3 plow tractor recommendations?

oldmanbishop · Oct 27, 2013

So, I"m thinking of upgrading from the old 9n. I"d like to be able to pull a 3-14 plow. Aside from that, I"d like it to be fairly cheap and reliable. I"d prefer diesel over gas. I"ll also have to get a loader on it.

I"m not stuck on any particular color. Any recommendations?

sd pete · Oct 27, 2013

656 666 686 for IHC.

Roy in UK · Oct 27, 2013

MF 165,168, 175. Good Ferguson system hydraulics and Perkins engines.

omahagreg · Oct 27, 2013

Allis WD45, could get a diesel, might not be quite your style with a loader with only one way hydraulics.

4010 puller · Oct 27, 2013

John Deere 2510-2520-3020. IH 666 or 766. Allis D17 or D19, later one with 3 point.

Dean · Oct 27, 2013

Ford (three cylinder) 4000 or later derivitive.

Depending upon your ground, a prior model (4 cylinder) 4000 or 861 might be an acceptable choice.

Dean

Bret4207 · Oct 27, 2013

Cheap, reliable, diesel and a loader. You might get 2 of the 4 but cheap and reliable seldom come together. I think you're going to have to add patience to your search criteria.

That said, don't over look DB 990/995/1200/1210, Nuffeild 4/60, White 2-70/85, Ollie 1600 and 1700 series, Ford 5000, D-17....stuff like that. Cheap and reliable are going to be the tough parts.

buickanddeere · Oct 27, 2013

All depends. A 3-14 will require anything from 35HP, 4500lb tractor to 75HP and 9000lbs . Depending on soil , moisture and hills.

Nick m · Oct 27, 2013

Massey 175. Easy on fuel and quite cheap compared to a deere. Multi-power equipped ones take a little getting used to but nice once you do.

rankrank1 · Oct 27, 2013

If you going to upgrade tractor anyhow then I would go with one that will pull 3-16" plow instead of only a 3-14" plow. A 16" plough is much less likely to plug with trash like cornstalks and the like as compared to a 14".

Anonymous-0 · Oct 27, 2013

If you're only looking to spend a couple thousand dollars, forget it! To get a good, reliable diesel(gas) tractor with a 3pt. and a loader capable of pulling a 3 bottom plow, you'll probably need to spend at least $4000/4500. You might have to spend a bunch more than too. You want something common with a good reputation and parts support. The last you want is to buy something cheap and end up with someone else's headache.

RandyB(MI) · Oct 27, 2013

I second the Massey Ferguson choices but you may even want, because of price , to go back to one of the later year 50 , 65 models. For the money I don't think you can beat a late MF 65 and if you are where it's cold I would go with the gas model. They were as "modern" as any for their time and still very usefull and available and cheap. You can get a cream puff for $3500-$4000. And they will handle 3-16,s just fine.

RandyB(MI) · Oct 27, 2013

There's a very nice MF 65 diesel with 3740 hrs on it on YT,s photo ads at left, for $4000. For what you are looking for I think it would be hard to beat.

oldmanbishop · Oct 27, 2013

I'm thinking cheap in the long run. I don't mind paying more up front if I'm going to spend less on repairs and have more time in the field. I definitely can't pay 10,000. 5,000 would be ok.

Drawbar HP should be about 45+ for my land.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

oldmanbishop · Oct 27, 2013

Thanks, I'll think about a 3 16.

rrlund · Oct 27, 2013

Pretty hard to beat a 2020 Deere if you can get parts for it. There's always A&I I guess.

G1355 · Oct 27, 2013

A m670 minneapolis moline. Good tractor and you can get one from $3000-$6500 there 73hp so it pull it just fine. There a handy tractor to have.

oldmanbishop · Oct 27, 2013

I did a quick search, and it looks like we have more 275s than 175s nearby. Does the 175 have a better reputation for reliability? Or is the cost just usually lower? Thanks.

Ultradog MN · Oct 27, 2013

Ford 4000 (3 cyl)
Easy to work on, very good parts availability, reliable.
You should be able to get a good one for $5K.
Here's a few that I've owned.

DennisinWI · Oct 27, 2013

I have a new to me MF 65D and have been making some repairs from years of poor maintenance and have been somewhat surprised that every single part that I have needed is available. This includes everything from PTO parts to seat bushings.

Nick m · Oct 27, 2013

Just run a little cheaper. 275 took the place of it. A little newer. I have a 175 and my uncle has a 275. Both have been very reliable tractors . Both have a 236 perkins which are great engines. I think the 275's are a little better looking.

DeltaRed · Oct 27, 2013

Back in the day,a 40 horse Farmall M was a solid 3 plow tractor.But it all depends on your soil.That same M in my area is a 2 plow tractor.These days,here in western Colorado,we figure 25-30 horse(30 is better) per bottom.Also,it better to have a little more power or less plow than the other way(less power/more plow).

buickanddeere · Oct 27, 2013

Show me the Nebraska test results that state that the Deere is a fuel hog and the Massey 175 isn't.

Nick m · Oct 27, 2013

Don't imply something I didn't imply mr tough talker. He asked for suggestions and I gave him one. I have a 175 I payed $4500 for, and its easy on fuel. Pretty cheap for a tractor that size. Show me a deere that's 65hp made in the same period for that price. Keep in mind this is coming from a guy with 3 deeres in his barn. A 2520 would be comparable to it. Are you gonna buy one for 4500? I think not. Now go try to ruin someone elses day, or just take a happy pill.

jon f mn · Oct 27, 2013

Nebraska tests don't often prove out in real life. In my experience both hp and fuel ratings can be off in both directions once a tractor hits the field.

Alan K · Oct 28, 2013

Ive always liked the 265 275 and 285s. I wish there were more dealers around....for ALOT of brands other than the main 3 there are now.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 28, 2013

The Perkins 4-236 was the first Perkins engine designed specifically for a tractor, the 175. They are proven to be easy on fuel and an outstanding engine. Basically 2/3's of the legendary 6-354. They must have been a pretty good engine because they were used in a huge variety of other equipment and a few million of them were built. The 3-152,4-236 and 6-354 Perkins are renowned for their fuel economy and reliability.

samn40 · Oct 28, 2013

I second the Massey vote. You only have to visit the largest monthly tractor auction in the world here in the UK to see just how populkar they are with dealers from all over the world rushing to buy absolute scrap Massey 100, 200, 500 and 600 series tractors to go for rebuilding and to work another life.....The reason...they are tough, reliable and, as one Italian dealer told me "you can buy every single part for them all over the World!"
Sam

Roy in UK · Oct 28, 2013

Ah memories of climbing back onto the seat of our ever faithful MF 168 again whilst our NEW IH 674 was been ferried back to Platts for yet another repair!

buickanddeere · Oct 28, 2013

So you trust Bubba down at the diner and his fuel economy figures? More than a registered lab that uses measurement equipment calibrated to standard? And tests each different tractor under the same circumstances?
The Nebraska tests were mandated to eliminate "it felt like", "It seems like", "if memory serves", "my Pappy said" test results

Nick m · Oct 28, 2013

By the way, a 175 uses 3.8 gal/hr while a 2520 uses 4 gal/hour according to Nebraska at the draw bar.

jon f mn · Oct 28, 2013

Don't know bubba, but I would trust my own experience and the experience of neighbors and other people I know. And based on that experience I can say that the Nebraska test frequently don't hold up under field conditions. I don't know why that is, but it definately is that way.

3 plow tractor recommendations?

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