Buying Advice Looking to buy older...but what tractor?

[Neb]

Hello,
I'm brand new here and to tractors. I am wanting an older tractor to mostly brush hog my 8 acres and to grade my driveway from time to time. I've look at several tractors via the OKC craigslist and think I may have a few possibilities. Was wondering what your opinions are and what you may suggest. I have around $3000-$4000 to spend.

1952 Ford Jubilee, 3 pt. slip, w/5' brush hog & blade. $3700 obo.
Ford 801 Powermaster. 2wd, 44hp gas 4 cyl. engine. w/blade & brush hog. $3150.
1963 John Deere 1010. 38hp gas 4 cyl. engine. w/5' brush hog. $3800.
Long tractor. 38hp, power steering. $2650.
Allis-Chalmers model 160. 40hp diesel. very good cond. w/6'brush hog. $3800.

Like I mentioned, I need it to brush hog my land. 5 to 6 acres two to three time a month. We like it to look nice, but it is all just weeds. It's very level, but pretty rough due to kids, dogs, gophers, moles, etc. I want reliable and durable. I'm pretty handy and have a bunch of tools to work on things. Kind of thinking older tractors as they seem more affordable, rugged, and easier to work on. Just wondering how hard any parts may be to get. Thank you and I'm sorry if this post is too long, but I wanted to get as much info to you guys as I can.
Regards,
Ben

 

[chim]

I always liked the MF 135's with the Perkins diesels. There's something about them that really appeals to me. I came close to buying one about 6 weeks ago. We went to see it and took a trailer and cashier's check to bring it home. Unfortunately it didn't look as nice in person as it did in the cell phone pics.

 

[hitts427]

Really can't beat a diesel tractor

 

[whitedogone]

All things being equal, diesel over gas anyday.

 

[LD1]

Id do your research on ALL of them.

IF you want a bushhogging tractor, IMO, live hydraulics and live PTO are VERY important. And on the NAA(jubilee), 801 series, and 1010 deere, they were all options. So I would start by ruling out any of those that dont have it.

Dont know anything about the long. They arent that popular and parts may be scarce. The AC160 is about a decade or two newer than the rest. And it has the live hydraulics/pto standard. And thats probabally not too bad of a deal.

And if you plan on cutting it 2-3 times a month, you may want to consider bushogging it just this once (maybe hire it done) and then rent a zero turn mower. Because if you try to use a rotary cutter THAT often, you will pretty much end up with a lawn.

 

[Neb]

Thank you for the advice. I will look into the live hyd. & pto. I actually have a ZTR, but it just can't seem to handle all of what I have to "mow" or brush hog, depending on how high it grows. The ZTR always gives me fits, but it is a smaller one and is not really designed for what I put it through. I really can't blame it. Bigger ZRT's cost $$$...so I figured a tractor would be my best bet. If things get out of hand, it's got power + the grading option + quicker mowing or brush hogging. It gets real out of control around here quick with rain and a busted mower!! Also, I kinda want it to look like a "lawn". Our home sits right in the middle of all the land, so looking like a lawn would be really cool! Sort of looks like Jed Clampett"s before he got rich right now. Sure sounds like most favor diesel...I understand, but if a good gas tractor is taken care of it should fit my needs I would think. I ain't gonna use it anywhere near what a farmer or rancher would. Opinions on this?
Thanks for getting back so quickly and helping me. I need all the help I can get!

Ben

 

[hoseguy]

Hi there,

Out of that lot I'd probably go with the Allis 160.

IIRC it has the same engine as the MF135 and may also have a synchro 'box and power steering. Don't know that for sure though.
Synchro box is a nice thing to have as is power steering.

Spares for the Perkins engine are widely available (and not too expensive). As long as it's not a big smoker and the oil in the trans is good you should be fine.

Just don't do anything hasty.

No shortage of old tractors out there.

Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware)

 

[Soundguy]

ford powernaster for sure. it's near 2x the tracfor of the jubilee.. and has better hyds and rear axle and hub design. easier to use external hyds.. etc.

good 172ci red tiger engine.. 48hp or so. beefy machine.

if it is a 4 or 5spd get it. if it is the sos.. avoid it.. IE.. 841, 851, 861 ok.. 871,881, run away..

soundguy

 

[IndyIan]

My buddy got a Ferguson TEA-20, gas, and it seems to do the job for him. He brush hogs maybe 2 acres several times a summer and cuts alot of his lawn with it, plows in the winter, and even does some plowing with a 2 forough plow.
His is converted to 12V too, which makes winter starts less troublesome.
I think a MF 135 is a much more capable machine but they probably are priced that way too. It leaks alot of oil but he parks it on the gravel driveway so it keeps the weeds down:laughing:

 

[Soundguy]

a 135 is twice+ the tractor of a tX 20

 

[JoeBuyer]

Ford Powermaster looks like sweet tractor. Never noticed this tractor before. Very nice specs and size.

 

[Soundguy]

i like the rowcrop powermasters. like a nice 961 sweet machine..

