What was the FIRST tractor you ever drove?

TMAC · Apr 30, 2004

Had to call dad up on this one couldn't remember the name of the garden tactor. Anyway when I was 7 I got my first lesson on mowing grass on what dad says was a Bolland. I tried looking it up on the internet but can't seem to figure out the correct spelling on it. Anybody know?

Hollywood · Apr 30, 2004

TMAC,
The spelling is Bolens, and you'll find quite a following of them on the net. I have one now, an HT18.

Back to the thread....started on a Sears Suburban 12hp with a belly mower and sickle mower at about 7 years old. First real tractor, as either an A or B JD, I don't remember which. By high school, I pretty much lived on a 4020 JD.

JDgreen227 · Apr 30, 2004

First tractor I ever drove was one of the late 40's Ford 8N's at the age of 10....I never understood in later years why so many people were unable to drive a stick shift vehicle because it was second nature to me before I even got a driver's license. My dad had numerous 9N's and 8N's when I was a kid and he never worried about me driving them, HOWEVER, when he got his first new tractor, a '53 Jubilee, it was a few years old before he let me drive that one. Smart old Dad..... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

txdon · Apr 30, 2004

Grandpa's John Deere B (I think) with the hand clutch. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

cowboydoc · Apr 30, 2004

AC WD45. Started driving that tractor at about 5 and I'm still driving her today! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I'd give up every tractor I own but I'd never sell that one for any amount of money.

dmccarty · May 2, 2004

First tractor, well real tractor, not a ride on mower was a MF 135 when I was 15 or 16. Looking back on it after all these years, I'm lucky I did not get killed. No ROPS or seat belts. Used to stand up when mowing 5-6 foot tall grass to see what I was mowing i.e., trying to avoid the ground hug holes. If the front tire hit a hole it would jar the heck out me and the tractor. No big deal if the rear wheel hit but hit the front tire and it would almost throw you off the thing.

Still hate ground hogs....

The boss drove a MF 165. One day the rear tire fell off. The work season ended for me when his small dozer, I think it was a JD, broke an oil line. I saw the oil on the ground and took off after him. By the time I had gone a short distance he was driving it out of the woods. He should have shut it down and fixed the hose.....

Later,
Dan

Chechnya · May 3, 2004

A gradall forklift(not sure of the model)when i was 11

DUMBDOG · May 3, 2004

The first tractor that I drove was a IH Model A at the age of 4 pulling a hay trailer while it was being loaded with bales. This was the same tractor that my Dad and two older brothers used to farm six quarters of land.

r0GuE · May 3, 2004

BX2200 Kubota. With the sub compacts came a number of us owners who have never touched a tractor before. They "looked so big". In retrospect, I feel bad for ~ 1 acre owners who never had a tractor. Working is much harder without a loader and such. My dad still thinks I'm loopy!

If I land that 3.2 acre lot accross the way, I see a B7800 in my future. They'll probably commit me! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

buckle97 · May 3, 2004

In 1988 I was 8 years old and I first drove my PaPaw's 1984 Kubota L345. I believe he first put me on it to teach me how to drive (anything). It wasn't long before I was helping rake hay with it. I sure miss those Mississippi summers when I was so young! My uncle still has that tractor with 1400 hours on it and we still use it for finish mowing and bush hogging. Probably only put 20 hours or less a year on it now.

Lawrence