New Guy with ???'s

FANTM58

New User
Hey guys, I'm finally in a position to purchase a tractor.
I've wanted to for a long time but never had the real need
Until now. I just purchased about 3 acres and I'm building
My house and shop. I've always liked the 8N's and the NAA
Fords, but I have a chance to get a International Harvester 240
This thing is in amazing condition . Always garage kept.
My question is for what I want to do with it
Brush hog type mower and push snow and a loader for
Landscaping ETC. are these tractors I'm looking at
Good for this , if so is there a reason or not to stay
Away from the FORDs or the IH 240
Thanks
Robert H
Westminster, Co
 
It would be my suggestion that you look at a Kabota or New Holland new or used. These machines are newer and the 8N and NAA are old machines that will require attention sooner or later. The Kabota and NH have a large number of implements that are available(new and used).
 
I'm not so familiar with the ih 240. That would be the timeframe when 'options' were on tractors, so might depend on how it is fitted.

I will guess the 240 has more options. Could be power steering, live hydraulics, live pto. Did ihc have a 3pt option at that time, or is it the ihc 2pt
or 1pt at that time/size tractor? A three point is the way to go.

If you aren't familiar with what live hydraulics or live pto is, trust me you will really prefer those options. Old tractors when you push the clutch in
the hydraulics and pto stop working as well as the rear wheels. A real pain to keep tillers, mowers, balers, etc going. Can't lift the 3pt with the
clutch pushed in, real pain.....

The ford N series came out with the three point, and was the perfect size tractor to replace a team of horses. It was really advanced at just the
point of time people wanted to switch from horses to a small tractor. So they sold many of them, and people loved thrm, have fond memories of
them.

Neat little tractors, and will always have a place in history.

To -use- a tractor today, live pto and live hydraulics make life so very much more fun these days. Certainly you can work without it, but oh what
a difference those options make......

Paul
 
We started out with a IH 340, the 240 is just a little smaller, nice tractor, depending on options. We used a 5 foot brush cutter, 7 foot disc, and a 7 foot cultivator with it, handled them well.
 
(quoted from post at 07:49:17 10/19/16)
................Old tractors when you push the clutch in
the hydraulics and pto stop working as well as the rear wheels............
/quote]

The VA Series Case tractors with the 'Eagle Hitch' (1950 - on ?????) had live hydraulics but not a live PTO. If you're going to have a FEL then you will absolutely want power steering.
 
I just googled the 240. Depending on condition,options and price it might be the best way to go. It looks like a lot newer and more powerful than an 8N.
 
I've never owned a IH 240 but I drove one around a bit. Decent tractor with good power. Downside is the fast hitch, and not standard 3 point, and no power steering. If you are going to get a FEL, you want that. There are conversion kits to put standard 3 point on the IH fast hitch, or maybe the seller has already put it on. Tractordata.com says it has 'transmission PTO' so no live hyd either. Depends on the price of course.

I have a Ford 8N, and while it does the jobs I want it to do, it's not the most convenient tractor on the planet. To brush hog, you need to get the tractor in front of what you want to cut, let the clutch out in N, get the blades spinning well, put the clutch in, pick a gear, slow the engine a bit, and let the clutch out again. Or, just get it spinning on already cut area and then drive right in with the clutch out. It's a bit of a hassle. Augering is also a bit of a hassle with the trans PTO drive because you have to clutch it all the time to start and stop the PTO. I've gotten used to it, and it's not a deal killer, but if you plan to PTO a lot, consider that. The 8N moves snow fine with the back blade. At your altitude, you will have less power than sea level so consider that when you shop. Just say NO to a FEL on any of the early Ford models. It will destroy the steering box within a few months.
 
We had a 240 IH and a 650 Ford (similar to 1953 Jubilee)
The 240 only had the 2 point hitch, works only with IH implements.
Also, the 240 was the most dangerous tractor we had, front end reared up too easily,
brakes were not dependable.
The 650 Ford was OK, but like the others said, push in the clutch and everything stops.
Get something newer with power steering and live PTO.
 
A 240 is just a step up from a Super C.Would probably work fine on your small acreage.If you can,hold out for a 600/800 series
Ford.
 
Most of these options started showing up in the 1950s.

Some, like the Ford 100 series, had multiple options so you really need to pay attention to the -exact- model you are looking at. A 940, 950, and
960 are 'the same' tractor, but 4 speed, 5 speed, and 5 speed with live pto, the 960 is a much better tractor than the 940. As well power
steering was an option on any; typically the higher end 960 had it, the lower end it was left off.....

