What Older Reliable Tractor for Small Farm?

[Soundguy]

don't forget the 700 series, and 501 series!

 

[arodrigz]

The 175 at 4K isn't a bad deal but it isn't a smoking deal either. It does look a little rough and worn but I look over cosmetics. The 175 is a lot of tractor. Just looking at the specs on tractordata it's 62 hp at PTO, diesel, live pto and weight from 3-5 ton. I guessing it probably has rear hydraulic remotes and is probably cat 2 hitch.

If you are looking at going into the hay business this tractor would fit your bid. It could easily run a mower/conditioner or a 5x5 round baler. It could also easily handle a triple bottom 16 plow, 7'no till drill and some other larger implements. I you were looking at going into the hay business or plan on turning over more than 5 acres of dirt annually this might be a good fit.

If you decide to go over 48 hp I would recommend going diesel. These older gassers in the larger HPs are thirsty tractors. Plus throwing in a little ATF in with the diesel doesn't hurt either. New age diesel has a lot less of the lubricating properties than older diesel due to the refinement process used to get the sulfur content to EPA standards.

Just out of curiosity what are your plans or intentions to due with your land? More importantly how much and what type of farming are you planning on doing? You mentioned running a mulch layer are you planning on giving organic farming a shot?

Organic farming has crossed my mind. The property has not been farmed for at least 15 years. I have a pond and my father-in-law gave me a submersible pump he had laying around that I'm going to adapt for irrigation.

 

[motownbrowne]

What kind of farming you want to do should guide your tractor purchase. For veggies, think about a farmall 140 in addition to a bigger tractor.

 

[arodrigz]

Well, didn't want to leave this thread hanging. After a few months of searching, I ran into a deal I could not pass up. Here are some photos of my "new to me" D17. It came with a front loader, draw bar, 8ft reversible blade, 3-16" bottom plow and 10ft hydraulic disc. All for $2559! (no one bid on it on ebay and it did not have a reserve set). I'll also be picking up a couple older harrow's from the guy in the next week or so. I spent the day plowing and discing today and it worked great. I feel very blessed with this find.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[hhsco]

Wow, what a deal! Very lucky.

 

[Green Power]

Good looking tractor! How many hours?

 

[TomSeller]

Well, didn't want to leave this thread hanging. After a few months of searching, I ran into a deal I could not pass up. Here are some photos of my "new to me" D17. It came with a front loader, draw bar, 8ft reversible blade, 3-16" bottom plow and 10ft hydraulic disc. All for $2559! (no one bid on it on ebay and it did not have a reserve set). I'll also be picking up a couple older harrow's from the guy in the next week or so. I spent the day plowing and discing today and it worked great. I feel very blessed with this find.
Thanks for all the advice.

Very good buy on a very usable tractor. Good job. You should get a lot of work done with minimal expense.

 

[Cherokee140]

Good deal....when looking for anything vintage that you are going to really use for what it was made for the shape it is in is 99% of what you are looking for. I think you did real well....just keep it up....like us older people with some battle damage it takes us a little while to get going in the morning, and we may need a little more oil now and then but we do work.

 

[flusher]

Nice find. Rear rubber looks pretty good.
That wheel disc looks a lot like my 13-ft Minneapolis Moline KA1300 which was made by Krause. Top of the line stuff.

 

[super55]

Nice purchase. Even all the implements have the old AC snap hitch. You don't even have to get out of the tractor seat to hook up your implements. I would say overall a good buy now go have some fun rolling dirt. :thumbsup: