turnoffs and downsides to old iron-survey

Farmwithjunk · Jul 7, 2006

Kaliburz said:
Man, this is an old thread.......but here it goes.

"When there is a will, there is a way."
AND
"With enough money, anything can be done."

With that being said, both apply to the "old iron to be collected" vs "old iron to be used."

A shop I just visited is rebuilding SOS trannies. When the input shaft is shot, they have "repaired" the splines by "resplining". I guess welding and recutting, so far, so good......

I know of tons of the 4010/4030/3010/3020 John Deeres being used still today. Some are hybrids, 3020 tranny w/ a 4020 engine. Some, naturally, are for collection and have seen tehir last day in the field. Some, will die in the field.

A general "don't like" about old iron, lack of standardization. Most manufacutures didn't have a 3pt and if they did, it was odd (look at the JD model 60 2 cylinder....center link was funny). Also, the 6 Volt sytem (some were POSITIVE ground, others NEGATIVE).

That Deere 60 MIGHT have been what was known as an "801" hitch. Manufactured by Yakima Mfg. (Owned by Deere) it was an effort to enter the 3-point market, but still "respect" the patents still owned by Harry Ferguson. The 801 was more in line with a CAT II 3-point. I've got an old Deere model 246/247 planter that has an 801 style hitch. It hooks up to a CATII hitch with only a few minor adjustments.

Positive ground systems work just fine. The only drawback? Most people have a "negative mentality" when working with it.

Kaliburz · Jul 9, 2006

I don't think it's a Yakima hitch. Have part of one here off of the old "B" that was traded to buy the 60 (so said my father).......

No, there isn't anything wrong w/ positive ground, its that sometimes, people take the battery out. Then when one puts it back in....forgets. Have done that....some 6V systems I have, I converted to an 6V alternator (negative ground), but still have original 6V (+ ground-generator) engines- 50's era trucks.

SPYDERLK · Jul 9, 2006

JD 2010R #29762 - - Oldest iron I know. Dad bought it when I was 12.
Turnoffs:
No power steering;
No parking brake - must use transmission park;
Live Co-axial transmission input to drive the pto causes an effect similar to clutch drag in the transmission - hard shifting when hot at high rpm;
Gasoline engine.

Upsides:
Maneuverability - will swivel on inside wheel using brake;
Seat - Best I have ever experienced -4" damped travel, adjustable for height and weight;
Stability. Feels locked to the ground with the tricycle contact and loaded tires. Good for woods work because it is a knife on wheels and has a clean rock hard underbelly. Front wheel assist would do wonders here;
Absence of safety features beyond no start in gear. I learned of the dangers by observing their presence - - the only one that truly troubles me is the lack of a parking brake - - even with due circumspect behavior this tractor may run over me one day;
Totally independent pto - both speeds. Can start engine w pto engaged.
Extendable 3ph lift links - rt link adjustable from seat;
Draft control;
Good HARD adjustable fenders with lights front and back selectable or inclusive;
Rear remote w detent;
Big rears - 36" - give good ride even with 98% CaCl loading;
Excellent wheelstand stability when pulling from drawbar - - with 5" bushog on back this tractor will not flip. I have done 7mph flying jerks repeatedly against 8-10" stumps;
Gasoline engine - -yeah I know, but spelling the diesels it can handle the hard work required while being a novel and total pleasure for the lighter jobs like post driving, post hole augering, hay raking, rescuing a loader stuck in the woods, etc;
Visability of all ground contact points and implement functions;
Trivially easy adjustment of track width;
Total reliability except for starting below 10F.

It makes me wonder how far we have actually come in 45 years.
Larry

Kaliburz · Jul 12, 2006

2010R.....this?

