case VAC vs super A

gusbratz

Member
thinking of getting a small tractor to round out the collection. I have a farmall cub and a case 530 now. the 530 does most of my work but a small tractor can be handy. the cub is too small usually. I was thinking of upping to a super A but what about a case VAC. are there any comparisons? I want to set cultivators up on it in the summer to do the garden. I also want to put 3pt on it and have it as a backup for the 530 or for small jobs. I am leaning toward a super a because of parts availability and also impement availability. thanks for any ideas.
 
I think the VAC has more HP and is a little heavier. In real world differences, I don't know which is "better". The VAC is physically larger wand runs 28" tires as opposed tot he 24's on the SA. IME the bigger tires pull better and in cultivating the added ground clearance is a plus. But you are right in availability of implements I believe. The tricycle VA set up is real easy to cultivate with FWIW.
 
A VAC is a two row tractor and a Super A is a one row. The Famall B
or C might be more similar to the VAC. Neighbor has a VAC with
32" rears if I recall correctly, or they may be 34".
Zach
 
Parts are easy to find for a VAC. I would think
implements would be easier to find for a VAC with
eagle hitch than implements for a super A.

Here in nebraska, farmall super A's are rare to
see. I think i've seen one in 43 years. Implements
would be even harder to find.
 
I guess from my handle you can tell which one I
would prefer. In your case remember location,
location, location. I have never seen a VAC or
most any other case tractor up close, they just
weren't popular here. The Super A, 100, 130,
and 140 are everywhere here.

If you plan to cultivate much, Super A wins
hands-down. Otherwise it comes down to
availability and your preference.

Al
 
I cant say much about the IH as I have never owned one But as far as the CASE I have a VAC-13 that wont leave this place till the day I die. I pull a model B 2-14 plow that I use in 2nd gear and I also had a 54" WOODS belly mower under it which I would use to cut both the lawn and weed patches in the CRP with no problems and with the 34" tires I can and have sunk in muck over 12" deep and with the snappy governor and plenty of clearance I have been able to paddle out where the rest of My tractors just spin down. If I had any negatives it would be the cost of the 34" tires which I will need to replace one day.
 
While you may be right, not sure how you can say the A is the hands down cultivator tractor winner when you have never even SEEN a VAC. Rather ignorant.


Glenn F.
 
Ever see a VAS, offset just like the A, the biggest difference is the VAS has higher clearance and a lot more power.
 
I looked up a case vac on YouTube, it looks much
like a super a,

Guy said only about 1000 were made, if so that would
make them rare and probably expensive.

He did not have a cultivator for his.

I have seen the super a in action, they do a good
job in garden, truck patch when equipped with the
proper cultivator.

No matter what you buy, you need to get the
cultivator with it as buying one later might prove
to be very expensive. Why would anyone with a vac
or super a sell the cultivator off their tractor.

Another one that was a great cultivator tractor was
the little a.c. g model. Any tractor made that you
can look down and see the row, you can almost hoe
the plants, you can get so close.

Good luck, be sure to show us a picture of what you
buy.
 
I did market garden for many years and I had a
Super A with cultivators. Worked very well, I just
sold it last week, as I have no need of it now. I
also have a VA and a VAC Case , the Case tractors
have much more power and will lend them selves to
many jobs that are next to impossible for a IH
model A. For example post hole digging.My Dad
farmed for many years with only a VA Case. Bruce
 
I was wrong on the model, the guy said it was the vas model that only produced 1000-1500 units.

The vas is most like the super a.
 
I own neither a VAC or a super A but here in NE AR we have a pure stock tractor pull and the VAC, C Farmall and an R Minneapolis Moline all pull very close to one another. My vote would be the VAC.
 
We have a super A that has been around for about 60 years. Amoung other jobs it plowed the gardens and pulled the hay rake quite a bit before the Farmall 200 was replaced by an 870 for sprayer duty and a couple VC's, a 350, 300, 630 showed up around here and needed something to do, The cultivators haven't been off of it for 15 years, since the collection has grown its only job is cultivating the garden. Touch controls on the Super A are really nice. I can't imagine that a VAC would be better for cultivating the garden unless it was a big garden planted perfectly for a two row cultivator. Row spacing isn't as critical with a one row cultivator. A VAC could be had with eagle hitch where the super A you are pretty much stuck to implements made for it and a drawbar. Is your 530 eagle hitch or draftomatic(standard swinging arm 3 point)?

If we get some pictures of cultivating the garden with a VAS next summer we will all be happy.
 
If all you are going to do is cultivate the Super A is hard to beat.The hydraulics on the Farmalls are second to none for cultivating.
For any other task I would prefer a VAC. The late model VAC's with 34" rubber are my favorite.
The VAC has a lot more stable feel to it than an offset tractor.It is very easy to turn an offset tractor over, even on flat ground.
I have spent many hours cultivating, discing, plowing, grading, pulling wagons and all sorts of other jobs with VAC's and 130,140 farmalls. All the category 1 3 pt implements I have ever tried would work on the VAC. My dad has a 130 with aftermarket 3 pt and I prefer the VAC eagle hitch. The pto is off to the left on the farmall causing the pto shaft to run at an odd angle.
Here's a picture of the 130 and 140 Farmalls I grew up with.This pic was taken in 1976 when we had just brought the new 140 home. The 130 was sold shortly after. I wish we still had it . The same family still owns/uses the 130 and dont want to sell it.


Here's my VAS cultivating tobacco. It's doing the one job that it's better than the farmalls at- Using harrow teeth for the first trip over the freshly set crop. The VAS frame does not flex like the farmall's and you can set them to run closer to the crop. The VAS is heavier than the Super A and has a more stable "feel" to it. The VAS feels a little more cumbersome and less refined the the Super A thru 140. The VAC like a farmall C feels much more stable.


I have also own a Super C and if you prefer Farmalls I think a Super C would be a better tractor than the A for non cultivating jobs. I think the fast hitch was the best set up going if you have the matching fast hitch implements. You will probably have to give a lot more for a Super C than a VAC.

Here's my VAC in the Garden. It does a great job.



 
I would chose the vac because its a very good puller I have seen both the A + vac and the case is a whole lot more tractor for the price than the A
 


In eastern NC you could not farm without some variation of the Farmall Super A or Cub in your shed. Many farmers ran Deere, Ford, MF, Allis, etc. for their main tractors but had an IH for cultivating tobacco. That, plus the fact IH produced twice as many Super As, 100s, 130s, and 140s over a much longer period says something to me.

Back to gusbratz's original question I say again, location, location, location. If the VAC was a popular model in his area, it would be a good choice. It will be easier to find implements, parts, etc.


Al
 
The Cub should be just as good cultivating your garden as the Super A. If you want a larger tractor are just cultivating a garden, I would go with the Super A. If you use the 2-row cultivator on the VAC, you will have to have your row spacing pretty uniform. If you are going to use PTO implements, I would go with the VAC because of the offset PTO on the Super A. I use my Farmall C to cultivate. I also have a Cub and VAC.
 

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