4WD: Advantages/disadvantages

[Dargo]

Now you guys are making me laugh. Some of my comments were to spur you to admit that your new tractor, although not complicated, is a bit better than the old ones. I managed to inherit partial ownership in an old 8N and a Ford 5000. I'm honestly scared to touch either. With me being only part owner, I'm sure something would break on them if I ever used either. I tried both exactly once. They both promptly broke and cost me several hundred dollars in repair costs along with a lot of my time. They may be oldies with some sentimental value, but as far as real working machines, I think all the work has been used up in them.

 

[machmeter62]

a SN of 9N12328 would put it as a very early 40.

rears may be a 28" ( or possibly a 32" ) hat rim and if original, will be a smooth hub.. though many have been replaced with rivited hubs due to air entrainment in the castings causing flaws..

got any pics?

Soundguy

I haven't advanced to the digital age yet! But this story may suffice? Thanks again for the update on the vintage. As I mentioned, the tractor was poorly maintained, but the price was right. ($800) in 71'. I started using it before I really had time to clean it, and it was dirty and greasy looking with years of neglect. On our rural undeveloped property, we had no running water yet, but the property has a creek with steep/deep banks that flows through it. It was early Easter Sunday morning when I tried to start it, and wasn't ready for the outcome! It still had the 6 volt system, and the battery was probably low? I may have flooded the engine, and fuel was somehow dripping on the wires that I didn't notice, but I smelled the flooding The wires were covered with grease/dirt! Anyhow, fuel got to the hot coil/ignition wires because of the continous cranking, and a fire developed with immediate flames! The engine never started! I couldn't run to the creek and back in time, so the other option was a shovel nearby to throw dirt on it before the gas tank caught fire! Some passer by saw dilemma, and about 10 minutes or so later I could hear the sirens coming. I was unable to put the left front tire out till the FD arrived. The saga of the story was my wife at our home some 2.5 miles away heard the sirens on that quiet Sunday morning, and I ignored her comment. I didn't want a lecture, because she told me not to buy it in the first place!? An unforgettable Easter!!

 

[Soundguy]

Age has little to do with it.. I have both an 8n and a 5000.. both are still workers.

A few weeks ago i had the 8n on a 5' hog mowing in weeds that were above my head. I had her at max throttle to keep the rpms up.. she ran great. She is also my seed and fertalizer spreadr tractor.

The 5000 pulls a 10' mower, and a trailer occasionally.. and totes round bales on a rear spear....

The particular units you had may have been used up.. but the machines in general.. both the 8n and the 5000 were very robust. The 5000 was perhaps one of fords best tractors.

Here's a recent pic of my 5000 with the 10' mower on her... she's a -real- workhorse... Still with oem lucas 12v generator...

Soundguy

Now you guys are making me laugh. Some of my comments were to spur you to admit that your new tractor, although not complicated, is a bit better than the old ones. I managed to inherit partial ownership in an old 8N and a Ford 5000. I'm honestly scared to touch either. With me being only part owner, I'm sure something would break on them if I ever used either. I tried both exactly once. They both promptly broke and cost me several hundred dollars in repair costs along with a lot of my time. They may be oldies with some sentimental value, but as far as real working machines, I think all the work has been used up in them.

 

[_RaT_]

I'm outta here.

There are too few open minded persons to even hold a good debate. The 4wd crowd is absolutely opposed to considering the fact that there may be 2wd applications where price is a discerning factor. The stale old argument keeps getting thrown back.. 4wd does it all.. and price is no option.

Price is deffinately a concern for many people..

later... no point in debating if there is no debate...

(P.S. On the other hand.. I agree with all the reasons =for= having 4wd, or 'pro's .. etc. It's those that can't see the other side of the coin that are perplexing me... )

What, your still here?

 

[Soundguy]

I've made no further posts on the 4wd vs 2wd subject... just bantered a bit about a few ford tractors.

However.. I guess I'll remedy the situation...

Soundguy

 

[_RaT_]

I've made no further posts on the 4wd vs 2wd subject... just bantered a bit about a few ford tractors.

However.. I guess I'll remedy the situation...

Soundguy

Thats OK Chris, your posts most often add to TBN whereas mine rarely do. I know there has been some fun at your expense, but it was just that. I know 2WD still has its place.

 

[machmeter62]

Age has little to do with it.. I have both an 8n and a 5000.. both are still workers.

