Advice on buying used tractor

[Little Joe]

I'm in the market for a tractor, the one I've been using was a 40hp 2wd with a loader, it's a Massey manual shift that you sit straddle the shifters. I'm looking to get a 50-60 hp and possibly 4wd with a loader. Would possibly like a shuttle shift, definitely don't want to straddle the hump, straddling is fine if you are staying on the tractor for long periods but for feeding hay and such where you are on and off it's kind of a pain. Talked to a friend that sells and trades some tractors, mostly compacts, he says stay away from the newer stuff with all the electronics. I talked to a guy about a 2011 New Holland workmaster 55 with loader and 4wd and also seen another 55 horse new holland 2wd for sale locally. About 6,000 difference between the 2wd and 4wd. I use my bucket and loader quite a bit to push up piles and move dirt as well as feed hay and unload feed, I know with my current tractor it's pretty useless when you're trying to push a pile or scoop dirt, it spins tires and digs a hole. Would going to the bigger hp correct some of that or is a 4wd the only way to correct it? Any recommendations or experience with this size tractor in general are helpful.

 

[Ouachita]

20 years ago I had a Ford 6610 2wd (72hp) and a Ford 1920 4wd (33hp). The 1920 would work circles around the 6610 when using the loader

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Ditto I have a 60hp 4wd loader that would out work a 110hp 2wd loader tractor I had when doing anything with the loader.

 

[GoWyo]

Go with the FWA tractor for general loader tractor use.

 

[simme]

4WD, ballast in rear tires, loader with a long reach out front, no dry clutches or brakes, shuttle shift, minimum electronics, no DEF or DPF, cab with heat and air are all good qualities. Cost might require trimming that list, but 4WD and wet clutch are needed for a loader.

 

[Warren Allison]

In 2006, I started looking after a horse farm close to me for a client. He had bought a 2005 Mahindra grey market tractor. It was 50 hp...forget the model number, but had 4wd and it had brakes on the front wheels, too. You wouldn't believe what a difference that made, when moving large square bales that would sometimes raise the rear wheels off the ground. Some of the 4x4 x8 alfalfa bales we got in would weigh close to a ton, and I unloaded them off the trailer with this tractor if the Bobcat wasn't available. This little tractor was a hoss.

 

[jltrent]

I'm in the market for a tractor, the one I've been using was a 40hp 2wd with a loader, it's a Massey manual shift that you sit straddle the shifters. I'm looking to get a 50-60 hp and possibly 4wd with a loader. Would possibly like a shuttle shift, definitely don't want to straddle the hump, straddling is fine if you are staying on the tractor for long periods but for feeding hay and such where you are on and off it's kind of a pain. Talked to a friend that sells and trades some tractors, mostly compacts, he says stay away from the newer stuff with all the electronics. I talked to a guy about a 2011 New Holland workmaster 55 with loader and 4wd and also seen another 55 horse new holland 2wd for sale locally. About 6,000 difference between the 2wd and 4wd. I use my bucket and loader quite a bit to push up piles and move dirt as well as feed hay and unload feed, I know with my current tractor it's pretty useless when you're trying to push a pile or scoop dirt, it spins tires and digs a hole. Would going to the bigger hp correct some of that or is a 4wd the only way to correct it? Any recommendations or experience with this size tractor in general are helpful.

I know it will cost more but the Powerstar NH tractors are worth the extra over the workmaster line. The Powerstars are 4 cylinders and the 75 horse has the same exact engine/setup as the 120 horse engine. They make an inexpensive add on to tuneup the 75 horse to 120. They have the tier 4 though.

If you could find a New Holland 4630/5030/5630 like you want it will cost extra if in good shape but be well worth it. A couple years ago I bought a 4630/turbo with 1200 hrs and it has good power for the size.


https://www.agchips.com/new-holland-tractor-powerstar-75

https://agriculture.newholland.com/en-us/nar/products/tractors-telehandlers/powerstar-tractors

 

[SmokinM]

If you bought a Kubota M6800 you wouldn’t know what you had been doing wrong all these years. Only thing is I think they do still have a stick in the middle on an open station but a flat platform. If I was looking for a good tractor like you describe a M5700,6800 would top my list. A Kioti DK 65 is a great tractor in that platform as well until you need parts or have to work on it. NH, Case and JD have plenty of decent tractors that size but IMO Kubota would be king of the hill. FYI everything I own is green but I run a lot of different equipment.

As stated I wouldn’t even look at a loader tractor that wasn’t MFWD.

 

[kenny thomas]

4WD, ballast in rear tires, loader with a long reach out front, no dry clutches or brakes, shuttle shift, minimum electronics, no DEF or DPF, cab with heat and air are all good qualities. Cost might require trimming that list, but 4WD and wet clutch are needed for a loader.

