off the farm

I took my tractor (M Farmall) down the road to
my brother's farm this morning, about 5 miles.
I am always concerned when I leave the farm for
fear of things going wrong. I took the tractor
with the worst tires because the others have
brand new tires and I didn't want roadwear. I
pulled the bush hog. I worked her hard for
about 4 hours and drove home. The tractor ran
great but I was relieved to get home. The
tractor is a 1944 with new engine, new axle
bearings, Saginaw 3 point hitch, new radiator
and front bolster and steering rebuilt. She
doesn't look wonderful but she sure pulled the
freight today. Ellis
 
Yeah, I worry too when I hit the road between locations. Don't think you could have picked a better tractor to do it with, though. Letter series Farmalls are about as reliable as it gets.
 
I don't worry much about tire wear. They will rot out before they wear out no more than we use these old tractors today. On the other hand I took my 44 H up the road 3 miles to rake hay this morning. Never even gave it a thought that I would but complete the job. Went back later with my 1965 806 to bale. Same thing. I don't expect to break down. But there is a fellow near me that cuts a small piece of alfalfa several times each summer. I don't think I ever see him cut it all in one sweep. He seems to be always broke down. (either that or he leaves the machine half done in the middle of the field and goes to town for a beer)
 
I don't worry about road wear at all. Have good rear tires on an H and M. Both tractors get plenty of road time and don't show any tire wear. One thing I have learned is to keep good tires on them. You will end up using them alot more if they have good tires on. You will have a tendency to use another tractor if it has bad tires on it. Especially if they need aired up. The bushhog however has been know to get a few tires. They can throw metals, sticks, thorns, and rocks at your tires. I would be way more worried about that than road wear.
 
Think of it this way - a normal car tire has about 3/8 of an inch of tread to give up in say 30,000 miles. Rear tires, call it 50,000.

I'd say you'd have to make about 10,000 trips back and forth to your brother's to start seeing any real signs of wear.
 
If it runs good in the field,it will run good on the road.I regularly run my old tractors(C;H;M;706;826;1256.......) on the road,never had a problem.My farm(s) are scattered over 10 miles,plus I do custom work so I put on a fair amount of road miles.As far as tires,Dont worry about "wear".As was said they will rot off before they wear out.Case in point,I put new tires on my SuperM in 1980.USED it all these years.Just last year I had to put new ones on it.they still had good tread but had rotted and the tread was separating from the caseing.Better to wear em out than to watch em rot....
 
Know what you mean about the tires. I had an old rotten set of rears on a tractor I use around the farm that held up OK at low speeds. Took it out on the road this last spring and a crack in a sidewall pinched the tube. Got home with it but was listing to the side pretty good. It now has a new pair of Firestones $$$$$$
 
I don't know why, but I am the same way when I am not on my own ground (or rented ground). I cut and baled an 80 for a guy last week. It was only about 8 miles away but I couldn't wait to get all of that equipment home. It is different when you are somewhere else for some reason.
 
There are a tough tractor. If you work it hard at home, it will hold up down the road. Probably one of the most trouble free tractors IH ever built. We had a 41 M and it was always hooked to the plow or disk.
 

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