Advice for a complete novice: gas v. diesel

[BobG_in_VA]

Your prayer is hereby answered. See attached. I emailed this guy and for about 2200 you can cut your 20 acres till the cows come home. This tractor is about a 1956 200 Farmall and has right at 25 HP, weighs about 3500 lbs and can pull a 7 ft finish mower (assuming you put the 3pt hitch on it). Yes this is sort of "tongue in cheek" but why spend $10K on a small compact when you can spend less and get an AG tractor that has shown it stands the test of time. Parts for everything are still available pretty much anywhere. Have a good day all. BobG in VA

http://www.tractorshed.com/cgi-bin/photoads/classifieds.cgi

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Ooops! The inidivdual page didn't take. Go to the "search" mode above the seach rectangle. type in Farmall 200. You should find it or a hundred others just a good. BobG in VA

 

[Slamfire]

Id I was buying an old gas tractor to mow 20 acres, I look for a 600 series Ford, and a 6' towable rotary cutter. The 600 series are as much better than the 8n as the 8n is better than the Fordson, and don't cost much more than the 8ns.

 

[Soundguy]

The only bad thing about those sickle bar mowers is the upkeep.. they get pretty expensive to replace cutters.

especially for just pasture cutting.. unless he is haying..

On the other hand I agree.. we need to know what the budget is... as for near the same price he can get a new chineese deisel and 4 or 5' mower for under 4k$.. etc.

still depends if he is wrenchy.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. a ford 650 would be ideal ( env an 8xx series ).. more power than the 8n.. live hyds.. live pto sometimes.. and better tranny.... still close price range... he should be able to get a 640 and 5' rotary mower for 3500=3700 if he shops around. there is a 640 near me for sale for 3200 right now...
He might luck up and get a package deal... otherwise cout 500-600 for a medium to light duty cutter like KK or howse..

Soundguy

 

[EddieWalker]

All good advice, but it gets confusing looking at older model tractors. You don't know the history and if you get lucky and find a really well maintained one, you are still going to be working on it.

Tractors have evolved into better tractors over time. A company builds a tractor, it has a problem, they build a better tractor. New tractors a better than old tractors.

If you don't know allot about working on tractors, you will if you buy a used one. Guranteed! You learn more every time it breaks down.

With that much land to maintain, fixing and maintaing an old tractor all the time might not be the way to go.

I was looking at used, but never found a brand and model without some issues. I ended up buying brand new because I figured it to be much cheaper in the long run.

Look at the financing options available and you will be suprised what is available.

As far as comparing diesel to gas. Diesel will provide more power to the wheels and PTO, it will run stronger at lower rpm's, maintenence is less and fuel economy is greater. In Texas you can get diesel tax free. You can buy farm diesel at some stations tax free, or you buy it at a station for normal price, save the receipts and fill out some forms to get the tax refunded.

The difference in pricing parts depends on how old the gas one is you buy. Old tractors with gas engines don't have parts at the local parts store and most dealers don't carry them. What does a used 50 year old gas starter go for? Can you find one for the model you buy? Guys with older tractors LIKE to work on them and find those hard to find parts. Do you?

Good Luck,
Eddie

 

[slowrev]

Before buying an older tractor browse the web and dealers to check for availability of parts for the brand/model you are going to buy. Some models have many parts available and some are a bit difficult to get. One thing I have found is that the USA built older tractor parts are almost always cheaper than the parts for a new foreign built tractor.

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> Before buying an older tractor browse the web and dealers to check for availability of parts for the brand/model you are going to buy. Some models have many parts available and some are a bit difficult to get. One thing I have found is that the USA built older tractor parts are almost always cheaper than the parts for a new foreign built tractor.
</font>

I'll buy that statement 100%. My last tractor was an import and it was a little harder to find parts when I needed them quick. That's one of the major reasons I went with New Holland this time. It could have just as easily been John Deere, Massey, or the others but I chose to stay away from the imports this time around.....

 

[rdam]

I'm pretty sure the majority of your TC40 is imported. At least the important parts.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue">As far as comparing diesel to gas. Diesel will provide more power to the wheels and PTO </font>

I would think that if a machine is rated at 50PTO HP it will do 50HP work, no matter what engine is driving it. Or will the diesel have more torque behind the HP?