Equipment decisions for our farm

LDPosse

Member
I am trying to figure out what we need, tractor/equipment wise, for our 25 acre farmette. We currently use 7 acres of the land, we have horses, 2 pet cows, about 2 dozen chickens, a few turkeys, ducks, and ginuea hens. We raise hogs in the warm months, from about early April until late October, then take them to butcher.

We are looking to expand and take advantage of more of our land for grazing. We have about 8 acres that is currently grown up in brush and small trees that was last used for grazing back in the 70s. This land was previously inaccessible, but we are in the process of building a bridge across the creek.

Our current fleet consists of a 91 Kubota B7100HST, and a 1948 Allis Chalmers B that I put a C narrow front on. The B has a woods 59 finish mower, but the engine on that has been stuck since 2017. I had it parked down back and tarped, but the wind blew the tarp off and the engine filled with water during storms, and I didnt notice for at least a month. Right now, Im looking at probably just a replacement engine if I want to use it. I also have a cultivator and 2 plows, but I do not think I will ever have a use for those.

The Kubota is our main workhorse. I mow the pastures and down back with a 5 foot bush hog. It gets the job done, albeit slowly. It is a 4 wheel drive machine, but our property seems to have a way to get anything stuck. Ive had the Kubota stuck past the axles already. I never did manage to get the B stuck, but it has pretty good rubber out back.

I am looking at what my best options are moving forward, mainly making the decision to deal with what I have, buy an older, larger tractor in good condition, a new utility tractor with loader and backhoe, or a compact track loader.

The largest chore I have is mowing. We use the front end loader on the Kubota for lots of farm tasks. If is extremely handy, but small and limited in capacity. We also would like something capable of supporting a backhoe attachment. We need to trench for putting water lines and electric to other parts of the farm. We also are planning to build an addition on the house and will need to dig the foundation.

My first thought was to get the B fixed and use it for mowing, since it can go faster than the Kubota, however I have not seen any B engines out there. I like the B since I have been able to drive it on our swampy land without any problems. I am not sure how the B will do with attachments since it has no 3 point hitch.

I looked at some larger old farm tractors, like a Farmall 450 and 560. I am not sure ihow those will be on our soft land, I did not know if a larger tractor would do as well on good ag tires as my Allis B does.

I have looked at new compact and utility tractors, leaning towards utility, as it seems the ground clearance is not as good on compacts. I have gotten my Kubota high-centered kn obstacles more times than I care to remember. My concern is whether or not I want to have a tractor payment, and how big of a write off I get for the tractor.

Lastly I have looked at compact track loaders. They seem to be nice, but extremely expensive.

To summarize, I would like something that can do the chores I want, preferably without payments, and that I wont be wrenching on constantly.

Thanks!
 
Here are a couple of pictures. The mud can be pretty bad.

mvphoto70642.jpg


mvphoto70643.jpg
 
I'd look for a Ford 4600 or 5600 with mechanical front wheel drive. They are not around every corner so I would start looking now if I want one in the next several
months. The Ford design is basic and proven with very little in the way of electronics to deal with. A rubber track machine would be nice but not so general purpose
like a farm tractor and most likely more expensive. If you want to farm the land with traditional crops for North America it would be best to look into drainage to see
what the realities are in terms of law and cost. If you can't get a 4 wheel drive tractor across the ground most times of the year then it most likely will not raise crops
such as corn, wheat, soybeans, or alfalfa.
 
I Would get a 135 diesel with live pto
and live lift with powersteering and
remotes

It is hard to beat my uncle has had one
40+ years he has a 6 ft bush hog behind
it will mow anything you can run over he
still has it he got his used in 1970 he
has run it and mowed 30 acres some of
this is hard ground some is hilly some is
muddy it mowes it all with ease for the
last 51 years straight and only had to do
normal maintenance and 5 batteries
 
Get that loader off the tractor and put
on a good set of real farm tractor
tires. The loader appears to be a quick
Touch model so it can go on and off in 5
minutes or less. In my opinion turf
tires are great for mowing a lawn but
pretty much worthless for everything
else. Thought tractor will go anywhere
the bee would go and further with real
tires on it
 

Some thoughts:

1) Hire out any digging or rent min excavator. Likely cheaper than owning. I'd love to have my own backhoe or excavator, but the number of times I'd HAD to use one and pay someone, it was still way cheaper than buying the machine, and the cost included fuel and operator.

2A) Keep the Kubota put R1 tires on the Kubota so you don't get stuck on wet grass, sell the ACs and buy a decent older utility tractor with 3pt hitch, live PTO, diesel engine, diff lock, hydraulic outlets. You can get away with 2wd if no loader, or you remove loader to do field work.

OR


2B) Sell all the tractors you have, buy a newer (tier II or older) 40-60 PTO Utility with 4x4/mfwa, loader. 1980s-early 2000s.
 
