Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Worst Tractor

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
ed1

03-21-2007 17:48:37




Report to Moderator

Ok, i've heard about all the great tractors but what was the absolute worst tractor ever made




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
little erik

04-02-2007 21:50:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Any IH hydro...couldn't pull a weed

The best is definately the M family

Don't know how anybody could hate the H.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
steveormary

04-02-2007 22:29:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to little erik, 04-02-2007 21:50:03  
From best to worst.

Farmall 706 ger deisel
M and SM (tie)
the Fords and Fergusons ( one was just as good as the other)

Cockshutt 30 with F10 loader
the pos Farmall 300.turned into a pos right after I bought it.

steveormary



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
HAPPY DEERE

03-23-2007 15:40:47




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Ih is only good for scrap metal the same with allis and ollies only good tractor besides john deere ever made was ford 1000 series



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dad's88

03-23-2007 20:49:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to HAPPY DEERE, 03-23-2007 15:40:47  
What crack pipe have you been smookin' out of "happy".



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
I Bleed Green

03-22-2007 14:10:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
The Fordson for sure, and any IH tractor that has a TA. Most of all for Farmall 460



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
bhb

03-22-2007 12:53:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
2010



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Aaron Ford

03-22-2007 11:13:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
I kinda picked up from this post that I should have looked at the drawbar prior to considering my project.

The drawbar hole has been elongated enough that I will have to have it welded up and rebored. The lift arms swivels are elongated and will have to be replaced. The arms look like they were about ripped clear off the tractor. Many cracks and stress marks... The lower lift arm link was broken clear off and the upper knuckles are junked.

I could not figure out why my friend made the comment that it looked like this tractor was wholely responsible for pulling the mississippi river all the way to the gulf. Never really thought about that comment til now.

Oh well, guess that means the MF65 did not make this list!

That 2010 is a pretty tractor though. Never owned one though...

Aaron

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ed1

03-22-2007 09:28:42




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Got some expected suggestions and some surprises in this posting.

In the allways thought catagory

IH = 706 - remember a lot of these in the weeds

Ford = Commander 6000 - the one i remember looked like new when it was sold - was allways in the shop for repairs - think it was under repair longer than it was in the field.

JD = 1010 - no experience with this on


Didn't expect catagory

JD = 4020 - I thought this is what put JD on top

IH = Farmall H - Allways thought this was a really good tractor.

You learn something every day

Thanks

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ole Sow 53

03-22-2007 08:44:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
1961 Massey Ferguson 85 diesel.
It almost bankrupt my father-in-law.
1966 4020 Power-shift diesel wasn't much better.
I do not understand how anyone could or would choose Farmall H.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Cory A.

03-22-2007 08:33:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Well I"m gonna go with the Farmall 706 gasser, While the rear ends were tough the shifting sucks and i"ve had nothing but problems with the 263 gas engine. everytime i turn around its something else.....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rrlund

03-22-2007 07:57:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
I'll jump in on this one. The absolute bottom of the heap that ever infected this farm was an early Farmall 706 diesel. I hate to say it,but the second worst was one of the most valuable collectors items now,the John Deere 730 diesel. They pushed that 2 cylinder thing a little too far. If you don't believe me,go back and look at how many of them sold in Archbold in the later 60s and what they sold for. The dealers didn't even want them around.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jubilee johnny

03-22-2007 07:15:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Maybe you should word the question "what was the worst tractor you ever owned or used as all companies have lemons. I had a 4020 jd that was great and yet some give it the shaft. Just from what has been said I think I would stay away from a 1010 or 2010



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Cmore

03-22-2007 06:32:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Had a good friend years ago that had a 4020 and a 2010. One day I stopped by and there were TWO 2010 Deeres, the original and another he just picked up used. I ask him why he bought another, and he said "I just wanted to be sure it was that bad of a tractor, surely the second can't be as bad as the first, but it's even worse".....Cmore



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere

03-22-2007 10:17:46




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Cmore, 03-22-2007 06:32:04  
The 1st couple of years production 2010 & 1010 diesels were pretty grim. Any gasser 1010 or a late gasser 2010 are ok however. The JD 5000's and 1st half of the 5000 Ten series were no prize either. Just about anything with a " IH Torque Amplifier" or an early Ford "Power $hift" can spend lot$ of $hop time. Of course any abusive operator, lack of service or a Monday/Friday machine can make any make or model into a stinker.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Fern(Mi)

03-22-2007 06:15:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Nobody mentioned the late 50"s early 60"s Ford tractors with their Ford-o-matic(?) transmissions. knew a couple guys what had them. They couldn"t get rid of them, nobody else would take them. I think both guys died with them frozen in their estates.
How about the old Farmall "C"? The Farmal "A, B, BN" could out work the "C."
Fernan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Kentucky Ed

03-22-2007 04:32:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
1010 John Deere without a doubt.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JDknut

03-22-2007 03:57:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Not counting for individual examples which can be much better or worse than the average, but the worst reputations by make is the Ford 6000/Commander and the Deere 1010/2010 Diesels.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Walt Davies

03-21-2007 22:28:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
JD 410 Backhoe. I spent more time fixing these for the Army than any other tractor that I have seen they would make anybody hate John Deere.

