OP
Anonymous Poster
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- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 29,678
Richard,
I think I need to clarify. When the tractor search started, innocently looking towards a powerful, larger lawn tractor, we quickly went to compact utility, wrongly thinking that we could do more hay chores. Don't know why I thought we could bush hog and bale...guess I've not had the need to know yet. Now I know that I cannot do that. But I still want the ability to bush hog: keeping edges of fields clear from little trees trying to sprout and prickly brush coming in. And I am exploring what good it would do the overall quality to 'feed' the soil with a few cuttings in the year. Not letting the hay get too long, so that it can easily break down into the soil. Would use a bush hog on trails too.
We also wanted to go as large as a compact for other PTO reasons, like the post hole digger.
Did I forget to mention that we also have an old 1952 Farmall 140? I think it has HP in the low 20's...not sure. Among the implements that it has, there is a snow plow that does not have enough power to plow much more than a 4 to 6" storm, depending on how wet the snow is. Pretty useless.
The Farmall also has a sickle bar (5' I believe). We use that now where I would use a bush hog...IF I had one. I can't say that I would want to tackle the 25 acres with this because it seems as though the pitman arm likes to break at least once per season. My husband keeps extras on hand that he makes for such occasions! He has more patience than me...I tend to want to turn the key and go /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.
As our 'ideal tractor' kept getting larger (still thinking hay), we turned the corner and went back down in size. We had made it up to a 4400. Then back down to a 4200, which is around the time that my husband suggested that I compare JD with Kubota...he had friends who had good luck. (Even one who traded his JD for an orange.)
When we turned the corner on size, I knew that we should stay with the PTO and a fair amount of size...I KNOW that I will use it, but I don't want too big. I also realized that haying would be a serious investment. In my way of thinking, if it is not crucial that we 'have to have it today', then we can take our time, and be ready if a good deal comes down the pike on used equipment. You'll all know, because I'll be back here at TBN asking MORE question /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. Now, if balers are the constant fix it camp that you talk about, I'll pass that problem on to my husband...remember, he's the patient one in this relationship. And much handier with the tools than I am. ...Joyce
I think I need to clarify. When the tractor search started, innocently looking towards a powerful, larger lawn tractor, we quickly went to compact utility, wrongly thinking that we could do more hay chores. Don't know why I thought we could bush hog and bale...guess I've not had the need to know yet. Now I know that I cannot do that. But I still want the ability to bush hog: keeping edges of fields clear from little trees trying to sprout and prickly brush coming in. And I am exploring what good it would do the overall quality to 'feed' the soil with a few cuttings in the year. Not letting the hay get too long, so that it can easily break down into the soil. Would use a bush hog on trails too.
We also wanted to go as large as a compact for other PTO reasons, like the post hole digger.
Did I forget to mention that we also have an old 1952 Farmall 140? I think it has HP in the low 20's...not sure. Among the implements that it has, there is a snow plow that does not have enough power to plow much more than a 4 to 6" storm, depending on how wet the snow is. Pretty useless.
The Farmall also has a sickle bar (5' I believe). We use that now where I would use a bush hog...IF I had one. I can't say that I would want to tackle the 25 acres with this because it seems as though the pitman arm likes to break at least once per season. My husband keeps extras on hand that he makes for such occasions! He has more patience than me...I tend to want to turn the key and go /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.
As our 'ideal tractor' kept getting larger (still thinking hay), we turned the corner and went back down in size. We had made it up to a 4400. Then back down to a 4200, which is around the time that my husband suggested that I compare JD with Kubota...he had friends who had good luck. (Even one who traded his JD for an orange.)
When we turned the corner on size, I knew that we should stay with the PTO and a fair amount of size...I KNOW that I will use it, but I don't want too big. I also realized that haying would be a serious investment. In my way of thinking, if it is not crucial that we 'have to have it today', then we can take our time, and be ready if a good deal comes down the pike on used equipment. You'll all know, because I'll be back here at TBN asking MORE question /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. Now, if balers are the constant fix it camp that you talk about, I'll pass that problem on to my husband...remember, he's the patient one in this relationship. And much handier with the tools than I am. ...Joyce
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