Buying Advice 1965-1980 - 2 Wheel Drive - 40/60hp Suggestions??

[65plymouth]

Hello. New guy here...

My family just purchased some property and I am looking at buying a tractor. Looking for something in the 40-60 hp range, 2 wheel drive, DIESEL, Live Hydraulics... and capable of running a tiller, Disc, 2-3 bottom plow and good size brush hog. Would like opinions from the experts. My budget is about $6000-$6500 max for the tractor. I am not looking for a project or something that needs a ton of maintenance. Parts availability is also important. Don't want to buy something, break a part, and find out that the part is "unobtainable". Not afraid to drive up to 500 miles for the right tractor.

So far.. I have been considering the following

Ford - 3600/4600. Was told to stick with the 3 cylinder diesel. Not completely sold on the Fords for some reason. Never considered myself a "ford guy"

Massey Ferguson - 150/165/255. I really like the Massey offerings but have been told to stay away from "Multipower". Also having a hard time finding anything worthwhile here in Michigan or even Ohio. Most everything is in Kentucky and Tennessee. ***Other than age, can anyone tell me the mechanical differences between the 165 and 255? Looks like there is A LOT of overlap.

IH 574 - Just started looking into this one as there are a few local offerings.

What else should I be looking at? I haven't even considered "green" as they tend to be over budget compared to similar options of the ones above.


Suggestions

Thanks
Jeff

 

[Texasmark]

I had a Ford 4600 that was around 45-50 hp. 3 cyl diesel. Really nice, reliable tractor. I have had more Fords over the years than any and they are well built and parts are plentiful.

 

[Tractorable]

Ford built some great tractors in that era. A Ford "10" series, 3910 or 4610 would be my pick.

 

[LD1]

Ford parts available for a reasonable price is probably about the best there is.

Anything in the 4000-5000 series 3-cyl

 

[LouNY]

I'm afraid most of the ag tractors of that era will not have a low enough gear for a tiller.
I have a 574, it's a nice nimble tractor, hard starting in the winter. A lot of the utility tractors
of that era you sit down into straddling the transmission and hydraulics it will get uncomfortably hot
in the summer. Don't be afraid of the Olivers, 1550 &1650 or Allis Chalmers the 140 -160's parts are available,
and they are relatively easy to work on.

 

[fried1765]

Hello. New guy here...

My family just purchased some property and I am looking at buying a tractor. Looking for something in the 40-60 hp range, 2 wheel drive, DIESEL, Live Hydraulics... and capable of running a tiller, Disc, 2-3 bottom plow and good size brush hog. Would like opinions from the experts. My budget is about $6000-$6500 max for the tractor. I am not looking for a project or something that needs a ton of maintenance. Parts availability is also important. Don't want to buy something, break a part, and find out that the part is "unobtainable". Not afraid to drive up to 500 miles for the right tractor.

So far.. I have been considering the following

Ford - 3600/4600. Was told to stick with the 3 cylinder diesel. Not completely sold on the Fords for some reason. Never considered myself a "ford guy"

Massey Ferguson - 150/165/255. I really like the Massey offerings but have been told to stay away from "Multipower". Also having a hard time finding anything worthwhile here in Michigan or even Ohio. Most everything is in Kentucky and Tennessee. ***Other than age, can anyone tell me the mechanical differences between the 165 and 255? Looks like there is A LOT of overlap.

IH 574 - Just started looking into this one as there are a few local offerings.

What else should I be looking at? I haven't even considered "green" as they tend to be over budget compared to similar options of the ones above.


Suggestions

Thanks
Jeff

As suggested above!
The Fords in your price range are the BEST tractors out there.

 

[65plymouth]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will look into a few of the models mentioned.

I have looked at the Fords but the 2 I was looking at here in Michigan (both 3600s) seemed very over priced. I will take a look for other Ford models as suggested.

So what about the Masseys? Seems as everything I read about the 135, 150, 165, 245, 255 is that they are great tractors with any easy to work on/rebuild perkins? Thoughts?

 

[square1]

I've always been partial to the JD 2020 / 3020 tractor. Probably more nostalgia than logic behind that though.

 

[65plymouth]

Here is what I mean. This Ford 4600 is super nice and I could drive it home it is so close to me. No way will I pay 10.5k for it though...
TractorHouse.com | 1977 FORD 46 For Sale

 

[fried1765]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will look into a few of the models mentioned.

I have looked at the Fords but the 2 I was looking at here in Michigan (both 3600s) seemed very over priced. I will take a look for other Ford models as suggested.

So what about the Masseys? Seems as everything I read about the 135, 150, 165, 245, 255 is that they are great tractors with any easy to work on/rebuild perkins? Thoughts?

I have a friend with a Massey 225, and I have used his.
That 225 Massey is a GREAT old tractor!