast as what he can his hands and eyes.

Try to pull away from the trailer if your in at an angle and drop the bales off on trailer IT IS IMPOSIBLE TO NOT knock the bales around while backing up.Or worse yet have the top ones fall down onto the side of the tractor.(what a night mare).
For those that like them and grew up with them I say go for it but if youve used a regular tractor for loader work (especialy shuttle shift) you will never and should never buy a biderectional.

Bi-drectional tractors

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