140 acre farm, used tractor, skidsteer?

[bigdeer2000]

how big is the disk? 43 hp won't handle 10 ft cutter very well. i say pick the implements that you want and then buy the tractor that matches the best

 

[flusher]

I am new to this site (and to tractors), and I am impressed with the experience and expertise of the group here.


The former owner has a large amount of farm equipment that appears to be in good shape, and he will "make me a good deal" on whatever I want; everything else will be sold at an auction in March. In particular, he has two older tractors: an early 1990's Case IH 495 2wd 53 hp, and a late 1970's JD 2640 2wd (70 hp PT0). The Case has a ROPS, but the larger JD does not. Some of the implements that I am considering are a JD 1018 rotary cutter, an older 6' rotary cutter, disc harrow, spring harrow, and a 2 axle pro haul (dump?) trailer.

He also has a newer Case 1845C Uniloader skidsteer that seems to be in good shape. I do not yet known how much he wants for these different machines and tools, but I will meet with him shortly.

My question is: am I better off just buying some of the implements, and getting a new 50-70 hp 4wd tractor with FEL, or should I get one of the old tractors and the skidsteer (depending of course on his price)? There is a Kubota dealer about 2 miles away from the farm. I'm thinking of spending $20-$30K on the equipent in total.

Thanks for your advice

Grab that JD2640 as fast as you can, assuming it's in good running shape. That's one great tractor. My neighbor has a 2640 with a 6-ft wide FEL bucket. Wish I could find one of those around here. The average retail price (off a dealer's lot) of a 2640 is in the $8-9000 range for a clean tractor (good running engine, PTO and 3pt work OK, power steering OK, etc). You could probably get it from the owner for $7-7500. You can get a ROPS for the 2640 for $500-600 from R.H. Bare Co.

Roll Over Protection Frames

The West Coast dealer is

Draper Tractor
1951 Draper Road
Garfield WA 99130
Ph: 509 397 2666
Fax: 509 397 1001

Check eBay to see if you can find an FEL for the 2640. Koyker makes an FEL for the 2640

Koyker Mfg.

Expect to pay about $4000 for a new FEL.

With an FEL that 2640 will handle all your jobs on that 140 acre spread.

If those implements are in good shape, make an offer for all of them. You can use all of those on your place. I wouldn't pay more than $1200 for the lot if they're in good shape. If they're rusty and need a lot of rework to get them ready for use, I'd say no more than $800 for the lot.

 

[BarryinMN]

Grab that JD2640 as fast as you can, assuming it's in good running shape. That's one great tractor.

Flusher makes great points. I would counter it with no loader on the tractor - just run them as is and take time looking around for a newer replacement. That 2640 will slurp fuel compared to newer more efficient MFWD with loader models. Your SS will do the lifting & be better for the home construction anyway.

Another consideration is how much time will it take to acquire the different implements. I spent 1.5 years looking at junk or getting outbid on dump trailers before being the high bid and reasonable priced. That dump trailer cost me about a dozen prime time Saturdays.

An auction around here uses tractors as the draw, more tractors = larger crowd, If you buy the primary working tractors & SS, the balance of his equipment may not bring much (old bailer in working condition about $300) Auctioneer may advise sell to a liquidator & haul off. The antiques are special & can be sold thru local dealer quickly by consignment or even word of mouth.

If you do buy the old owners equipment be sure to ask for hands on training as part of the deal

 

[ron_sc]

Thanks for all the great advice. Depending on what kind of deal I can get, I am leaning towards getting the JD 2640 with the 10ft JD rotary cutter, and the other implements. I am less sure about the smaller Case IH 495, although it seems like a nice tractor. From your comments, I take it that these tractors are not considered "old" the way a used car or truck would be.

It sounds like I could add an FEL to either of these tractors for ~$4k. If I did that, I probably wouldn't need the Case 1845 skidsteer. I haven't heard too many comments on the skidsteer so far. If I don't get the skidsteer, I could always shop around for a smaller new 4wd tractor with FEL later.

I'll keep you posted when I find out asking prices for the various pieces.

Thanks,
Ron

 

[Soundguy]

how big is the disk? 43 hp won't handle 10 ft cutter very well. i say pick the implements that you want and then buy the tractor that matches the best

I agree. I see people claim that 50hp will run a 10' mower.. and.. I guess it will if it is a drag mower clipping blacktops off bahia.. however I'd want more power.

I run a 10' mower with my ford 5000.. It's a good match.. 67 hp at the pto.. and will cut anything the front axle will push over... Weight is just about right for a 3pt model. i do have 340# of front weight on the 5000 in order to pick the mower up. if it were a drag mower.. I could do with less hp and weight.. still having excess is better.

Soundguy

 

[deereguy]

I personally would consider the skid loader. If it has a universal hitch plate on it, all the better. You can run down to your local Kubota dealer (if he rents attachments) or local rental yard and pick up any attachments you might need for a day or week. The manuverability of a skid loader in the woods or your soon to be new homesite is a time/labor saver. I have a CUT with a loader and when we purchased this other farm we got 2 skid loaders. Every thing has its place, the tractor is big and bulky with a loader (I used it in a landcsaping business), but rides great over a field and has the various 3 pt attachments for the back. The skid loaders kick butt in the other areas , but the ride is harsh on a 42" wheelbase and as the name says- it skids if you turn quickly. Your Case loader should have a lift of around 1800lbs- if I remember correctly.

