Hello everyone! First post here but have been a reader (unregistered) for quite a while now.
My grandfather owns 130 acres in SE Kansas. Land was mainly purchased for hunting, fishing, and general relaxing but I would estimate about 70-80 acres currently tillable. The remaining land is split between grass/weeds and woods (some dense some sparse). The tillable land is currently leased.
Now that I have graduated school and am gainfully employed and my dad is retired our usage patterns have been changing. I have the time to go down on weekends and even after work some days.
My dad and my mom have taken up bee keeping are going down and spending time there much more often.
Right now through the summer we are slightly limited. My mother and sister do not like how tall the grass gets between mowings, sometimes it will be chest high. Unfortunately this means I have been mowing high traffic areas with a lawn man lawnmower or a push mower at least every other week during growing season. This is slow and inefficient. And frankly the little mower, albeit fighting hard, is just not up to the tasks that have been asked of it.
My dad and I have been kicking around the idea of a tractor. The original plan was to sell remove the modular home on site and build a barn with living quarters first and then get a tractor.
BUT
We stumbled upon an auction near our town with two 4610SU tractors on the block.
One unit I think is a 1983 model with 4973 hours on the tack. The notes list a dead battery and a coolant leak. Supposedly not used in about a year. Coolant leak is supposedly coming from in front of the first split but I am not sure. The tires are going to need replaced sooner rather than later. I popped the radiator cap and it did not look milky like there was oil mixed in but has a some black stuff Im wondering if its the inside of the coolant lines??? 2 hydraulic outlets and 2 front weights. Unit currently at $2300. My gut has some major reservations. Serial number C700805.
The second unit I think - is a 1985 Ford 4610su with unit still in use. At time of posting 1003 hours. To the contacts knowledge that is the actual hours and it has not rolled over. Serial number C748289
This unit definitely appears cleaner than the first and also has 2 remotes. It has a front guard on it and the horizontal exhaust which I would want to change to the vertical stack for mowing. Parts appear readily available online. This unit currently at $3600.
Please note I am not super confident on these dates. I did my best googling and just got confused.
Our land is generally pretty flat with some undulations to it. We were leaning towards an 8 land pride pull behind unit. Like the RCR2596. Mainly leaning towards land pride due to them being manufactured in Salina, Kansas and wanting to support them as well as a lot of dealers stocking parts.
Other tasks would include
- tilling/seeding feed plots
- Gravel road maintenance
- carryall duty for fencing or other projects
- Moving pallets of split firewood on 3pt
I have heard the front axle is too light for loader work? Is that correct?
Do you think this size tractor would work for our application?
We had originally been looking at the 5610 under the theory that Id rather have a little too much than not enough.
Where we arent in the best storage position for this (we can put in a friends barn but thats inconvenient for him) we would need to get these for a very good deal. Even if that meant spending more down the road. What do you think would be a good deal?
Any thoughts on the two units from my very limited information?
Thanks!
My grandfather owns 130 acres in SE Kansas. Land was mainly purchased for hunting, fishing, and general relaxing but I would estimate about 70-80 acres currently tillable. The remaining land is split between grass/weeds and woods (some dense some sparse). The tillable land is currently leased.
Now that I have graduated school and am gainfully employed and my dad is retired our usage patterns have been changing. I have the time to go down on weekends and even after work some days.
My dad and my mom have taken up bee keeping are going down and spending time there much more often.
Right now through the summer we are slightly limited. My mother and sister do not like how tall the grass gets between mowings, sometimes it will be chest high. Unfortunately this means I have been mowing high traffic areas with a lawn man lawnmower or a push mower at least every other week during growing season. This is slow and inefficient. And frankly the little mower, albeit fighting hard, is just not up to the tasks that have been asked of it.
My dad and I have been kicking around the idea of a tractor. The original plan was to sell remove the modular home on site and build a barn with living quarters first and then get a tractor.
BUT
We stumbled upon an auction near our town with two 4610SU tractors on the block.
One unit I think is a 1983 model with 4973 hours on the tack. The notes list a dead battery and a coolant leak. Supposedly not used in about a year. Coolant leak is supposedly coming from in front of the first split but I am not sure. The tires are going to need replaced sooner rather than later. I popped the radiator cap and it did not look milky like there was oil mixed in but has a some black stuff Im wondering if its the inside of the coolant lines??? 2 hydraulic outlets and 2 front weights. Unit currently at $2300. My gut has some major reservations. Serial number C700805.
The second unit I think - is a 1985 Ford 4610su with unit still in use. At time of posting 1003 hours. To the contacts knowledge that is the actual hours and it has not rolled over. Serial number C748289
This unit definitely appears cleaner than the first and also has 2 remotes. It has a front guard on it and the horizontal exhaust which I would want to change to the vertical stack for mowing. Parts appear readily available online. This unit currently at $3600.
Please note I am not super confident on these dates. I did my best googling and just got confused.
Our land is generally pretty flat with some undulations to it. We were leaning towards an 8 land pride pull behind unit. Like the RCR2596. Mainly leaning towards land pride due to them being manufactured in Salina, Kansas and wanting to support them as well as a lot of dealers stocking parts.
Other tasks would include
- tilling/seeding feed plots
- Gravel road maintenance
- carryall duty for fencing or other projects
- Moving pallets of split firewood on 3pt
I have heard the front axle is too light for loader work? Is that correct?
Do you think this size tractor would work for our application?
We had originally been looking at the 5610 under the theory that Id rather have a little too much than not enough.
Where we arent in the best storage position for this (we can put in a friends barn but thats inconvenient for him) we would need to get these for a very good deal. Even if that meant spending more down the road. What do you think would be a good deal?
Any thoughts on the two units from my very limited information?
Thanks!
Last edited: