When does a tractor become 'Vintage'

[RB5]

My now parked out of the way 1970 Ford 2000 gas tractor may not be vintage, but it is junk. I used to repair that thing almost every time I used it. I spent more time running 30 minutes each way to get parts than I did using it many times. The last time I used it the tractor got stuck in gear and we had to use a hammer to get it loose and move it out of the way. Not long after that I bought a Deere 4044M to replace it. Just the title of this thread made me laugh and brought back memories.

 

[airbiscuit]

Did it run when parked?

 

[RB5]

Did it run when parked?

Not very strong, and it leaked oil. It had not been maintained well before I bought the land. It was sort of a throw in. I was able to disk and mow 20 acres with it a couple times before it started breaking every time I used it. It needed a transmission rebuild, a new generator/alternator, and I think the hydraulics were not in good shape. It did not have a loader. Oh and the rear tires were falling apart. I had done a tune up, replaced a water pump, and new carb. When the transmission started locking in gear I gave up. Also replaced the radiator. It was done.

 

[careyo63]

BTDT. my 2000 The CL. add stated just needed "Battery & TLC." when purchased was as bad if not worse. Finding out after I got it to the house. The Clutch/Trans. was in such bad shape it had to go to the shop! Wasn't big money to repair it all but well worth it. The new 2 stage was the most expensive and now Everything is working AIS... FEL. had problems that I was able to take care of. 63-65 not very common but I'm down to just the Front plastic grill and cap and I may paint it. I do use it with the FEL. so the paint not that important to me. I'm thinking of adding P. steering. Going to have to keep it factory PS.. Was told the new aftermarket wouldn't work. Crank shaft PTO and looking believe the new style Hyd. pump? clearly said it wouldn't work. It can be rough on me with the FEL. but weight on the 3 point isn't that bad!!

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[masseyrider]

When it's barely 10 years old and the manufacturer already stopped supplying some of the replacement parts for that model.

 

[careyo63]

Wow 10yrs. No parts in the US? What model is it or was it? That's insane they still in buisness. Sounds Doubtful.

 

[masseyrider]

Wow 10yrs. No parts in the US? What model is it or was it? That's insane they still in buisness. Sounds Doubtful.

My namesake, Massey Ferguson.
For the 2 MF563s that I traded in try and get a replacement fuel line or a front axle spindle or a number of other items.

 

[careyo63]

Vintage In this forum but A Massey 563 2006-2008 I can understand that!

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Like the title says, what makes a tractor a vintage machine? I've not seen that defined on any tractor forums. I have a JD 4020, 1967 model year, that makes it 58 years old, is it a vintage machine? Is a tractor an antique? The definition of a vintage automobile is one manufacture between 1919 and 1930 but I find no mention of tractors, are they the same?

When you cannot get parts.

 

[sd455dan]

I've always considered 'vintage' tractors to be anything from before things were standardized. Things like the 3 point hitch, live PTOs, integrated hydraulics, and loaders with two evenly spaced plate steel arms with tilt/curl/power down. The 'variety' days if you will, when everybody was trying to work around everybody else's patents and you ended up with every manufacturer coming up with their own unique system that only worked with *their* implements (things like Case's Eagle hitch, for instance). And then anything from that era forward to roughly 30 years ago is merely 'antique'

The way I see it as well.

Sometime between the very late 1950's to the late 1960's most tractor makers integrated the "modern" standard basics.

Available power or assisted steering (need that for the FEL),
ability to get a normal looking FEL mounted up,
decent volume and pressure on the hydraulics ( 2 or 3 pumps),
2 stage clutch, or even a fully independent PTO, a 540 and maybe a 1000 RPM
transmissions manual with live clutch or powershift, no longer stuck with a groundspeed transmission locked to the PTO so no over running clutch needed,
gearing with enough spread in speed to run a tiller to roading the tractor,
decent standardized 3 point lift of at least 1500lb,
Lockable rear axle.
Lights.

This ignores the need to have MFWD, that took a while longer to be considered almost a necessity.