After live pto, they came up with independent pto. This means the pto lever operates the pto all on its own, it doesn't matter if you have the
clutch pedal pressed in or not, the pto operation is totally independent of the clutch/transmission operation. For most of us live or indecent
doesn't matter too much, either is a major step up from 'transmission pto'. But, indendent is actually a little step better for some uses.

Paul
 
reasons to stay away from n fords, lets see, put a loader on the front and try to steer it. definatly not made for a loader. go to the n ford page on this web site and look at all the problems people have with starting them, stopping them, hydraulic problems, etc. do your self a BIG favor, find a tractor with live pto and brakes that actually work. The later fords are good like the 2000-4000 su series. I know nothing a the IHC's.
 
Some people would call me an IH collector but I would dispute that. I have a nice place that I farm on the side. It is quite a bit larger than what you are doing but when I started with tractors I only had 3 acres. My tractor at that time was a 1989 Ford 1520 with loader, mower, post hole digger. I bought it new, still have it, and the family calls it the "son I never had" because it helps me out daily on the farm and I would hate to live without it. If you can find a 1520 or 1720...most will have loaders...I would seriously look at it and get an antique tractor later. When I was looking to add a second (antique) tractor, I went to Steiner's boneyard and climbed up into the seat on several brands and the one that hit me was Farmall. I just liked them. Olivers were a near tie. JD, with respect to my many friends who loved them, just never appealed to me. The old N Fords are cute but not a lot of guts and I personally have a hard time keeping the one I own running. Slightly later Fords mentioned by another post are great tractors. Whatever you buy, make sure it has independent PTO and hydraulics to the rear and a 3 pt hitch. If you want an IH, I would go a little later and higher on the food chain (more hp). I am thinking either the 1520 or 1720 would be the best bet though. Second would be the Fords that came AFTER the N series (1000 series???). You want versatility.
 
What is your land like,flat , hilly? How much do you want to spend? I have old tractors and new. At my age 4 wd, power steering, hydro have it
all over the old stuff.
 
Telling us how much you have to spend would
help a lot.
$2000? A Ford N Series would do everything
you need to do on 3 acres.
$2500-$3500? The Jubilee/NAA, 600 or 800
Fords are much better tractors than the Ns.
$3500-$5000? Look for a 3000 Ford. Hold out
for one that has 8 speed trans, live pto and
power steering. They are superb small
tractors. Simple, reliable, good parts
availability and this site has a great Ford
board if you need help.
One thing about all the small fords is they
all have category 1 3 point hitch so there
are lots of implements - both new and used -
available for them.
 
No regrets buying my 71 Ford 3000 diesel with loader 9 years ago for $4,500.00 when I bought this property. I have 8 acres and do everything with that tractor. I was lucky in that I didn't really know what I was buying but ended up with all the good stuff, power steering, 8 speed. I added rear hydraulics and hydraulic top link. Have had to replace the generator and starter. I do keep it under a car port out of the weather. Over the winter I am going to rebuild the lift, it doesn't lift all the way under load but not surprised for a 45 year old tractor.
 
If it were me, I would stretch my budget a little and get a used compact diesel with a hydrostatic trans of what ever color you prefer. I have 3 acres that was a house on a hay field 32 years ago. I bought an 8n with a flail mower and a back blade. It only took a year of mowing before the "hay field" became what I call good grass and I started saving for a finish mower. I still have and and use my 8n, but I do nearly all my yard maintenance with 2 used (88,92) Kubotas I've had for 10 and 14 years respectively. My guess is you won't be brush hogging very long on 3 acres before you want the grass to look nice. The amount of fuel you save in 15 years will more than cover the additional cost. My Kubota's will cut the grass for 1/3 the fuel of the 8n. This is what my hay field looks like now.
a240617.jpg
 

Look around your area to see what brand the local dealers sell and purchase something in those brands that's new enough to have three point hitch, live hyd, live pto and preferably power steering.
No matter what brand it is if I had to drive 100 miles for parts that brand wouldn't be worth much to me.

Just so you know, New Holland carries parts for Ford equipment, Case carries parts for IH, best to stop and ask the dealers what brands they stock parts for.
 
If you want something to do loader work you should look at tractors with loaders already on them. Trying to find a loader that fits a specific old tractor can be tough and take a while.

Plus you can test drive the tractor with the loader on it and see if you can handle driving it. Good power steering is advisable with a loader, and that's a rare option on the IH, and unheard of on the Fords.
 

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