Tractor Information Anyone?

Here's a photo of my Massey-Ferguson 135 that I bought from my father-in-law when he retired. This has lower profile tires on it because he used it in an orchard. It was built in about 1969. It has a 3 cyl. Perkins diesel with about 33 hp., 4 speed tranny with hi-low, pto, power steering, 3-point, remote hydraulics. manually locking differential. They came in either gas or diesel, parts are readily available for them either new or used, and one can be had for $1500 for one that needs "help" to $3500 for a "nice" one.

The three-point is a must. Almost all tractors have it, but not ALL! Most mowers run off the PTO, so you'll need that. The remote hydraulics (Ford 8Ns don't have it) can be used for a wheel disc, scraper, even a logsplitter.

Just one option for you to consider.
 

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Yes, exactly what I was talking about. These aren't BMWs, so they don't have to be restored/refurb'd every few years. :D We had an MF from new that was very similar. It was back-up to our larger Ford, which was about 15hp larger with another cylinder. Makes a big difference when geared down, as all tractors are.
 
After a few years of deliberation and taking advantage of demos from Deere, Kubota, New Holland, Cub Cadet, Gravely, and Grasshopper, I bit the bullet and purchased a John Deere 2320 4WD compact with 60" deck and front end loader. Had a blast with it this summer and cut my mowing time by 1/2. You can't believe how convenient it is to have a bucket. Yanking bushes, downing trees, leveling, moving rock, etc. My drive is 350 feet long.....clears snow quickly. You can detach the loader from your seat with practice. Drive on deck....It really is a nice machine. Costly though!
 
I have a 23 hp John Deere lawn/garden tractor, and I'll be honest, I'm not very impressed with it. I wouldn't buy another. Mine has the Kohler engine. I mow about 2 acres, and while it mows OK, it pales in comparison to the cut my old MTD gives. And it is lousy at picking up leaves this time of year, whereas the old MTD makes the yard look like it has been vacuumed.

Sounds like you may be looking for a real tractor anyway, not a lawn/garden tractor.

JD
 
Deere used to make some fine lawn tractors, shaft driven, single cylinder Kohler engines, and cast iron front ends; but the last 10 years or so their quality has gone downhill. I've heard that's because John Deere shops their small lawn stuff out to other manufacturers now.
 
I have 2 JD's both early 80's vintage a 2150 3 cyl 43hp and a 2750 60 something hp.... great great great tractors but still commanding 10k plus
 
another thing to consider

Are you sure you want to take on the task of becoming a slave to cutting all that space? Have you looked into maybe planting something that doesn't require cutting?

We sure burn a lot of gas on this continent trying to get every place everywhere to look like an English country lane.
 
Personally (and I cut close to 6 acres for my family) I could care less that it looks like a country lane. I don't care what you plant your lawn with here, the weeds and Kudzu will take the place over in a month if you don't stay after it.
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Oh' and we get an extra added bonus too... When the grass and weeds get high enough down here it encourages Rattlesnakes, Copperheads and Cottonmouths. I pretty sure where Bubba lives they have they have Coral snakes too. Every single one of which can kill you grave yard dead...

I cut the grass.
 
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I have no plan to cut all of it all year round. It is, however in a heavily forested area and is subject to periodic fires, the last of which was in 2005. During the dry months of the Winter and Spring it will be important to keep the field well cut back. The previous owner did not do that and almost lost the existing mobile to the 2005 fire, except for the heroic efforts of their kids who were home at the time. During the summer I plan on cutting close to the house and letting the rest grow out. BTW rattlers, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snake would all be in the area, not to mention the ever present black widow and brown recluse spiders.

I bought this land instead of the others because it was mostly cleared of trees. I may plant some cedar well away from the house but, having lived surrounded by trees for the last 30 years, I am ready to be clear of them. I love trees but it is a constant battle with the leaves, branches, tree trimming costs and the fear of hurricanes knocking them into the house. The property has a lot of downed trees, from the fire, in the back that will have to be dragged out and cut up and disposed of to keep the property fireproofed. A tractor will be of great assistance in doing that kind of work.
 
If you are mowing anything other than "lawn" type grass I think you will need a full sized tractor/brush hog mower and not a lawn and garden tractor or commercial lawn mower.
The bearings on the mower deck, etc. on a lawn tractor will not stand up to weeds and brush (this I know from experience!)
If getting an older tractor try and get one which has had verifiable recent engine overhaul/maintenance. You might do a "test drive" on one and it seems OK and then get it working hard and have a serious breakdown, I have been there!

One thing you might consider for 2 acres is maybe the "DR Field and Brush Mower" this is a walk behind unit or you can ride on a sulky. I personally have not tried one but it does look like it is designed for brush/weed cutting unlike lawn equipment.
 
Just an age old follow up on this tractor. I eventually bought a Mahindra 2516 with a front end loader. I dug up a finish mower deck for $300. It is now almost 14 years old and is holding up fine. The Mitsubishi engine is very reliable. If I were to buy another tractor, I would be inclined to go up in horsepower a bit, not for the reason of power, but the reason of more weight. The only time this tractor has had any issues was because it was too light. I have been very pleased with this Mahindra, which is the world leader in tractor sales, and would buy another one in a minute.

Just an example of why I chose a tractor with a front end loader; a month ago, my wife came home late from her weekly Bingo game and discovered that there was a dead deer all tangled in our front fence. I had to go out with the forks attached to the bucket and get in and pick up the poor doe. It appeared she was hit by a car and ended up in the fence due to momentum. The next morning I went out with the front end loader and dug a grave for the doe. If I did not have my little tractor, I would have had to do all that by hand. At age 72, that would have been a little tough. I am totally satisfied with my choice.
 
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