60 HP tractor with Loader & no power steering

jachamar · Dec 20, 2009

New to this wonderful forum & learning resource.
How hard is driving a tractor around 60 HP,with loader & no power steering?. I found 3 without in my budget & area. Some people told me It was ok and another said no way

Any input ,advice ,experience It will be appreciated

rustyfarmall · Dec 20, 2009

Power steering definately makes it easier and quicker but If the price is right and everything else about the tractor is what you are looking for I wouldn't let the lack of power steering turn me away. The lack of power steering will seperate the men from the wimps real quick.

rrlund · Dec 20, 2009

If you're young and strong,depending on the make of the tractor,you could probably get by. If you're getting up in years and having shoulder problems,I'd agree with the "no way". As long as the tractor is moving,you'll be able to steer it,but when it's stopped,you're gonna feel it in the morning.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 20, 2009

It depends a lot on the specific tractor and loader. Dave

johndeereman · Dec 20, 2009

depends on what you are going to do with it i have a jd 70 no p/s with a 45 loader on it i move round bales with works great in the field but get home trying to stack them or put them in a muddy pasture i hate it works great with out a bale on it too so i guess it amounts to how much weght you are putting on it

Mike Aylward · Dec 20, 2009

Rusty, I sometimes wonder if a wimp is just a former stong man with money...

Mike

EVILBOWEVIL · Dec 20, 2009

as long as you can add power steering go for it
2cd choice put enough load hangin off the back to cancel the weight on the loader
Ron

CheeseHeadFred · Dec 20, 2009

Others have it right - the only thing to add is a wide front will make it a little easier to deal with.

paul · Dec 20, 2009

I have a 27 hp narrow front tractor with a loader.

It works. Has worked for 60 years now I guess.

Wouldn't be my choice today tho.

A 60 hp indicates a pretty good heavy loader with a pretty heavy load on it. Can work ok, but I'd get real tired doing percise work like cleaning up manure out of a pen all the time.

--->Paul

rrlund · Dec 20, 2009

I'm sorry to be chuckling but,do what now? Take a board about 18 inches long. Put some weight on one end of it and imagine that it's the weight of your loader bucket. Put your finger under it about 6 inches back from the weight. That's your front tires. Now add your counterweight to the other end of the board and see what it does to your finger/front tires. Keep in mind,I'm still smiling,not laughing at you. I've heard this counterweight theory before. It just works for traction.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 20, 2009

Or a crane. Even with weights for traction, too much is just going to tear your tractor apart. Most tractors have a recommended maximum ballasted weight. Dave

jachamar · Dec 20, 2009

Thank you everybody for all the reply & tips.The tractor I found so far are:
1- Massey Ferguson 175 (I like it a lot)
2- Ford 4000
3- MF 165

I'll repeat.If It is not dangerous I don't care.

rrlund · Dec 20, 2009

Right. If you just add weight to the rear wheels or 3pt,you are still using the front axle as a fulcrum for the leverage. To make it steer easier,you would have to hang enough weight,far enough behind the rear axle to make the rear axle the fulcrum instead of the front axle.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 20, 2009

Are you sure the MF 175 doesn't have power steering? I thought 165's all came with power steering but looking in my book, it lists it as optional for UK model 165's but standard on the UK 175. These are the brochures for the launch of the tractors in 64/65. The 1970 N.America brochure also lists it as standard on the 175. If the 175 is a diesel, it is a very popular engine. The Perkins engines in the MF 100 series tractors are second to none. They set fuel economy records that are still comparable with todays newer high tech engines. It is not dangerous if you don't have power steering. The tractors still come with a good steering system. If you're going to be using the loader a lot and in close quarters, you'd want power steering but for general use it isn't absolutely necessary. I don't have power steering on my 135 and it's a little harder to steer but I don't use the loader much. I have a fairly heavy 7 ft. blade on it though. If the 175 is in good shape, I'd go for that. MF parts are usually pretty reasonable. Dave

Anonymous-0 · Dec 20, 2009

On a utility type tractor you probably have no room for it, but in the 60's I outfitted a JD A with a 27 inch steering wheel. Worked wonders! Wrapped a half inch pipe around a truck rim to form the perimeter and welded in 4 spokes. It just cleared the clutch lever and we reached through the wheel to access the throtle. Even without the loader it was a bear to steer.

Areo

jachamar · Dec 20, 2009

Dave,I 100% sure.That was the reason that the seller said,the previous buyer It didn"t like it.That made me wonder...
It is a 1973 anyway

buickanddeere · Dec 20, 2009

Clutch life will be reduced with manual steering.Operators slip the clutch while inching the tractor along in order to steer without power assist.

