Ferguson TO 20

[Joel Blevins]

I just purchased this tractor, with the intention of using it for rotary mowing. It does not have a high/low transmission--just four speed with reverse. It moves too fast to use the rotary mower. I'm thinking I need to sell it. What was this tractor designed for? Even the first gear moves along pretty fast. How could you even plow at such speed? Are there any other options for this tractor, and what is the best use of this model?
Any information will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bob (Aust)]

Joel

You will need to install a reduction gear to use a rotary hoe with a TO20/TE20 tractor. I'm in Australia and only familiar with the Ferguson Epicyclic Reduction Gear and the Howard Reduction Gear, but in the US you also have the option of Hupp and Sherman.

One of the US guys will be along shortly to advise you.

Bob in Oz
'53 TEA20

 

[Jeff=oh]

The TO-20 was designed to be a light weight integral farm machine that will do most jobs most of the time.

It's primary job was plowing which it performs wonderfully and better than most any other tractor of it's vintage. It was designed for a 2 bottom 14" plow. This is usually done in 2nd gear.

It cultivates and weeds well too.

Another primary job is mowing. It will run a slasher mower (Bush hog) (60") and a finish blade mower very nicely.

It will lift and move things very well.

and it is extreamly handy for vegitible farming with the varity of implements available.

Because of the gearing the ground speed is to high for satisfactory rotory tilling. I am not sure how a rotory mower works with respect to ground speed.

There you have it. 99.999% ov the people here love their Fergusons. I am sorry you are not having the same expierence.

Jeff

 

[John (UK)]

If you think that it is travelling too fast then you possibly have some oversize tyres fitted to it, that will increase the forward speed. The original tyres sizes were 10 x 28 or 11 x 28. Check your tyres size and see just what you do have and drop the pressure to 12psi as well, if they are very hard that will also increase the size of the tyre....John

 

[Jerry/MT]

If rotary mower means a Bush Hog or a KingKutter or a Woods, etc type mower, many people sucessfully use TO-20's to mow with with no special gear reduction. You should be able to handle a 5 ft mower with th -20 as long as you are not trying to cut down 6 ft high brush.

If you are mowing in high gear(4th) go down the gears til you find one that's slow enough for the task. Try to match the ground speed to the job while holding ~ 3/4 throttle to get near 540 pto rpm.

Make sure that you have an over running clutch(ORC) on the pto shaft for safety reasons since the pto is transmission driven. That means the rotary inertia of the cutter will push you along even it you are holding the clutch pedal down. The ORC prevents this.

 

[Bob (Aust)]

Ooops. I must be dyslexic! I see Joel wrote "rotary mowing" - I read "rotary hoeing"!

My apologies.

Bob in Oz

 

[Paul Hearsey]

Joel, as noted in the previous posting, I have a TEA-20 with an ordinary 4-speed transmission. I too was very disappointed to find out AFTER buying it that I could not use a rotovator (rotary hoe) because first gear is way too fast. But.... I borrowed a 7-tine chisel-tooth cultivator and was impressed with the results. That little tractor really tore up the sod and popped the rocks to the surface. It's raining today and I plan to do it again tomorrow, deeper this time. Then go over the field with a finishing disc set. If I like what I see the neighbour will sell me both. I'm told that with several cultivations and a thorough discing that field will look almost as if it had been rotovated. I hope so. I really wish I had that hi-lo gearbox but still, this Fergie is a tough little workhorse. I'm glad I kept her. Paul

 

[johnandcindy1981]

Joel, Jeff and John (UK) are on target. I use our TO 20 to plow gardens and snow it has been a good investment. I can plow all day long and the old girl never skips a beat. Its me who gets tired or needs a bathroom break. I would and have put our little fergy up against the big boys with equal equipment and beat them every time.
Regards, John

 

[Driz]

Don"t sell it, it will be fine after you get used to it. That is how I bought mine, some guy who mowed too fast. What you have to learn is the right speed and rpms to do the deed. Most times people mow too fast. I use 2nd most of the time at fairly high rpm and it works out well. Thicker higher stuff needs 1st gear. Just give it what it needs and if it bogs down drop to a lower gear. Your machine should work a 5" finish or brush hog quite well. Thats what I have and have been using both for 15 years along with a 7" snow blade. All work well though you do have to accept the speed limitations sometimes. Get to know it, you won"t be in any hurry to sell it.