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Good choice for first tractor

T

TAS

Member
We told our boys (3 of them) we would buy them their own tractors when they turn 12. Let them each have the experience of wrenching on them, or potentially restoring them to some degree.
The oldest turned 11 recently, so I thought it might be time to start looking for something.
We are partial to red tractors, and have a Farmall 300 already.
I'm looking for suggestions as to what might be good models for them to get started on. We would want something that would be big enough to be as least somewhat useful around the farm, but small enough for them to learn on.
 
Farmall H is a good one for that. Now days you can pretty much buy them running for under $1000. I have 4 of them I have been trying to sell for a few years and have not sold them because the market is way down for tractors right now
 
i guess an a or super a, c or super c. easy to work on, parts readily available. and still have some life in them around the farm.
 
Farmall H. No TA, parts are plentiful, parts tractors are plentiful, shorter stance than an M, so they are easier to work on. My $.02.

Mike
 
I was also thinking an H might be a good option. I haven't looked recently, but in years past, the H's around here always held their value very well. I wasn't sure if we would be able to find one at a decent price.
 
Nothing beats a Cub as far as a tractor to learn to wrench on. It has all the basic systems, but they're small and easy to handle so you can take the tractor completely apart, and none of the pieces are bigger than two healthy adults can handle together.
 
OK, I guess I just gotta be different. You say you are looking for something that will be useful on the farm. I'm thinking something with some hydraulics, power steering and such. I'd be looking for another 400? 450? maybe even a 460/560. Still a pretty simple tractor yet big enough to really do something with.

Rick
 
Think about a farmall cub. they are very easy to work on and could be handy as a small veggie garden tractor.
 
TAS a 350 utility, wide front and 3 point would be a good 1-- Low slung, good wide stance, dependable about starting and stopping. Far more modern than a H or cub.
 
Does he even want a tractor ? If so ask him what models he likes. As to fitting in on the farm to be useful ? Do you have any ideas ? Maybe buy a NEW modern tractor loaded with electronics ! Many kids anymore are good with electronics.
 
Well the one I have needs work, the rims are very nice shape but it has a bad rear tire, the other side very nice shape I'd say 90% or more, the motor runs good, it smokes a little bit, could use a good tune up. 900$
 
Cubs are nice little tractors but I was thinking a cub might not be big enough to be very useful.
 
Yeah, I'm pretty sure he wants a tractor. The advantage of an old tractor is that in terms of wrenching on them the old ones are simpler than newer tractors.
I do like the new Kubota and New Holland utility tractors, they're fun and easy to drive but they are also quite expensive.
 
A couple of red tractors not to buy B414,B275,460 utility and a 606. The rest are all ok. I would consider a nice 544 or 656 utility. Good tractors that are very usable and not over priced the newer 574 or 674 were good as well. Tom
 
Those are good points you mention. A lot of similarities between the 300 that we have and the 350U, so there wouldn't be as much of a learning curve on that tractor.
 
I would say a good one is one they can operate safely.11 year olds aren't that big. I would look for a Ford 600 or 800 series tractor. They have a lot more useable features than a H.

JMHO

Vito
 
ACub would be a good one to start very simple. You sure dont need a big one with lots of power and speed or a B they are very handy they can always go bigger when they get older but at 11 keep it simple. I was 12 when Dad bought me a B it was and is still a very handy and simple. Im 81 now and still have it still original not bent up or rusty sets in the garage by the pickup fun on parades and tractor rides.
 
Well, not an N. When my daughter wanted a tractor, I bought her a Farmall B and added a buddy seat. Not real useful, but I find jobs for it.
 
If you want to stay with Red tractors, I'd consider a Super A, C, Super C, or an H. If color doesn't matter so much, an Allis Chalmers B, C, or CA would be good, John Deere M, MT, 40, 420 come to mind, Ford 9N, 2N, 8N, 600, 800, 2000, 3000 are all good options, Case VAC, SC, and 300 are something to consider, Oliver 60, 66 are nice sized tractors too.
 
I learned on a Farmall A back in the 60's. We had a small dairy farm and did stuff like rake hay and move wagons around with the A. Had a one row cultivator for it also.
 
I find my farmall C to be very useful and very easy on gas. I use mine to mow, pull a 10k dump trailer and push snow
I wish It had a 3pt.
 
If you have them in your area how about a nice little Kioti? Good tractors, usually much cheaper than a Kubota and lots of things you can use them for if you get one with a loader.
 
So you like red ones.
Farmall Cub, Farmall A, Super A, Farmall 100, Farmall 130, Farmall 140.
Massey Ferguson 35, Massey Ferguson 135.
This is fun spending your money.
 
If you like red tractors, I have 23 of them and would like to get rid of a few of them, close to Bellefontaine Ohio.
 
First of all, good for you. That is a great idea and they will learn a lot.

Let me offer you a different idea, how about a Case, like a 30 series. When painted up I sure like those two tone Cases. Now I don't know a lot about the Case tractors so I suggest you ask Adirondack Case Guy your question if this is an idea you want to consider.

I guess this is only a good idea if your son would be interested in something slightly different that what you already have. But, it is Case-IH now so it isn't totally out of the family.

Paul
 
By the age of 12 I was already experienced mowing hay with a 1952 Minneapolis Moline ZA. It was many years before I realized there were tractors out there you could actually sit in the seat to operate. 😊 Would love to have that old ZA today.
 
How about a Super C with a fasthitch. Then he can watch the sale bills and collect the implements for the hitch. It will turn into the handiest tractor on the farm.
a245395.jpg

a245396.jpg
 
If you want to stay in the red fleet and already have a 300----A-B-C-H-M-W4-W6-W9-350-400-450-they are all low priced and would fit in your fleet.----Tee
a245398.jpg
 
Not sure where you are but I'm in Missouri the Lake of the Ozarks area. I have 4 1940 Farmall h's on hand and do not use them so they are all for sale
 
My first was an Allis B but any would have worked. The engine was already overhauled so I just stripped it down and painted.
If I were helping someone start out the following points would be my criteria:

1. Size: because when starting out the smaller ones are easier to work on

2. Parts availability: Some models are harder to find parts

3. Cost: Both upfront purchase and parts cost

4. Do they want one to drive around or one to do a complete rebuild.

For the most part most of my tractors have been purchased because they are complete but are cheap (major overhauls).
 
We are in Ohio. I'm familiar with Lake of the Ozarks area. My husband was there for work this week.
 
By the way 3 of the 4 H's did run when I parked them and would not take much to get 2 or them going. One needs a distributor gear and the other is locked up and has been since I got it but the other 2 would be pretty easy to get back running
 
Probably about an hour and 20 minutes from Bellefontaine. We might be interested in checking them out.
 
I think your Allis B or maybe a Farmall BN would be a good. Not too big, but bigger bigger than say a Cub. Cubs are hard to work on the engine as everything is so close together and the hood doesn't come off easy. These are fairly simple tractors, parts are available reasonable. Not too heavy, you might get both of them on a 7000# gross trailer.
 
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