Johnsons advice is good. Our MF 165 gas is our medium sized tractor. Does anything you could expect from a 50 hp tractor. Decent ones can be had in the $5000 range. Good luck in your tractor hunt.
 
Yes you are right a massey ferguson 165 is a good tractor also my uncle has a diesel with live lift , live pto , powersteering , 2 sets of remotes

He bought the 135 in 1970
He bought the 165 in 1970

He paid 3,000 for the 135 with 6ft bush hog 6ft sickle and trailer

He paid 5,000 for the 165 with 8ft bush hog , 4 bottom plow , 8ft king disc , 4 row cultivator , 4 row planter , 4 row disc bedder 4 row hiller and trailer

These 2 tractors and implements are still going strong 51 years later that really says something

What i am say is this any massey ferguson gas or diesel with true ag tires will work you any of these models below with proper maintenance will give you years of service

35 50 65 85 95 99 135 150 165 175 180 185

Take a mechanic with you when you buy anything like i do pay him he will know if it is wore out or not you do not want a wore out money pit tractor nobody does just buy right and don't overpay older tractors have NO electronics to go bad way easier to fix just watch youtube videos or find a retired tractor mechanic then you are in business when he fixes your tractor stand there and watch him you will learn to fix it yourself that is how i learned to fix my own stuff this way
 
That loader puts a lot of unnecessary weight on the front wheels, tending to push some deeper into the mud. If you don't need it for a particular job remove it. It will take 5 minutes or less. it is quick attach for a reason. You don't need to carry it on the front all the time
 

As others have said, get some real tires and take the quick attach loader off when not needed. That's why it's "Quick Attach" or at least that's one reason.

The Massey Ferguson comments are dead on as well. Great tractors.
 
The B with the stuck engine MAY be able to be saved. If you get the water out and fill the cylinder with diesel fuel, auto trans fluid or whatever and let it soak and
keep trying it from time to time it may free up. It could take weeks or months or you might need to take the head off, probably a good idea anyway, and tap on the piston
(s) that are stuck. And it might not free up or the liner or rings may be beyond saving.
 
I agree with everyone else on getting some more aggressive tires on the kubota. That will be a big help. Most of the older 35 - 50 hp tractors will do want your describing. Just see what you can find a good deal on and which one is comfortable to operate.
 
(quoted from post at 09:30:18 02/25/21) The B with the stuck engine MAY be able to be saved.

I was really hoping that was going to be the case, but it was not to be :(

I took the head off, 3 of the 4 cylinders were rusted. I filled all 4 cyls ATF in the fall and moved the tractor into the barn. The following spring, I tried to turn it. The starter wouldn't budge it. I tired the crank start and bent the handle from jumping on it. Finally, I had someone tow me down the road and I tried popping the clutch. None of these methods got me anywhere.

I would like to eventually get it back up and running, but it will be more of a fun/hobby machine than an everyday workhorse.
 
(quoted from post at 15:59:20 02/24/21) I'd look for a Ford 4600 or 5600 with mechanical front wheel drive. They are not around every corner so I would start looking now if I want one in the next several
months.

I see what you mean, I took a look at the for sale listings, there are several 2wd units out there for reasonable prices, but I don't see any 4x4 models. I will keep this model on my tractor search list. Thanks!
 
(quoted from post at 16:34:38 02/24/21) Get that loader off the tractor and put
on a good set of real farm tractor
tires.

That picture was from a few years back, I learned that lesson with the loader the hard way. It does come off quickly, and I now remove it for mowing.

I still have issues with the low ground clearance. I have gotten high-centered on small stumps quite a few times. The red maples grow like weeds here, and there are small stumps around the property that my little kubota just isn't powerful enough to remove.
 
I have a 92 B7100 and can't imagine trying to steer it with weight in the bucket. A 5' bush hog is
an awful lot of mower for a 16hp tractor, but if you can do it without overheating, great. I
wouldn't waste my time putting different tire on the Kubota, the tires you have will help keep you
from trying to do more than it is capable of. I would get something like a Ford 600/800/2000/4000 or
similar and rent/hire what you need to do any digging/clearing unless continued expansion is in your
future. Get rid of the B unless it has some sentimental value.
cvphoto79620.jpg
 
Get the ag or r4 tires and wheels for your kubota and it will increase your ground clearance. Look for a ford or massey 2wd tractor for bush hog and larger work.
 

I noticed that it steered much nicer with the bush hog on the back. I recently picked up a 3 point carry-all attachment for the Kubota, and I keep a 55 gallon drum of water on there for extra weight. It is much smaller and more maneuverable than leaving the bush hog on all the time.


mvphoto70724.jpg
 
If your loader is quick-attach, try using the tractor without the loader, the steering and maneuverability will be even better.
 

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