Opinions requested

Dave H (MI)

Well-known Member
I have been thinking I would like to run my field sprayer from the seat of an old row crop tractor. Used a utility to spray this past Spring and it was just not right. Not a lot of visibility sitting down so low. Sprayer has a 500 gallon tank, booms move up and down with hydraulics, 12v tractor mounted control box, 540 pto pump.

Sitting here looking at a nice Farmall M that has come available. Trying to figure out if there is a reason this could not run the sprayer or should I look for another SMTA with the IPTO and live hydraulics? Don't want to use my current SMTA as it does the hay here close to home and the sprayer is used 20 miles away at about the same time. I really enjoy seat time on the old open station row crop so hoping to put another one to use.
 
Dave ... it is YOUR decision to make, but I think you pretty well answered your question in the last sentence of your posting. Do you really need an M sized tractor? What about an H??
 
Been looking at the H also. I'm over 6' so the smaller the Farmall the less comfort for me. The SMTA is a nice tractor for me. I figure on this one the deciding factor will be what comes available first. The M is down the road and pretty nice looking. Since this will be a worker it has to be a runner. I hate breakdowns with a deadline looming. I tend to forget when I ask questions on the tractor specific forum that a lot of guys are mainly collectors and don't use them to the degree that we do around here.
 
I would look at any of those. I have it hooked on a 300U right now but a Farmall 300 would be a much better choice. 400 and 450 are a couple of my favorite Farmalls...all the bells and whistles of the SMTA and (sometimes) a little easier on the wallet. Not sure if I need it to be fancy, though. Not sure if it matters on a sprayer if it has IPTO or not. Probably not. T/A might be nice to help pull me thru the wet spots though.
 
I run a sprayer on an H with the tank mounted closer to the seat that what an added on 3 point would carry it. With a 100 gal of liquid in the tank there is about 10lbs of weight on the ft. wheels, you can barely steer it. Have to be way easy on the clutch. Works fine as tank goes down. I don't think you can carry 500 gals the same way on an M, it will tip backwards.
 
Sorry...the sprayer is self contained on it's own trailer with two axles. All I got to do is pull it...not that this is a light load. If I were to use the SMTA I would lock the swinging drawbar in place and hook onto it. Tractor will be pulling from the center. Given that I have used this same arrangement when cutting hay, I can tell you that I used to hook three flat racks, one loaded with about 100 bales, The baler would be on the front and the rake on the rear. Tractor, five implements and 100 bales up hill and down hill for a mile. Rear tires are loaded and the tractor weighed (for shipping 12 years ago) 9200 lbs. I don't think it will mind 5000 lbs of spray on a tandem axle trailer one little bit. Willing to listen to opinions on this though.
 
500 gallon behind a h and you will be flipped over at the bottom of a hill i was rnning a 4020 with 500 gallon sprayer and at turns would push tractor side ways just about rolled it one time but was spraying in high gear
 
Well, I am 6' 5" and 250 plus lbs. Own both a Farmall h and and a Farmall m. Operator comfort wise they are equal from an ergonomics legroom perspective IMOP.

While I love my h (darn thing just sips fuel) I think the weight of your sprayer might be better behind a m, but I do believe the h would do it on flat ground.

One thing to remember is that both the standard h and the standard m will only go about 5.2 mph at WOT in 4th gear. If you need to go faster than that then a super h, super m, 300, 350, 400, 450 would have the faster gears just like your SMTA has in direct drive.

I would try the SMTA you own before I bought something just to verify that like using it for the task. If yes, then handicap your SMTA to be equivalent to whatever you are thinking about buying. Obviously if the SMTA is marginal for the task then an h is totally out.
 
I sure love my M. I'd get another but I would see if I could hold out for one with the Heisler nine speed. That means you will have the gears that are going to be important for spraying. I'd rake with my M on a nice day but there's no good gear for the big V rake. I end up raking with the 4020 in 6th.
 
A little newer, but Foote tractor in Howell has a 656 gas with a Hinnecker cab on it. I'd buy it but I am full up on space now....
 

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