Vintage *play* tractor advice

[mikester]

I love old things.....on a nice day taking my 1971 Chevy to town makes my day. Ive driven it on 5K mile trips and had a blast.

I love tractors

Maybe Id love an old tractor.

Currently I have all new stuff, tractors, excavator, skid loaders etc.

I *THINK* I want an older tractor to play around with, tractor rides, hay rides etc.

My list of importance (and I admit I know NOTHING about older tractors so I may be way off on some of these)

small (I have a 40x60 building but its full of work equipment, I dont want anything to set outside so it need to be a small older tractor)
common (dont want to be scrounging parts till the ends of the earth)
electric start (dont want anything old enough that doesnt have electric start)

I *THINK* I want a diesel motor.....as all my other stuff is diesel but its not a big deal either way. Tell me more.

Kinda been looking at a Farmall Cub Lo Boy but maybe Im off base.

HELP?

I think it's a disease called hoarding, it's genetic and probably terminal. Don't feel bad everyone does it to a certain extent. Asking for help on these forums is like an alcoholic asking for help from the bartender.

 

[gstrom99]

If hay rides are in the forecast, make sure the brakes are good on whatever you choose. The old ones all had mechanical brakes. My Ford 9N always had terrible brakes!

 

[fried1765]

If hay rides are in the forecast, make sure the brakes are good on whatever you choose. The old ones all had mechanical brakes. My Ford 9N always had terrible brakes!

My Ford 8N still does have poor brakes.
It will be 70 years old in January.
I don't use it, but can't quite bear to part with it.

 

[mbohuntr]

My Ford 8N still does have poor brakes.
It will be 70 years old in January.
I don't use it, but can't quite bear to part with it.

Agreed... NO BRAKES! Once the seals get leaky, no brakes....

We used to pull loaded hay wagons on some slopes with ours... not for the faint of heart... The JD B had quite a bit more low end torque, hand clutch and excellent brakes... Always wanted to own another one, just don't want to farm, or pay to have the motor rebuilt...

I have heard some horror stories about the cylinders getting badly egg shaped and unrepairable because of the design....

 

[Tinhack]

I have a picture of 22 people on a hay ride pulled by an old JD. I would post it here but it might get me banned. The people are all women and they're all naked. :laughing:

 

[fried1765]

I have a picture of 22 people on a hay ride pulled by an old JD. I would post it here but it might get me banned. The people are all women and they're all naked. :laughing:

I have seen that picture, but don't have it myself.
Take a risk......SHARE with others!
If you don't post the picture ...."it didn't happen".

 

[Tinhack]

Naw. It's not for mixed company on a tractor forum. The fact you've seen it should be proof enough it exists.

 

[JethroB]

We once put together a hay ride. Apparently some critter had made a home in those bales, mites or chiggers (red bugs). A few days later I asked a buddy if he had been bit, he said no but his wife had - 44 times right on the butt. He said he counted them out loud as he applied calamine lotion. His wife did not think it was so funny.

 

[ovrszd]

Naw. It's not for mixed company on a tractor forum. The fact you've seen it should be proof enough it exists.

Never bring up something and then not confirm it. Makes you look cheap.

 

[rScotty]

I love old things.....on a nice day taking my 1971 Chevy to town makes my day. Ive driven it on 5K mile trips and had a blast.

I love tractors

Maybe Id love an old tractor.

Currently I have all new stuff, tractors, excavator, skid loaders etc.

I *THINK* I want an older tractor to play around with, tractor rides, hay rides etc.

My list of importance (and I admit I know NOTHING about older tractors so I may be way off on some of these)

small (I have a 40x60 building but its full of work equipment, I dont want anything to set outside so it need to be a small older tractor)
common (dont want to be scrounging parts till the ends of the earth)
electric start (dont want anything old enough that doesnt have electric start)

I *THINK* I want a diesel motor.....as all my other stuff is diesel but its not a big deal either way. Tell me more.

Kinda been looking at a Farmall Cub Lo Boy but maybe Im off base.

HELP?

Just sold our 71 Chevy half ton 4x4. We had a '72 deluxe for 30 years and drove it everywhere. It went to a friend.

My choice in an old tractor is as late a model JD B as you can find. $2500 will buy a very nice one, Every part is available and not expensive. They last forever and are easy to work on. There were a ton of options - ranging from fenders to power steering. Fully Independent PTO and the best 3pt hitch ever built. Heavy steel and quality cast iron. Near as I can tell, every option is compatible with every B ever made.
Even the wide front is interchangeable with the tricycle. Nice seat. quality umbrella, 12 volt electrics.
Lots of literature.
There is somethng heroic about a gas engine that makes its max power at 1200 RPM & pulls reliably at 200 RPM.
The engine exhaust note is unique and unmistakeable. The engine mechanicals are super quiet.
10,000 hrs is not uncommon on the engine. Ours has 12000+ and when I tore it down for inspection, everything measured nominal. Cleaned it up and put it back together with new valves, guides, rings, and gaskets...
rScotty