Walt



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
NE IA Dave

03-21-2007 22:18:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Gary from Muleshoe said it word for word. Case 730 very good, 830 Case-O-Matic very bad. However my dads Case 600 11B Case - O- Matic never helped put the oats in the total nine years he owned it.
The JD 2010-and 2020's are well known in these areas as hands down, either you got a pretty decent one or else you wish you had never owned one.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
georgeky

03-21-2007 21:44:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
I think it is safe to say that tractors are like cars,trucks and even golf carts there will be good and bad in all kinds. Some of the ones mentioned of various kinds I have ran and some were good and some were not much better than a sack full of hammers. The only thing I know for certain is that the farmall H is not the worst tractor of all time it's sales and loyal following is a testiment to that. If that were true the 400,000 folks that bought a new one were slow to learn since they were built from 1939 until 1954 in one variant or another out selling every thing else in the US.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JOHN HARMON

03-21-2007 21:13:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
I don't know of the worst Tractor ever built but the worst Tractor I ever had was a 1957 WD 45 Diesel. That Tractor caused me a lot of problems with the Engine and it got to the point that I refused to try and start it ,afraid Oil and Water would swap places again. I had a WD 45 gas and a D 17 Gas and never had problems to speak of with them. I traded the Diesel for a 190 Gas and Problems ended.I had to put a rebuilt Head on that diesel again just to trade it off.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
THEkyroastnear

03-21-2007 20:56:37




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
the 6000 fords including commander also been told 460 farmall not too good. personal worst any with white nametag p.o.s.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
IH2444

03-21-2007 19:39:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
One that I want but can't afford....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Tom43

03-21-2007 19:17:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
The worst tractor I was ever around was a 1950 Massey-Harris 44. It had poor traction even with loaded tires. It took Hercules to steer the thing, possibly because the motor was over the front wheels. The next worst was a J.D. 730 Diesel which was mostly smoke and noise. The best were a Super M, an H and a 4020 Diesel.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob

03-21-2007 19:57:05




Report to Moderator
 Tom 43 in reply to Tom43, 03-21-2007 19:17:08  
A neighbor still uses a Massey "44" for loader work and to power grain augers etc.. He wouldn't part with it... I've asked. They CAN'T be ALL that bad!

(My Dad and Uncle had two Massey 55 diesels and they were pretty good tractors too.)

As for the Deere 730; they have power steering and hydraulics that were ahead of their time and were some of the most fuel-efficient tractors tested at Nebraska; not to mention being "tough as nails.

What's your BEEF with them?

Check out what they sell for nowadays and you'll wish you owned a whole barn full of them!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
alnciowa

03-21-2007 19:12:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Ford 6000 that they rebuilt and resold. Commander was no better.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Uh oh

03-21-2007 19:11:00




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
In my experience, definantly the 1010 john deere, hands down... just in my experience



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
bluepaint

03-21-2007 18:38:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Any belarus or a case 1594.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
730virgil

03-21-2007 18:37:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
worst tractor i was personally was around was massey ferguson 2745. it was in shop more than it was in feild. the same man owned a mf super 90 that was as good as the other was bad.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Turke Bros. Farms

03-21-2007 18:32:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
i think its my International B-250. That thing has been a thorn in my butt! it runs good and works well...Its just the parts are soooo expensive. Just bought a starter at $285.00, and thats if you can find half the parts. I had to make my own fuel lines using the exsisting banjo fittings.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Oliver Wendell Douglas

03-21-2007 18:25:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Hoyt Clogwell



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rrlund

03-22-2007 08:12:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Oliver Wendell Douglas, 03-21-2007 18:25:12  
Hey,come on,you said the other day it was the best. She blow up again? HANEY..... ..



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
georgeky

03-21-2007 19:23:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Oliver Wendell Douglas, 03-21-2007 18:25:12  
Hey mister Douglas isn't that a Hoyt Clagwell.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Oliver Wendell Douglas

03-22-2007 03:31:58




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to georgeky, 03-21-2007 19:23:31  
Probably so, it's all Ebs fault.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dad's88

03-22-2007 14:46:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Oliver Wendell Douglas, 03-22-2007 03:31:58  
Well, if you were dumb enough to buy the HANEY place.....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
molinebob

03-21-2007 18:20:51




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
some one said that they thought the john deere 4020 was the worst, ha ha that is the best ever built. The worst was farmall H.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
M Nut

03-21-2007 18:56:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to molinebob, 03-21-2007 18:20:51  
Wow! Owning both of those tractors, I'd say those are two of the greatest tractors built of all time. The H the worst? Doesn't seem possible.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
ejr-IA.

