Looking to buy my first tractor

[Torvy]

The op said he had 40 acres tillable 35 of which were leased out , He never mentioned anything about turning a profit or farming it to make a living , Some of you guys either dont read what the Op says Or just want to repeat the same stuff over and over no matter the question. I do agree the Op should look for as big a tractor as he can afford, A 60 hp tractor would be plenty to handle most of the chores he listed.

He also said he had another 80 acres of forest. Even on my 15 acres of forest, there is plenty of work to do, profit or no. I agree a big utility tractor will be more useful. Not necessarily HP, but weight...I'd want cat II 3pt for ground engagement on the 40 acre section.

"40 acres tillable (currently leasing 35 of this and using 5 for sod/garden but may take it over as time passes)
80 acres forest"

 

[Eugene Savoy]

I sincerely apologize for the delay in response. I never received notifications when someone replied to my thread.

I have a lot of friends in the area and they certainly have chimed in as to what is a good option and the basic implements I will be needing and have offered their humble helping hand at every step (got to love small communities). But wanted to cast a wider range of opinions/experience since my town is relatively small (500 people)

I was pondering if a larger tractor would be a viable option: price per pound it seems a better option and it is something I can grow into rather than want more.

We do a couple acres of hay and a garden on our 5 acres. We are retired and are pursuing a more self-sufficient lifestyle and have all the time in the world. With that said, I am open to the idea of making some money off the rest of the 35 tillable in the future. Since we will be getting some livestock soon (dairy cows), I want to start looking into sod farming, with a goal set to start in two years



Anywho, I have found a tractor that seems to fit the bill: Its a MF 471

Thought id add this too : zetor 4341

Concerning issues with these off-label tractors are parts availability and general maintenance. How often do tractors need maintenance? Is it similar to cars or?

 

[Torvy]

I sincerely apologize for the delay in response. I never received notifications when someone replied to my thread.

I have a lot of friends in the area and they certainly have chimed in as to what is a good option and the basic implements I will be needing and have offered their humble helping hand at every step (got to love small communities). But wanted to cast a wider range of opinions/experience since my town is relatively small (500 people)

I was pondering if a larger tractor would be a viable option: price per pound it seems a better option and it is something I can grow into rather than want more.

We do a couple acres of hay and a garden on our 5 acres. We are retired and are pursuing a more self-sufficient lifestyle and have all the time in the world. With that said, I am open to the idea of making some money off the rest of the 35 tillable in the future. Since we will be getting some livestock soon (dairy cows), I want to start looking into sod farming, with a goal set to start in two years



Anywho, I have found a tractor that seems to fit the bill: Its a MF 471

Thought id add this too : zetor 4341

Concerning issues with these off-label tractors are parts availability and general maintenance. How often do tractors need maintenance? Is it similar to cars or?

Off-label is somewhat a device to make people who paid way too much for their brand feel better by trying to make others feel bad.

A couple of things: Massey-Ferguson cannot reasonably be considered off label. The brand has been around forever and they still make great tractors.

Zetor is lesser known in the US, made in Czech Republic, IiRC. There is a dealer near me in Tyler, TX. He also sells LS and TYM. I saw new Zetors on his lot and they looked as good as any tractor. The brand is much bigger in Eastern Europe.

You will get various answers on maintenance. Grease the zerks frequently, especially on an older tractor. I'd probably do it after any extended use, or maybe 10 hours or so. All tractor hours are not created equal. An hour pulling a six-bottom plow is different than an hour pulling a hay wagon full of kids for a hay ride...or just running down the county road. New tractors have an unusual schedule in that they need a oil change early and then a little longer later.

 

[Eugene Savoy]

So out of the two, which would you opt for, assuming hours and general condition are relatively the same

 

[Yander]

The op said he had 40 acres tillable 35 of which were leased out , He never mentioned anything about turning a profit or farming it to make a living , Some of you guys either dont read what the Op says Or just want to repeat the same stuff over and over no matter the question. I do agree the Op should look for as big a tractor as he can afford, A 60 hp tractor would be plenty to handle most of the chores he listed.

Pretty logical assumption that if someone says they want to farm 35 acres they want to make a profit. He then confirmed that in post #22. I think some guys just want to help.

 

[Eugene Savoy]

Yes, that is true but for right now I am trying to find a tractor to fulfill the original goals. Working the remaining 35 and finding a tractor that will do the rest may be out of my price range.

So, for right now just want to find a tractor to yard logs, do road maintenance, work the five acres, maybe blow some snow and related chores.

The purpose of the tractor is to help me run more efficiently in my day to day activities. Anything anyone does should be doing it in a profitable manor, for us, the profitable comes through the savings; fuel costs from the wood, feed for the livestock and the food we harvest all add up to a net savings since our overhead on those expenses add up to over 1k/m

 

[jeff9366]

So out of the two, which would you opt for?

Massey Ferguson has a dedicated MASSEY FERGUSON forum on T-B-N, with three subjects.
Total threads: 1,500 + 7,500 + 1,600 = 10,600 threads.

Zetor and McCormick are listed under MORE TRACTOR BRANDS.
Zetor total threads: 264
McCormick total threads: 249


Zetor and McCormick are fierce competitors.

 

[jeff9366]

How often do tractors need maintenance?

In my personal experience most tractor maintenance is related to operator error. I regularly, if not frequently, prang either the tractor or an implement while working. At age 74, and not that physically strong nor patient, the dealer does everything for me except fueling and greasing.

Trust me, if this is your first tractor you will prang it plenty as part of the tractor learning experience. You will also bash fences, your car, your house and outbuildings. Tractor (glass) cabs are vulnerable in the woods with new operators.

