Buying Used for Beginners...

[Williy]

Just my HO as I am old and cranky and like ease and comfort!
A lot of guys say open station but then they don't get covered in
dust, must not be pestered by bugs and perhaps they don't have temps in the 100+ degrees etc. Me I will not purchase a tractor with out a CAB, Hydro tranny, Power steering, PTO, Bucket, 4wd, so far only had to use 4wd a few times but I had it when I needed it, didn't have to get someone to help me get unstuck! I perfer the diesel engine more power ful than a gas, diesel fuel will not go BOOM like gas, less maintenance and they last longer than a gas engine. More expensive to purchase and fuel costs more but IMHO a diesel out shines a gas engine! Wonder how many guys with just a few acres could get by without a pto on their tractor? Roto tillers and brush hogs require a PTO! PTO's are not required for plowing but how many people that are not farmers use a plow?? A lot of farmers have a need for a bucket and you will find the guys with small tracts of land use a bucket! I really enjoy the power steering on my tractor just palm on steering wheel to turn don't need to be arm strong to make turns. All these items cost more sure do however you make things easier for yourself with them! With the cab I don't have any problems with the electrical as its all inclosed! I can remember an old 1020 tractor my uncle had back in the early 50's if the tractor wasn't moving you could not turn the steering wheel and when it was moving it took 2 elephants and a small boy to make it turn! Different areas require different things example in the south you snow equipment people have no use for they just wait for it to melt. Guys with a few acres will more than likely use a rototiller instead of a plow for their garden. With the hydro tranny
you only need to move your foot to make your tractor to forward of
backwards you can't get a standard tranny to move as fast as a hydro and for the small land owners they are the best. etc

willy

 

[IndyJay]

Meh. I have a lot of nostalgia for my grandpa's old Alice and MF tractors. Also his 1948 GM pickup. As a history teacher, I have an interest in old things because of their impact on humanity. There are a lot of things in modern life that have poorer quality than way back...I cannot say that about vehicles in general. 1965 Mustang was a cool car. I would not want to drive one cross country though. I am not a fan of the modern version. If I had the money, I would like the old body with modern engines and comforts. I am sure I am in the minority on that.

I am with you on that. I watch with envy when those guys on Velocity channel do a resto-mod on a 60-70's car with modern drive train and suspension. Joe Martin's work on Chevy Nova's probably among my favorites.

 

[IndyJay]

Wolc, after reading all the cons you listed for the improvements that Jeff listed I just had to scroll back up to your profile to see what kind of tractor you chose to own to avoid them all.

Did you give up on tractors completely? Or just not list yours?

 

[LD48750]

Wolc, after reading all the cons you listed for the improvements that Jeff listed I just had to scroll back up to your profile to see what kind of tractor you chose to own to avoid them all.

Did you give up on tractors completely? Or just not list yours?

Scroll back a little further & look at his 8N.

It's got a live PTO & one of those three point things that is always in the way.
I have NO IDEA why he keeps it.

 

[wolc123]

Wolc, after reading all the cons you listed for the improvements that Jeff listed I just had to scroll back up to your profile to see what kind of tractor you chose to own to avoid them all.

Did you give up on tractors completely? Or just not list yours?

I currently have a 2005 JD 4120 In addition to the 1951 Ford 8n. That has a loader, 4wd, power steering, diesel engine, etc.. I put about the same hours on each tractor each year. There are many tasks which I much prefer the antique Ford for.

For example, each dinner time starting last week, until about October 1, I will hop on that old Ford and head out back to fetch a bucket of sweetcorn. My wife will cook some up for dinner and put the rest in the freezer. The old Ford was also better on the plow (thanks to hydraulic draft control which the JD lacks), and better on the two row corn planter. The lower platform and lack of loader makes it easier to mount/dismount and lighter weight makes it easier to hitch up to implements.

The JD is nice when I need a loader, 4wd, or pto work but most tasks I do dont require that stuff. The low-noise, smooth running flathead gas engine on the Ford is also nice because I dont need hearing protection when running it at lower rpms (I still use ear plugs with it when I crank up the throttle for plowing, etc.).