03-21-2007 18:30:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to molinebob, 03-21-2007 18:20:51  
I wonder why after selling close to a half million H's why they would be so bad.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Rusty Shacklefard

03-23-2007 07:39:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ejr-IA., 03-21-2007 18:30:40  
If they were so good they would still be in business



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan In NE

03-21-2007 18:25:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to molinebob, 03-21-2007 18:20:51  
I'll be darned. Didn't know that. :>)

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Gary from Muleshoe

03-21-2007 18:19:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
In my experience it would be a Case 830D, Cas-O-Matic. The one we had was always in for repair. We had a 730 that was an exceptional tractor.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
c hess

03-22-2007 06:22:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Gary from Muleshoe, 03-21-2007 18:19:13  
Cant imagine what was wrong with a 830 case o matic. Mine has been trouble free an has never been touched(CASE O matic always used tch oil)



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bill(Wis)

03-21-2007 18:16:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
The Essex Tri-Directional, or maybe it was the Try-Erectional, I forget.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
smdv806

03-21-2007 18:02:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Never owned one and I am sure they are better than what people give them credit for, but I thought the JD 1010 was the worst.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan In NE

03-21-2007 18:01:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
Have absolutely no idea.

4020 maybe? :>)

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Butcher

03-21-2007 18:31:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Allan In NE, 03-21-2007 18:01:40  
I agree! Way over priced used. Most have had the livin Dog $#!t beat out of them by someone who knows absolutly nothing bout a tractor.
I've heard they smoke alot and slobber alot too.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan In NE

03-21-2007 18:48:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Butcher, 03-21-2007 18:31:03  
I know smoke and slobber. Used to frequent the bars a lot. :>)

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Butcher

03-21-2007 18:55:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Allan In NE, 03-21-2007 18:48:32  
Just havin alittle fun. Couldnt help myself. Looked like you were having alittle fun with some folks yourself. Just thought I'd chime in.
Did you get the bugs out of your new loader yet? Looks like a nice setup to me. Alot of guys I know up here would be happy as heck to have a setup like that. Me included.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan In NE

03-21-2007 19:00:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Butcher, 03-21-2007 18:55:53  
Oh yeah,

Darned thing works great! Flattened a tire right off the bat tho.

Deep in the process of gassin' up my 966's air conditioner. I'm gettin' a little sick of looking at that one. :>)

Take care, Pard.

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
KEH

03-21-2007 17:57:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  

Well, I had personal experience with a JD 2010 and was not pleased with some of the design flaws, but according to rumor the Ford Commander 6000 was a very poor design. The 6 cyl engine was basically a Ford small truck gas engine changed to diesel, the hydraulic system clogged up easily, and worst of all it had a selectospeed transmission. People pointed out that you never saw one with the drawbar worn much because of the difficulty of keeping it running. No personal experience with one though.

KEH

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Owen Aaland

03-21-2007 22:06:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to KEH , 03-21-2007 17:57:57  
RE: Ford commander - You can add to the list of problems that the side frames went all the way from the rear axle to the front and they had to be removed to service the brakes. Also the crankshaft was not supposed to be reground and if you do all the bearing manufactures have the wrong specs. Take .010 off the journals and there is zero clearence on the bearings. Ended up having to take .0125 off the shaft to fit a .010 bearing.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Don-Wi

03-21-2007 23:41:38




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to Owen Aaland, 03-21-2007 22:06:59  
I find that interesting because we buy hay from a guy who has about 25 running 6000's and another 5 or 10 that are dead and another 5 or 10 parts 6000's that he's picked up. Has maybe 2 bigger ones for bigger HP, and a few smaller ones like an 8n w/ a forklift on it.

Never been on a ford other thah the neighbor's for about 5 minutes. just across the intersection when we were borowing it the frost plug heater blew out the side and lost it's coolant. Never went back to them again, they said it happened all the time on that tractor

Donovan from Wisconsin

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dds-inc

03-21-2007 17:57:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
the worst tractor ever made went through the nebraska tractor test as the "american steel tractor company" tractor. Basically what happened was that it couldn't even pull its own weight before the transmission and engine overheated. Now that's a bad tractor.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
D.B. in Mi.

03-21-2007 17:53:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to ed1, 03-21-2007 17:48:37  
The one that won't start. LOL.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
steveormary

03-21-2007 21:22:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Worst Tractor in reply to D.B. in Mi., 03-21-2007 17:53:39  
As for me,the worst tractor I ever owned was a Farmall 300. It was a pos when I got it. Didnt realize it needed so much work.

steveormary



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy