Choise of tractors

BANDITFARMER · Mar 19, 2015

I guess I am one of those guy that color doesn't mater to, Color blind I guess. I grew up running AC WD's to 190XT's Oliver's from the 60 to 2050's MH 30 to MF 1155 Fords from 2N's to 8000's IH from the H to 1566's JD from the 10 series to the 30 series. MM U's to G1000 Case SC to 1070 and many more tractors than I could count. Now they all made good tractors and they all made bad ones, I'm just telling the truth about it. One time I had to have a JD 4020 diesel so I bought one and sold it after a year, My back got tired of me reaching forward under the steering wheel to do everything and not being able to turn in the seat to see what was going on behind me. My IH 766 seamed to be light in the front and the 190xt worried me about the transmission. The MF 165 was great to plow with but wasn't worth a darn to pull a disc. Some tractors are better for some jobs no to ways about it. Pulling a pull type picker an Oliver 77 to 880 IH H to 560 just because of how and ware you sit and get off and on.

I know there are guys that wont own anything but JD or IH or Ford and so on. Me it don't matter, I just want the best tractor for the money. If I were looking for a 5 plow tractor (100 horse) and had the choice between a JD 4020 and an Oliver 1850 in the same condition and hours and had the money to buy one. JD was $11000 and the Oliver was $5500 I will buy the Oliver because the Oliver will do the same amount of work or more for 1/2 the cost and keep the other 1/2 in reserve for what might come up unexpectedly. But that's just me and the way I think.

So are you a "Brand" kind of guy or are you "Rainbow" kind of guy? And are you the same way with equipment? Bandit

Richard G. · Mar 19, 2015

I own a JD, a Case, and a Ford.
Each does their own job best.
Richard in NW SC

JayinNY · Mar 19, 2015

I have 2 fords and a farmall H, as far as equipment I have new holland, JD ect

BMAG · Mar 19, 2015

Built FORD tough. I bleed blue.

Cowmechanic · Mar 19, 2015

I have and use a Deere 2240 a Farmall 656 and Massey 65.All good tractors.Good maintenance goes a long ways.Don't have any right now but I"ve had good luck with the thousand series Fords also.

BANDITFARMER · Mar 19, 2015

I forgot to add the picture. Brain fart I guess. This was a couple years ago but it gives you an idea. Bandit

GreenEnvy · Mar 19, 2015

We have been farming with tractors since the late 20s. Ran JD, Oliver, Massey, IH, Versatile and MM. Always kept going back to JD because they had service and support. Out here in MT we not blessed with dealers every 20 miles of every color back then and now. I'll use your comparison. The 4020 might be twice as much but I have 5 different dealers at my disposal for anything I need. Same thing if I bought a IH 806. If I bought the Oliver, I would be on my own. I collect tractors from all brands except ford. But make a living with JD.

Pair-a-dice farm · Mar 19, 2015

I grew up on Case tractors, mostly 30 series and worked for a large farm that had the AC dealership. I've had Massey, IH, JD, Ford, Belarus, AC and Terex. The worst I've had was the Belarus and the 4020 JD. I now have IH, Ford, AC and Terex. My favorite all around tractor was/is my 826 IH followed closely by my 4630 Ford. They all have their good points depending on what they were designed to do. If I was buying a new tractor now it would either be JD or Kubota simply because of the dealers.

Nate V. IA · Mar 19, 2015

I bleed IH red but I'll drive anything. I would happily own anything but a JD, and there is one exception to that, dad's JD 60. I'm not a fan of the hand clutch, I can't back the darn thing, my arms are too short. Mom and Dads will is drawn up so I get his IH M and my brother gets the JD 60 and no one wanted the 3020 gas LOL. Someday I want a utility tractor and everyone seems to love their MF 135 so I might go that route. None of the JD dealers I've been in have treated me with any amount of respect not to mention a few people that I know are diehard Deere fans think IH just makes boat anchors and that's why I'm anti Deere.

Nate

rrlund · Mar 19, 2015

I've had or used'em all. I just got to the point that I wanted to be all one color just so I can say that I am. That's if you consider Oliver and White to be the "same color".
I agree with you on paying double for a used Deere. Buying a new one,yes,the cost is the same with a better resale,but to pay more for used just because of resale makes no sense at all. Using your example with the $11,000 Deere and the $5500 Oliver,if they are both worth what you paid for them in five years,why tie up twice the money?

I bought a new Deere and got two tractors for the price of one. When it was worn out,I traded it for a decent White. A new White would have been about the same price as the new Deere,and if I had worn out a White,I wouldn't have been able to trade it for a good used Deere. But buying used for more money? No point in it at all.

old · Mar 19, 2015

I have one of most of the common brands if not more. Each has its good points and it bad points and no one color is going to do all I want it to

Traditional Farmer · Mar 19, 2015

Brand doesn't mean nearly as much to me as the particular tractor doing the job I want to do with it.Right now I own Allis Chalmers,John Deere,Long,
Oliver,White,Pasquali,UTB,David Brown,Cockshutt,Yanmar,Case,Hines,CBT,Fiat tractors and just sold my Zebra 3520.