 

[wolc123]

Here is a task that the loader equipped JD does a little better (cultivating and spraying corn). Those loader arms are handy for the sprayer boom and 12 volts is better for the pump.

 

[wolc123]

My 1951 Ford 8n still wears it's original paint. Maybe after I retire from my day job in about 10 years, I will paint it up like this pretty one that i saw up at the county fair on Friday:

 

[IndyJay]

My 1951 Ford 8n still wears it's original paint. Maybe after I retire from my day job in about 10 years, I will paint it up like this pretty one that i saw up at the county fair on Friday:

I like it just the way it is, it has character. The restored ones look nice but yours is a more genuine, working tractor that has been well maintained.

 

[fried1765]

My 1951 Ford 8n still wears it's original paint. Maybe after I retire from my day job in about 10 years, I will paint it up like this pretty one that i saw up at the county fair on Friday:
View attachment 708835

I painted my rebuilt '51 8N about 35 years ago, but it is not so shiny now.
It sits lonely looking in my barn, as I have two much newer tractors.
70 years old this year, and I will give it to one son, who will hopefully keep it until 100.
It has a Sherman transmission too.

 

[wolc123]

I like it just the way it is, it has character. The restored ones look nice but yours is a more genuine, working tractor that has been well maintained.

I kind of like it the way it is also. It seems like the ones that still have factory original paint often sell higher than the restored ones at auctions lately.

I did have to replace one of the original rear rims this year after calcium finally rusted thru around the stem. Surprisingly, that tractor still pulls a 2 section 3 point drag pretty good with only one loaded rear. It will be interesting to see how it does on the plow.

I got a good deal on new rear rims, so I bought 2. I will probably replace the other side this winter, even though it is not rusted through yet. I have more jobs for it that would be better with unloaded rear tires than loaded ones. One of which is fetching corn for dinner which it is just about about time for right now.

 

[MoKelly]

I’m not good enough to know a good v not so good used tractor from an unknown 3rd party.

But - I have a neighbor who is very good. Fortunately he is willing to help. Also, he trades tractors frequently. So, when he wants to trade I can have first crack at his used machine. Knowing how he treats his machines, it’s a very low risk purchase.

MoKelly

 

[Big Barn]

I painted my rebuilt '51 8N about 35 years ago, but it is not so shiny now.
It sits lonely looking in my barn, as I have two much newer tractors.
70 years old this year, and I will give it to one son, who will hopefully keep it until 100.
It has a Sherman transmission too.

Here is a restored 8N for sale near me…

 

[Torvy]

I’m not good enough to know a good v not so good used tractor from an unknown 3rd party.

But - I have a neighbor who is very good. Fortunately he is willing to help. Also, he trades tractors frequently. So, when he wants to trade I can have first crack at his used machine. Knowing how he treats his machines, it’s a very low risk purchase.

MoKelly

That's a good thing. I think given the current market that may be the only way I end up buying used. I'm like you, I know enough to know I don't know enough yet.

Just met my nearest neighbor yesterday. Of the handful of us that bought acreage in that area, he is the only local. Seems like a good guy.

 

[fried1765]

Here is a restored 8N for sale near me…

View attachment 708883

I would call that a bastardized Ford 8N near you.

 

[espacef1fan]

Here is a restored 8N for sale near me…

View attachment 708883

Is it bad that I want it?

 

[Big Barn]

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

 

[Williy]

I like the restored 1969's & 1970"s Dodge Chargers & Challengers and Plymouths with the 426 HEMI! I still remember in Northern Illinois the drag strip where a flat nose Dodge pick;up with the 426 setting in the bed and nothing could beat it in a drag! Now its hard to find a car that will get over 30 mpg. Also why do we need so much hp most of us don't want to race to town. Back in the mid 70's 3 farmer in Near Red Granite, WI they all purchased big 4 door Buicks and they were getting in the 40's for mileage, I took his car in for a tune up and was he pissed! He could only get 16 to 18 mpg, went back to the dealer and was told he had an experimental carburetor and they removed it. The other 2 guys said forget the tuneup, but here comes the sheriff with a paper banging on their doors and 2 guys in white coveralls and removed their carburetors. So you can see that the cars
back then were very heavy and the light weight cars now should be getting over 60 pg???????????? One guy on youtube
tried out the HOH systems he said it didn't improve his mileage at all but then his vehicle didn't have all the censers either. Young kid from El Paso Tx modified a carb and was getting over 75 mpg
and the word got out and they found him dead out in the desert! Another guy in AU downunder ran his car on water for years a group of guys came over to his place and he told his neighbor that he can still run his car on water but can't tell anyone. He
never drank in his life but a couple of months later newspaper said he was drunk and fell off the train and broke his neck. Well my tractor is still dirty no rain yet!