 

[MrJimi]

Ron, I own a Case 1845 C and its great, it has a 60 HP Cummins diesel and like deereguy says it will lift about 1,800 pounds and has a tipping weight of 3,500 pounds. I have made many attachments for mine and lots more to come. I have forks,tracks,boom pole, root/stump bucket, regular big dirt bucket, 6.5 foot harrow, 5 foot brush cutter,3 point adapter and I am making a motorized 3 PT adapter for it. All the equipment has a use like another member said and he is right, You would not regret owning the 1845 at all. Good luck on your choices
Jim

 

[EddieWalker]

It looks like I'm in the minority here, but what the heck.

I'd get rid of all of it and start over fresh. Older equipment means worn out and in need of repairs. He may have been the most **** guy in the world about maintenance, but even then, it wears out and breaks down. Unless he's willing to just about give it away, it's gonna cost you money and time in the long run.

Now if you enjoy working on equipment, finding parts and doing things yourself, then offer him a price that crazy cheap. You didn't say if this would be part of a loan for the land, or if it was a side deal? I would be very hesitant about adding to the price of the loan the equipment and paying interest on it over the length of the loan. Do the math, but whatever price you agree to, it will cost you twice as much by the time the loan is paid off. Also compare what the payments would be on a brand new tractor with everything you want on it compared to what you addition loan payment will be.

You can only drive one tractor at a time, and none of the ones you have mentioned will do anything that one good one will do. You don't have to buy new, but you want something fairly new. Why have three tractors or more that all do the same thing?

Of course, if you are a collector and want a bunch of tractors, than this might be a good oportunity. I'm thinking you want to work the land, go hunting and get it done in a timely manner.

From what I understand in you post and what you want to do with your land, you need 4wheel drive. You need a front end loader. You need allot of PTO horse power and since you'll be spending allot of time working your land, you have to have something reliable.

I'm thinking a 50 to 70 hp tractor will do all this. Less hp will get it done, but will take longer. Especially working the dirt. 2wheel drive will pull a disk, but you will need more power, dryer conditions or a smaller disk than 4wheel drive.

Unless it's in the contract, I'd tell the owner of the land to have his stuff off the land by the time of closeing. I'd require that the title company hold back $10,000 of his funds to insure he does this. If he's late, than charge him a storage fee based on a daily rate. This is all very standard and normal in real estate deals. If he doesn't remove the equipment by a set time limit, or he's out of funds, than he forfits the equipment on the land.

What I'd suggest you do is start another thread here on what to buy. Depending on what dealers are close to your land, you will have quite a few options on which tractor to buy and which will fill your needs. You have allot of land and plenty to do on it. Don't waste your time messing around with older equipment.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[Soundguy]

With respect.. that's a very generalized statement.. to the point that it may be simply incorrect.

Age alone is not a good determining factor for wear on a machine. Age alone does not account for corrective measures and maintenance and repairs performed during that time frame.

I will site 2 examples.

I know a fellow that bought a vintage tractor.. it was in a warehouse stored.. new from the 70's still in a shipping crate from the manufacturer... He bought it and assembled it. Tractor would have been about 25+ years old.. and had but a few minutes ont he time clock... Worn out? Yeah right.

I maintain and care for my antiques.. My 1975 ford 500 is in better shape than much of the road construction equipment that my day job uses.. and the bulk of it is only 3-10 ys old.

Use and maintenance makes a huge difference.

A good owner can keep an older tractor working like new.

An abusive owner can absolutely ruin a brand new tractor in about 1 hour.
I've seen it happen.

Refurbshing my ford 5000 took me 2-3 months, of casual night and weekend sweat equity... and less than 600$ worth of parts .( mostly bolt on stuff.. new wireing, chaseing a few leaks.. getting charge system working. a bit of welding and tin work.. some nut/bolt issues.. linkage adjustments.. and servicing... Muffler.. some gromets.. etc.. lots of cleaning.. and paint supplies.. belts.. etc.. )

Here's a before and after.



Soundguy

Older equipment means worn out and in need of repairs. Eddie

 

[Soundguy]

I'd like to add.. that's not a 'dupont' refurb either.

You won't find painted wires or belts on any of my tractors.

Where possible tinwork is removed for painting. Where practicle.. all old paint is stripped prior to surface prep.

Damaged parts are repalced or repaired.. not painted over. Everything on that tractor works like it should. Tach, old lucas genny... etc.

That fender lamp is the original allied signal lamp that cam on the fender... i had to find an import blinker module to repalce the old coroded one.. otherwise the metal was stripped.. welded up cleane dup, rewired, and attached, and new lenses were added. I was quite happe to resurect that old allied signal flasher... I've not seen a good surviving example of one like it recently... I also have an oem tail lamp that is awaiting the same treatment.. i just need to track down a tarus stle red lense of it and do some brazing on it.

Soundguy