Wow, Egon really has a problem with the old iron. In my opinion, the Ford N is the #1 tractor of all time, and even today, I would rather use one for several tasks than any "modern" tractor. This is the machine that brought us the 3 pt hitch, and even without extendable link arms, I can change implements real quick because of the tractor's light weight and ease of rolling by hand. I have not seen any modern tractor that is easier to mount and dismount. Certainly it is harder to find parts for every other tractor by all manufacturers, especially if you are shopping at your local TSC. I cant think of a tractor that can be more easily repaired with little more than a 12" adjustable wrench, but niether can I think of another that can take more abuse without breaking in the first place. If money were no object and I could have any tractor to operate my 2-row corn planter or haul firewood in the winter I would pick a 1951 or 52 8N without any hesitation. When it comes to bigger jobs that require more than 35 or so hp however, I do agree with Egon, and think that the old big iron is best left parked or scrapped. Fuel will never again be cheap enough to financially justify doing real work with big, old, 2wd gas tractors.
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Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
Not all old big iron tractors are gas... some big old iron tractors are diesel... and work just as good now as then, if cared for and maintained.
As an example.. I own a 2000 NH 7610s.. it's about 95 hp.. I used to run a 10' mower with it. Took about 3hrs or so to cut my 10ac pasture... used 5g of diesel to do so.
I picked up a 75 ford 5000 diesel 70hp( made from 65 to 75.. so you can call some of them old.. some classic perhaps.. ) I now pull that 10' mower with the 5000.. takes the same 3hrs to cut the pasture.. and same 5g of diesel.
Amazingly enough, the same 8spd trans is used in the 5000 as onmy 7610s. Same rear axle setup with the wet brakes... power steering on both of them.. at night, looking at the profile, it's hard to tell them apart, unless you really stare at the fenders and can see the clamshell vs the flat top.
Same operator platform setup.. same independent pto, and lever int he same place... dash is virtually identical, except tach on the 7610s is using an electronic pickup on the alternator, vs a gear drive/cable setup off a generator on the 5000. throttle handle int he same place on the dash.. foot brakes and running boards the same, step down step in the same place on both machines. It's obvious the 5000's design was the basis for most of fords 5xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx setups ( save the 6000 ).. The 5000 was about 1/3rd the price of the 7610s.. and at the time.. did the exact same work ( yes the 7610s is capable of more work with it's extra 25 ponies.. but at the time when i only had a 10' mower.. either tractor worked fine... I could have saved 2/3 of the cost and just got the 5000 to begin with ( almost did... )... As far as utility goes.. both would have suited my needs, and had I not had the money for the newer tractor.. the older one would have been plenty fine, and done my pasture cutting. In fact.. I mow more with the 5000/10' mower now than I do with the 7610s/ 15' mower since i subdivided my animal paddocks up. the smaller mower makes it easier to get in and out of the paddocks without having to shut the mower down, fold the wings, go thru the gates, lower the wings, and then repower them... witht he 10'.. I just drive on thru still mowing..
Any operating tractor in good condition, that has the capability to do a job correctly and safely, can be a good worker. Shear age alone should not be a factor in determining when something is no longer usefull. I inherited a very large set of tool from my fatherinlaw when he passed. the tools date from the 20's thru the 80's... Any reason whay a wrench from 1950 can't turn a bolt like a wrench from 2008? Should I throw any of those old tools out because they are just too old to be used... same answer with any other old thing. If it still works good, and fits the application.. I don't see why not to use it.
We live in a society that puts too much focus on disposability, and needing 'new' things every few years.. it's a sad time when the chronologivcal age of something is the sole determining factor of it's usefullness.
If we are going that direction.. I'd say lets all move to another (new) planet and scrap the earth.. it's OBVIOUSLY pretty old.. so therefore it must be no longer useable? right?
soundguy
As an example.. I own a 2000 NH 7610s.. it's about 95 hp.. I used to run a 10' mower with it. Took about 3hrs or so to cut my 10ac pasture... used 5g of diesel to do so.