Leroy · Dec 20, 2009

Would the Ford 4000 perhaps be a 4 cylinder model tractor and it would be more apt not to have power steering but it is a 48 HP tractor, the 3 cylinder 4000 tractors are 52 HP and never heard of one without power steering. The 165 M F would also be about a 52 HP tractor and the only one mentioned close to being a 60 HP tractor is the M F 175

Mike (WA) · Dec 20, 2009

Don't know about the Fords, but there's a ton of MF 165's and 175's in salvage yards with power steering (most had PS when new, so not as hard to find in salvage yards). You'd need a parts manual to figure out all the parts needed for the switchover, then just make sure you get them all off the salvage tractor. I did it with an Oliver 550, has been a great improvement.

wolfman · Dec 20, 2009

Had an 851 Ford with no power steering and a loader
on it for years. Loaded many, many loads of manure,
moved dirt, etc. Never thought much about it; had to be
moving to steer, but that should be the case anyway.

Stephen Atkins · Dec 20, 2009

Ran loader tractors(Farmall M,Cockshutte 30 and 2 Fergusons, TE 20 and a TO 30)with farmhand F10's on them. No power steering,didnt really miss it. You get used to it.

steveormary

Ultradog MN · Dec 20, 2009

I recently bought a 3 cyl 4000 that does not have power steering. Whoever owned before me had a BIG loader on it so that the front end was pretty well worn out. Yet without the loader the tractor steers very easy. What surprised me is how little wear there is in the steering box. You would think all those years of reefing on the steering wheel would have made for a lot of slop. But I'd guess there isn't an inch of rotation before it starts to turn.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 20, 2009

Does it not have it or it isn't working? I know there were some issues with the power steering on the 165. I'm going to guess that the 175 uses a similar type of power steering. Where is the 175 built and how many gears does it have? Could it be a 175 S? I just looked and an MF 175 "S" (UK) lists power steering as an option in a 1970 sales brochure. Maybe you can post a picture? What's the asking price for the tractor? Dave

flying belgian · Dec 20, 2009

I'm sorry but your just not right on this one because you need to have a back axle/fingers under your board about 4 inches from other end of board. Add counter weight to board now and load will get heavier on back fingers and lighter on front fingers.

BCnT · Dec 20, 2009

thats the most ridiculous statement i ever heard...got a '62 Ford 2000 out in the yard with well over 6000 hours on it that my grandfather boought new and i been operating since...no power nuthin except 3 point and still has original clutch...everybody knows you dont like little Fords so give it a break...most of us dont give a rats a$$ what you think.

jachamar · Dec 20, 2009

Dave,this is the ad.The tractor was sold (i didn't dare to bid without the knowledge ), but I'd like to be ready for the next opportunity

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260520139800&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EVILBOWEVIL · Dec 20, 2009

my expeirence was with a Farmall Cub with a 1000 loader.
had dual rear wheels with weights, outside tires loaded and chained
no problem with traction, hard to steer with the bucket full
added a three point conversion and a 5' boxblade now it steered like the loader wasn't there empty and was lots more managable with a full bucket
NO THEORY JUST FACT
Ron

MeanGene1 · Dec 20, 2009

When I was little, our biggest loader for the "home" lime stockpile was Fordson Major Diesel with manual steering. The lime loaders were always working at every bit of weight they would lift, and the Major was an absolute bear to steer- everybody loved the power, but still hated loading with it, too much of a workout. The 8N with a Wagner and a big-bore kit that lived at one of the satelite stockpiles, and plowed snow in the winter, had a front axle with a pretty good bow in it from loading that lime, IIRC we figured 900 lbs/bucket- and it would give you a fight to steer also. Had a few TO20's and 30's that were the same way, and a 340 Utility with power steering and a fast reverser- everybody loved that one. Later on when we got all the deuce-and-a-half spreaders that hauled more than the old REO bobtails, we got a Michigan 75A for the home pile- the guys thought they were really downtown with that critter

buickanddeere · Dec 20, 2009

Glad I can get under your skin like your's, job accomplished.You are about as thick headed as those yesterday. Who couldn't grasp the fact two stroke oil added to gasoline lowers the fuel's octane rating.
So you are telling me that slipping the clutch doesn't cause wear?
Are you telling me that operators of non PS equipment doesn't slip the clutch extra to ease along slow to allow turning the wheels?

RodinNS · Dec 20, 2009

It's doable but not something I'd want to do.
For what it's worth, Ford supplied tractors less power steering well into the 80's for those who were just too damn miserable and cheap to get one with power steering.
If it's a later 4000, that would be my pick... and salvage parts would not be all that hard to find if you wished to add PS. Then the 4000 would be very easy to steer.

Rod

BCnT · Dec 20, 2009

maybe some of the inbreds in your gene pool just dont have any business on machinery.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 21, 2009

Loader tractors(industrial) came out with shuttle transmissions to greatly lessen clutch wear. A lot of people use too high a gear when loading which is also hard on the clutch.
In case you missed it, I agreed with you that too much oil in a 2 stroke can cause problems, especially with power valves on high performance engines. Dave

60 HP tractor with Loader & no power steering

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