Smallest/least expensive tractor with closed center hydraulics.

[strantor]

I have a 40hp LS tractor (XR4140H) and it has open center hydraulics. Some of the things I want to do now and in the future would be better suited to closed center. So far my search for tractors with closed center hydraulics yields 100+hp tractors. I don't need and can't afford that. Is there anything close to what I have (30- 60hp) that has closed center?

 

[RickB]

Probably not less than 30 years old.

 

[Rock knocker]

Why would closed center be preferable for your uses?

 

[strantor]

Why would closed center be preferable for your uses?

In the present: so that I can curl/lift my FEL simultaneously. I use my tractor 90% as a forklift, and trying to make nice even lifts with the forks with open center hyrdaulics (at least on my tractor) is a PITA.

In the future: because I plan to build a forklift attachment for my 3-pt using a 3-stage mast off of a broken forklift I have, using the closed center controls off the original forklift tied in to my rear remote port. This will cause my hydraulic pump to be forcing full flow over the relief valve all the time, and it will kill all other hydraulic functions of my tractor because the remotes are in series with the FEL, 3-pt, PTO, etc.

 

[strantor]

Probably not less than 30 years old.

I don't mind an older tractor. In fact, I keep thinking how nice it would be to sell this one I've got financed, and get something I can pay for in cash, that doesn't have all these electronics and DPF. Would be nice to get out from under that payment for sure, even though I know I'll have to eat a fat loss for driving it off the lot.
What should I be looking for in the 'old tractor' department?

 

[/pine]

Why not shop for a used fork lift?

 

[strantor]

Why not shop for a used fork lift?

I did. I even purchased one. It was a warehouse forklift and had smooth tires. I knew it was for use on pavement but I figured it would still work on grass or dirt as long as it was dry. I was wrong. Not only did it get stuck every 1ft-2ft on dry hard packed ground, it also got stuck on pavement. In the street right in front of my shop. I had to push it with the truck. It had a differential (not of the limited slip variety) and no suspenstion whatsoever; like a rigid box. So any time it would be on ground not 100% perfectly flat, one wheel would come off the ground and it would teeter-totter, like a cafe table with one leg too short. And that one wheel that comes off the ground is without fail, a drive wheel, which just hangs in the air 1/16" off the ground and spins.

Since I need a machine it to move machinery back and forth between my shop and my yard, I need an offroad forklift, 4WD. I got rid of the forklift I had purchased, and started shopping for such a forklift. These are unicorns, hard to find and expensive when you do. I went and look at several that seemed priced right, and they were absolute turds, used and abused, unsafe, all of them. I was unable to find anything suitable for a reasonable price so I started shopping for a skid-steer. These cost as much or more. I spent so much time shopping that I was down to the wire on a project I absolutely had to have the forklift/skidsteer/thing, so I went out and bought a tractor last minute. The tractor has suited my needs so far but it isn't ideal.

I purchased a 2nd forklift, purely for the mast that's on it. To make a forklifting attachment for the tractor 3-pt. Once I build that, I think it will be the best of all worlds. But that is a ways off, and I have come to realize that these open center hydraulics are going to be a problem. Trying to get ahead of that problem.

 

[ericm979]

Could you make a closed center system with a PTO pump and tank?
Or switch your forklift mast to open center valves?

 

[LouNY]

My 3 point fork lift is from an old mast and I use it on both my tractors which are open center and it's been used at the farm and all but 3 of those are open center hydraulic.
I use a hydraulic toplink to tilt the forks running that off of one of my remotes, I run the mast off another remote and I can use the 3 point if needed as I'm usually only running one cylinder at a time. On my loader on the open center system if I'm trying to curl and lift at the same time I can do so by just feathering the joystick for what I want to do.
View attachment IMG_20171008_135552757.jpg View attachment IMG_20180111_112610294.jpg View attachment IMG_20180111_113547661.jpg

 

[RickB]

I don't mind an older tractor. In fact, I keep thinking how nice it would be to sell this one I've got financed, and get something I can pay for in cash, that doesn't have all these electronics and DPF. Would be nice to get out from under that payment for sure, even though I know I'll have to eat a fat loss for driving it off the lot.
What should I be looking for in the 'old tractor' department?

Just about any John Deere Tractor built before the model ID’s were changed to 4xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx. Utility or rowcrop tractors commonly known as 20, 30, 40, 50 or 55 series.