Got a tractor?

If you have a tractor, or farm machinery that is operated off a tractor....this site has a mine of information.

TractorByNet.com - Compact Tractor Forum

 

Yup. Got them on favorites (a bookmark). Also got a small Kubota diesel tractor with pto and live hydraulics.
.
also bush hog mower, and disc cultivater

 

We are on the look out for an early 70s Ford 5000, went and checked one out about a month ago. I've been to that site many times, its a wealth of info.

 

dont know about your area but them fords are on CL all the time in Louisiana,....

 

We just picked up a 5000 last summer. Replaced the starter fenders seat and a few other mics items. Runs great. 5000 is in the back.

 

I've looked at newer tractors and checked out the neighbor's kubota, but for the 30k he spent on it and the time i used it, i really wasn't impressed. Seems like I'll get a bit more bang for my buck with the older machine and i really prefer something i can actually work on. I'll have to start looking further away, I'm happy to trailer it back and who doesn't love a road trip.

 

I picked up 20 year old 23 hp diesel compact John Deere a couple years ago. Manual gear box instead of the hydrostatic but it is much more efficient and I can repair it if needed. I like it a lot and it has been very handy on the homestead. Came with a front bucket, little backhoe (I've ended up using that a bunch and far more than I ever would have guessed) belly mower, bush hog, subsoiler point and grader box. I found a deal for 8500 bucks on CL. I've since picked up a tiller, forklift tines that clamp on bucket, 3 point hitch boom, grader blade and some misc. The only time I run out of power is with the bushhog mower. I do run out of lift or tractor weight with the front bucket sometimes too. I just got some pressure regulator shims to up the hydraulic system pressure a bit to help this.

I suggest 30+ hp might be a bit better choice for a compact tractor and 33-35 if It has a hydrostatic tranny (they are a little less efficient but very handy) if you can find that. 30 will have 26-27 hp at the pto out which matches the 3 point hitch generator sets very nicely and it will handle a bush hog or tiller better. I can manage fine with 23 hp but I just have to go slow.

One should have a good stock of seals, o-rings, hoses, fuel line, belts, relays, connectors, etc. Be sure to get a service manual with good wiring diagrams. It is common for tractor wiring to have problems. I can't count the number of times I have fixed wiring on my two brother-in-law's farm equipment and on mine.

AT