I have heard good things about the IH 574's
also considering a ford 3000..
this one
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/grd/986665181.html
he's dropped the price 1500 already, and I figure if he goes down a little more I'll call him and see what the hours on it are like
and I might know of another with a siezed engine for parts
we have a 7 1/2 foot NH haybine sicklebar mower/conditioner which is about the most power consuming thing we have, and our 28HP JD950 (yanmar) pulled that for years, though it was hard work for it, our baler has it's own engine, so you're only pulling it
what I'd really like to know about the ford 3000, as well as the 574 are the PTO, are they truly live PTOs? IE, like the massey 165, or do you have to clutch, etc
I don't know about the ford, but the IH 574 is truly live independent PTO.