I picked up a 75 ford 5000 diesel 70hp( made from 65 to 75.. so you can call some of them old.. some classic perhaps.. ) I now pull that 10' mower with the 5000.. takes the same 3hrs to cut the pasture.. and same 5g of diesel.
Amazingly enough, the same 8spd trans is used in the 5000 as onmy 7610s. Same rear axle setup with the wet brakes... power steering on both of them.. at night, looking at the profile, it's hard to tell them apart, unless you really stare at the fenders and can see the clamshell vs the flat top.
Same operator platform setup.. same independent pto, and lever int he same place... dash is virtually identical, except tach on the 7610s is using an electronic pickup on the alternator, vs a gear drive/cable setup off a generator on the 5000. throttle handle int he same place on the dash.. foot brakes and running boards the same, step down step in the same place on both machines. It's obvious the 5000's design was the basis for most of fords 5xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx setups ( save the 6000 ).. The 5000 was about 1/3rd the price of the 7610s.. and at the time.. did the exact same work ( yes the 7610s is capable of more work with it's extra 25 ponies.. but at the time when i only had a 10' mower.. either tractor worked fine... I could have saved 2/3 of the cost and just got the 5000 to begin with ( almost did... )... As far as utility goes.. both would have suited my needs, and had I not had the money for the newer tractor.. the older one would have been plenty fine, and done my pasture cutting. In fact.. I mow more with the 5000/10' mower now than I do with the 7610s/ 15' mower since i subdivided my animal paddocks up. the smaller mower makes it easier to get in and out of the paddocks without having to shut the mower down, fold the wings, go thru the gates, lower the wings, and then repower them... witht he 10'.. I just drive on thru still mowing..
Any operating tractor in good condition, that has the capability to do a job correctly and safely, can be a good worker. Shear age alone should not be a factor in determining when something is no longer usefull. I inherited a very large set of tool from my fatherinlaw when he passed. the tools date from the 20's thru the 80's... Any reason whay a wrench from 1950 can't turn a bolt like a wrench from 2008? Should I throw any of those old tools out because they are just too old to be used... same answer with any other old thing. If it still works good, and fits the application.. I don't see why not to use it.
We live in a society that puts too much focus on disposability, and needing 'new' things every few years.. it's a sad time when the chronologivcal age of something is the sole determining factor of it's usefullness.
If we are going that direction.. I'd say lets all move to another (new) planet and scrap the earth.. it's OBVIOUSLY pretty old.. so therefore it must be no longer useable? right?
soundguy
wolc123 said:
Egon
Epic Contributor
Oh dear I have a problem now do I!
From what I see in the fields it must even be contagious!
Or has my senior eysight failed?
If some one wants to use old tractors let them do so but please do not misrepresent the magical qualities of yesterdays tractors. I have spent more than an hour or two sitting on them.
What I am not seeing is anyone using the tractors that were precursors to the present generation of old tractors. They should of been simpler, easier to fix and lasted even longer???
From what I see in the fields it must even be contagious!
Or has my senior eysight failed? If some one wants to use old tractors let them do so but please do not misrepresent the magical qualities of yesterdays tractors. I have spent more than an hour or two sitting on them.
What I am not seeing is anyone using the tractors that were precursors to the present generation of old tractors. They should of been simpler, easier to fix and lasted even longer???
I definitely agree with you Soundguy, that there still is a place for old 2wd deisel big iron, and your pasture mowing task is a perfect example. Today's fuel prices however, have made using big 2wd tractors for tillage work a losing proposition regardless of thier fuel type. Check the listings lately where you will find they often sell for little over scrap value for this reason, especially if gas powered.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
Actually big 2wd tractors in general, if 20 ys or older are generally going for pennies on the dollar. You can buy a 110hp ford 8000 for 3000-4000$...same with the big deutz and allis chalmers units...
soundguy
soundguy
Egon
Epic Contributor
Why is this?