Newbie tractor purchase

[RickV74]

So I have found a few MF 35s and 50s along with a few Oliver Super 55 and 550s. Not so much luck with the Case 300 series tractors, I want to thank you all for taking the time here to post. Are there specific sites find these tractors other than Facebook marketplace? Thanks again, Rick

 

[Tgrasher]

So I have found a few MF 35s and 50s along with a few Oliver Super 55 and 550s. Not so much luck with the Case 300 series tractors, I want to thank you all for taking the time here to post. Are there specific sites find these tractors other than Facebook marketplace? Thanks again, Rick

What area of the country do you reside?

 

[RickV74]

The heart of tractor country! Central Indiana

 

[caterpillar guy]

I can't say much good about those old N series fords. I guess they would be better than pulling the wagon yourself and that is about all. As for the live power no it is not necessary but sure is nice if you have it. May be I got spoiled with it since We have had it since the 830 Case came on the yard in 1969. Left in 1982ish Had the 806 before that and then an 930 case was around for awhile and then a 1466 and later an 856 all still here along with the 574 and 674 all with live power on them with no silly 2 stage clutches and all that nonsense.

 

[NDIHC]

Almost non existant here in Ohio

Same here in central ND. We have some from the era of the LA and VAC around here but very few after those untill an occasional 30 series. Then the 70 series were pretty popular. A lot of 1070s around here. I don't think I've ever seen a 300 series in person.

 

[Tgrasher]

I've been looking online and haven't found any restored but found one in a Tractorhouse auction listing of a NF 430. A tempting tractor but too many unknowns (obviously sat outside) and out in Nebraska, too far away. To add to a point of discussion, the hand clutch I wrote of allows the tractor to stop or creep. So if your in a heavily grown area bush hogging, you can creep through it by managing the clutch. When clear, you snap the lever back in place, and your back to normal speed. It is a wet clutch, bathed in oil, so no clutch heat up. If you look at a tractor with a 2 stage clutch, try it first, and see how awkward it is.

 

[Bob NY]

I can't say much good about those old N series fords. I guess they would be better than pulling the wagon yourself and that is about all. As for the live power no it is not necessary but sure is nice if you have it. May be I got spoiled with it since We have had it since the 830 Case came on the yard in 1969. Left in 1982ish Had the 806 before that and then an 930 case was around for awhile and then a 1466 and later an 856 all still here along with the 574 and 674 all with live power on them with no silly 2 stage clutches and all that nonsense.

I don't understand your problem with the 2 stage clutch. I have 3 of them and they work just fine!

 

[Bob Bancroft]

I don't understand your problem with the 2 stage clutch. I have 3 of them and they work just fine!

I will jump in here to say maybe it has to do with what a person grew up with? I grew up on AC tractors with the hand clutch, and thought that was the greatest thing. I haven't liked any of the tractors I've been on which have a two stage foot clutch. I know many who hate the hand clutch!

 

[Bob NY]

I will jump in here to say maybe it has to do with what a person grew up with? I grew up on AC tractors with the hand clutch, and thought that was the greatest thing. I haven't liked any of the tractors I've been on which have a two stage foot clutch. I know many who hate the hand clutch!

My brother had an AC WD and a WD-45. I spent some hours on them. They certainly have an advantage over a tractor without live pto, but I still find the 2 stage foot clutch to be more convenient.

 

[showcrop]

There is safety in numbers. The numbers of old Fords are way higher than pretty much everything else so parts manufacturing will never cease.

 

[Jim.ME]

I can't say much good about those old N series fords. I guess they would be better than pulling the wagon yourself and that is about all. As for the live power no it is not necessary but sure is nice if you have it. May be I got spoiled with it since We have had it since the 830 Case came on the yard in 1969. Left in 1982ish Had the 806 before that and then an 930 case was around for awhile and then a 1466 and later an 856 all still here along with the 574 and 674 all with live power on them with no silly 2 stage clutches and all that nonsense.

The common "Live" PTO uses a 2 stage clutch. When you say live power sounds like your tractors have Independent PTOs, which is what I see for the 1466, 856, 574, and 674 models on Tractor Data and in the parts books. I agree an independent PTO is better than a 2 stage clutch, but both are way ahead of the single stage transmission PTO

Just trying to be clear for those who might read this and are not familiar with the types of PTOs. With a Transmission PTO, like the N series has, you push the single stage clutch and the tractor and PTO both stop. With the Live (aka Continuous running) PTO, which uses a dual clutch, the first stage (top half of pedal travel) controls the tractor travel, and the second stage (lower half of pedal travel) controls the PTO engagement (hand or axle clutches were used, in addition to the foot clutch, on some to stop travel while the PTOs continued to run). Then there is the Independent PTO that commonly uses a separate hydraulic clutch to control PTO engagement, completely separate from the foot clutch.

