f12 f14 f20 some??

[buzz36]

I been sitting here reading any info I can on these early farmalls and realy find it hard to decide witch one to persue to make a new toy to play with
heres what I looking for somethig with a road gear (i know these are after market) on rubber or wide enouf steel wheels to put rubber on for street use
I like to know what values are dont want a field fresh unit but running barn frewsh dont care about paint as long as its runing or atleast able to get running
Im in the western US and had not seen any wide fronts are these rare??
I just like to hear or chat with folks who have some knowledge on the F units
also to make room for this new toy I may be seeeking my 36 john deere will have to go
witch many here told me wasa good thing
oh and for those my wife told me she likes red
better then green and I may agree if the right red one comes along
thanks for any advice

 

[Anonymous-0]

The wide front ends are quite rare for the F series tractors. I suspect for hauling and good fuel economy the F-12 or F-14 would make a great toy. Those green guys will disown you. I think I seen a wide front for one here or on ebay a while back. Seems like they were asking 1200 dollars for it.

 

[James Williams]

Buzz,I like my F12 and F14,becaues there small enough to haul on a trailer.The F12 and 14 came with 4 different high speed gears,and I dont know how to tell except driving them.Then you can buy overdrives for them.I like my F20 and F30 they steer very easy and usally start good,they are usally to wide to easly transport.The F20&30 are heavy also.F20&30 comes in narrow tread design. A W12or14 would be a eye catcher.A F12 or 14 with a mounted plow is getting rare.A 36 OR OLDER WHICH IS GRAY IS NICE.i HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU

Jimmy Williams

 

[Anonymous-0]

My F-12 drives like a go cart.on a hard turn the inside wheel brake is automaticly applied and it turns on a dime. It will do a 360 in a 2 car garage. It may do it in a 1 car garage! but I never tried that. It handles nice, is easy to load, starts good (most of the time, but has its moments)I have a Heisler road gear for it I put on and made it go about 6-8MPH, but the bearings are bad in it so I took it back out. I have a single front tire for it which is kind of hard to find, but put on dual front tires so I could steer better in mud since I still work with it and you should see that little thing drag a 2.5ft dia x 12ft long log up a hill!. I gave up on the wide front years ago. I don't need it anyway and it does make it harder to store. Loading mine is easy with just 2 ramps. I come at the trailer at an angle , get the front wheel up as the rear starts up I swing the front over and up she goes. It is my personall opinion that the little F-12 may have saved IH from going under in 1933 (33 was the worst year of the depression and many factorys closed and all of them cut way back on production). 35 F-12s kind of have a mystery about them as far as grey or red paint. You will see a lot of them with either. IH went to red in 36 for all tractors. An F-14 is baisicly the same thing as a 12, but They might be easier to drive if you are tall. The steering was raised higher, the hand brake levers are longer. They have slightly more power. but they only made them 2 years F-20s are good too, but the only problem I have seen is they are just so dang wide in the rear. Narrow treads are out there but you just don't see many of them. Parts are fairly easy to get for all of them. May pay for you to go look some over bfore deciding. Go to a show that is featuring IH and you may get a good side by side comparison. Good luck in your search!

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you can find a F series with a wide front go for it they are few and far between. I have a F12 and a F20NT both with wide fronts. Parts are not to hard to find for either one but a good seat for the 20 has been eluding me so far. The F12 or 14 are a little easier to show and store than the F20 and I think engine parts are a little less expensive. I have a lot of green stuff too but, I'm not color blind and low production tractors of any color are a good investment in the long run. I just finished my F20 and hope to post some pitures on this board soon. I ran it in the fair parade earlier this week. The night before the parade when I was getting the F20 ready to go, I pulled the crank and it started right up on that first quarter turn of upward pull. The crank spit right off that stub shaft so fast that my arm and the crank flew up and I round housed myself in the scalp with the crank. After a trip to the ER and 6 staples in my scalp I finaly got it over to the VFW and hooked on the float. My flywheel start john deeres never did that to me.

 

[Anonymous-0]

First off, congratulations on your choice in women. (LOL) Secondly, any of those tractors are good, but the f-20 will be limited on rear axle width unless you get a narrow tread. They are just a lot easier to haul because you can only go so wide on a car trailer. If you have a gooseneck, no matter. The f-20 will start easier as a rule, unless you go through the 12 or 14 enough to have a good mag and fuel pump. Lots of guys have a 12 or 14 that is hard to start, but if they would fix them right it isn't a bad tractor at all. Road gear is okay on them as long as your brakes are good. If you have to stop real sudden, it's best to have a way to brake both wheels when you are movin fast. Good luck, either would be a good choice.