Re: Grading tractor advise

Posted by Dennis H. on November 11, 1998 at 11:06:19:

In Reply to: Grading tractor advise posted by Jim D on November 11, 1998 at 02:39:37:

: I'm in the market for a used tractor. I have 2.5 acres in Phoenix Az. where I am building a house. I need the tractor for doing odd jobs like back filling, grading and post hole drilling. What horse power rating would I need and how much should I expect to pay. I don't want to spend too much money but I also don't want to spend all my time working on it. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Jim D

A 3pt is a must for the post hole digging, live PTO is recomended. 30+ HP will get the job done with plenty to spare for whatever looms just over the horizon. Now alot of people will list the attributes of the 2N, 9N and 8N Fords and they are a very usable machine with alot of the market share in the price range you'll be wanting. But the reason you'd want a live PTO is because those augers tend to walk on ya and being able to edge forward or back without having to stop the whole digging process is a real time saver and doesn't require you to be cloned with octypus DNA. For everything else you list any tractor with a 3pt will work including the afore mentioned Fords, but if you come up with several possibilities, go with the live PTO. Around here in my area (IN) the IH 300 Utility or an Oliver Super 55 or 550 would be inexpensive possibilities with live PTO. MF tend to run a little on the more expensive side but make a wonderful product as well as the newer lines of Ford. All of these will do it all, so don't limit yourself to a color, but pay for usability instead. Good hunting and let us all know what you find, Dennis H.

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