general tractor advice

Mich horse farm · Aug 3, 2010

We're looking to purchase another tractor but don't have alot of money to spend. Our needs are for brush hogging, spreading manure and a few other small things.

Any suggestions would be helpful!

Anonymous-0 · Aug 3, 2010

Define "not a lot of money". (ie, how much)

How much experience does the eventual operator have?

Personally, when it comes to owning a single tractor that will be used (rather than collected) I want live power, power steering, wide front, 3-point hitch, prefer diesel, fairly common brand/model, ect.

Keith Molden · Aug 3, 2010

Buy a tractor that's a little bit bigger than you think you'll need. You'll be surprised at how much you'll need it once you get one. Live PTO and 3 point hitch are pretty much needed these days and power steering is a big asset especially when you decide to purchase a loader for it after you get tired of loading manure by hand. I don't think brand is too important, instead look around at the dealers in your area, cause you're probably gonna need parts. Keith

Anonymous-0 · Aug 3, 2010

(quoted from post at 03:02:24 08/03/10) We're looking to purchase another tractor but don't have alot of money to spend. Our needs are for brush hogging, spreading manure and a few other small things.

Any suggestions would be helpful!

From my experience, get something 15hp more than you think you need. I've been doing with 26HP and was "ok" for years. Now, I have a mower and baler that needs the extra hp. Loader is real nice (took mine off out of ignorance and wish I had time to put it on again). Diesel is nice if you're not a tinker and much more efficient. ROPS, a cab of some sort for at least rain protection (you can add side curtains then) is real nice if you're over 20 and paying your own medical bills and have animals that need fed whether you feel good or not. I don't have it, but power steering would be nice. Wait a little longer til you can swing something that you will be happy with because it'll be cheaper in the long run.
Not a preacher, just wishing I'da done better the first time.

Good Luck,

Dave

olddog · Aug 3, 2010

Depends on the other tractors, their uses, and how you define cheap.
A Farmall H will do those chores dependably.
Won't get any cheaper than that.
OTOH, if this is gonna be main everyday chore tractor, you want 3PH, Live PTO, P/S, mebbe diesel.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 3, 2010

Find what you are looking for and wait a bit and it usally pops up, watch auctions and look on like tractor house website, and fastline or any other site like them, you will find what you are looking for, well unless it is a three wheeled Dane tractor, then I think your out of luck! Good luck and let us know what you get.

Tom

Mich horse farm · Aug 3, 2010

Let me try again! Replacing Alis Chalmers C - prefer wide front w/ loader; live PTO; PS; 3pt. Under 3K would be better. Found an Oliver but were told parts aren't avail anymore.

M Nut · Aug 3, 2010

Oliver parts are available without any trouble. Several internet sites that basically have any part you'd want.

Spook · Aug 3, 2010

Pretty tough under 3K.

John Harmon · Aug 3, 2010

Look for a good quality Kubota and your max price may not be enough to fill your wants.IMO Jh

JML755 · Aug 3, 2010

The farm where we board our horse uses a NH TC35 & TC45 for loader work, manure spreader, brush hog, post hole digger, pulling water wagon. They're plenty big enough but just fit down the barn aisle. They're newer machines though with a price tag to match. Something in the 25-40hp range would probably be good and I'd look around for a Ford 2000 or 3000 (early to mid 70's). I know where there's an "ok" 3000 (gasser) in Michigan for $3k. Robust machines, parts readily available.

tg in VA · Aug 3, 2010

I've got a horse farm and for years my only tractor was a Massey TO-35 gas. I had a ground drive manure spreader and a 5' bushhog. I still use it to drag my arena. It sits for days on end and always starts, always runs.

I think it's the perfect tractor for a small horse operation until you can afford something newer with a front end loader.

Bill(Wis) · Aug 3, 2010

Well....there's a Ford NAA w/loader for sale right now for $2200. Better run and buy it. See ad #394452. Although I've always considered a Ford NAA to be a little light for loader work, horse manure isn't very heavy.

general tractor advice · Aug 3, 2010

Where in michigan are you finding this? I went back to the ads and don't seem to locate it? Does it have a loader?

RacerX · Aug 3, 2010

My tractor does all the things you have in mind on my horse farm and has all the features you"d like to have. It"s a 1979 Ford 340 industrial gas tractor with live PTO and 3 pt. Basically it"s an industrial version of the 3 cylinder Ford 3000, with a heavier, non adjustable front axle, factory installed loader, the rear end out of a Ford 4000 and painted yellow. We also use it to make hay, cutting with a New Holland 7 foot haybine and baling with a Massey Ferguson #3 baler. Parts availability has been great on this tractor in the 4 years I"ve owned it. But we had to pay $5500 for it at a park district auction.

rrlund · Aug 3, 2010

What do you have a dealer for locally? I know,if you're in the same boat that I'm in in Michigan,nothing,but don't buy something that you can't get parts of service for. I'd stay away from things like Belarus,Rhino,things like that. Could prove to be more expensive than the initial cost in the long run.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 3, 2010

I've seen MF 65's advertised for under $3K. Paint looked rough but may have been mechanically sound. 65's often cost less than a MF35 or MF 50. I'd go for gas, easier to work ona
and much easier to start on cold Michigan mornings. Gas is less efficient than diesel but you are not plowing all day.

I have a MF50 on my horse farm here
in KY and couldn't get along without it.

Loren MN · Aug 3, 2010

How about an Allis WD or WD45? Lots of those out there with wide fronts, should be able to pick one up around $1500 to $2000. The hand clutch gives you similar operation to live PTO, so you can stop the transmission drive with the PTO running. I use my WD a lot for spreading manure and running a baler. The rear lift arms are easily adaptable to 3 point. They steer pretty well without power steering.

Mich horse farm · Aug 3, 2010

We have an Alis C, not wide front. Prob same as yours. We don't have live PTO, would prefer it. Our manure spreader needs a ton of work so we bought another one but requires live PTO. We'll be selling here soon if we could buy something different with more hp.

nickg · Aug 3, 2010

to get a loader and power steering on a decent tractor for 3grand is a pretty tall order. There out there tho. Not sure what hp your wantin but there are several good tractors to fit the bill. Ford 3000 is a good versatile tractor for what it sounds like your wantin. I also think a mf 35 would be another good one. I would have to consider how close nearest dealer is as well tho. Some things you can get at car quest and napa like plugs and filters but others you cant. If the nearest blue/red dealer is 75 miles but the nearest deere dealer was only 20 Id have to take that in to my equation.

BillinCentralMO · Aug 3, 2010

Used Tractors are cheaper than ever. People need money. My advice is to increase your budget. For 5K you could get a nice tractor. I have a MF 165 gas and it does it all. It's like 50 hp but I can still haul it on my 16 ft trailer. We even used it to pull my 806 out of the mud. 3020 JD would also be an excellent choice. If you aren't going to trailer it around the larger tractors are often lower priced than the 35 hp tractors.That's my answer and I'm sticking to it. Good Luck.

Loren MN · Aug 4, 2010

The WD is a very different tractor than the C. The C doesn't have the hand clutch and is a lot smaller tractor. The WD and WD45 have two clutches, a pedal and a hand lever. The Pedal stops all power behind the motor, while the hand clutch stops only the power to the wheels. This gives you a similar effect as live PTO. The hand clutch runs in oil, so you can creep forward without burning it. If your driving forward with the PTO running, you can disengage the hand clutch to stop movement while the PTO stays running.

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