I 100% agree.

 

[504RP]

I would keep in mind and I don’t this to pertain to all makes and models. Or how many years back manufacturers of tractors and dealerships started doing this.

But in a lot of cases in order to work on the electronics on these new tractors the mechanic will need a Schematic to
work on it if it has some type of electrical problem. And from what I am told on these new tractors they have some type of electronics controlling about everything the tractor does.

Even if you or if you know someone that is knowledgeable enough to work on electronics. I was told the dealership or manufacturer of these new tractors will not sell the schematic's you would have to have to work on them to the public.

So if you buy a tractor loaded with electronics you will be at the mercy of the dealership to get it fixed. I heard of people having big problems with getting even tractors still under warranty getting them fixed.

 

[Mrcopier]

I’ve owned Kubota (7 tractors) all my life. Then because of the supply chain issues during Covid I got a 120c Case. I won’t be going back to Kubota. Not saying they are bad by any means, great warranty. But the Case is a much heavier tractor and I have not found it’s short comings yet

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I was told the dealership or manufacturer of these new tractors will not sell the schematic's you would have to have to work on them to the public.

In the last 12 months I've had CNH, Deere, and Agco all email me whatever pages of wiring diagrams I've needed to track down CAN Bus issues. So whoever told you that needs to find a better dealer.

FEW years back Kubota made me buy a service manual to get the wiring diagrams, but still easily available.

 

[Dave]

I have a New Holland TC55 with a loader. It is 2 wheel drive. There are some limitations. Especially when pushing dirt. I also have a MF 390 which is 83 hp that is 4 wd and has a loader. The trouble is the loader on the Massey has a permanently mounted hay grapple. 90% of what I do with the loaders is hay so that works. But when I need a bucket I have to use the New Holland. One day I will have to do something about the mounting on the Massey but until then I just have to take more time and use the New Holland.

 

[RDFF]

I have a New Holland TC55 with a loader. It is 2 wheel drive. There are some limitations. Especially when pushing dirt. I also have a MF 390 which is 83 hp that is 4 wd and has a loader. The trouble is the loader on the Massey has a permanently mounted hay grapple. 90% of what I do with the loaders is hay so that works. But when I need a bucket I have to use the New Holland. One day I will have to do something about the mounting on the Massey but until then I just have to take more time and use the New Holland.

I've converted my loader (from the 1980's) to a skid loader QT... best thing I ever did on that... have to be switching from bale spear to bale unroller to bucket to... all the time. Get as heavy of a QT unit as possible... don't go "cheapest". Get one that goes on one of the biggest skid loaders made, and you'll be good. My skid loader will easily lift twice as much as my tractor loader will...

 

[GoWyo]

I've converted my loader (from the 1980's) to a skid loader QT... best thing I ever did on that... have to be switching from bale spear to bale unroller to bucket to... all the time. Get as heavy of a QT unit as possible... don't go "cheapest". Get one that goes on one of the biggest skid loaders made, and you'll be good. My skid loader will easily lift twice as much as my tractor loader will...

A cutting torch, chop saw and welder was all I needed to convert my old Case IH 485 tractor loader to skid steer QT. Had to weld a plate on the bucket. New tractor Case IH Farmall 65C came with QT on the loader.

 

[Dave]

My New Holland has skid steer QT. One day I will put one on the Massey.

 

[SmokinM]

I’ve owned Kubota (7 tractors) all my life. Then because of the supply chain issues during Covid I got a 120c Case. I won’t be going back to Kubota. Not saying they are bad by any means, great warranty. But the Case is a much heavier tractor and I have not found it’s short comings yet

Those Cseries seem to be a decent tractor from the couple I have been on. The old JX models have a hateful layout for hydraulic remotes and just aren’t much fun to run. Tough as woodpecker lips though. Still like the operator station layout better on a Deere or Kubota especially in a cab tractor.

 

[Silver]

With regard to ballast, if at all possible I would stay away from fluid and go with wheel weights.

 

[Travlr]

I liked my 2006 Massey 5400 series. Can't remember the exact model but it was 75 hp. Never gave me any problems.

 

[504RP]

In the last 12 months I've had CNH, Deere, and Agco all email me whatever pages of wiring diagrams I've needed to track down CAN Bus issues. So whoever told you that needs to find a better dealer.

FEW years back Kubota made me buy a service manual to get the wiring diagrams, but still easily available.

I wouldn’t buy one without the having the schematics in my hand before I bought it. That was a John Deere bought from one of the biggest John Deere dealers in the area. The guy told me that AND I saw for myself when it was happening. Was no told me to it.

That was one of the biggest John deer dealer ships around.