I'm considering moving up from my 1952 8N. I've had it 12 years. Love it, but the main chore for it is shredding our seven acre meadow, which, over the years, has really become quite thick and healthy. It's all the 8N can do to get the job done anymore, especially when it gets real thick after Spring rains and my job has kept me on the road for several weeks.
I've had my mind set on either a 600 or 800 series gasser. Something like a 641 or 860/861. Similar enough to the 8N that I would feel comfortable doing any minor maintenance, plus it still has the classic look of the 8N.
Live PTO would be nice but not necessary. The extra horses is what I'm after.
But lately, I've been studying up on the 2000/3000. More power than the 8N. I know the later 2000s are three cylinders.
My main conundrum is whether to go with a diesel engine on any of the four models mentioned above. There seems to be a lot more diesels out there for sale. Does that mean there are actually more OF them? (either they built more or they have outlasted the gassers). Or, are the gassers so valued that their owners don't want to turn them loose?
And the possibility of power steering for the 2000 or 3000 is enticing.
The idea of a diesel sort of intimidates me. I'm no mechanic but can read an FO manual. In 12 years, my tractor has only been in the shop once- for an electrical problem I couldn't find. (Electrical kicks my butt and in this case, it was the copper strip in the distributor!) But I don't have a clue about diesel motors.
So, with all things being equal, what would you suggest to fit my needs? 600 series? 800 series? 2000? 3000?
I've had my mind set on either a 600 or 800 series gasser. Something like a 641 or 860/861. Similar enough to the 8N that I would feel comfortable doing any minor maintenance, plus it still has the classic look of the 8N.
Live PTO would be nice but not necessary. The extra horses is what I'm after.
But lately, I've been studying up on the 2000/3000. More power than the 8N. I know the later 2000s are three cylinders.
My main conundrum is whether to go with a diesel engine on any of the four models mentioned above. There seems to be a lot more diesels out there for sale. Does that mean there are actually more OF them? (either they built more or they have outlasted the gassers). Or, are the gassers so valued that their owners don't want to turn them loose?
And the possibility of power steering for the 2000 or 3000 is enticing.
The idea of a diesel sort of intimidates me. I'm no mechanic but can read an FO manual. In 12 years, my tractor has only been in the shop once- for an electrical problem I couldn't find. (Electrical kicks my butt and in this case, it was the copper strip in the distributor!) But I don't have a clue about diesel motors.
So, with all things being equal, what would you suggest to fit my needs? 600 series? 800 series? 2000? 3000?