New Tractors Versus Old Tractors--Who has the most fun?

[California]

I have over 30 small engines to maintain and one thing for sure, I'm glad I finally got rid of all my points. Ask your teenager what Top Dead Center means and see if you get any recognition...a dying art for sure.

Amen to that, modern simplicity is sometimes a big improvement. Also, matching a modern efficient tool to the job instead of continuing with old tools just because that's what you always used.

I finally figured out my Ryobi cordless chainsaw with Li-Ion batteries is sufficient to hack up fallen apple trees in the orchard, because if the tree fell over or shed a major limb then I only need to cut rotten punky wood to get the debris down to mangeable size. No more 2-cycle fuel to maintain! I got rid of the gas chainsaw 5 years ago, haven't missed it.

Here's a post with photo where I'm clearing a fallen Eucalyptus tree a few months ago. That wood is like iron, it worked the little cordless saw pretty hard until I installed a new chain. But I don't expect to cut tough material like that more often than every few years.

With the adoption of Li-Ion batteries, a cordless chainsaw has replaced one with carburetor, points (?), spark plug and its cable, and 2-cycle fuel that ages quickly and seems to get everywhere while you use or transport it. Spare batteries are easier to carry along, and re-fuel, than a gas can. Life is better.

Sometimes progress is worth getting on board with.

 

[CADplans]

I have had my tractor 20 years...

it was over 15 years old when I got it,,,

the problem with a tractor this old,,, is you got to replace the tires,,,

Does anyone know where the drain for the Tier 4 filter is?? :confused2:

 

[ovrszd]

Love that tractor!!!!

 

[CADplans]

Love that tractor!!!!

I was just thinking about the tractors history,,,
I think I have spent more money changing hydraulic/engine oil and antifreeze than the most owners of newer tractors have spent on diesel fuel!! :laughing:

Other than the tires,, the tractor has been flawless for twenty years.
When I first got it,, the PO had installed an aftermarket solenoid,,, I did have to replace it the first month.
I lucked out,,, and found a Bosch replacement (made in Germany),
the parts guy thought I was crazy for spending over $100 for it,, rather than the $30 aftermarket,,,,
It has been perfect.
The starter draws a LOT of amps to start,, it has enormous battery cables.
The starter is very unique,,, I believe it can be wired for 24 volt starting,,
there are extra posts on the solenoid,, that have jumper bus bars.

I thought the steering cylinder was weeping,,,
it turned out the hydraulic hose fitting came loose,, two minutes with a wrench fixed that.

The tractor has,, among other normal uses,,, built over a half mile of road through the woods behind the house.

My nephew thought he was going to improve my efforts with his 953C CAT,,, in a day.
That day did almost nothing,,, he did not know I had spent a month building the road.

All of the neighbors know when something big need moved, they can call me,
I enjoy seeing what the tractor can do.

The tractor is VERY capable,,, :thumbsup:

 

[California]

Does anyone know where the drain for the Tier 4 filter is??

What's a tier?

 

[murphy1244]

Love that tractor!!!!

That is one good looking brute of a machine!:thumbsup:

 

[4570Man]

Amen to that, modern simplicity is sometimes a big improvement. Also, matching a modern efficient tool to the job instead of continuing with old tools just because that's what you always used. I finally figured out my Ryobi cordless chainsaw with Li-Ion batteries is sufficient to hack up fallen apple trees in the orchard, because if the tree fell over or shed a major limb then I only need to cut rotten punky wood to get the debris down to mangeable size. No more 2-cycle fuel to maintain! I got rid of the gas chainsaw 5 years ago, haven't missed it. Here's a post with photo where I'm clearing a fallen Eucalyptus tree a few months ago. That wood is like iron, it worked the little cordless saw pretty hard until I installed a new chain. But I don't expect to cut tough material like that more often than every few years. With the adoption of Li-Ion batteries, a cordless chainsaw has replaced one with carburetor, points (?), spark plug and its cable, and 2-cycle fuel that ages quickly and seems to get everywhere while you use or transport it. Spare batteries are easier to carry along, and re-fuel, than a gas can. Life is better. Sometimes progress is worth getting on board with.

Battery tools aren't for everyone. I'm a big fan of my cordless hand held tools, but not the bigger stuff. My buddy has a cordless shopvac, chainsaw, and leaf blower. The shopvac just doesn't move enough air to be useful. The chainsaw works well enough for cutting up fallen limbs, but that's about it. My cordless sawzall works nearly as well for a lot less money. The leaf blower is poorly balanced, heavy, expensive, and doesn't move much air. I like a backpack blower a lot better. I can't stand hand held gas blowers either.

 

[stuckmotor]

1987 is a new tractor! I just went from a '48 8N Ford to an '80 Yanmar. Live PTO and 3 point hitch, I'm moving up in class...

I was thinking old meant tractors made when only Fergies and Fords had a 3pt hitch.

 

[lennyzx11]

I have a 2015 Kubota 3301 that I enjoy tinkering with for accessories and working with clearing land and moving rocks.
That said, I managed to drag in a Ford 2n that I'm slowly bringing back to life to work with not as a restored piece and it's nice that everything was so simple in 47.
Air tools and penetrating oil goes a long way in old tractor repairs and servicing.

 

[CADplans]

I have a 2015 Kubota 3301 that I enjoy tinkering with for accessories and working with clearing land and moving rocks.
That said, I managed to drag in a Ford 2n that I'm slowly bringing back to life to work with not as a restored piece and it's nice that everything was so simple in 47.
Air tools and penetrating oil goes a long way in old tractor repairs and servicing.

If I owned that Kubota,,, and the 2N,,,
the very next thing I would use the Kubota for would be to push the 2N onto the scrapmans truck.
I like old tractors, but, live hydraulic flow is now a minimum standard for me,,,
I have one tractor without a live PTO,,, when I find a replacement,,, that one will be G O N E !!

That Kubota is the perfect size tractor,,, IMHO :thumbsup: