Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc..

/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #1  

UrbannGuerilla

Bronze Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
61
Tractor
Allis Chalmers AC5050 / Ford 555B TLB / Ford 6600
Hi everyone. Glad to be here to learn anything I can about everything I can. I live in Central Florida. Lakeland to be exact, its right in between Tampa and Orlando. I'm 30, I come from a typical blue-collared southern family.. I've been hunting, (dove-hog-deer-snipe-gator), fishing (mostly freshwater), riding ATV's, UTV's, 3 and 4 wheelers of all kinds, camping, and mudslinging in one aspect or the other throughout my entire life. Its safe to say that I have always enjoyed being outdoors, and enjoyed things that involved nature, outdoors, wildlife, etc... it provides me with stress relief unlike anything else ever has... hard to explain it, but I love it. Pretty much everything I know about tractors I have learned in the past 14 days. Believe me, I have read a whole lot. From different PTO types, to soil testing, to liming, to ph, implements and their uses, blah blah and yada ya. I have literally submerged myself in tractors for the past 2 weeks to try to give us the headstart with as much useful information as I could find prior to trying this for the first time on a tractor. (Before my father did it with a four-wheeler one time because he absolutely insisted, but we usually pay the owner of the land to come in and do it. He's not a farmer, and we are not there when he does it.) We want be more involved with how the land is handled, planting our choice of what we want, managing the wildlife and the land, the condition of the soil to maintain its crop growing ability, etc.

We hunt (whitetail) near the Georgia/Alabama line.. in Alabama- Directly between Eufaula, AL and Dothan, AL near a little town called Abbeville. We (we means myself, younger brother, and father) have been hunting in this region of AL for at least 5 or 6 years. We have been on this particular property for ..2 or 3 years, its approximately 50 acres. In the past few years we have really been into learning about whitetail management, and this year we plan on starting to slowly implement management practices. Part of whitetail management involves foodplots, and that involves farming/tractors.. which is why I am here. Although I have been involved with all kinds of things outdoors, and I have successfully planted and maintained a few plants in my lifetime- I am by no means a professional farmer, a tractor specialist, a know-it-all of anything, etc.

A couple weeks ago we purchased a 1983 Allis-Chalmers AC5050. Its a 50hp 2wd tractor in good working condition, good body condition, almost new tires, no smoke, everything works good, 1950hrs, etc. Only it doesnt have a ROPS or any shade, and this particular 5050 has the rounded kinda- Ford style "earlobe" (i call them) fenders that only cover about an inch of the inside of the rear tires. (hope someone knows what I'm talking about, did the best I could to describe it) We bought the tractor for $3500, and it came with a 6" box blade (missing one of the 6 removable teeth), and (i think) 5ft adjustable blade. Here is a link to the tractor info if you'd like to have a look. TractorData.com Allis Chalmers 5050 tractor information

I think that is more than an appropriate introduction.. so let's get on with the meat of the conversation...

Obviously winter plot season is coming up, and we would like to get at least the very most necessary implements for our tractor for this fall, and be more "ready" by next spring. We're primarily looking for a disc harrow, probably around 6 ft, and a cultipacker, probably also around 6 ft. (After that it would probably be, PTO spreader and sprayer) I don't want to go much larger than the tractors 67" width because there are a couple small wooded roads in the back to go down and I don't want to T-bone the implement between any trees behind me.

First and foremost I want to know does anyone know who Ken Sweet is of SweetTractor.com? What is your experience with him or the company? We're looking at some used implements from him, and would like to get some good input about him and/or his company prior to committing to any purchases.

I also got some other pricing from another out of state used implement company on a used 6 ft- 3pt hitch- angle iron -2gang harrow (toothed/smooth) for 675+ 170frieght, and a used 6 ft Brillion 3pt hitch cultipacker (smooth ribbed wheels,no sprockets,no crowfeet) is $995+196 freight.

I apologize about how long this first post was, I know its a little intimidating, but I wanted to post as much information right from the beginning as I possibly could. If you made it this far, thanks!

