Mules

Not too long ago someone mentioned the New Idea Uni-System power unit being called mules.

Now, the threads about front-mounted cultivators has me thinking. If I could find, say, a 708 diesel power unit, maybe with a hydrostat, there"s a lot of farming operations you can do with a front-mount on one of these. Hagie sprayers look something like that. NI had a brochure showing a 6-row front-mount planter. You know that a mule would have tight, precise power steering like the Honey Bee, and that would be a real boon for things like cultivating.

So the more I think of it the more I think I want to find a diesel power unit and amass some attachments. Maybe not the chopper, picker, and combine, but planter, sprayer, cultivator, nitrogen injector, etc. For that matter, wouldn't a front loader work well on one of these?

Ok, heavy tillage it wouldnt be suited for, and the tires would be packing tilled soil in the first place.

Maybe I'm crazy. Tell me what you think, and maybe tell me what a diesel power unit should be worth. I'm thinking anywhere under $5k might be pretty fair depending on condition, since regular tractors above 50hp tend to bring that at farm sales around here.

Dan the power units were pretty lopsided for weight, so the right wheel is very light when not loaded with some sort of weight. They also go down bad on the left side when it is wet. As for a loader the engine is to far forward for that. With the chopper on they have to have the brakes in use for side hills or they have a lot of slippage. They fit 30inch rows good. I know these things as we used to use one for chopping corn, hay,ear corn grinding and shelling corn. Also are a fire hazard with the shellers on. I would go with a 709 with the RWA on it, to help with the steering on ends.

Yeah but what about running a snowblower in the winter? I"ve seen a rig like that, and I think I could probably spend most of my winter blowing snow and maybe turn a profit at it if I could get the county"s OK.