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I notice folks seem to want to steer you away from a gasser, toward a diesel..I've got both...if you are gonna do serious utility tractor work on a 8-10 straight basis (ie. farm for a living) I'd also say go diesel..BUT...if you are using it to only bush hog a couple of hours at a time and "cut the grass" with a finish mower, you can't go wrong with a good gas tractor..I've got a Massey 135 Deluxe with the Z145 Cont. gas engine..for most everything I do now, its easy to start (never more than 1 turnover) easy to maintain...(no injectors/pumps to go Kaput...) Two stage clutch, (not truely independant, but works works well for bushhogging), parts can be had ANYWHERE... good gas 135s in my area go for $3700 to close to $5k...sooo...if you aren't an ASE cert. mechanic, don't overlook a gas unit..BobG in VA

 

[Birdhunter1]

I'll agree with the gas engine thought, those old gas engines were some tough durable machines. Allis Chalmers D series, Massey Ferguson, John Deere, Oliver, Ford and International all put out good engines.

An old tractor nut I know said back then the diesel engines were good, however it was a technology still being developed in many ways and the gas engines were proven.

 

[boggen]

i would buy used tractor individually. and then buy bush hog and blade separately. granted if they are selling them as a package or possibly from same person that is all good and fine. but it is fairly easy to find used bush hogs and rear blades easily on craigslist.

as far as buying used. i could really care less about brands, or model. but actually going out and physically looking at them, and test driving them. and checking hydraulics, and for leaks, and upkeep on them. a good clean tractor does not always mean it is a good running tractor. and a rust bucket of a tractor that has grease and mud all over the place, may be the best tractor out of the bunch. start the tractor up, test drive it, let it run for 30 minutes or so, so thermostate for radiator opens up. and engine warms up good. (may need to be in med to high idle for engine and things to warm up good) raise hyd 3pt hitch, and if FEL (front end loader on it raise it as well) shut off tractor and let it set there for 30 minutes or so and see if things lower.

test each gear of the transmission forward and backwards. check the fluid levels, (hyd, engine oil, antifreeze/water, secondary or third hyd oil location perhaps rear end, perhaps transmission perhaps up on front of tractor)

gas tractors are good diesel tractors are good. though if you plan on not running tractor and letting it set 6 months of the year. you may want to think about adding some sort of additive to the fuel. more so gas. so the gas does not go bad. or diesel does not gel up in winter.

you might try tractorhouse www.tractorhouse.com lets ya search via zip code, distant, cost, and variety of other features.

hint: bush hog is an actual brand, what you are wanting is a rotatory cutter.

 

[JoeBuyer]

boggen,
Well said.

 

[Mark Page]

Massey 35 Deluxe
They are easy to work on, parts are readily available, plenty of hp for a 6ft bush hog and is easy on fuel. On the advice of 2 farmers I bought one. It was my first tractor and never let me down. I put a little money in it, used it for 6 years and 700 hrs and sold it at a profit. IMHO anything less than 30hp will be insufficient for your needs.
A diesel tractor is nice but as has already been mentioned they are more difficult to work on or to pay to have repaired.
Whatever you buy, especially in an older machine, be sure it has power steering.

 

[Soundguy]

as far as buying used. i could really care less about brands, or model. .

you should care!

some brands/models have much much MUCH better parts support, and cheaper parts too.

always better to find a model that was in production many years with many # of units produced.. theose hav ethe best parts support.. and have the best chance to find salvge parts..

 

[Soundguy]

Whatever you buy, especially in an older machine, be sure it has power steering.

just make sure it has good steering.. or make it good.

power steering is nice.. but not needed. if you do lots of loader work.. it's especially nice..

i have some ps loader machines.. and non ps loader machines. both lift and drive.

i have some power steering non loader machines and some non ps non loader machines.

lately, the tractor i've been mowing with all this year is a non power steering 1955 ( mostly.. though was built as a mutt from about 8 other tractors ) ford 950 rowcrop.

no power steering.. turns nice and easy with a serviced steering box and pedistal.

on ford.. if 53-64 i prefer gas, though diesel is ok.. especially if the 172.. on 65+ i prefer diesel, just to stay away from the holley carbs.. though a good working gasser is also fine at least in the 2000/3000 series.. once you hit the 201ci 4xxx + machines.. theystart getting hungry if a gasser..



soundguy

 

[Neb]

Worked 50 hrs over the weekend, so I was not checking in all that much. Thank you all for the advice. I got me a 1961 801 Ford Powermaster yesterday. Took my neighbor with me who is very experienced with tractors. We spent about an hour talking with the owner and checking it out and driving it, etc. I ended up getting it for 2850 including the brush hog & blade. I brush hogged some yesterday and a bunch today. Ran like a top.
Just wanting to know if anyone knows of any "weak links" on these machines? Overheating issues, transmission issues, engine issues...etc. Anything to kind of keep an eye on? Dang, she sure is a beauty to look at and fires right up. 44hp, 4speed + reverse. Hydraulics are good. Sure seems like a tough SOB!
I thank you all again and hope to hear some more input.

Regards,
Ben