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help deciding what tractor to buy

C

chas036

Member
I have a small organic beef farm and currently have a JD 730 gas, JD 620 and JD B that I use for all my haying and field work. I would like to buy a newer tractor of 4 cylinders with 60 to 75 HP. Something reliable that starts in cold weather and with parts easily available if I have to fix it. I want to mainly use it in the winter to run a snow blower, and in the summer to do field work like bush hogging, raking, planting etc.

I don't want to spend more than $5000 or $6000 . I have narrowed it down to a JD 3020 gas or a Massey 175 gas. If anyone can give me some insight on which might be better or maybe another tractor I can consider, I would greatly appreciate the help. I have no experience with 4 cyl tractors. Everything I have used has been JD 2 cyl.
 
The massey is a good tractor. But my friend had one. The hyd sucks. 3 point is fine. But in order to use the hyd outlets. He went thru a lot of hoops. Then he tried to use it on a disc mower. He had to set the 3point with a chain. Or it went all the way down. My son has a 65 mf. Same thing. Hyd outlets suck. I would look a little newer say a 4040 jd. With a cab. You'll not regret it. Trouble with a 3020 is they are the only thing that uses that engine. 2740 would be better.
 
If I was to be the one blowing snow,.. I'd find a tractor with a cab with working heater and air conditioning,,, I don't do cold very well anymore.. even if I had to finance some portion of getting one with a cab...
 
I think I would consider a late 60's early 70's Ford between 50 and 80 horsepower. Decent tractors and parts are a little more steady.
 
3020 diesel with a block heater my 4020 will start all winter never plugged in and no ether I rebuilt the engine about 15 years ago will rebuild the 3020 when it finally needs it John Deere still has most parts availbile ether John Deere or a&i and there are lots of other aftermarket suppliers as well
 
Where are you located? How much snow?

I have a JD 3020 gas. Once I put in a Zener carb and an electronic ignition is starts well in the cold (SD cold). I also moved the battery up by the starter and put in thick cables, but that was mainly due to the suitcase batteries being expensive and not having as much oomph (CCA). Nowadays they are more readily available and in greater potencies, so that probably wouldn't be necessary.

It is a thirsty bugger, and I wouldn't want one if I had to use it more often (like, to plow all day). Parts are available, but JD is very proud of them and they cost a lot. The slowest reverse gear is a little faster than I would like for blowing snow, but it is plenty powerful. I run an IH-80 (7 foot?) snow blower and it does fine in our cold, fluffy snow. Not sure how it would if you mainly got thick/wet/heavy snow.

I'd seriously consider an older Ford if I was starting from scratch. 4 or three cylinder 4000?
 
Just curious. If a Deere, why a 3020 over something like a 2020 or 2030? 3020s were great tractors in their time, but a mess now if you need parts. Especially an engine which is an odd-ball. Dubuque tractors like 2020s and 2030s have much better parts availability. I almost got killed on a run-away 3020 coming down a hill with no steering or brakes, so maybe have a negative bias? What the heck were the Waterloo engineers at Deere thinking with that full-hydraulic steering and brakes?
 
Those are too small for his horsepower wants. A 5000 would fit in there. The 3 cylinder 4000 is only 52 and the 4 cylinder 4000 is 48 Horse. And I would take a 5000 over a 3020 any day. Fact is I did.
 