Edited to replace Live with Independent in the last sentence.

 

[RickV74]

Well......I've narrowed it down to either a Oliver 550 or a Ford 861. Those seem to be most available and I like the look of both, and think they will serve my purpose. Now, just finding the right one.

 

[Janicholson]

Well......I've narrowed it down to either a Oliver 550 or a Ford 861. Those seem to be most available and I like the look of both, and think they will serve my purpose. Now, just finding the right one.

I vote Oliver. Mighty nice handling machine. There are David Browns that are the same tractor! Jim

 

[kenbob]

The oliver 55 and 550 are basically the same, but the 550 is much prettier in my book. There was one year of David Brown olivers that replaced the 550 (600?) But those are pricy and parts hard to find.

 

[Brendon-KS]

The common "Live" PTO uses a 2 stage clutch. When you say live power sounds like your tractors have Independent PTOs, which is what I see for the 1466, 856, 574, and 674 models on Tractor Data and in the parts books. I agree an independent PTO is better than a 2 stage clutch, but both are way ahead of the single stage transmission PTO

Just trying to be clear for those who might read this and are not familiar with the types of PTOs. With a Transmission PTO, like the N series has, you push the single stage clutch and the tractor and PTO both stop. With the Live (aka Continuous running) PTO, which uses a dual clutch, the first stage (top half of pedal travel) controls the tractor travel, and the second stage (lower half of pedal travel) controls the PTO engagement (hand or axle clutches were used, in addition to the foot clutch, on some to stop travel while the PTOs continued to run). Then there is the Independent PTO that commonly uses a separate hydraulic clutch to control PTO engagement, completely separate from the foot clutch.

Edited to replace Live with Independent in the last sentence.

Jim has an excellent explanation of the various types of PTO's here.

I have tractors with each of the three PTO systems and find that the advantage of an independent over a live PTO to be relatively minor. Independent is still without question the best but the live PTO is a close second. As you said, both are vastly superior to a transmission PTO for nearly all applications.

 

[kenbob]

Olivers have the real deal as far as pto's with a seperate lever to engage or dis-engage at will. Cockshutt was first to have it, Oliver first american company.

 

[Brendon-KS]

Stay away from any of the N series Fords as they don't have live hydraulics or live PTO. They were fine tractors in their day, but you'll be a lot happier with live PTO and hydraulics. Get something with at least a 2 stage clutch if you can't find one with live PTO.

Several good options have been mentioned already. Any of the later Fords, MF, Oliver 550/Super 55, Case etc that were mentioned would do fine for the jobs you have indicated.

To me the dead hydraulics of the N-series Fords is an even more serious limitation than the dead PTO. To require the PTO to be spinning in order to raise the hitch just seems archaic considering that other tractors with live hydraulics were on the market at the same time as the 8N.

 

[TractorDad3]

I’ll chime in as an owner of a ‘59 Oliver 550 and a ‘63 Ford 4000 (same as 861 but blue). Both diesel, both run like typewriters. I grew up on an 8N and both are a vast improvement. Also find them to be particularly easy on the eyes. Would love a Case 430 or a Cockshutt 540 someday.

 

[Leroy]

The common "Live" PTO uses a 2 stage clutch. When you say live power sounds like your tractors have Independent PTOs, which is what I see for the 1466, 856, 574, and 674 models on Tractor Data and in the parts books. I agree an independent PTO is better than a 2 stage clutch, but both are way ahead of the single stage transmission PTO

Just trying to be clear for those who might read this and are not familiar with the types of PTOs. With a Transmission PTO, like the N series has, you push the single stage clutch and the tractor and PTO both stop. With the Live (aka Continuous running) PTO, which uses a dual clutch, the first stage (top half of pedal travel) controls the tractor travel, and the second stage (lower half of pedal travel) controls the PTO engagement (hand or axle clutches were used, in addition to the foot clutch, on some to stop travel while the PTOs continued to run). Then there is the Independent PTO that commonly uses a separate hydraulic clutch to control PTO engagement, completely separate from the foot clutch.

Edited to replace Live with Independent in the last sentence.

I had the independant clutch on 3 Fords and wished I had the 2 stage for better control, independant you need a third hand for.

 

[Wdj]

Jim has an excellent explanation of the various types of PTO's here.

I have tractors with each of the three PTO systems and find that the advantage of an independent over a live PTO to be relatively minor. Independent is still without question the best but the live PTO is a close second. As you said, both are vastly superior to a transmission PTO for nearly all applications.

I prefer the 2 stage as its more instinctive for me to stomp the clutch when there’s a fence
post headed in the baler. post heade