JOCCO · Mar 19, 2015

I guess I am similar (multi brand) BUTT SOME MODELS I really like some I would not take as a gift Example: I like case sc, dc, 400 but would not take a v vc if it was free!!! Also some models do better at some tasks than others. Like plowing bush hogging etc.

fixerupper · Mar 19, 2015

I look at it with a parts and service point of view. For the machinery that makes a living for me I have Deere because of the friendly local dealer and availability of parts and service. IH comes in a close second because of close available parts and service. I like New Holland but the closest dealer is 25 miles and the next is way far away. Nearest Agco dealer is 35 miles. When I need one O ring right now and it's 35 miles or farther away that O ring gets expensive real fast.

For my putz around tractors any brand that starts well, is easy to get on and off of and is maneuravable will do the job. As I've said several times before I was raised on two bangers and can run them in my sleep but when it comes time to do piddle jobs the two bangers stay in the shed and the Oliver or Case come out.

NY 986 · Mar 19, 2015

I don't think the disparity is there like it once was with 4020's. I saw a second owner 1971 power shift diesel sell for 11,500 dollars a few years ago. Run of the mill synchro side consoles even 1972's do not fetch that money unless they have a good maintenance history, near new tires, and a professional paint job to name a few issues. To get above 15K they have to have those items previously mentioned plus be low houred and one owner units.
I get your point if it boils down to dollars and cents. On the other hand there is something to be said for features such as the hydrostatic steering and powershift after spending ten hours in the field nonstop. I've got nothing against the 1850 but once I got done with a '71 4020 that was well kept up I know I am not going have to fight to get my money back out of it.

vscummins · Mar 19, 2015

I like john Deere but I've owned about every kind you can imagine . I'll still with something that has good parts support . Local CNH dealer has a nice Massey Ferguson bout 100 HP no cab and duals I'm thinking about checking on .

Goose · Mar 19, 2015

I've had a bit of everything, as did my father.

I tend to look for a tractor that will do what I want, regardless of color.

On the other hand, I had two bachelor uncles who farmed together. They were such John Deere freaks, they wouldn't even buy shortline aftermarket machinery. If John Deere didn't make it, they didn't need it.

For that reason, my father refused to own a piece of John Deere machinery for years. I've never owned a John Deere tractor, but at various times over the years I've owned John Deere combines, disc, plow, #5 sickle bar mower, (which I still have), etc.

Brown Swiss · Mar 19, 2015

Massey would be my first choice, no rhyme or reason to it. I grew up on JD 10 and 20 series, and Farmalls, and Olivers and Masseys. Just seemed to like the Masseys better. I like them all though!

Part Time Pete · Mar 19, 2015

I love my Oliver and White, but my little Allis D-14 probably gets as many hours in a year as the other two.
That being said, I would also love to have a Ford 5000 some day - one of the best tractors ever built.
Pete

DeltaRed · Mar 19, 2015

I farm with IH red.I've stayed with em because of uniformity-everything fits.Cuts down on my parts inventory. But I like em all.About the only tractor I would not own is **70 series Case,especially 1070(Nevernot ever).I ve owned JD,Run just about everybody else.But if the 'right' tractor was available for the right price,sure,I would buy a different brand.

Chase_99 · Mar 19, 2015

I use what ever works, gets the job done and doesn't cause me grief. I could care less "what brand" comes down to if I can get parts for it to keep it going. Tractors for me it's not a "hobby" its just a tool for the farm and I don't drive them all anyway others do. I still have the 30-40 year old CASE tractors I grew up on and still get used every summer. I even have a little 80hp belarus mfd loader tractor for around the yard I've had for 17 years. People can't beleive that one :shock: ! But then people can't believe I can keep those old Case's running all these years either! Newest tractor is a 130hp Valtra and its already close to 15 years old too now I guess. I bought that one used with no hrs on it from a retired fellow few years back and it works great.

WI Dan · Mar 19, 2015

That's a cool picture Bandit. a rainbow of brands

JayinNY · Mar 19, 2015

I can't understand why Deere resale is so high. When I worked for a big horse farm, they had an early 80s ford 4600, that was a great tractor, I worked there again a few years ago, they still had that tractor and a JD 5303 maybe it was I can't remember the numbers, but I dident like it as much as the ford, even thought it was newer, it was prolly an expensive tractor, but I wasent to impressed with it. Just strange how high priced used deeres sell for. I can tell you I will prolly never have one, just because of the price! Lol

flying belgian · Mar 19, 2015

I had a JD dealer 8 mi. up the rd., Massey 8 mi. down the rd. and Caseih 2 mi. down the rd. So I had a mix-match of those colors. Over the last few years the JD dealer closed, the Massey dealer told me to leave and not come back,(long story I will tell you someday)and the Caseih dealer is still there and getting bigger every day. So as I update equip. I buy Case.