I like everything about our 3020, except for its appetite for gasoline. This tractor is at my father's place. It is a thirsty tractor on light loads and heavy loads alike. I am not sure why it has gotten so bad since we moved to a Zenith carburetor from Robert's Carburetors. We had been told this was the only way to go on that tractor. It starts easy and runs great. I did some field work with it in the spring of 2016 and I burned 7 gallons of gasoline per hour on that job. The slow reverse can be a bit fast for a snowblower, particularly in heavy, wet snow. My father in law had a front mount snowblower, which really worked well with these tractors, but I do not know where to even start looking for one. I currently have an IH 86 Hydro on my yard tractor with a Westendorf front end loader. It is a dream to operate with the snowblower and handy on the loader. The diesel engine is just very cold blooded as it needs to be plugged in a minimum of 2 hours in the winter, and I like to plug in the transmission heater for at least overnight. You are looking at quite a bit of money for one of these tractors, though, and I suspect there are many to be found, but mostly "used up" by now. I had looked for 20 series Deere tractors for over 2 years, but was appalled at the price tag on "junk." I wanted a 3020 I am mostly a "green tractor" guy, and I do like my powershift transmissions, but for moving snow, this hydro is the "cat's meow!" I had a 656 IH with the gear drive transmission. It would have had a good reverse for the snowblower, but the tractor was pretty tired when I traded it for the hydro. A 656 or a 666 might be worthwhile looking at.
 

What you want is a Ford 5000. It was a very high production tractor and many are still working so parts will be easy to get for many years to come. There are a lot of them for sale on Tractor House. They were built for 11 years and the early ones are some 12 HP less than later ones, but the early ones still have the power that you are looking for.
 
Defiantly consider the International Hydro 70.

The infinitely variable speed hydrostatic trans is perfect for what you need especially for the snow blower and transplanting. You won't find a better tractor

Hydro 70 is around 65 pto hp
 
The early MF 175 gas has a Continental 206 engine. It is my understanding that parts are scarce for them. The late 175 gas has a Perkins AG 236 engine. I believe the parts situation is better for that one. I would vote for a Ford 5000 also.
 
I would sell one of the existing fleet in order to increase my budget a little and get a diesel four wheel drive. There is always mud around a feed yard and you will be amazed at how much more capable a front wheel assist loader tractor is. Don't need it for haying but around the lot yes. Ford 4610, 5600, MF 360, 375, JD 1840, White 1370 or 2-60 would be some of the models to look out for. Diesel engine will simply have 10x more grunt when the going is tough.
 
I agree with this choice. Also as has been suggested an IH 656 or IH 666 would be a good choice as well. These are 6 cylinder though and not 4. Don't know if that would affect your choice or not. I have both of these. I have 2 656's, one gear drive(8400 hours) and one hydro( 4000 hours), both diesel and a 666 gear drive(2500 hours) which is gas. This one has a loader on it and I use it all year long from haying, to loading round bales, to snow removal. All 3 I bought below or just in your price range.

A Ford 5000 is also a good choice and can be bought reasonable as well. Gas or diesel would work. Even if you could find a well taken care of SOS that would be good as well.

All of the above would be good choices for you and would do what you would want out of them.
 
I have a 175 but it?s a diesel. Absolutely love it for hay work. Not sure about a loader because the hydraulics are a bit slow but you can get an auxiliary pump. I have put 75-80 hours disk mowing road ditches and it works great. Three point and hydraulics should be able to use together or something isn?t right with the tractor.
 
(quoted from post at 19:14:14 11/27/17) I have a 175 but it?s a diesel. Absolutely love it for hay work. Not sure about a loader because the hydraulics are a bit slow but you can get an auxiliary pump. I have put 75-80 hours disk mowing road ditches and it works great. Three point and hydraulics should be able to use together or something isn?t right with the tractor.
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You have to have a diverter valve to direct the hydraulics for the 3 point to remotes so they can't be used together. The control for the 3 point has to be put into "constant pumping" mode (it's only 4.5 gpm). If your tractor has independent pto you could tap into that separate hydraulic pump used for the ipto for remote hydraulics, and still be able to use the 3 point at the same time. If you want to put a fel on it you really a auxiliary pump with a minimum of 12 gpm, at 4.5 gpm a fel would be painfully slow.
 
