versatile 150

Looking at buying a versatile 150. Can't seem to find much info on the web.. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

What do you plan to do with it???? They are a hydrostatic driven tractor. They EAT horse power if you try to do field work with them. They where built to do many jobs but not any real well.

They where prone to oil leaks and fires under the cab. The early loaders where a bear to remove, IRC. There where some odd things you had to do to get them to work at different things. Like take the lift arms off the main lift to use the loader. They would lift more than the loader would take. So most of them you see have the loaders welded up on them.

I just know they sell DIRT cheap and few have much good to say about them.

The only real good thing they worked for was snow. You could hang a snow blower on the front three point and use the loader on the back. They would easily go slow enough for the snow blower to work well. Also in cool weather they did not have the over heating issue they did in hot weather.

I've been around several over the years, since they were introduced.

There are two that I know of still operating in my area.

As JD says, they are great for loader or snowblower use. Trouble is, the 3-point and PTO are/can be on the same end, so you have to remove the loader to use the three-point. I can't remember if the option was available to have them at opposite ends, or if that came with later models. Something to look at/consider, anyhow.

I am tall and have BIG feet and entering the cab and getting around the reversible seat is a miserable experience for me.

Probably the BIGGEST downside is parts availability. In the first place, they are getting OLD, and then they were really treated as the unwanted $^@*&%^@ child though the Ford/New Holland/FIAT/Rostselmash buyouts/mergers.

A half-dozen years ago, already, when my son worked at a Versatile dealership, many drivetrain parts were NLA and they had to get them from salvage yards or other aftermarket sources.

I own a 1977 (first year) 150. I use it as a loader tractor on my acreage (no livestock) and the main reason I bought it, blowing snow. Works great for what I use it, I have a long driveway and will never use anything but a front mounted blower after using this. Love the 4x4 and hydro on the blower.

The 150's have a Perkins in them and they seem to outshine their rated HP on the blower IMO.

As pointed out below the loader and 3 pt. are both on the cab end, so it's one or the other, loader removal / install is simple, about 10 minutes on a flat surface.

The cab is small and tight as pointed out below, can be a pain for loader work requiring a lot of in and out, especially if you're a big guy.

Overall I like mine for what I use it for and I'm glad I bought it. The later 254 & 276's have bigger cabs, though they are bigger all around and bring a lot more money, I would have to consider one if buying again.

I'd be happy to answer more questions about owning a 150 if you want more specifics.

Hi
there used to be a lot of them round here. a friends dad has one, they bought it new or fairly new and looked after it. it is still nice and has high hours. they love the thing and it's been good, not sure what motors in it though.
Lots of them that were round here at one point I saw had all the axle hubs/drives welded up. or welded back to the axle ends, or straightened up before they broke .
So looks like that was a weak point on 150 and a few years newer series to. Don't see 9030's with that issue but they use a different axle.
My other friend used one where he worked the finish of that one was the waukeshaw, or how ever you spell it diesel motor, it was tired and had many issues. A few guys have said that motors bad if you work it hard compared to a cummins or other option. They struggled for parts the last time it puked. so it went bye bye.
To be honest its not a tractor or Hough loader. if you find a nice one with a good motor brand, treat it right and do the right jobs with it. it will do fine for what it is.
My experience of them here is when a guy came in with a newer 9030, when our loader was down. I called him to clean a hog barn that was frozen. For the size and grapple it had I figured it should of done better. I kinda hinted that for his hour rate he'd better get production from it, or I would drive it, get the production out of it,and he wouldn't want it back after. He said this is all she's got. a 925 cat came with no grapple, just a regular bucket and industrial tread tires. That did the job better even with it's limitations in spec for farm use.
if it's cheap you can get parts and it will do what you need go for it. if not look for something else, or a newer model would be my advice!.
Regards Robert