Tractor Sizing Nothing-Electronic... 4x4... cabin.. 6-cyl?

[fitterski]

If you notice all those mentioned tractors, the engine has been significantly derated to not overpower the drivetrain, putting a truck motor with 250 hp and 450 lb torque might rip the guts rightout of your small tactor.

This is a very good point. It's not at all like a car where you will accelerate or just go faster. With a plow for example delivering twice the torque could become a very expensive lesson although the proper engineering should also use friction to be overcome resulting in spinning wheels.

The REASON for all this is an upset in my land use. A rancher down the road was maintaining it by cutting the hay for his cows, periodically seeding etc. His dad passed away and he's forced to drop half a dozen lots including mine. Getting someone else is out of the question, every family farm has the same problem! So i'm forced to EITHER do it myself OR just plant a thousand pines and leave the kids something other than the value-free freaking bush that is sure to be at the quick end any other avenue. These two options would require two very different tractors, until now i've been thinking of DIY hay production ...probably for next to no profit. But i am learning every day and the decision will be made later. Right now I can't even find anyone to just level my field for whatever will follow, the guy in question plowed it up and that's the shape it will rise from under the snow in spring.

 

[Farmer495]

This is a very good point. It's not at all like a car where you will accelerate or just go faster. With a plow for example delivering twice the torque could become a very expensive lesson although the proper engineering should also use friction to be overcome resulting in spinning wheels.

The REASON for all this is an upset in my land use. A rancher down the road was maintaining it by cutting the hay for his cows, periodically seeding etc. His dad passed away and he's forced to drop half a dozen lots including mine. Getting someone else is out of the question, every family farm has the same problem! So i'm forced to EITHER do it myself OR just plant a thousand pines and leave the kids something other than the value-free freaking bush that is sure to be at the quick end any other avenue. These two options would require two very different tractors, until now i've been thinking of DIY hay production ...probably for next to no profit. But i am learning every day and the decision will be made later. Right now I can't even find anyone to just level my field for whatever will follow, the guy in question plowed it up and that's the shape it will rise from under the snow in spring.

If you are trading a backhoe, you might be able to get a decent CaseIH Maxxum (5.9 power) cab/4x4/loader.

If you just want a tractor to do hay work, I'd keep the backhoe and buy a 2wd open station diesel tractor and some hay gear and forget the 5.9 idea.

 

[buickanddeere]

Anyone who want s a "Nothing-Electronic... 4x4... cabin.. 6-cyl" is like my Amish Neighbours, they are "proud of their modesty".

 

[Tractorable]

So now we're getting to the root of the problem. How much land needs to be leveled? Do you have to hay it? Or can you just mow it?

 

[fitterski]

The reason I want nothing electronic is the same that I want nothing electronic in my cars/trucks either (to the extent possible). Unbelievably flimsy design AND manufacture, got t he T-shirts that came with the experienced and just as expensive as useless repair attempts and horror stories!

As far as keeping the backhoe I figure it might be an idea to trade it in and get a used 3-point backhoe that I can periodically attach to a tractor that's big enough, hence the size to around 7,000-9,000 lbs ..only one machine to upkeep, you know. The target HP range would also give me the option of moving over to a conventional snow-blower on the tractor 3-point in winter. I'm sorta giving up on the hay production, at my age I need to shed work instead of looking for new chores. At the most, just mowing to keep the bush from gaining might become the topic, if not tree planting which would be a one-shot deal. Around here a lot of little abused 90-125hp JD's are available because it seems to be a popular make used by snow clearing pros. Truth be told I've been looking at them Case-5310's which are holding their price rather well, probably for cause. I'll continue looking and might just bite on opportunity in the spring.

Oh, in response to Tracorable, about 300x2300 feet with a road/driveway/runway in the middle. The land is 3100 long but the 2200 is the currently hay surface.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I know of several 5.9 conversions around here...

Dairy farm a couple miles S of here, put one in his 3010 or 3020 ?, deere last year. He uses it for grinding grain.

I know another guy that has at least 3 IH tractors converted and has more in the works. One or two are 560's and the others are bigger IH's...

It's no longer a "cobble job" now days, all of the parts are available to do these swaps IF you know what you are doing...

Here's a 4 cyl Cummins in a IH544,

SR

 

[fitterski]

The torque is much the same so that doesn't have to be a problem. The automotive or tractor 5.9's pretty much all put out about 500 ft-lbs @ 1600 or so. But I agree, you don't wanna flip on your back just because you had a knee cramp ))

 

[fitterski]

I know of several 5.9 conversions around here...

Dairy farm a couple miles S of here, put one in his 3010 or 3020 ?, deere last year. He uses it for grinding grain.

I know another guy that has at least 3 IH tractors converted and has more in the works. One or two are 560's and the others are bigger IH's...

It's no longer a "cobble job" now days, all of the parts are available to do these swaps IF you know what you are doing...

Here's a 4 cyl Cummins in a IH544,

SR

Good, so the 3010/20 also goes on my 'casing' list. I know there are some Olivers too but they're a bit too old and too big (based on pictures only). There aren't many MFWD's or cabins among the 3010's that I've seen on a quick search however. A swap is not that big a deal, I more than know how to design it but I don't really want to spend the summer on one. With kits it's really a walk in the park. One thing to watch with the Cummins is that they are NOT structural blocks, you gotta have a frame for them.

Just in passing, around what years did tractors generally transition from the starter-only electrical era to the more complete but still electrics-only era, and what years did electronics start showing up? Those would be 3 approximate year-ranges. My preference is for a starter-only setup i.e. if you just boost every time you don't even want a battery.

 

[Farmer495]

Just in passing, around what years did tractors generally transition from the starter-only electrical era to the more complete but still electrics-only era, and what years did electronics start showing up? Those would be 3 approximate year-ranges. My preference is for a starter-only setup i.e. if you just boost every time you don't even want a battery.

I think anything 20 years old plus engine wise you are safe, 10 years plus hit or miss. All depends on the individual make, model and options, i.e. you could buy a basic crash box model at the same time something with full cab and powershift was out.

 

[RickB]

Some of the models discussed are 45-55 years old. Expecting optimum reliability from one of these tractors just because it has a more modern engine is unrealistic. A repower project can be a form of entertainment. But the stated premise is flawed.