Either You did a GREAT JOB , Or You Live in Florida , LOL ,.,.i am not doubting ,you because i have seen many 4020s that start in the cold better than mine ,, And it did improve after a new starter and injector pump..timing and condition of fuel system , and the piston rings and valve assembly are all important to have perfect , ..i have 5 Case tractors with a 188 diesel engine,, and they all start differently ,,. one will start in 20 degree temps ,.. the others require warmer temps .. . Yes Diesels that are plugged in MOST the time will start,,. From My experience i highly recommend a dependable GASSER tractor ,,. I have a 730 and a DC Case that will start in the coldest weather at a seconds notice ,, that is NICE in the middle of the nite to pull someone out of the ditch.. i had a 3010 that was dependable and easy to get along with, 3020 gas is not much different ,they are a wonder power,, you will wonder where the power is,, and YES They burn gas , LOTS OF GAS.. my choice for cold weather dependable tractor is a 430 CASE
 
If those were my only choices I go with the Massey, but I bet you could find a real good late model gas Farmall 560 for less money they start good, parts are easy to get.
 
(quoted from post at 13:22:20 11/27/17) I have a small organic beef farm and currently have a JD 730 gas, JD 620 and JD B that I use for all my haying and field work. I would like to buy a newer tractor of 4 cylinders with 60 to 75 HP. Something reliable that starts in cold weather and with parts easily available if I have to fix it. I want to mainly use it in the winter to run a snow blower, and in the summer to do field work like bush hogging, raking, planting etc.

I don't want to spend more than $5000 or $6000 . I have narrowed it down to a JD 3020 gas or a Massey 175 gas. If anyone can give me some insight on which might be better or maybe another tractor I can consider, I would greatly appreciate the help. I have no experience with 4 cyl tractors. Everything I have used has been JD 2 cyl.
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Why in the world do you want a gasoline tractor of that HP size? You aren't going to happy with the cost of running them. Get a diesel, 4 or 6 cyl, with a block heater and be happy.
 
You might also consider if you want a narrow front or a wide front. A narrow front is very handy around the yard and for backing up wagons. A wide front is safer on hills and ditches though.

My uncle has a side console 3020 narrow front gas. Even though it has a little over 10,000 hours on it, it still starts nice in the winter. We still use it to plant corn using a 6 row planter in 6th gear. Usually we can go about 10 hours on one tank of gas while planting. When grandpa bought it new he plowed with it using a 4 bottom plow (I'm guessing 14in bottoms). He said he quit wearing his watch because he would be out of fuel right a lunch time. Based on that I think he went about 5-6 hours on one tank of gas while plowing.
 
Oliver 1650/5, 1750/5, 1850/5
Those is the gas version are all find able in your price range requiring little to no work.

You also haven't stated what dealers are near you. That can play a big part in what tractor is worth getting.
 
(quoted from post at 09:13:13 11/28/17) You might also consider if you want a narrow front or a wide front. A narrow front is very handy around the yard and for backing up wagons. A wide front is safer on hills and ditches though.

My uncle has a side console 3020 narrow front gas. Even though it has a little over 10,000 hours on it, it still starts nice in the winter. We still use it to plant corn using a 6 row planter in 6th gear. Usually we can go about 10 hours on one tank of gas while planting. When grandpa bought it new he plowed with it using a 4 bottom plow (I'm guessing 14in bottoms). He said he quit wearing his watch because he would be out of fuel right a lunch time. Based on that I think he went about 5-6 hours on one tank of gas while plowing.
Click to expand...

That is one tough alarm clock, LOL.
 
(quoted from post at 12:22:39 11/28/17) Oliver 1650/5, 1750/5, 1850/5
Those is the gas version are all find able in your price range requiring little to no work.

You also haven't stated what dealers are near you. That can play a big part in what tractor is worth getting.
Click to expand...

Don't be concerned for a minute about nearby dealers. 90% of them do not want your business anyway for anything over twenty years old. They will have very few parts on hand, their mechanics will know little about the old stuff so repairs take longer and cost more. Your best bet is the independent local tractor/equipment guy.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I think I have decided I will look for a Ford 5000 based I what I read here and looking at the reviews about this tractor and the availability to get parts. I saw this at an upcoming auction, so I will try to bid on it, It looks like it needs work, but I can that myself.
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