Farmall 100

[casevas]

Hello everyone,
First post and just joined up. I'm 19 years old and have always been interested in tractors but just got finnancially stable enough a couple months ago to purchase my first tractor. It is a '54 case vas. It is a slow working progress. I ran into a big problem though. I realized that I need a tractor right now for many things on our 10 acre farm. I ran into some money not long ago and am considering going ahead and buying another working functioning tractor. Found a farmall 100 for what I think to be a good deal. Any tips or advice about a 100 would be appreciated. I really need a versatile tractor for the garden and mowing and keeping the paths drug. Would a 100 be a good choice. Thanks a bunch.

 

[DeltaRed]

A Farmall 100 is a fine little tractor. Basicly a Farmall A/SuperA. However it lacks a 3 point which limits it's usefulness.the offset pto may also be an issue for pto equipment.Best to find a tractor with a 3 point,or get busy and get the Case fixed.

 

[grandpa Love]

Nice little tractor. If it comes
with it's own implements it will
be much more useable.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

First thing you need to figure out is what jobs do you need a tractor for? It makes no sense to buy a 25HP tractor if a job requires 50HP. It makes no sense to buy a bare tractor if you need a loader to clean out animal pens.

A Farmall 100 is primarily a one-row cultivating tractor, handy if you are growing vegetable crops. You can get other attachments for it, but you have to find them, which can be challenging unless you are willing to drive anywhere and pay any price to get what you need.

 

[D7fever]

I have one, nice ,handy tractor for lowing, cultivating,mowing (with the right mower, sicklebar mower
takes half a day to put on needs pulley and belt) plowing snow. But you need to have the implements, mine is
a fast hitch, hard to find implements, sicklebar mower is not fast hitch. Like what was already said, low
power and limited use, and no 3 point hitch. If the one you are thinking about is a fast hitch and comes
with multiple implements you may get by with it. If no fast hitch, you basically have a drawbar pull
tractor, not too useful. And definately not pto implement friendly Goodluck with your endeavers.

 

[47fivewindow]

Welcome to Y.T. where everyone has a different opinion and we're ali right . LOL If you are on the
east coast in old truck and tobacco farming areas you will find many tools for these offset tractors. They were tough and the only tractor on many 10 acre farms. With a belly mount mower they cut grass very well, but were a pain to remove the mower to do any thing else. The 100s are somewhat pricey too. I would look for a three point hitch tractor that will be more versatile in the long run.

 

[Blackhole49]

I have a Farmall A and an 8n. For what you are are saying you want to use it for, I would much rather have the 8n. A hundred series Ford would be even better, but more money.

 

[carvel minne farmer]

good morning casev, welcome to yt. just some thoughts from my experience, I am a small acerage owner like your self, look for a tractor with 3 pt. hitch, (100's more implements available for less money), LIVE pto, at least 1 (2 is better) hydraulic rear remotes, min. of 35 hp. to 50 hp. I had a case vac when I first started here on the acerage (4 acres) and then traded that for a case 310b. with 3 pt hitch. good luck in your search (the fun is in the hunt :lol: ) john.

 

[Hobo,NC]

I would not trade my 100 for every ford N tractor ever made. It dose only one job now and that's cultivate it use to do all the chores. I am not going to say it done better that my other tractors but I got by with it. I also have a 140 all it has to do is cultivate to earn its keep.

I have been thru every part of the 100, bull gears, brakes, transmission, hydraulics, engine, front axle/steering. I put a overbore kit in it with fire-crater pistons, a 140 head and cam it will get'er done.

If I did not garden it would not be my top choice I do like it for the fact it took the hoe out of my hands ... I would rank it (Farmall offsets) as #1 as far as garden work goes... Equipment is not that hard to locate around here the fact its a fast hitch does not bother me one bit. Implements are getting a little harder to find but the cultivating parts have came down in price.

 

[WellWorn]

Welcome, CaseVAS,

There are 3pt conversions for the Super A - 140 Farmalls, or you could build one. There really isn't much to it. I have one made by "Worksaver", and it works fine. For my SA, I have a full set of cultivators (used very little), A-60 front blade (used all winter pushing snow), the single bottom IIRC #193 plow (used twice), and the A-22 sickle mower (wears it all summer for mowing ditches and fence lines). It's even run small square balers. Tough little tractor. Couldn't ask for a more relatively cheap and versatile small tractor with great parts availability.

The offset PTO and short coupling length can be a challenge with some things, but I've used it with an ancient JD 5' brush hog, a newer 3pt Servis/Rhino finish mower, and for non-pto use the 3pt conversion easily handles a backblade, boom pole, and bale fork (carries a firewood box).

All that being said, there are a lot of other options out there for tractors that were factor equipped with a 3pt and live hydraulics. Lot of people like Fords. I'm more partial to something like a MF 135, or a JD 420, or an Oliver 55, or any number of others. All depends on what your needs really are and what's available in your area.

 

[casevas]

Thanks everyone for all the help!! I went to look at the tractor today. So far out of the ones I looked at it definitely seems to be the most for the $1950 bucks. It runs very well, a farm mechanic came and looked it over and said that to him it was a very nice tractor. The seller has plows, planters, and bush hogs for the fast hitch, but for an additional cost of course. I am a welder and the implement problem crossed my mind. I can find regular 3 pt implements for half the cost and get the fast hitch adapter from Agri supply and make my own. Would that be reasonable to do? Or would it work for that matter? I just can't seem to find half the tractor for the same money. Any other thoughts? Here is a photo

 

[WellWorn]

I just looked at your area craigslist, and the Super A also listed for $1950 is far less tractor than the 100 you are looking at. Both are 12v. On the 100, the rears are like new (worth 250-300 each), it has a front 'brush guard', and has rear AND front weights. Barring some deep mechanical problem, like low oil pressure or a really noisy transmission or rear end, I'd be getting there tomorrow morning with your check book, or cash. Might do well to at least go look at the SA and test drive it, just for reference. Then test drive the 100.

 

[casevas]

I was thinking about the same way. It really does seem like a very good deal. The hydraulics are very quick and strong, oil pressure was good, and the oil itself looked good. I understand the fast hitch can limit uses, but i think it's worth compromising on.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Its a naked farmall by the time you buy the cultivators you will be into it big time... Yes you can convert 3 point equipment to a fast hitch...

I brought a tractor from that guy I made a offer over the phone he tool me up on it... I never had a problem lifting implements I did add a helper spring to mine cuzz I wanted it...

Helper spring in this pile.

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/grd/d/fast-hitch-for-farmall-140/6583604505.html

 

[carvel minne farmer]

case if you can pick up those implements as well you should be good to go. for that kind of money and a tractor in that shape I would grab it.

 

[WellWorn]

I've got a few spare cultivator shanks/shovels I picked up at auction, still sitting on a pallet, collecting rust. I picked up a full set of cultivators, front and rear, for $225. Cultivator sets, as well as parts and pieces are out there in good numbers, and can be found without breaking the bank, unless you getting new cultivator parts from CIH, because yes, they still make a bunch of them. It's in their best interest to do so.

IMHO, any tractor made with little change from 1939 - 1974, that sold hundreds of thousands, many with cultivators, is going to have no problem finding most parts for.