ON ANY AND ALL OF THE ABOVE... please feel free to give me any opinions, suggestions, ideas, etc... I may or may not use them right away- but I certainly appreciate every single response.

I want to know what you think about the pricing on these used items?
What do you think about the tractor we are starting off with?
The area of the country we're hunting in.. or whatever you got for me.

-UG :cool:
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #2  
I would save the money on the culitipacker and just ride over newly seeded plot with the ATV. When I'm putting in a new planting here its quicker and easier to just run back and forth over the newly seeded plot with the ATV than it is to go hook up the cultipacker! I've found that even on fluffy soil that has been tilled with a tiller a ATV seems to pack it just right. I have a good cultipacker and not used it in 10 years.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #3  
First thing, welcome! I live in jax but get around so if there is anything up this way you need an eye put on, let me know. 2nd great post. I hunted with a group just inside Ga from where your hunting and had some good times. Been over 15 years since the last time I went up there.
Never met Ken but he has a great reputation on this board. I would buy from him if his price with shipping was ok. Might want to look a little closer to home to save some freight money.
David from jax (in Milton, Pa)
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #4  
I have purchased from Ken. Straight up guy. He delivered, to my door, a better piece, at a lower price, than I could get locally. I'd do business with him again in a heart beat.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #5  
Your tractor is a UTB licensed under Fiat the Rops on UTB on my tractor was inboard to the fenders so if you find a rops for Romanian Longs ,AC,or Oliver it should fit
 

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/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #6  
:welcome: I believe, though never purchased from him, he seems well informed and honest. This is all my observations from this website. I don't think he will do you wrong. I plan on buying a "trailer mover" for my little GC from Ken. Good luck! :cool:
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #7  
Bought a finish mower from him and had it shipped with no problems. Took all of 5 minutes on the phone and delivery was done on schedule. Would do business with again.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc..
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Your tractor is a UTB licensed under Fiat the Rops on UTB on my tractor was inboard to the fenders so if you find a rops for Romanian Longs ,AC,or Oliver it should fit


I will take photos of the tractor this weekend, probably tomorrow so that you can see what I'm talking about. I think the back of the rear axle DOES have a flat spot on each rear facing side between the center and rear wheel that has two vertical holes in it. That could be a ROPS mounting option, but I am not qualified to say.

I will have pictures of the very strange "earlobe" fenders that are on our tractor (and they are faded AC orange like the rest), uncommon to any allis chalmers ac5050 that I have seen. Google Images "Allis Chalmers AC5050" I'm almost positive every picture you will find has squared, flat topped fenders that cover a large portion of the rear wheel tread- Of those you will also see the ROPS that mounts to the flat tops of the "regular" AC 5050's.

Here are what just about every AC5050's Fenders look like.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.importtractorparts.net/acad.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.importtractorparts.net/AC.html&usg=__xNBJJvncgrtyw5MZ9Ch7rIZktuA=&h=321&w=500&sz=39&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=OLGgMMCRSa8QvM:&tbnh=161&tbnw=212&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dallis%2Bchalmers%2B5050%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS385%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D877%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=421&ei=wSd4TMn6FIKC8gb8hZDSAw&oei=3id4TJymIsH38AavyoyCBg&esq=52&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=97&ty=86
http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/1/9/196-allis-chalmers-5050-photos.html

The only thing I could find that showed the "earlobe" fenders I was talking about is this picture of a toy ac5050.. OUR fenders look just like this...
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://oldtoybox.net/images/IMG_1163.JPG&imgrefurl=http://oldtoybox.net/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D8&usg=__RBnx0ACsnbEgxv-H47YOek3U8Sg=&h=1704&w=2272&sz=351&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=b6nJZ-NBQgoGhM:&tbnh=162&tbnw=214&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dallis%2Bchalmers%2B5050%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS385%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D877%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=205&ei=wSd4TMn6FIKC8gb8hZDSAw&oei=3id4TJymIsH38AavyoyCBg&esq=52&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx=125&ty=49
If that long URL doesn't work, here is the link to the toy tractor.. its the next-to-bottom of the first page.
http://oldtoybox.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8

