I've got Allis to handle the trail mowing with a 5' finish mower that seldom gets removed, and the Ford 801 to do everything else. Trouble is, this time of year I need the bushhog frequently, as well as the box scraper nearly everytime it rains. So that means a lot of attachment swapping, which is not nearly as much fun as it used to be. Anyone else keep a steel fencepost handy to act as a prybar when swapping implements? A tip to help speed the process along: keep a separate toplink with every implement, already set for length. Much quicker.
I want a FEL, badly. VERY badly. So that will entail purchasing another tractor, probably a compact diesel.
And I hadn't even considered a skidsteer, but now I see where that might round things out nicely. Not good.
I'll start at the end. For several years, a friend stored a lot of his excavating equipment and dump trucks at my place. I had use of them when they weren't in use. One was a large Gehl skid steer, somewhere in the 65-70 hp range. I loved having it here, along with lots of quick attach implements. But, it would be extremely expensive to replace a utility or farm tractor with a skid steer because the implements are not interchangeable with 3-point implements.
I've owned a lot of 1940s through 1960s farm tractors, including a number of old Ford "N" series, pre and post 1947. I still regularly use a Massey 35 and 135 for community projects. But, my little 23 hp 4WD Japanese diesel will out-pull and out-lift (3-point hitch) those tractors. I've restored a lot of IH, John Deeres, and Allis-Chalmers from that era.
My last Allis was actually a Hinomoto 3-cylinder diesel, painted orange and with all the Allis-Chalmers logos and labels. That same model tractor was also sold under several other old-time American tractor names who had them painted red, or white, or ... I got my parts from a Massey dealer. It was a real beast at about 20 HP. Same with several red Yanmar 2- and 3-cylinder tractors. All crossed to green John Deere tractors.
There were a number of US companies that manufactured FELs for these tractors. The first that comes to mind in Kansas Machine Works, but there were many more.
Just a few years ago, for about $5000, and with a little bit of personal work and ingenuity, you could have a pretty nice setup with one of these older 2- or 3-cylinder 4WD diesel tractors, outfitted with an FEL, including front and rear hydraulic fittings.
Hey guys, for those of you talking about the pain of switching attachments...have you looked into something like this? I think it's about $170, but looks to save quite a bit of time.
I've been using the Pat's Easy Hitches for a number of years. The last set I bought about two years ago was probably about $50 less than you show. They are great. For most implements, it is just drop it off, and back up to the next one and pick it up. I love the things.
Unfortunately, they still don't make hooking up a PTO any easier. That still remains a 10-bad-word experience.
Several manufacturers used proprietary hitch systems before the 3-point systems became standardized. As RAH stated, Case had their "Eagle Claw", IH had a "Fast-Hitch", and Allis Chalmers utilized the "snap coupler"
But, these systems limited your choice of implements to those produced by the tractor manufacturer only. Brand interchangeability was non-existent.
The Pat's system looks to be an extension of these ideas, just manufactured to work with the standardized 3-point. I have a couple attachments that are 3-point, but do not utilize the "pins" attached to the implement itself, but use removable pins instead. Pat's system would not work at all with those, but does help with many others.
Massey, Allis, Oliver, Challenger, Gleanor, White....all are, or were, together under the Agco umbrella.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
... I have an old 8N. I haven't cranked it in several years. I expect it needs a battery and a trip through the fuel system.
Dave -- with the various 8Ns, a 9N, and a 2N, I've owned, I found that letting any one of them, non-running, for more than about 15 minutes, required adjusting the points and adjusting the carburetor before I could get it re-started.
My 76 year old brother has a crooked arm because of a 8N. In the early 1950s, about an acre corner of our farm was sold to a Ford/Ferguson dealer. My brother hung out there regularly. Back in the early '50s, those tractors were delivered without a battery. Once they arrived, a battery would be installed, and the battery would get charged by starting the engine, using a hand crank inserted in the front of the engine. My brother was inexperienced and young enough (7th or 8th grade, I believe) to not know that you shouldn't wrap your thumb around the crank. It backfired. He was in a cast for several weeks.
Massey, Allis, Oliver, Challenger, Gleanor, White....all are, or were, together under the Agco umbrella.
Very true, our 1967 Oliver currently has a White loader on it.
My father in law has several tractors stored in our barn, two Farmall Ms, one wide front, one narrow front, and a Ford Jubilee. The Jubilee was discing the garden earlier today.
Massey, Allis, Oliver, Challenger, Gleanor, White....all are, or were, together under the Agco umbrella.
Very true, our 1967 Oliver currently has a White loader on it.
My father in law has several tractors stored in our barn, two Farmall Ms, one wide front, one narrow front, and a Ford Jubilee. The Jubilee was discing the garden earlier today.
shorty, shoot us some pics...would be great to see those old plow horses...
Especially the Jubilee. My grandfather and my dad both had one. I grew up driving those guys when I was 9 years old and started working the fields. It would pull two 14s all day long. Wish I could find one to buy now.
edit, I have the Pat's easy change system and it makes changing much easier even though Cat is correct concerning the connection. Only issue is that it extends the 2 lower hitch points a couple of inches and the top link isn't long enough for me to properly rotate my disc so I have to change it out. But, that is a minor inconvenience
Ken, I got my wrist busted about 35 or so years ago cranking a D8. When it backfired, I saw nothing but stars. And, I was raised cranking tractors. Should have known better.
On the farm at Muleshoe, we had an 8N plus a Farmall with tricycle front wheels. That land was a lot flatter than my place at Bowie.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
We picked up the new Massey. I think it will meet our needs just fine. My wife is learning how to drive it. Being a hydrostat it is pretty simple. Thank you everyone for your help with this process.
Congrats on the new purchase, bowfisher! Welcome to tractor ownership.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
Bill D., Eventually I will probably get a blade. We currently live in town and a shovel is good enough. Our 60 acres is 4 miles from us. When we build one day I will have a need for a blade. Maybe by then I can buy some more implements. lol. I really think it is going to work for us.
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