Scheduled preventative maintenance is generally at 400 engine hour intervals. The average compact tractor used in residence maintenance clocks just 60 engine hours per year. I clock 200 to 250 engine hours per year. I speculate you might clock 150 hours per year working five acres and your woods.

The Zetor 4341 has only 880 hours, it is looking pretty good.

An outside-stored tractor with 880 hours will shortly require rubber and fabric hydraulic line replacements at intervals. You can remove the ruptured/leaking lines and either a dealer, a hydraulics shop or NAPA can replace the hose while usually recycling the metal fittings.

 

[Eugene Savoy]

Seems if I opt for the Zetor 4341, there will be much less support than the Massey. That being said, the 4341 does have a lot of desirable features (weight, hp, attachments). With only 880 hours, it is looking pretty good.

 

[jeff9366]

That being said, the 4341 does have a lot of desirable features (weight, hp, attachments). With only 880 hours, it is looking pretty good.

Weight and horsepower without 4-WD may not mean too much.

Is your prospective Massey Ferguson 4-WD?

Tractors do not have front brakes. Moving downhill with 2-WD, when tractor weight is primarily on the front wheels, you sometimes have almost zero wheel braking. You may have to slowly back down steep hills.

4-WD, when engaged, gives a tractor something resembling four wheel brakes.

It is sometimes difficult to fill the FEL bucket with 2-WD.




What distance to your nearest two Massey Ferguson dealers?

Transporting a tractor for service is expensive and inconvenient, whether you trailer it or the dealer trailers it.

I am six (6) miles from my Kubota dealer. Dealer pick up and delivery is $60.00. This is about average in north Florida.


CREDIT: 'FELIXEDO'

"It has been touched on a couple of times, but not directly as a buying factor.

Every major make has a machine that will do the job(s) you want. Check out your nearby dealers, and go with one you have confidence in.

A great machine with no support nearby is a hassle to repair and maintain.

And a good machine can't make a lousy dealer into a good dealer."

 

[Eugene Savoy]

It is a 4wd, and the locations are about 20 minutes and 40 minutes respectively

 

[airbiscuit]

Asking price for each? Years and hours? Attachments included?

 

[jeff9366]

It is a 4wd, and the locations are about 20 minutes and 40 minutes respectively

No brainer. Massey Ferguson if the service department has a good reputation.

 

[Eugene Savoy]

Zetor 4341 has 880 hours, 2002. Includes bucket (102H) and cab. Has snow blower and Cat I Grader Blade for an additional cost (20k)

Ferguson has unknown hours (still waiting to hear back from the dealer ) Includes 1070 bucket and cab. (22.5k)

 

[jeff9366]

Zetor 4341 has 880 hours, 2002. Includes bucket (102H) and cab. Has snow blower and Cat I Grader Blade for an additional cost (20k)

How close is your nearest authorized Zetor dealer?

 

[Eugene Savoy]

about an hour and its across the border

 

[jeff9366]

about an hour and its across the border

Transporting a tractor for service is expensive and inconvenient, whether you trailer it or the dealer trailers it.

So, to pick up and return tractor (2 segments to dealer, 2 segments return) at least four hours of driver/mechanic time + one hour of loading, chaining and discussing service = 5 hours @ $80/hour, 4 X 45 miles = 180 miles of a HD truck pulling an HD trailer with commercial insurance. Fuel at 9 miles per gallon = 20 gallons. I will speculate Zetor transportation would be $500 to $700 per service.

Can you afford the tractor operating expense of $30 per engine hour, assuming dealer service, as a hobby? I speculate you might clock 150 engine hours per year working five (5) acres plus your woods.

 

[Yander]

Given your tractor experience and your line of questions regarding maintenance. I'm concerned I may have given you bad advice on the 75hp tractor. I'm not saying you can't learn on that large of a tractor, you certainly can, but it isn't the best idea to learn on something that large.

I'm thinking 40 - 50 hp. Like the size of a MF 1740M or Kubota L4701. When/if you do decide to farm the 35, you could use it or trade up. Tractors really don't lose very much value when used 200 - 300 hours a year. Especially in this market. You could run the smaller tractor a couple years and trade up. If you buy slightly used you probably won't lose much money if any. I have bought used tractors and kept them for 5 years and sold them for what I paid for them since I didn't put that many hours on them (100 a year avg.). I put more hours on now since I have more implements but you get my point.

Also, Cab tractors are not good in a woods. I won't even take our cab tractor into the woods, you are really blind to tree limbs and other things in a cab.

You need to consider the transmission type also (Hydrostat, Gear or Shuttle Shift). Do your research on that and drive each one.

I strongly recommend just going and sitting on tractors for perspective. Don't get in a hurry and shop and talk to other farmers if you have access to them. But keep in mind, they will be talking from a farmers perspective, not a hobby farmers.

 

[Egon]

In my personal experience most tractor maintenance is related to operator error.

Most tractor owners follow a pretty precise maintenance schedule Not errors.
Commercial concerns will keep track of all time and hours when a piece of equipment is serviced and parts replaced. They also keep in close contact with the manufacturer.

 

[Eugene Savoy]

Thanks for the reply yander.


A lot to consider and I would agree that I wouldn't want a cab in the woods either. I am still leaning towards something to grow into. I will talk to my friend who farms 1500+ acres with his big boy john deeres and see If I can drive them when they come to harvest the buckwheat.


I was also thinking of getting a standard 2wd tractor, like a white for the fields and a smaller 4wd for the woods. This seems like a reasonable route to go since I wouldn't have to mess with attachments as much, and could stay within the price range if I got an older 4wd unit