I'll still take pictures of the rear axle this weekend...
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #9  
You might want to consider a 3 point rototiller for preparing the plots. You could run a 72" behind that tractor. THey do a great job in preparing food plots. They chop the soil up real fine.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #10  
Exchanged PM's with Sweet. Do planning on doing business with him, for the few things I need, shipping charges are minor. But his info has been great. I live in northern Maine, freight charges are nothing, if the info you get from him....is priceless. Good Luck.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc..
  • Thread Starter
#11  
You might want to consider a 3 point rototiller for preparing the plots. You could run a 72" behind that tractor. THey do a great job in preparing food plots. They chop the soil up real fine.

That is what we were going to originally do, but the existing plots are approaching sandy. (since before we had this property) The one "new" plot (since last fall) was (and still is) lush and vigorous Milo, probably 5 foot tall right now. The others were very spotty at best. I'm thinking either they have been overtilled/overplowed, or there is a hardpan, or the food plots have been there too long without much replenishing the soil.. or something. Maybe a combo of them. I'm not sure just yet. I'll be getting a soil test done from new plot areas and old existing areas, so that should fill me in on some of the problems I hope.

With that taken into consideration we thought we might do some minimal disturbance plot preparation to try to keep more humus in the soil over longer periods of time, which tilling destroys quicker than can be made. The one new plot from last fall/summer is leaps and bounds ahead of every existing plot there, and it was prepared originally with an ATV and a disc.

We will be making some other new plots in the next month or so when we go back up, and we will be replanting only a couple of the old plots for a comparison. This year we are planting Tecomate Sunstra Hybrid Alfalfa, Red Clover, White Clover, Chicory, T-Raptor Hybrid Brassicas, Oats, Triticale (wheat/rye hybrid), and Nutrigreen Winter Peas.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #12  
Hes a sponsor on this site and posts here often, never done business from him but would not hesitate from what others say. He probably will post here unless he feels its to weird to post in a post about him. And if he does post im sure all he will say is to thank the ones who have complimented him, he wont jump in to try and "sell" himself, others do and have already done that for him.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #13  
Like others, I haven't actually done business with Ken. However, I find his posts on this site VERY informative and reasonable. I suspect that, if you tell him what you're trying to accomplish, he'll provide information on the best solution.
Mike
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #14  
This is a very interesting subject that you have started here and has caught my attention. Ken Sweet has alot of great knowledge on tillage equipment. He has a ton of it and it all looks in great shape. His prices seem very reasonable also. He is a very honest business man in my opinion and I would not hasitate to purchase from him. As for food plots, small seeds such as alfalfa, clovers, chicory, and brassicas cannot be planted very deep. I disc the soil to make it firm and level. I then use a culipacker to roll it down. ( I put my seed on with a hand walk on seeder so it is much easier walking) I then roll it again to push the small seed into the dirt. This seems to work very effectly and I have never had a failure. Bigger seeds such as wheat, oats and such are dics in once and then rolled. I also try to seed just before a rain. This works for my loamy ground as well as clay-loam mix. This works for me and any other input is gladly welcomed. Thanks for starting this forum. I also own a AC 5040 tractor and know of a company that sells roll over protection devices if interested. Trac
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc..
  • Thread Starter
#15  
This is a very interesting subject that you have started here and has caught my attention. Ken Sweet has alot of great knowledge on tillage equipment. He has a ton of it and it all looks in great shape. His prices seem very reasonable also. He is a very honest business man in my opinion and I would not hasitate to purchase from him. As for food plots, small seeds such as alfalfa, clovers, chicory, and brassicas cannot be planted very deep. I disc the soil to make it firm and level. I then use a culipacker to roll it down. ( I put my seed on with a hand walk on seeder so it is much easier walking) I then roll it again to push the small seed into the dirt. This seems to work very effectly and I have never had a failure. Bigger seeds such as wheat, oats and such are dics in once and then rolled. I also try to seed just before a rain. This works for my loamy ground as well as clay-loam mix. This works for me and any other input is gladly welcomed. Thanks for starting this forum. I also own a AC 5040 tractor and know of a company that sells roll over protection devices if interested. Trac

