best old tractor for light farm work

[HDRider]

http://www.tractorhouse.com/

This site helps you familiarize yourself with all the tractor choices.


http://www.tractordata.com/

This site helps you get the technical data on what you look at.

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractor ... l4330.html
http://www.tractorhouse.com/listingsdet ... ID=8119267

$17K - I think TH runs about 15% on the high side. I think this is a 2003 by looking at the serial #.
Serial # Info - http://www.kubotaengine.com/products/pa ... tification

 

[hurleyjd]

I like the blue ford tractors. 4100,4610,4600,4610su,4600su and 4630 all very good tractors and economical to operates. I own four these and get good service out of them.

 

[greybeard]

I have a 3600 and love it JD. A little light and has all it wants with a heavy round bale on the back but it's a mowing/spraying dream. I love that mine has the pump mounted on the flywheel housing and not deep down in the innards of the transmision case.

Them old Ford "N" tractors....... Not just the fact that the pto wouldn't work with clutch in. The lift wouldn't work if the PTO wasn't engaged and turning.
Get a bush hog hung up on a stump, you can't pick it up without the blades turning and you can't turn on the pto because the blades lock up on the stump or big snag and stall out that mighty 4cyl. Splining the pump thru the output shaft was just a bad idea.
Never mind being driven into a pond by the bush hog once too often. ORC helps a LOT with that problem but doesn't help with the lift.

(Rain and 8N distributors are bitter enemies)

 

[jltrent]

I also have a Ford 3600 and for all around farm work it is hard to beat. Also MF 245, JD 2040 and many others around that size, if you can find one in decent shape, they are a good tractor for light farm work. I would try to find one with Hydraulic hookups as it is very expensive to add latter.

 

[millstreaminn]

I think for the money, a newer Mahindra is hard to beat. I bought a 2010, 40 hp, 4 wd with a loader and 120 hours for 11,500. It's not the quality of my Kubotas or Deeres, but I think it packs a pretty good bang for the buck.

 

[Phil in Tupelo]

You didn't really give much help on size of farm. Just some pasture work and pine timber. How much? Pasture implies you may need a frontend loader for hay as well as work in the timber. 30 hp could be too small and 70 hp could be too big.

I had a 1975 255 Massey Ferguson diesel row crop, 50 hp, purchased in 1976. Moved a lot of hay and worked a lot of pasture with 7 foot disk and 6 foot bushhog. I thought it was built to bush hog. And moved hay really well. Then about 2004 I installed a new Bush Hog frontend loader with extra hydralics... and it wasn't the same tractor. MHO, a tractor without a loader is like a shirt without a pocket. Also the tractor you choose, may need servicing so knowing good dealers in your area with aid in your choice. Wish you luck.
I just sold that tractor and all the equipment collected in 40 years to a neighbor's grown son. He had logged about as many hours on the tractor as I had, so he in fact grew up on that tractor as well a few others. I believe he will give it a good home and get many hours of good service from it. If I had to buy another tractor, Massey Ferguson would be high on my list.

 

[skyhightree1]

I grew up learning to drive a MF 50 Diesel leaked oil like a sob... But was very dependable and good for most tasks.

 

[hurleyjd]

When talking about a used tractor and what is best it would be easier to help if we knew what budget you are working with. There are new tractor deals with long term 0 interest that might work for you instead of a used tractor. Also you an buy a money pit if not careful. I bought a 4610 last year for $900 dollars knowing that it would cost some $$ to get it going. About $7500 dollars later I have a good tractor and pretty well know the shape of it. If buying a new tractor of same caliber I would be out around 20k.