which one, JD 1025R or MF GC1720 or MF 1526 with woods backhoe or NH25s

[bfloyd4445]

Stump removal is out of the question. I had a JD 2305 in 2008, tractor loader backhoe, I found the backhoe to be fairly useless on even small stumps. It worked okay on small pine stumps but not worth 5 grand or whatever crazy money they ask for them. If you use a loader on a tractor to push stumps and big rocks it won稚 turn out well for the tractor.

I have used the weight bar loaded with 6 hundred pound weights on front of my 1975 Ford 2000 on stumps and if nothing moves the tires just dig in. Your caution is well taken thank you very much, i learned years ago what someone above said" listen and feel your tractor".
The F2000D is my current little tractor, and fun to drive

 

[atsah]

We had an old International 350 when I was growing up, that old piece of iron took some abuse, we did things with that tractor I wouldn't even think about doing with a tractor in the 30hp range that's built today.

Once in a while I rent a dozer or excavator and then back fill etc with my little guy. I like the 1526 and it's features, I can honestly say if someone is looking for a three range, auto thottle 25hp range tractor, I would steer them away from the GC because I think if they have the room and are not going to mow there lawn with it, it's the way to go..

 

[plowhog]

I wonder how it would do on stumps?

I have some experience with this using my MF GC1710. I pulled a number of 50+ year old juniper bushes out that had stumps and a deep root system.

I got the job done, but the limiting factor was traction. The MF backhoe had enough power to pull the tractor across the ground even with the parking brake engaged, and the bucket and stabilizers on the ground. It's simply a weight issue. The solution for me was to use the backhoe to pull more vertically than sideways-- not always something convenient with other stumps and rocks butted up to the root I was working on. Even when pulling directly upward I could sometimes raise the front bucket off the ground. If I do this again I will put a lot of dirt in the bucket first.

I did get the job done, but also cut off a few roots using a chain saw on the toughest stumps. I'd wiggle, jiggle, and pull the stump, which would usually expose one or more of the large roots, cut the big root, and try again.

btw, I never felt I was abusing or exceeding the capability of the tractor. And I was working it pretty hard.

 

[Phillip w]

We had an old International 350 when I was growing up, that old piece of iron took some abuse, we did things with that tractor I wouldn't even think about doing with a tractor in the 30hp range that's built today.

Once in a while I rent a dozer or excavator and then back fill etc with my little guy. I like the 1526 and it's features, I can honestly say if someone is looking for a three range, auto thottle 25hp range tractor, I would steer them away from the GC because I think if they have the room and are not going to mow there lawn with it, it's the way to go..

You just pretty much admitted what I've been trying to say all along. The old tractors were a lot more rugged and tougher the this new foreign made stuff.

 

[atsah]

You just pretty much admitted what I've been trying to say all along. The old tractors were a lot more rugged and tougher the this new foreign made stuff.

LOL Yes I am guilty of agreeing with what you have been saying ALL along concerning old tractors.. I actually agree with you about that, imagine that..

 

[Phillip w]

At least we can agree on something, lol

 

[atsah]

At least we can agree on something, lol

I'm sure we agree on many things.. My dad wouldn't spend a dime on anything new, in 1974 he bought his first new truck, an International pickup with a 4 speed and 304 engine, he hated that thing. We always had three old tractors, a International cub, a 350 utility and a John Deere 2010, all gas tractors. The 350 was pain until we converted it to 12V.

I had bought a new NH TC45DA with a loader that I never cared for, my brother and I were loading a hay conditioner on to a deck over trailer for transport, so he lifted one side and I lifted the other side, my rear "loaded" tires were off the ground and I couldn't let my hand off the loader control because it would have dropped the **** thing, meanwhile the "gas" mind you JD 2010 held that conditioner up like it was nothing. Those old tractors didn't have much comfort but they wouldn't say no, we beat the tar out of them, oil running down the sides of them, like tanks there are, no doubt they are still in service today..

 

[Phillip w]

I had a 1964 international 1100 pickup. It had a 304 with a 4 speed tranny. With it springs, it would really haul a load. As low geared as it was, it would pull pull like a tank. It had 3 draw backs. 1) as low geared as it was, when you hit about 50+ mph, the old engine was screaming.
2) the way the bed was designed in the early 1960's, it was a pain in the a** to stack a load of square bales on.
3) in the 1960's models, their doors, door handles, and door latches were a real mess and a joke. I don't know how many times we pull-started tractors with that old pickup. And yes, there is that old time, ruggedness and toughness in the version of a pickup.

 

[atsah]

Yup we had a 1964 as well, we use to load it with pine logs and bring them to the mill.. LOL I'll look for some old pictures and post them.. Sorry OP, didin't mean to derail your thread..

 

[AxleHub]

One of the things not mentioned when talking about "the old days" is we don't recognize the harm those old days equipment created. A great deal of farm equipment dumped high levels of air pollutants into the very same air as the operators worked in not only harming their own lungs but the lungs of their wives and children and their friends.

Or what about all the fingers and hands and arms that were twisted and torn off or the spines crushed by old equipment that had few if any safety equipment or equipment that flipped over too easy. My point is. . . that "the good old days" were often something "to be survived",

Equipment whether on a factory floor or in a farmers field was focused on simple, heavy, and often reckless to the operators or their families or to the land and air.

"euphoric recall" of days gone by always seems to forget the costs paid in life and health and safety. I love history and heritage - but we can't allow ourselves to have "euphoric recall" in a vacuum absent of the problems and loss that may have been caused by it also.

Is it really fair to compare in any form, a 71 Cevelle SS 396 to a 2016 Ford Edge or a 64 farm tractor to a 2017 SCUT?

Jmho