What size tractor??

cerickson

cerickson

fullpull108
Just about to finalize buying a new house. The property is level 10 acres. The current owners just mows the fence lines. There is about a 5 acre lot around the house that hasn't been mowed and I would like to mow it. I am in market for a small tractor.

I am looking at tractors around the 40 hp range. Looked at a lower houred well taken care of International 464. Also looked at an older Massey 135. That's about the size of tractor I'm looking at. Just dont know alot about older tractors. A new tractor is out of the question. The tractor will be running either an 60'or 72' finish mower. Will also have 5' brush hog mower as well. Are there anything I should know or look at when I go look at these tractors? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Why is a new tractor out of the question? I normally run all old junk myself, but buying a new kubota was one of the best moves I’ve ever made. Get yourself a grand L kubota, crank up the a/c and the ac/dc and enjoy cutting the grass.
 
1990's Massey Ferguson 231. It is a little newer than the Massey 135 you are talking about but is a great tractor. They are a very basic, no frills, all mechanical tractor. My father has owned one since new in 1993. He has used it with a 5' bush hog, 5' finish mower, 5' rototiller, and 2 bottom plow. It has pulled countless other implements but those were its' mainstay. It has been a flawless tractor.

Another option is a JD 1070. This is also a tractor built in the 90's. I do not have much personal experience on one, but my cousin has had one for years with no trouble doing the same kind of work you want to do. I know the Yanmar diesel in them is extremely reliable.

Just a few options and I'm sure there are many more. Keep us updated on what you decide and congrats on the new property!
 
Meyers Farms said:
1990's Massey Ferguson 231. It is a little newer than the Massey 135 you are talking about but is a great tractor. They are a very basic, no frills, all mechanical tractor. My father has owned one since new in 1993. He has used it with a 5' bush hog, 5' finish mower, 5' rototiller, and 2 bottom plow. It has pulled countless other implements but those were its' mainstay. It has been a flawless.




I have seen a couple of the 231 on market place. Not opposed to them. Just threw them 2 tractors out there for a size and hp example. On the new kubota deal. Cant afford one at the moment. Like posted I just bought a house in this highly inflated market. So new is out of the question for a couple years. These old tractors run for ever with little to no real mechanical issues.
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cerickson said:
Meyers Farms said:
1990's Massey Ferguson 231. It is a little newer than the Massey 135 you are talking about but is a great tractor. They are a very basic, no frills, all mechanical tractor. My father has owned one since new in 1993. He has used it with a 5' bush hog, 5' finish mower, 5' rototiller, and 2 bottom plow. It has pulled countless other implements but those were its' mainstay. It has been a flawless.




I have seen a couple of the 231 on market place. Not opposed to them. Just threw them 2 tractors out there for a size and hp example. On the new kubota deal. Cant afford one at the moment. Like posted I just bought a house in this highly inflated market. So new is out of the question for a couple years. These old tractors run for ever with little to no real mechanical issues.
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Not having the funds is certainly something I can relate to. LOL Some food for thought though..... If you can give them a small down payment they'll give you 0% interest for up to 84 months; the payments are very small. I will add that if you decide against the kubota and are just mowing with it I'd go green. The yanmar is a great engine but my kubota has way more hydraulic power for implements.
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Dont want to finance a tractor at this time. My budget is around 10k. That's why new is out of question at this point.
 
Does anybody got input on the International 464 gas? There's a nice low houred machine close to me. It's a 1 owner. Are they a decent hobby far MN tractor?
 
Not sure this is of any help to you, but I took care of my parents property for a long time with a 70’s model Ford 3000. Had a bush hog, box blade, and 72” finish cut. I think it was $5000 about 20 years ago.
 
Look at the Ford 3910. 42hp 3 cyl, usually 2wd, category ll, and very fuel efficient tractor.
The next size up is 3930 which has a solid front axle and would be more ideal with a front end loader.

A Ford 3600 is also good for your needs. I have used both sizes quite a bit and we currently have a 3910. Just a dang good tractor. Definitely under $10k.
 