SPYDERLK · Jul 12, 2006

Nice 2010. Is it an R? I always thot the R meant row crop - - a three wheeler. Mine has 2 front wheels very closely set. Are those 36" rears?
Larry

Farmwithjunk · Jul 13, 2006

SPYDERLK said:
Nice 2010. Is it an R? I always thot the R meant row crop - - a three wheeler. Mine has 2 front wheels very closely set. Are those 36" rears?
Larry

"Row crop" doesn't have to be narrow front. All that really means is they have adjustable axles front and rear, and generally, a row crop tractor will have taller tires/wheels than a standard or utility. (USUALLY 38" rears)

scott_vt · Jul 13, 2006

Mornin Soundguy,
Old thread but what the heck, Ill add my 2 cents

I just like lookin at old iron, especially red old iron, but any color is OK with me

When I first started mowin my property I used my old 42 A and the 16A rear mount sickle mower, that was a trip for sure. Some pretty steep hills with no ROPS and I just went real slow and kept the left side of the tractor uphill while turning at the bottom of the slope and I was fine. Just no stoppin those old tractors.

I eventually weakened and bought a more modern FWD diesel and a brushog to make the job easier.

I think that anyone who plans on using these tractors to do some work needs to like working on them. Kind of a prerequiste IMHO. Its just fun doing something with a piece of equipment that is 60+ years old

or older.

In addition to what Farmwithjunk has stated about rowcrop tractors, Im not even sure that real tall tires are a prerequisite for classification as a rowcrop. My A and Super A both have 24" rear rims and their biggest claim to fame was that they were super cultivating machines. Granted the Super AV had larger rims and tires but basically did the same job but on higher crops !

They are just fun machines and nice to look at and think about what it was like back then !

Soundguy · Jul 13, 2006

I AGREE. Ground clearance for a row crop would be a bit dependent on the crop you intend to farm.

Also agree that a person should kinda like to wrench a bit if they own an older tractor!

Soundguy

Farmwithjunk · Jul 13, 2006

scott_vt said:
Mornin Soundguy,
Old thread but what the heck, Ill add my 2 cents I just like lookin at old iron, especially red old iron, but any color is OK with me

When I first started mowin my property I used my old 42 A and the 16A rear mount sickle mower, that was a trip for sure. Some pretty steep hills with no ROPS and I just went real slow and kept the left side of the tractor uphill while turning at the bottom of the slope and I was fine. Just no stoppin those old tractors.

I eventually weakened and bought a more modern FWD diesel and a brushog to make the job easier.

I think that anyone who plans on using these tractors to do some work needs to like working on them. Kind of a prerequiste IMHO. Its just fun doing something with a piece of equipment that is 60+ years old or older.

In addition to what Farmwithjunk has stated about rowcrop tractors, Im not even sure that real tall tires are a prerequisite for classification as a rowcrop. My A and Super A both have 24" rear rims and their biggest claim to fame was that they were super cultivating machines. Granted the Super AV had larger rims and tires but basically did the same job but on higher crops !

They are just fun machines and nice to look at and think about what it was like back then !

I stand corrected. I wasn't clear in my description, commenting mostly on the row crop tractors from "corn country". Here in Kentucky, the #1 row crop was tobacco for a long long time. A large portion of what was used to cultivate tobacco was those smaller tractors. About the only real prerequisite would be those adjustable wheels and/or axles. You'll find IH Cubs, A's, a few B's, and a bunch of C's here still, abpout as common as ants at a picnic. Even those old Fergies and Ford N's were considered row crops. (Ever here the phrase "row crop utility"? A lot of smaller Deere's had that title hung on them)

KYErik · Jul 13, 2006

I love my 1943 Case SC (roughly the same size/hp as the International model H). Its a very functional family heirloom. It was my one of my great garndfather's first tractors when he retired the horses. I really like my tricycle front end. It turns so much sharper than the wide front tractors when I am mowing and raking hay and I can squeeze the front end into a little crack between other equipment in my pole barn. My property has gentle rolling hills so rollovers aren't an issue.

Upsides- built heavy and strong, easy to make routine adjustments (clutch free play, etc.), the option to buy a tricycle from end if you want one

Downsides- Get used to rust and frozen bolts, lack of power steering and power brakes, rotted out radiators, engine parts are sky high from the dealer (Over $100 just for the ring gear, $130 for water pump rebuild kit) Aftermarket engine rebuild parts are getting scarce for my tractor, it would cost about 1K to overhaul the engine if I ever get tired of the blue smoke that protects me from getting West Nile ;-)

Anyone know when the last tricycle type tractors were made? Late 70's?