darmstrong2319
Gold Member
Farmall cub was my favorite because it seemed like a much simpler time. There is no comparison to what we have now tractor wise but back then life was different
What is your favorite tractor and why?
- Thread starter K5lwq
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RaydaKub
Veteran Member
I must admit, after reading the whole thread, I grew up in some kind of paradise. 
My dad had a 51 Ford N. He replaced the front wheels with basically car rims so it worked well for the loader he built out of Farmall F20 frame. Rear tires were filled, a steel box about 16" square and 2 feet high filled with concrete on the 3pt and it still lifted the wheels once in a while. Whenever a job needed just a bit more oomph, my dad would just "go get the Ford" and that would be enough to get it done, even if there were a few other bigger tractors already working on it. In addition to the loader, he had a belly mount foot sickle mower; a real pain to mount, but sweet to run.
He also had a 51 JD Model A. I grew up standing between his knees on this one and was driving it on my own by the age of 5 For small stuff. He had incredible trust in me. I couldn't even push the hand clutch in hard enough to lock it.
The "big" tractor was our Case 730 and I spend hundreds of hours on it, radio blasting while I plowed, dished, cultivated or anything else.
When I went to college, the A was on its last legs (needed clutch work) and he sold it. He moved the 730 to the planting tasks the A had done and upgraded to a Case 930. Man, that thing had a lot of snort to it. He plowed 5/16's with it and kept pace with the neighbor's 110hp Deutz on the same plow, even though TractorData says it only was rated about 85hp. My favorite story was that he took it to church to help the guys clean out an old grove that was mostly dead to plant a new one. He had the duals on it and the 18 foot field cultivator on the 3pt. The front end carried a rock box, probably 18 inches square, 2 feet tall, filled with 5 lb weights from all the double hung house windows we took out. One of the guys had a long cable that they wrapped around a cottonwood stump. Cottonwood trees can get to be enormous, often the trunk can be 6 or 8 feet across. The cable had a 6 foot loop on one end. He hooked on to that cable with the stump behind, 2nd gear. The front end lifted about a foot, the duals dug in and the clamp on the cable cinched up and the loop slid closed in a display of sparks that looked like a 4th of July celebration. The guy who owned the cable got behind the stump with his 460 Farmall to push with the bucket. Later he deadpanned "It's never been pulled that hard before." They had to get wrenches out to take off the clamp just to unhook.
I've done JD 3020, 4020(!), 4230, IH 856, 1468, Case 970, 1070, 1175, a couple Deutz, and probably a few I can't remember.
Me, I just own a little BX, but every time I drive it, I'm taken back to the days of my youth and imagine the magnificent horsepower all of those listed above.
My dad had a 51 Ford N. He replaced the front wheels with basically car rims so it worked well for the loader he built out of Farmall F20 frame. Rear tires were filled, a steel box about 16" square and 2 feet high filled with concrete on the 3pt and it still lifted the wheels once in a while. Whenever a job needed just a bit more oomph, my dad would just "go get the Ford" and that would be enough to get it done, even if there were a few other bigger tractors already working on it. In addition to the loader, he had a belly mount foot sickle mower; a real pain to mount, but sweet to run.
He also had a 51 JD Model A. I grew up standing between his knees on this one and was driving it on my own by the age of 5 For small stuff. He had incredible trust in me. I couldn't even push the hand clutch in hard enough to lock it.
The "big" tractor was our Case 730 and I spend hundreds of hours on it, radio blasting while I plowed, dished, cultivated or anything else.
When I went to college, the A was on its last legs (needed clutch work) and he sold it. He moved the 730 to the planting tasks the A had done and upgraded to a Case 930. Man, that thing had a lot of snort to it. He plowed 5/16's with it and kept pace with the neighbor's 110hp Deutz on the same plow, even though TractorData says it only was rated about 85hp. My favorite story was that he took it to church to help the guys clean out an old grove that was mostly dead to plant a new one. He had the duals on it and the 18 foot field cultivator on the 3pt. The front end carried a rock box, probably 18 inches square, 2 feet tall, filled with 5 lb weights from all the double hung house windows we took out. One of the guys had a long cable that they wrapped around a cottonwood stump. Cottonwood trees can get to be enormous, often the trunk can be 6 or 8 feet across. The cable had a 6 foot loop on one end. He hooked on to that cable with the stump behind, 2nd gear. The front end lifted about a foot, the duals dug in and the clamp on the cable cinched up and the loop slid closed in a display of sparks that looked like a 4th of July celebration. The guy who owned the cable got behind the stump with his 460 Farmall to push with the bucket. Later he deadpanned "It's never been pulled that hard before." They had to get wrenches out to take off the clamp just to unhook.
I've done JD 3020, 4020(!), 4230, IH 856, 1468, Case 970, 1070, 1175, a couple Deutz, and probably a few I can't remember.
Me, I just own a little BX, but every time I drive it, I'm taken back to the days of my youth and imagine the magnificent horsepower all of those listed above.
OP
K5lwq
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2017
- Messages
- 4,800
- Location
- Mineola, TX
- Tractor
- Kioti LK2554, Branson 4815C, Satoh Beaver, Speedex
Thanks for all the replies!! It is really interesting how similar these stories are to the experience I had on the farm. Keep them coming!
goeduck
Super Member
And these days good for driving in the parade. Cute little buggers.
mopardude318
Platinum Member
I'd say it'd have to be my Oliver 550 Industrial. It has been an excellent tractor the little time I've had with it.
cruz54982
Silver Member
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2014
- Messages
- 119
- Location
- Wautoma, Wi.
- Tractor
- TYM T503 cab , 1946 Farmal M , case 310 industrial /w fel
Oh boy this was a great thread remembering the older simpler life ! grandpa's old Massy Harris 44 diesel dad's 70 John Deere , Father-in-laws IH806 and much later my little 550 Oliver each with a heart warming memory !
Texasmark
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2012
- Messages
- 3,694
- Location
- N. Texas
- Tractor
- Ford: '88 3910 Series II, '80 3600, '65 3000; '07 6530C Branson with FEL, 2020 LS MT225S. Case-IH 395 and 895 with cab. All Diesels
My 6530c because of all it's whistles and bells....my first tractor and was what I did for myself when I retired from my day job.......career.
goeduck
Super Member
I'd say it'd have to be my Oliver 550 Industrial. It has been an excellent tractor the little time I've had with it.
There is something about a yellow tractor that looks right. Very nice, even with the lid missing.