I appreciate the replies from you, and the others. The actual seed mixes go as follows. The alfalfa is mixed with clover and chicory, The brassicas are mixed with clover and chicory, we have a clover/clover/chicory only, and then the final mix that likes lower PH (for virgin plots we'll be discing) is Oats, Triticale, Winter peas, clover, and chicory. ALL of the individual species in all the mixes fall into the 1/4 to 1/8" category of planting depth.

The implements we plan on using are a 3pt disc, and a 3pt cultipacker.
Disc, pack, spread, pack - was my plan, so it sounds like I am on the right track.

Also Trac, where would I be able to find and/or look at these ROPS items for my tractor? I'd be interested to see them and check pricing, etc.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #16  
Most important thing is to get soil tests done and put on the required lime and fertilizer. This is one thing that alot of people overlook and is probably one of the most things. If the PH isn't right for what you are planting, then it won't do well. Same goes for fertilizer.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #17  
Heres the deal about Ken .. I do not know him personally nor have I bought or traded with him.

I will say this. It would be suicide for his business based on the number of registered TBN user's if he was not on the up and up ... think about it, TBN is really impressive and the number of folks that just become new members daily not to mention the "visitors" that are not among the users that count on the vast knowlegde of the users, advertisers ... its amazing.

Not all people can be pleased. It seems like to me Ken does an excellent job in sales, service and customer service ... oh ... I forgot ... he even throw a little knowlege in there !!!

Ken ... Thank you from someone who has not even spoken to you!!
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #18  
I will take photos of the tractor this weekend, probably tomorrow so that you can see what I'm talking about. I think the back of the rear axle DOES have a flat spot on each rear facing side between the center and rear wheel that has two vertical holes in it. That could be a ROPS mounting option, but I am not qualified to say.

I will have pictures of the very strange "earlobe" fenders that are on our tractor (and they are faded AC orange like the rest), uncommon to any allis chalmers ac5050 that I have seen. Google Images "Allis Chalmers AC5050" I'm almost positive every picture you will find has squared, flat topped fenders that cover a large portion of the rear wheel tread- Of those you will also see the ROPS that mounts to the flat tops of the "regular" AC 5050's.

Here are what just about every AC5050's Fenders look like.
Google Image Result for http://www.importtractorparts.net/acad.JPG
TractorData.com Allis Chalmers 5050 tractor photos information

The only thing I could find that showed the "earlobe" fenders I was talking about is this picture of a toy ac5050.. OUR fenders look just like this...
Google Image Result for http://oldtoybox.net/images/IMG_1163.JPG
If that long URL doesn't work, here is the link to the toy tractor.. its the next-to-bottom of the first page.
Allis Chalmers : The Old Toy Box, Collectibles

I'll still take pictures of the rear axle this weekend...

I'm not familiar with your tractor, but what you describe sounds similar to my JD 2240.
 

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/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc..
  • Thread Starter
#19  
I'm not familiar with your tractor, but what you describe sounds similar to my JD 2240.

Somewhat, but flat, rounded tops (I know that doesn't make sense, but it will when you see the pictures) The rear fenders only cover (I'm guesstimating) about an inch maybe of the inside of the rear tread.
 
/ Ken Sweet of Sweettractors.com, etc.. #20  
Somewhat, but flat, rounded tops (I know that doesn't make sense, but it will when you see the pictures) The rear fenders only cover (I'm guesstimating) about an inch maybe of the inside of the rear tread.

That's how mine is. My ROPS mounts to the rear axle. I'll be at the farm tomorrow. I'll try to remember to get some pix of how my ROPS attaches. Maybe it will help you to make some sense for how to attach one on yours.
 
 

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