Bruce from Can. · Mar 19, 2015

I have had Case CaseIH IH Ford and Kubota, Like all of them. Can't buy another JI Case, or Ford or IH , new, because they don't build them anymore.Don't think I want a new CaseIH on New Holland . But wouldn't rule them out. John Deere tractors might well be good, just never have been able to deal with local dealer, just to far out on the $$$ they want for their's and what they will allow for mine.Orange ones seem to work fine. Bruce

OliverGuy · Mar 19, 2015

You're right, what works best for you and your operation is the best. At this farm there's Oliver green, CaseIH Red (combine), Kubota orange(several), JD planter and tillage equipment, Blue DMI ripper, Cat yellow tillage tractors, White/gray terex backhoe and probably more! Dang there are a lot of colors here...

Bret4207 · Mar 19, 2015

Rainbow for me I guess. I like them all!

Alan K · Mar 19, 2015

I was just curious why you don't care about owning a 70 series Case? I haven't had one myself but a friend of mine has had them. Always liked the looks of them. Im an MM guy myself.

Eldon (WA) · Mar 19, 2015

I like how everyone stresses being close to dealers for parts....somehow I have little problems needing parts for my working fleet. My "parts and repairs" for last year were under $500! My main tractors are Allis Chalmers 175 diesels, I have 5 of them and a 170 diesel. I also have an Allis 6080 and use one of 6 Allis G's for cultivating. I have a JD skidsteer....Allis didn't make one

notjustair · Mar 19, 2015

I have always had a soft spot for IH. That's all that was allowed on the place growing up. If they were still building tractors like the 56 and 66 series that's what I would farm with. I have some letter series IH I use as chore tractors and for small jobs and I have an 8N so I can have a light tractor with three point to use around the yard. It might get 15 hours a year but it is a fun little tractor. The majority is Deere, though. All of the field tractors, the combine, and implements are green. Mainly because the dealer suppport is so outstanding here. Much of it is between 20-30 years old, but still works well and I can get most any part. The one I know of that worries me is the gearbox for the 400 grinder mixer. I really like that grinder but I know her days and numbered.

DeltaRed · Mar 19, 2015

The first Case (1070) I ever ran was the biggest POS/junk of any tractor I''ve ever driven(before or since)All the other Cases(70 series) have been pretty pathetic too.Seems they all took "40 acres" to turn them.I also hate the fact that every time you step on the clutch pedal the power shift always goes to 1st.But I dont know if it's the tractor,or the owner....However,I really like to have a 1030.I never driven one.But I really like the looks,and have heard good things

Chase_99 · Mar 19, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:00:07 03/19/15) I was just curious why you don't care about owning a 70 series Case? I haven't had one myself but a friend of mine has had them. Always liked the looks of them. Im an MM guy myself.

Well they don't have a the best rep. with some and others luv them. Maybe we're really easy on stuff... :roll: If you don't put money into equipment then yes you'll have a piece of ... junk years down the road! The 70 series kind of had a small cab and had some issues like all makes. The powershift many didn't like but we've got along fine with ours its been good. The 90's series had a much nicer cab, actually one of the quieter cabs of that era.

This old girl has 95 pto hp, heater, a/c, 12 speed which is 4 ranges with 3 powershifts in each, 3 reverse gears, air ride seat, radials on the back. Does all the V raking and spraying still amoung other stuff, I have a loader for it too. Its VERY simple no high tech stuff on this thing. Nieghbor paid $$ for one of them cheaper 6xxx economy deers for haying and it only has 8 gears!! Likes it well enough (nice machine) not quite so much electronics like the premium models but wishes it had more gears now. Take away the road gear or 2 and doesn't leave much for field gears. Same with CIH they sell a lower end tractor with a snycro trans but only 8 gears. I guess when you're used to 12 its hard to go with less. MY valtra has ...36 with the creeper gears! 3 ranges, 4 speed syncro box (shift on the go), and 3 powershifts. Works great for haying always can find the right gear for feeding the square balers. Engine only runs at 1500 when doing 540 pto rpm, just purrs on along ...

Leroy · Mar 20, 2015

I cannot say that about the 5000. I had one and 2 of the 4000 and the 4000 were a way better designed tractor than the 5000.

racsan · Mar 20, 2015

we had 2 olivers, a 1650 and a 1855, i prefered the 1650, the 1855 was a good tractor but went through a turbo every other year it seemed, had to watch the rpms too, with the 1650 you had plenty of time if it started to lug down too much. parts for the olivers could be difficult to find, there was the '64 ford 4000-great little tractor, power steering, live pto. the '49 jd A is a classic, 321 cubic inches out of two cylinders, magneto ignition. tough to beet...and steer...and back up in a controlled manner, forget about backing a wagon with that "road gear reverse". the N series fords-'46, been in the family since new, currently undergoing a renovation, fuel effecient like nothing else...the other N is a parts tractor now, had a backhoe and loader, amazing road speed being a 8N with a sherman overdrive. and theres the 1020. best thing about it is the loader, dont know how we made it without one... the olivers and the 4000 are gone now, always wanted to try a 4020 out in the feild, i imagine it would be similar to the 1855 we had in performance, that brighter green paint is expensive, you can always get 'deere parts....if you can afford them, the yellow trim on deere products must be actual gold!

Choise of tractors

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