willy

 

[DieselBound]

I like the restored 1969's & 1970"s Dodge Chargers & Challengers

and Plymouths with the 426 HEMI! I still remember in Northern
Illinois the drag strip where a flat nose Dodge pick;up with the
426 setting in the bed and nothing could beat it in a drag!
Now its hard to find a car that will get over 30 mpg. Also why
do we need so much hp most of us don't want to race to town.
Back in the mid 70's 3 farmer in Near Red Granite, WI they all purchased big 4 door Buicks and they were getting in the 40's for mileage, I took his car in for a tune up and was he pissed! He could only get 16 to 18 mpg, went back to the dealer and was told he had
an experimental carburetor and they removed it. The other 2
guys said forget the tuneup, but here comes the sheriff with a
paper banging on their doors and 2 guys in white coveralls
and removed their carburetors. So you can see that the cars
back then were very heavy and the light weight cars now should
be getting over 60 mpg???????????? One guy on youtube
tried out the HOH systems he said it didn't improve his mileage
at all but then his vehicle didn't have all the censers either. Young
kid from El Paso Tx modified a carb and was getting over 75 mpg
and the word got out and they found him dead out in the desert!
Another guy in AU downunder ran his car on water for years a
group of guys came over to his place and he told his neighbor
that he can still run his car on water but can't tell anyone. He
never drank in his life but a couple of months later newspaper
said he was drunk and fell off the train and broke his neck.
Well my tractor is still dirty no rain yet!

willy

Don't have tall enough boots for all that!

My 2000 car (just under 220k miles- engine just broken in) is averaging over 55mpg (last 4k miles; 51.5 mpg over the course of 101k+ miles): 800+ miles on a tank of fuel. Receipts available on request: unless one has receipts it's only a STORY. My car is just under 3k lbs. Oh, and it has ZERO spark plugs!

 

[IndyJay]

Don't have tall enough boots for all that!

My 2000 car (just under 220k miles- engine just broken in) is averaging over 55mpg (last 4k miles; 51.5 mpg over the course of 101k+ miles): 800+ miles on a tank of fuel. Receipts available on request: unless one has receipts it's only a STORY. My car is just under 3k lbs. Oh, and it has ZERO spark plugs!

You're only getting 55mpg? You aren't adding enough water to your fuel tank. I'm getting closer to 90 and I can show you all of my gas receipts where I only bought a total of 32 gallons of gas over the past 5 years.

 

[shooterdon]

OP,

My first tractor was a used JD855 I bought from the widow of a friend. The guy did not take care of his stuff and I put $2500 into it in a few months (at the dealer). If you buy used, plan on spending some money to fix up what needs fixing.

I traded the JD on a new machine. Like you, I found "good" used tractors at close to the price of new ones, and this was pre pandemic. The new machine come with a warranty plus financing if you do not have the cash.

BTW, I got burned by the JD dealer and the local Kubota dealer was not much better. A good dealer matters when you need him. Do not discount the dealer relationship.

One last thought, the "off brand" tractors like TYM, Kioti, LS, etc offer a lot of bang for the buck. I saved $8-10k buying an LS. With the 6 year warranty I felt pretty well covered and knowing LS was making the same machine for New Holland added another level of confidence.

If I was planning on putting 300-400 hours a year on a machine, and could get a tax write off, I may have got a Kubota. I have 180 hours on mine in just over two years. No regrets and my dealer has been exemplary.

Good luck!!