95XL883
Gold Member
Hi All,
I've been lurking here a littel while trying to learn enough to make a semi-wise tractor buying decision. I'd appreciate any advice you can give me.
My wife and I bought 40 acres in northeast Linn County Kansas. It's not great farm ground but hay may be doable. I found a farmer who worked the adjacent ground a few years ago. He is going to hay the 26 acre field (so I'm not looking for a tractor capable of haying). the other 14 acres is a mixture of brambles, woods, two spring-fed ponds and about 4 acres of grassy glens.
I'm looking for a tractor to help keep the ground next to the road somewhat cut, turn most of the glens into food plots, keep the two lanes in the woods clear, do a little grading and plant an acre of sunflowers (for my wife).
My dad and uncle had farms I used to visit as a kid. Every tractor there was green. So of course I'm only looking at tractors that are green. :laughing: (My wife's grandpa had a red tractor so she wants me to look at red tractors. Silly woman, she'll be happy with the sunflowers.)
I'm thinking an older compact or newer subcompact tractor. So far I've narrowed my choices to several model numbers. I like the old school reliable tractor reputation of the x55 series.
To that end, there is an MFWD 855 with a 1,000 hours and 60" mmm available for $7,900 not too far from here. It has a little rust and could use some new front tires but overall the pictures look like it has potential. I'm a little concerned about parts availability but I like it's reliable reputation.
I've looked at the 1023/1026 series but I just can't warm up to them. I think they are great tractors but for my first tractor I'd really like to keep under $10,000 if possible and stay used rather than new.
I was looking at 2210's until I saw the transmission case problems.
I had been avoiding the 2305's for the same reason but one just became available (estate sale) that has really caught my attention. It's a 2006 with a 195 hours, 200CX FEL, a 60" mmm and a box blade. By the pictures, it is in real good shape. If I can get it for $9,000 or thereabouts I'll probably buy it. Am I fooling myself thinking I can avoid the transmission case problems by avoiding using the rear pto? The only real use I anticipate of the rear pto is a spreader. (When it comes time to prep my wife's sunflower patch I'd probably rent a Kubota from a shop about 3 miles from my farm. Let the rental equipment deal with the rocky ground I've got.)
Even if I get the 855 down to $7,000 it won't have the FEL or the box blade. I can probably get by without the FEL but the box blade is probably a must have. So for anther $1,000 to $2,000 I might be able to get a much newer tractor with the FEL. I'm thinking the 2305 is the way to go. I just have to realize I can't make heavy use of its rear pto.
Of course they are both green :thumbsup: so I probably can't go wrong with either one. Thanks in advance for any advice.
I've been lurking here a littel while trying to learn enough to make a semi-wise tractor buying decision. I'd appreciate any advice you can give me.
My wife and I bought 40 acres in northeast Linn County Kansas. It's not great farm ground but hay may be doable. I found a farmer who worked the adjacent ground a few years ago. He is going to hay the 26 acre field (so I'm not looking for a tractor capable of haying). the other 14 acres is a mixture of brambles, woods, two spring-fed ponds and about 4 acres of grassy glens.
I'm looking for a tractor to help keep the ground next to the road somewhat cut, turn most of the glens into food plots, keep the two lanes in the woods clear, do a little grading and plant an acre of sunflowers (for my wife).
My dad and uncle had farms I used to visit as a kid. Every tractor there was green. So of course I'm only looking at tractors that are green. :laughing: (My wife's grandpa had a red tractor so she wants me to look at red tractors. Silly woman, she'll be happy with the sunflowers.)
I'm thinking an older compact or newer subcompact tractor. So far I've narrowed my choices to several model numbers. I like the old school reliable tractor reputation of the x55 series.
To that end, there is an MFWD 855 with a 1,000 hours and 60" mmm available for $7,900 not too far from here. It has a little rust and could use some new front tires but overall the pictures look like it has potential. I'm a little concerned about parts availability but I like it's reliable reputation.
I've looked at the 1023/1026 series but I just can't warm up to them. I think they are great tractors but for my first tractor I'd really like to keep under $10,000 if possible and stay used rather than new.
I was looking at 2210's until I saw the transmission case problems.
I had been avoiding the 2305's for the same reason but one just became available (estate sale) that has really caught my attention. It's a 2006 with a 195 hours, 200CX FEL, a 60" mmm and a box blade. By the pictures, it is in real good shape. If I can get it for $9,000 or thereabouts I'll probably buy it. Am I fooling myself thinking I can avoid the transmission case problems by avoiding using the rear pto? The only real use I anticipate of the rear pto is a spreader. (When it comes time to prep my wife's sunflower patch I'd probably rent a Kubota from a shop about 3 miles from my farm. Let the rental equipment deal with the rocky ground I've got.)
Even if I get the 855 down to $7,000 it won't have the FEL or the box blade. I can probably get by without the FEL but the box blade is probably a must have. So for anther $1,000 to $2,000 I might be able to get a much newer tractor with the FEL. I'm thinking the 2305 is the way to go. I just have to realize I can't make heavy use of its rear pto.
Of course they are both green :thumbsup: so I probably can't go wrong with either one. Thanks in advance for any advice.