4WD: Advantages/disadvantages

[_RaT_]

HEY THANKS GUYS!!
I've now made up my mind after all this bantering back and forth with redundantly repetitive arguments!
It's now as clear as Eddie's lake!!
I'm going to get two tractors for different specific applications!
I'll get a big ol' 2WD Ford to park and run a PTO generator and occassionally pull a trailer across the street and I'll also get a 4WD Kubota for absolutely everything else!

(I wanna see Soundguy stay away from replying to that one!)

Seriously though, this thread has gotten way too entertaining. I'm loving reading it. I have compiled all the posts into a single Word document and I'm sure my father-in-law will enjoy reading them too! Keep it up!

YeeHaw- I think your making the right choice Chuck. Thats my .02 cents worth and even at that I know I am overcharging. All the best with your new tracteur (Thats French for those of you in Rio Linda) RaT...

 

[D7E]

4x4 is very convenient ,The turning radius on modern 4x4 tractors can be as good as 2x4 and if the job requires it then price is not an issue but it CAN cause mechanical problems in some cases .
We run farming, logging and construction machinery some of which is doing 2000 hours per year and front axle problems are common strangeley more in brand new machines than 15 year old ones, Some brands seen to suffer more than others , MF and VALTRA seemed to have repeated problems for us and we never had a JCB, FORD or IH axle apart but any thing mechanical is a potential breakdown although like in european countries 4x4 is pretty much standard these days.
And if you're looking at ag size tractors go with big names ( JD,NH,IH) little kubotas might be nice but they are still utility tractors and are not as strong , real tractors will last longer how many kubatas make 12000 hours.

 

[_RaT_]

4x4 is very convenient ,The turning radius on modern 4x4 tractors can be as good as 2x4 and if the job requires it then price is not an issue but it CAN cause mechanical problems in some cases .
We run farming, logging and construction machinery some of which is doing 2000 hours per year and front axle problems are common strangeley more in brand new machines than 15 year old ones, Some brands seen to suffer more than others , MF and VALTRA seemed to have repeated problems for us and we never had a JCB, FORD or IH axle apart but any thing mechanical is a potential breakdown although like in european countries 4x4 is pretty much standard these days.
And if you're looking at ag size tractors go with big names ( JD,NH,IH) little kubotas might be nice but they are still utility tractors and are not as strong , real tractors will last longer how many kubatas make 12000 hours.

I thought IH was dead?

 

[D7E]

I thought IH was dead?

You know what i mean i still call NH Ford , Case ih / IH whatever

 

[SkyPup]

All throughout Asia, they have milions of application specific "Uni-Wheel" tractors, where the operator slogs though the muck behind the single wheeled unit balanced on one tire, for them a 2WD would be an advantagous "upgrade".

They spend most of their days toiling behind their one legged mule dreamin' about how great an application specific 4WD model would be.......

 

[_RaT_]

All throughout Asia, they have milions of application specific "Uni-Wheel" tractors, where the operator slogs though the muck behind the single wheeled unit balanced on one tire, for them a 2WD would be an advantagous "upgrade".

They spend most of their days toiling behind their one legged mule dreamin' about how great an application specific 4WD model would be.......

Rumor has it they are skipping right past wheels and dreaming about a tracked machine. With all the rain, I could understand that kind of dreaming.

 

[machmeter62]

In 82' I needed a small tractor to pull a 5' box blade. I ended up purchasing a new Ford 1500 4WD tractor with 20 hp/61cu.in.---17@PTO to move dirt. I could not pass on the deal, since the country was still coming out of the recession then. No down payment, and no payments for the first year, and the cost of the new tractor was $6000!! I bought the tractor sight unseen, because I purchased from the dealer before. The tractor is a crown jewel with it's 2100# and 4WD pulling power, which will out pull my old 47' 9N, and the diesel is a miser on fuel! I loaded all four wheels with water however. I think my 9N weighs 3300#??

Case in point: 4WD tractors (CUT) offers a smaller package, easier to transport, easier to store, more maneuver ability, and less investment than a larger 2WD. I also use a 60" Howard J tiller behind it with no problems.

 

[Soundguy]

Minor point....More like 2800# on that 9n depending on how equipped and wet or dry..... And if it is a 47.. then it's a late 2n ( 3spd ) or an 8n ( 4 spd ).

Soundguy

In 82' I needed a small tractor to pull a 5' box blade. I ended up purchasing a new Ford 1500 4WD tractor with 20 hp/61cu.in.---17@PTO to move dirt. I could not pass on the deal, since the country was still coming out of the recession then. No down payment, and no payments for the first year, and the cost of the new tractor was $6000!! I bought the tractor sight unseen, because I purchased from the dealer before. The tractor is a crown jewel with it's 2100# and 4WD pulling power, which will out pull my old 47' 9N, and the diesel is a miser on fuel! I loaded all four wheels with water however. I think my 9N weighs 3300#??

Case in point: 4WD tractors (CUT) offers a smaller package, easier to transport, easier to store, more maneuver ability, and less investment than a larger 2WD. I also use a 60" Howard J tiller behind it with no problems.

 

[machmeter62]

Minor point....More like 2800# on that 9n depending on how equipped and wet or dry..... And if it is a 47.. then it's a late 2n ( 3spd ) or an 8n ( 4 spd ).

Soundguy

I'll post the serial # tomorrow and it's a 3 speed with wheel weights on the front. I'll look again, but it has some aluminum on it. It has not been operated since 82', and been outside under tarps and trees since then. Plan to restore it someday, time permitting. The sheet metal is good but the tractor lacked any TLC in it's prior life! The fluids looked like they had never been changed, and were not drainable because of the semi-solid sludge that had to be diluted and stirred first! It's hard to believe it was owned by a doctor on acreage next to ours, with no mechanical skills or sense? If I remember correctly, the shifting housing is aluminum, and where the battery mounts is also aluminum? I don't know if this affect the vintage year? I tried to research the tractor in the early 70's, and the only info was classic. The dated info that was sent, stated that it could out work a "team of horses" plowing, and showed three suited guy's being lifted by the three point! It other sales pitch was on the economics of not requiring an acre of hay to feed the horses! The rest of the info was the 120 cu. in., hp., and etc. I used the tractor with an offset disc for my fruit orchard.

 

[Soundguy]

119.x ci.. ( I've seen both 119.2 and 119.7 listed over the yearsdepending on where you look.. I figure the .x is just minutia anyway.... ).. and if it has some aluminum castings.. then it is much older. The first units even had aluminum hoods.. etc.. they were the first 39's befroe the sheet metal was tooled up. The cast aluminum steering pedistal, battery box/dash, and inspection covers did continue on a bit later.. but I doubt she is a 47.. unless parts have been swapped around ( entirely possible... the steering pedistal from a 39 will fit a 46.. etc. .. also.. the engine from a 39 9n will bolt right up to a 1952 8n... so engines got swapped alot.. and the sn is on the engine.. so it makes it hard-er to date them ). There are axle date codes and sometimes a date stamped into the hydro pump bottom plate...

If/when you get into it I'd be glad to provide any help that i can.

I've got an 8n and a 2n.. neat machines..

Soundguy