This is kind of embarrassing but here goes. I’ve had my 8N with a Woods M5 five foot rotary mower on it for ten years now. I use it to keep my five acres cleared of brush. Some parts have large rocks and boulders that I have to maneuver around. It also has a Davis FEL on it.
About a year ago I had a chance to pick up a Massey Ferguson 202 Workbull for $2000. This tractor Is the industrial version of the MF35. It has the same loader as my 8N but this one has double acting cylinders so it will lift the front end off the ground. It also has a solid front axel built for a FEL plus power steering and a high / low transmission and power steering.
Well, here’s the embarrassing part. I was out mowing weeds, some in places up to three feet high. I was in around the rocks and darned if I didn’t run the 8N right up onto a rock. It ended up with one back wheel free spinning off the ground. My nephew helped me and we jacked up the front end and placed wooden cribbing under the front tires as best we could. But with that back tire off the ground I knew I would have to pull it off the rock. The front tires were probably eight inches off the ground.
I went and got the Workbull and hooked it up to the 8N with some chains and with it in low first gear, it pulled that 8N off the rock like it was a toy. Remember that the 8N has a heavy FEL and the heavy mower on it with loaded tires and wheel weights as well. I was afraid that the Workbull would spin out on me. It has no wheel weights like my 8N has and it has smaller tires than the 8N. But at least the Workbulls tires were loaded. Luckily I never mow in anything but first gear but the 8N just crawled right up on that rock.
Like I said, I’ve been mowing this property for ten years. I just got careless and should have walked those high bushes first, but I though I knew where the bigger rocks were. Got the 8N down and checked her over good. I was worried about a cracked oil pan or damaged steering parts but, to my surprise there appears to be no damage.
My point of this story…everyone should have two tractors as you’ll never know when you suddenly need another one !
About a year ago I had a chance to pick up a Massey Ferguson 202 Workbull for $2000. This tractor Is the industrial version of the MF35. It has the same loader as my 8N but this one has double acting cylinders so it will lift the front end off the ground. It also has a solid front axel built for a FEL plus power steering and a high / low transmission and power steering.
Well, here’s the embarrassing part. I was out mowing weeds, some in places up to three feet high. I was in around the rocks and darned if I didn’t run the 8N right up onto a rock. It ended up with one back wheel free spinning off the ground. My nephew helped me and we jacked up the front end and placed wooden cribbing under the front tires as best we could. But with that back tire off the ground I knew I would have to pull it off the rock. The front tires were probably eight inches off the ground.
I went and got the Workbull and hooked it up to the 8N with some chains and with it in low first gear, it pulled that 8N off the rock like it was a toy. Remember that the 8N has a heavy FEL and the heavy mower on it with loaded tires and wheel weights as well. I was afraid that the Workbull would spin out on me. It has no wheel weights like my 8N has and it has smaller tires than the 8N. But at least the Workbulls tires were loaded. Luckily I never mow in anything but first gear but the 8N just crawled right up on that rock.
Like I said, I’ve been mowing this property for ten years. I just got careless and should have walked those high bushes first, but I though I knew where the bigger rocks were. Got the 8N down and checked her over good. I was worried about a cracked oil pan or damaged steering parts but, to my surprise there appears to be no damage.
My point of this story…everyone should have two tractors as you’ll never know when you suddenly need another one !
