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Looking for a first tractor

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Chris @ Triquet

09-12-2005 16:11:20




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I own 12 acres and I am looking for a tractor to help me maintain it. Initially I only need it to cut the grass and dig post holes for fencing. I am sure I"ll find other uses for it along the way. I Only have about $2500 to spend and I am not sure what kind of tractor would best suit me. It"s obvious to me that it will have to be an older tractor(Usually cheaper). Does anyone have any suggestions for what a good first tractor would be?

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devildawg(tx)

09-14-2005 03:47:28




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
Ferguson to20, to30, I really like my MF 135 for a mid sized all around tractor. The Ford tractors similar to the small Fergusons are also okay fro what you are describing.



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Leland

09-13-2005 20:33:15




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
Buy something more modern and safer that has power brakes live pto rops and all the other goddies try hunting for a 3000 or 4000 ford this is a safer tractor for a rookie than some of these older models that have put a lot of rookies in the ground instead of posts .



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jfp

09-13-2005 12:27:22




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
Look in the photo ads here at yt, there is a WD45 for 1250; don't look bad. I don't know where you are at but you can get an idea of things just looking here at this site and some of the stuff is way over priced and some looks like a reasonable deal. Your area probably has something if you can find it. Just talk around and don't blow your budget stick to it.



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John (MO)

09-13-2005 06:29:09




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
An Allis Chalmers WD or WD45 would be ideal for you. You should be able to find good ones starting at about $800 and running up to $1600/$1800. Wide front would be a plus if you find one. Add a 3 point conversion and you"ll have a dandy tractor that is a whole lot more capable of doing things than the little Fords and Fergies. Maybe a little harder to find but great if you could, would be an Allis CA. The Allis D-14 would be great but might run to the last few dollars of your budget. All these are very easy to work on and will hold their value, incase you want to move up to something a little bigger some day.

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JDknut

09-13-2005 03:56:25




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
I'd look at a Ford 9n or 8n, Ford Jubilee, Ford 600 or 800 series, Ferguson TO30, 35, Deere 420 or 430. IH 300, 330, 240, etc. There are other good ones that I didn't name. Any of these will do what you want and parts should be easy to get. Some have suggested Farmall H's or M's, these are good tractors and inexpensive but are of limited use if they have no hydraulics or 3-pt. Oliver 55's or 550's are good if you can find one. hope this helps, good luck.

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RayP(MI)

09-12-2005 17:32:47




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
Deere A, B, 50, 60, Farmall super C, or 200. got both, work well for me. 200 has 2pt/3pt conversion and does a dandy job on a post hole digger. New digger from TSC will run about $400, auger, another $100. No one has suggested Olivers - another good tractor to look at. Much depends on what"s available in your area.



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Mike in Ind

09-12-2005 16:39:03




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
I have seen guys running a post hole digger with a ford 9N of a T30 Ferguson with good results. Unless you have a large amount of fence to put in maybe you could rent a digger rather than buying it. Around here you are hard pressed to find a better all around tractor than a H or M Farmall. Put a aftermarket three point on it and your good to go. They sell around here for $900 and up for one in good cond. mechanicaly.

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BobinKY

09-12-2005 16:37:40




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
Hey Chris. Welcome to the site. I have a 48' Allis Chalmer that I really enjoy for mowing because it has two clutches; a foot clutch that will engage the PTO and get the mower spinning and then a hand clutch that will get the tractor rolling. It really works well, parts are cheap and the old tractor is easy to work on, with direction from people on this site. The tractor has about 32 horsepower so it will do about anything I ask of it. I have bought a number of impliments for the old girl including a trip bucket that works surprisingly well. The Allis Chalmers has very strong hydraulics. The only drawback in my mind is that it has a high center of gravity. When I need to mow my hillsides, I get out my 55 Ferguson. It has 32 horsepower, two selections for PTO; either to run off of wheel speed or to run off of engine RPMs. It has a very low center of gravity and easily handles a 5' three point bush hog. I saw a 53 model Ferguson in the paper the other day that had been rebuilt with 50% rubber and some cosmetic work. They were asking $1800. Seems like a reasonable price for one that has had that much work done on it. I bought my 5' King Kutter bush hog new from Tractor Supply for $450 last year. I have used my 12" post hole digger on the Allis Chalmers and it worked like a charm. I have not tried it yet on the Ferguson, but I expect it should do very well. Both tractors have enough horsepower to easily run the digger but not enough to keep spinning the digger against a rock until the pin shears. It simply stalls the tractor. I consider this a plus. Hope this helps you to make a decision. There are a lot of good tractors out there.

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Nathan in Texas

09-12-2005 16:37:35




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
You should be able to find a Farmall M or H with an aftermarket 3 point hitch in that price range. Also maybe a Ford 9N or 8N. At that price you probably won't find one with live hydraulics or independent PTO but you might get lucky. You are going to be spending $500 or so for a used post hole digger and probably a little more than that for a mower.

I paid $2,500 for my 1945 Farmall M with aftermarket 3 point hitch, post hole digger and 7' blade. I paid $850 more for a 6' 3 point rotary mower brand new.

Don't rush into buying something, watch the photo ads to get a feel for what is out there but prices do vary quite a bit depending on where you are at. There seem to be more of these older tractors in the midwest and they go a little cheaper there.

Good Luck!!!

Nathan

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Jonfarmer

09-12-2005 16:22:49




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Chris @ Triquetra Acres, 09-12-2005 16:11:20  
For $2,500 your not going to find anything thats suitable to run a post hole digger. Your best bet would be to save up another few thousand and buy an Allis Chalmers 160, 170, 175, 180, 185 those tractors are cheap horsepower and can be had for about $5,000.



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John W

09-12-2005 18:48:36




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 Re: Looking for a first tractor in reply to Jonfarmer, 09-12-2005 16:22:49  
Just a thought on the digger. I own what is supposed to be one of the best at least in my area. Leinbach(sp?).Couple yrs. ago I was so tired of fencing I hired a contractor to build 1/4 mi. of fence. As I watched them use their portable digger with a small engine on top, I soon realized they had half their holes dug before I could have got started. To each his own but if mine ever breaks my next one won't be made to fit a tractor. Just a thought. Besides, the small one can easily be taken anywhere, which is exactly why they use it.

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