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Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND

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nballen

11-27-2007 09:11:19

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Hi Chris,

A page back or so, you mentioned having a bi-directional tractor.

I'm doing a little dreaming here, as right now I have no ability to really use a field tractor. But I always really liked the looks of those Ford - New Holland advertisments with the bi-directional tractor, a swather header, and a pull-type swather.

How do you like it compared to a conventional MFWD or FWA (front steer) tractor? Or an articulated tractor?

Advantages? Disadvantages? What to watch out for? Any pictures? What is involved in changing the "forward" direction?

Thanks in advance,

Nathaniel

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Charles Santhuff

11-29-2007 14:57:56

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

Nathaniel, thanks for responding on the picture location. When we get out there to visit I spend some time driving that country and over toward Elk River. Daughter works for WSU at Pullman and son in law works for University of Idaho. We get out there about every year to see the grandaughter. I have a good friend at Orofino and enjoy taking the back roads in that area. Great country!

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Chris in ND

11-28-2007 10:20:38

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

I ment to say 9030 Ford V 6030 JD.

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Chris in ND

11-28-2007 09:54:32

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

It is the bigest round bailer JD makes (talk about the dealer being proud of his equipment). The specs recommend 75 pto horse power which is what I think that tractor has. Perhaps the hydro drive uses up some power also. It will do it but it is just not happy about it. We have had confusion up here before so I want to make sure every one understands we are talking a 6030 Ford New Holland not a 6030 JD.

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RodInNS

11-29-2007 05:16:57

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to Chris in ND, 11-28-2007 09:54:32

The 9030 made 103 PTO hp on test and I don't think it's unrealistic to take 110+ from that old 268T if you turn the screw and let her scream. The old 256 Versatile may have been about 75 hp, but the 276 was boosted to 102 with the Cummins and the Ford engine gave 103...

Rod

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Chris in ND

11-27-2007 18:13:24

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

I am gonna have to ge me one of those Quad Directionals !

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Chris in ND

11-27-2007 18:08:11

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

Hi Nathaniel, ours is a 9030 with a loader and 3pts on both end. I have never operated a MFWD or FWA so I can't say, would like to get one to replace a 4440 Deere one day but with current cattle prices that is just a dream. As a chore tractor it excells. It works great as a loader tractor, in the muddy feedlot(and lots of stuff besids mud) it is wonderful. It actually cut the time I spent feeding everymorning in 1/2. Of course the tractor it replaced was a Farmall 400 with a F 11 (did I mention the 9030 has a heater). I only hope it lasts as long. It works well with the swather header, snowblower and any other 3pt attachment. You are right, they are not tillage tractors. Ours balks at the big bailer. We did use it to cultivate corn back when that was still done. Those rather small tires don't survive colisions with concrete feed bunks well, but that problem is with me. I don't know anything about speciality vegtable row crops but think the tractor would do well there. It looks like your friend lives in a nice place. Finally, yes the dealers seem to be very proud of the ones they have got, but they seem to be proud of everything they have, but I suppose they have to eat too. Certianly haven't got any bargins at auction sales lately. I just might to have to get used of the idea stuff is simply gonna cost that much.

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nballen

11-28-2007 08:02:42

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to Chris in ND, 11-27-2007 18:08:11

When you say "big baler", is that a large square baler or a round baler?

Nathaniel

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Charles Santhuff

11-27-2007 16:43:19

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

Were those pictures taken near Moscow, Idaho by any chance. I have a daughter living there and the landscape looks familiar. Nice country. Sure beats Missouri in the summer.

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nballen

11-28-2007 07:58:42

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to Charles Santhuff, 11-27-2007 16:43:19

They sure were. 'Bout 7 miles east of town.

If you look at the second picture, my wife grew up in a house just out of the picture on the left hand side. My best friend owns the tractor and I was helping him cut hay earlier this year.

Is your daughter going to school there?

Nathaniel

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The Researcher

11-27-2007 15:44:17

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

I did the research for them. Here is what I found. Warning!!! you may be subject to torture, alien abduction, or worse if you read the following...

Click at your own risk.

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Bill in Colo

11-27-2007 11:35:34

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

I have 8 plus tractors of which a 276II bi directional is the most used. Bought it new in 1990,has about 5600 hours on it. It would be the last I would want to part with, would like to update it,but retirement is looming.
For a cattle rancher it would be difficult to get along without.

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nballen

11-27-2007 12:11:13

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to Bill in Colo, 11-27-2007 11:35:34

Hmm...sounds like that might ought ta be the next tractor (next 2-5 years), if we could find one in good condition and affordable!

Dealers are pretty proud of that tractor, aren't they?

