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Thinking about restoring first tractor... Makes/models?

L

lennieoat

New User
We recently bought a horse farm and it came with a 2000-something Agco tractor. Being a car person, I am now kind of hooked to the tractor.

My SO and I were thinking about restoring a car, but now I'm really giving thought to restoring an older tractor instead.

I read the introduction article on this site and it said to think about what tractor we want to restore based on our needs.

So if I tell you what I think I need, could you please point me towards some makes/models that would be decent first projects?

We do have car/motorcycle restoring experience. Tractors are completely new to us!

What I THINK I need;
1. Our land is flat, so no need to worry about hills/something that can haul up a hill.
2. Would be great if it had a 3pt hitch and PTO. We have a 60" PTO finish mower that I would like to pull. I understand this may limit how old I could go.
3. No preference on make. I have not seen enough/driven enough to know good/bad/pretty.
4. No idea on HP. We don't farm or intend on pulling farm implements outside of cutting grass.

My list looks like more of an I have no clue what I actually need...
 
Probably something like a 600 or 800 series Ford with the 660 or 860 having live PTO. Oliver Super 55 would be really nice and not so pedestrian. If there is a lot of money burning a hole in your pocket then maybe a John Deere 2510 or Oliver 1550 though they would be a tad much for the work you have.
 
Case models 430 and 530 would also be good choices for you. They will have a bit more hp that most, but
otherwise very similar. They are also available either gas or diesel and either are very good engines.
When looking pay particular attention to the drive line and pto as there are many different options and
some may not fit what you are after.
 
I'd have to go along with the Ford. Easy to find one and parts are available all over the place so there are reasonable prices. Parts are available from this site, parts stores and any CaseIH or New Holland dealer. Parts available include things like fenders and hoods where some of the ones that sold far fewer tractors those parts are no longer available and have to be sourced from salvage yards if they are available at all.

Rick
 
Do you want a toy to look at or a nice working tractor to use often?

I have a newer John Deere that is my big work horse in the summer baling hay.

But I also have 2 older Massey Ferguson gas tractors a 50 and a 65...for daily chores.

These are good reliable working tractors, not pretty but used daily on my horse farm.

Both are big enough for mowing, discing for pasture seeding, chain harrowing pastures, pulling a manure spreader,
pulling a wagon with fencing materials.

Even though you have flat land I would go for a wide front for stability.

Gas engine starts easy all winter and is easier to work on...no need to plug in. Be sure to get a tractor with live PTO.

I think anything from a MF 35 to a 65 or the newer 135 to 165 tractors will do what you want to do.
Parts are redally available.
 
(reply to post at 08:46:03 08/07/15)
Click to expand...

Thank you!

After looking at these, I had a friend with a John Deere 2510. It was too big for what they needed (wouldn't fit in their barn to work) and they ended up selling it unrestored for around $10k. It was a neat tractor and you could tell had been cared for.
 
(reply to post at 09:58:06 08/07/15)
Click to expand...

This will be a nice looking using tractor. We like restoring things, but it will also have a place on the farm and do farm chores.

Our Agco will stay the main workhorse. This one will be more light duty and maintain it's prettiness.
 
Lots of good advise here. Sounds like this is going to be a family operated tractor. Be sure everyone can operate it comfortably and safely, ROPS, power steering, a "user friendly" clutch, and good brakes are considerations.
 
Well our everyday usage, rain or shine, mud or snow, scrapes off a lot of paint and adds some dents.

I think a MF50 is a beautiful tractor and one of the most utilitarian tractors ever built.
 
(reply to post at 10:13:27 08/07/15)
Click to expand...

The MF50 is a nice looking one for sure!

Do people typically install a ROPS on an older tractor like this? Our Agco has one and we are familiar with using it. I don't recall seeing images of older tractors retrofitted with one.
 
Being partial to Oliver and Allis Chalmers may I suggest one of these. I have redone several of the Allis B's and C's.
You would have to add an aftermarket three point but the tractor would do fine with the finish mower.
I have both a B and C with Woods belly mowers and besides my lawns I also mulch horse manure into my hay fields.

DunpBenUpload002-vi.jpg


3rdCutting2007001-vi.jpg
 
I like the little Fords.
I own a couple of them and have owned a
bunch of them.
You definately want to go newer than the N
series Fords.
Look for a nice 600 or 800. Or 2000, 3000
4000.
Or on flat land a Row Crop model 700,900
are nice machines - a little tall to get on
and off but Very Nimble. Row Crop/Narrow
Front tractors are the original Zero Turns.
Parts for any of the older Fords - both new
and used will be readily available.
On the other hand, if you go to some of the
tractor shows (and I highly recommend you
do to get a sense of what kinds of tractors
are out there) you will see a bajillion of
the small Fords whereas something like an
Oliver 55 or 550 or a Massey Ferguson 35 or
135. All of which are equally good machines
to the Fords but aren't so ubiquitous.
 
Whatever you are thinking, make sure lots of new/repro parts are still available. As a couple of others have suggested, the small Fords fit that bill. I have four old Fords and about a year ago bought a Farmall Cub. Cute tractor, but I was shocked at the lack of some basic replacement parts (e.g., steering parts) compared with the Fords.
 
My 1st was 53 Farmall Super H. I use it for hay rides then acquired a plow and disc for it. I have an oversized garden I use it in. My next 2
are Farmall Super C's. With multiple fast hitches implements. I've just acquired a 64 Ford 2000 that's next on the list. It's destined to be a
dedicated sprayer tractor.

It can get addictive.
a197769.jpg
 
I have a RM660 woods finish mower behind a Jubilee. Like Ultradog MN said, go two years
newer and get the 600 and up series. They have more features. The woods mower does a
very good job and in second gear 1800 rpms, 4 mph.

The ride on my old Farmall C is the best, but it doesn't have a 3 pt. I did find a
monroe seat, like on the farmall for the Jubilee. Now I have better ride on the ford.
 
I would get a 1365 oliver. it is much easier to drive, use for a beginner than some others listed live pto ,good hydraulics, good 3pt. good power steering,economical dependable and safer to operate being a utility type tractor.also very fuel efficient and parts readily available. also decent power with 59 @ the pto. the fords mentioned are a good choice too.
 
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