A few weeks ago i had the 8n on a 5' hog mowing in weeds that were above my head. I had her at max throttle to keep the rpms up.. she ran great. She is also my seed and fertalizer spreadr tractor.

The 5000 pulls a 10' mower, and a trailer occasionally.. and totes round bales on a rear spear....

The particular units you had may have been used up.. but the machines in general.. both the 8n and the 5000 were very robust. The 5000 was perhaps one of fords best tractors.

Here's a recent pic of my 5000 with the 10' mower on her... she's a -real- workhorse... Still with oem lucas 12v generator...

Soundguy

What year and what hp is the Ford 5000; it looks in absolutely mint condition, or did you just finish a restoration!? The true definition of TLC!

 

[john_bud]

If I could be allowed, I would like to continue flogging the deceased equine.

Somebody said that a smaller/lower hp 4wd could do the same job as well as a larger 2wd. Not always. I started plowing a 20 acre field with a M6800 Kubota w/FEL, 4wd, loaded tires, etc. Rated at 62pto hp. Pulling 3 16" ford bottom plow. After the first couple of hours, I parked the Kubota and hooked the plow to my 2wd 6610 Ford. Rated at 72pto hp, just 15% more than the Kubota. The Ford, hands down, was smoother, faster, had less wheel slip, was much more comfortable to operate. The Ford would have pulled the 4 bottom plow.

Moving 1200 lb bales. One on the loader and one on the 3pt hitch=a real adventure on the Kubota. When you tried to pick up one of the bales on the loader without one on the rear, the rear wheels cleared the ground. Not so on the NH 6640, rated at 14 more hp. It handled the bales easily. Needless to say, I wasn't really impressed with the Kubota.

As for the original poster: the key phrase is "I want 4wd". He should get it. But he would be limiting himself very little, if at all, with a 2wd drive machine of about 10 more hp.

Redlevel,

Interesting story and I'm sure it's 100% accurate. Do you know the difference in weight between the two tractors? I have the impression for some reason that the 6610 is about 2500# heavier than the M6800. Just curious.

jb

On edit:

Just thought to check on tractordata.com. It lists the 6600 as lighter than the M6800. Interesting.

 

[JoeinTX]

"Somebody said that a smaller/lower hp 4wd could do the same job as well as a larger 2wd. Not always."

I said something similar to this, but, with very real caveates.

"I started plowing a 20 acre field with a M6800 Kubota w/FEL, 4wd, loaded tires, etc. Rated at 62pto hp. Pulling 3 16" ford bottom plow. After the first couple of hours, I parked the Kubota and hooked the plow to my 2wd 6610 Ford. Rated at 72pto hp, just 15% more than the Kubota. The Ford, hands down, was smoother, faster, had less wheel slip, was much more comfortable to operate. The Ford would have pulled the 4 bottom plow."

And here comes the differences between 2/4wd when considering weight and mass. Your Kubota 6800 comes in at 4610lbs..........the Ford 6610 is 7264lbs. The 2600lb difference is huge in application regardless of HP or FWD.

A Kubota will throw a large amount of horsepower but will it's lighter build match the transmission of power to the ground of simlar units...?

Not always

 

[Dargo]

Age has little to do with it.. I have both an 8n and a 5000.. both are still workers.

By the picture, I can tell they are the same unit but, believe me, they do not look the same. The 5000 in the family here has always sat outside uncovered. Also, it has an FEL and BH on it. It was parked for years with the cylinders on each exposed. Now they are all rusted. After several hours of trying to get it started, both ends leaked very badly and had no power at all. The gas tank was leaking gas on my feet and on top of the engine, etc. etc. The 8N isn't as bad, but everything on it is extremely loose; steering, pedals, tranny, front end, and anything else that moves. The 3 pt. hitch will only stay up for about 2 or 3 seconds. Also, I think I mentioned that there is also an old Ferguson, but it has a rod sticking through the side of the block, yet it still turns over; without moving that rod. Broken crank as well?

Anyway, the other part owner thinks they are worth a fortune. As I said, each cost me time and money to just to move them. He thinks the old 5000 is worth $6000, the 8N $3500, and the Ferguson $2500. And, that is "as is", in their current condition. Personally, I think he's nuts. Right now they are just yard ornaments since nobody is willing to pay anywhere close that much for them and he refuses to sell them for any less.