Nathaniel

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R. John Johnson

11-27-2007 10:40:54

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

There are lots of them up here. One cousin has a 9030 and its been his feeding tractor for a LONG time. Another cousin had a 9030 and traded up for a TV145. He runs a feedlot cleaning business and works the snot out of his. Both have been quite reliable. Very maneuverable, good hydraulics, very good visibility when using the loader. Only drawback I have heard is the ride is choppy. The one cousin with the TV145 has a cab suspension and he says it makes a world of difference.

To reverse directions, the seat and console rotate inside the cab. The tractor is hydrostatic so it doesn't care which is forward or back. Just move the lever in the direction you want to travel.

John

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nballen

11-27-2007 12:06:58

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Couple of pictures in reply to R. John Johnson, 11-27-2007 10:40:54

So all the controls are on the console (which rotates)?

A good friend farms in the Palouse area of N. Idaho - so the land is typically quite steep. We've been dreaming of how to (ideally) expand the equipment line.

Some version of 4wd is required, short profile and wide footprint (low CG) is also required. This (Fiat) New Holland 4430 is just dynamite for those hills.

How does the hydrostatic work for pulling a manure spreader, swather, baler, etc? I've always heard warnings about hydrostatic transmissions (especially with regards to any type of tillage work).

The only hydrostatic tractor I've driven is a newish CIH homeowner special (something like a DX-45) - the goofy engineers put the forward / reverse pedals where real tractors have the two brake pedals - just plain DANGEROUS when your autopilot kicks in.

Nathaniel

Cut hay on his neighbor's place, June 2007.

third party image

Cutting his home place, June 2007
third party image

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RodInNS

11-28-2007 05:44:35

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Couple of pictures in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 12:06:58

I think you'd find the hydro aspect of the tractor fine for what you want to do. The problem I'm sure you will have with a 276 and 9030 is weight. If you're on those hills with a heavy manure spreader, you're going to jack knife because those tractors are very light in the rear end and they get pushed around. Our neighbours found that out the hard way with a 276 and promptly put a smaller MFWD on the spreader.
The TV140/145 may not be so prone to getting pushed around with it's big axles since ther's a lot of weight in there and a different distribution, but the older Versatile's certainly got shoved around on hills...

Rod

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rrlund

11-27-2007 10:19:59

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

If you go back a little in time,you'll find that the Ford/New Holland Bi Di was a Versitile. A nice unit even back then. A lot more square looking than they are now,but functional.

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nballen

11-27-2007 11:39:05

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to rrlund, 11-27-2007 10:19:59

By the time I was old enough to pay attention, Ford had purchased the rights to the Versitile Bi-directional design and they were all painted blue. ;->

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Crazy Horse

11-27-2007 09:21:52

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to nballen, 11-27-2007 09:11:19

Well as many of us oldtimers (like Festus Grimes and Jake from Jakes Corner, Yukon) here on the forum know, I'm not supposed to mention the "banned" Essex Tri-Directional tractors from the early part of the last century. But I did and I'm happy that you made your post and allowed me to remind everyone to search the archives for the history etc. of the famous ETD. What you are talking about is allmost a century late since that feature was on the 1916 ETC Plowmaster series I believe it was. It ended up being a feature that was too far ahead of it's time and was doomed to failure because of the stupidity of those who tried to understand the feature instead of just driving the darned tractor.

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in-too-deep

11-27-2007 11:43:02

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to Crazy Horse, 11-27-2007 09:21:52

SHHH!!!! You're not supposed to know!!

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Bob

11-27-2007 11:41:58

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Even better, the Quad Directional... in reply to Crazy Horse, 11-27-2007 09:21:52

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Dan-IA

11-27-2007 13:20:53

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Re: Even better, the Quad Directional... in reply to Bob, 11-27-2007 11:41:58

Oh wow.

I bet driving that one's a trip.

And visibility to the bucket on the front bumper is-well, not so great.

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mike

11-27-2007 09:52:38

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to Crazy Horse, 11-27-2007 09:21:52

my fathers uncle had a friend whose son was in charge of removing the excess "fuel" (what type fuel we were never told)from said not-to-be-named tractor. If you didn't shut tractor down every 6 and 1/4 hrs and draw off 100 gallons of said fuel it would start overflowing tank. at 123% fuel efficiency said not-to-be-named the darn thing thing acctualy created fuel as it was operated. twas a sight to be seen. or so I've heard

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Crazy Horse

11-27-2007 10:52:45

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Re: Bi-Directional Tractors - Chris in ND in reply to mike, 11-27-2007 09:52:38

Your father's uncle's friend was probably related to old Silas McCallister, he was related to me through my brother's father. I'm not sure who my father was infortunatelly. Anyways, I forgot about that fuel efficiency thing on the *** (censored) and the fact that it could harvest in three directions at the same time made it very "versatile". See the comment above on the Versatile name a few years ago, and then everyone wonders where it came from. With my luck, I'm living on borrowed time here on the forum even discussing this with you. If you're ever up here near Jake's Corner, drop by and we'll have a chat. The pineapple farm is still functioning albeit nothing but a tax writeoff these days.

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