I also have 10 acres, most of it covered in pine trees. For my property, a skid steer with a bush hog on the front makes way more sense than a tractor, plus you can do a ton of other shit with it.

Not sure if you've looked into that option? You can get a 1500-2000 hour New Holland relatively cheap.

If you're just mowing grass, the tractor route is probably the better option.

Edit: missed the $10k budget, I'd go with a Kubota.
 
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Meyers Farms said:
Another option is a JD 1070. This is also a tractor built in the 90's. I do not have much personal experience on one, but my cousin has had one for years with no trouble doing the same kind of work you want to do. I know the Yanmar diesel in them is extremely reliable.

Just a few options and I'm sure there are many more. Keep us updated on what you decide and congrats on the new property!
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The JD 1070 was an overachiever. Definitely performed like a larger tractor but wasn't sized like one. They never skip a beat either. Put 1 water pump on, thats it.

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Are you just trying to keep this knocked down or mowed liked the rest of the yard? I have a Case 395 with a finish mower and bush hog but rarely use them. I mow right at 6.5 acres in 2.5-3hrs with a Spartan zero turn. I really should let about 4 of those acres grow up but its right in front of the house and looks so good mowed. Food for thought
 
Having done the tractor + finish mower, riding lawn mower, and zero turn routes I would say that unless you have other uses for a tractor a zero turn destroys everything for mowing. Our zero turn now routinely mows an additional 4 acres we previously brush hogged. We probably do 6-8 acres of yard mowing give or take. It looks nicer and with less bugs and ticks.

If you really want a tractor look at something live PTO and hydraulics. Old red and white Fords can be had for cheap and I've spent years on one mowing a ball field, but you really want to look for 2000-4000 or 2600-4600 Ford diesel tractors. Power steering, better hydraulics, better brakes, better everything basically. They sip diesel, gas tractors probably burn twice as much. I also wouldn't rule out something like a Ford/New Holland 1920 or 2120 tractor. I think they are Japanese made but they start easy in the cold, run good and can be found with 4WD and a loader for a reasonable price.
 
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I have a John Deere 4600 4x4 with a Power Reverser transmission that I like. It's 43hp I believe. Only downside is the body panels are stupid cheap plastic. I have a a 460 FEL and the downside to that is it has the stupid JD proprietary quick attachment system instead of the skid steer style system. I also have the backhoe attachment that comes in handy. It has a 3pt hitch, PTO, and hydraulics. It's very versatile.

If you are finish mowing, I agree with above that you should get a zero turn. I use a 72" zero turn to do my mowing, it is a lot faster.

I only have 1.5 acres at the moment. Everything is a little over kill but plan for more in the future.
 
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hot rod4 said:
Are you just trying to keep this knocked down or mowed liked the rest of the yard? I have a Case 395 with a finish mower and bush hog but rarely use them. I mow right at 6.5 acres in 2.5-3hrs with a Spartan zero turn. I really should let about 4 of those acres grow up but its right in front of the house and looks so good mowed. Food for thought
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Dad tried to talk me into zero turn. I have a riding mower for right around the house. Property has about 3 acres fenced that I want to use finish mower for. Looking for tractor so I can run roto tiller garden. Blade driveway. And if had to brush hog neighbors land if they need help.
 
hot rod4 said:
Are you just trying to keep this knocked down or mowed liked the rest of the yard? I have a Case 395 with a finish mower and bush hog but rarely use them. I mow right at 6.5 acres in 2.5-3hrs with a Spartan zero turn. I really should let about 4 of those acres grow up but its right in front of the house and looks so good mowed. Food for thought
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Wouldn't be interested in selling your 395 with both mowers would you?
 
Snedge said:
What year was that 464 gas you were looking at, late 70's ?
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Most that I have looked at dont have the years presented in the add. Saved a 1974 424. My grandpa used to have one. Is the only reason I look hard at them. He used it to square bale back in the early 80s
 
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