Re-Thinking The Attack

[Allan in NE]

Dunno,

With the price of fuel, I've been wondering if maybe going back to the older/smaller way of doing things would be more economical/wise.

I've got this old 686D that I restored and for the most part it just sits. Nice part is that it will run for a week on a tank of fuel.

Wonder if that old duffer will pull that cultivator?

Thinking of using the 686D along with the M and just leaving those big dogs lie in the yard this year.

Allan

 

[super99]

Nice to see something about tractors again!!! Years ago, had a neighbor with a 656 that bought a 18' field cult and left the wings up and used it that way till he bought a 1206, and then he put the wings down. Will take a little longer, but should work. Chris

 

[Vito]

I think your thought process is very good.Don't know if it will pull it though.
Vito

 

[Allan in NE]

Boy, I just don't know.

That ol' heifer is pretty darned snorty in 2nd gear. Handles the 15' disc real well in third and the 14' packer in plowed ground.

It's got those oversized tires on it so the speeds are kinda goofy. Don't think you could run 2 gallons an hour thru it packin' a handgun.

Allan

 

[Rick in IA.]

Allan,

I bet it will pull it, how wide is it?

I used to pull a 9 knife Nh3 side dresser had a 550 gal tank on top with a 686. Dealer I worked @ had it, I would cover several thousand acres corn every summer with it.
Nice tractor the only thing I didn't like was it had a light switch box below the steering wheel that always caught my knee when you turned around to look behind !!

Rick

 

[Allan in NE]

That's what I'm wonderin'. Cultivator is 18 and a half feet across.

Last year I turned up the 966 to 115 horse to "play with it" in fourth. I've got the 1066 turned up to 135 and it doesn't even know it's back there. Those two old dogs will drink the fuel tho.

Just maybe that little guy will pull 'er down in 2nd gear? Just not as fast is all?

There's just something about that high priced fuel that just burns me more than a little bit. :>(

Allan

 

[Rick in IA.]

I hear on the fuel, sounds like its just going to get worse.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't know if you would save much fuel or not.
I have used a Ford 5000 and JD 4020 to chop haylage. Load for load they burned the same amount of fuel. The smaller tractor burns less per hour but takes more hours to get the job done.
Much the same story plowing, the 4020 on 5 bottoms and the Ford on 3-16 or 4-14. About the same amount of fuel per acre. Even when I used the 4020 on a smaller plow I couldnt see much difference.
If you could save a few trips acoss the field, that would save fuel.

 

[Coloken]

Allan, don't think it will make much diference. Small tractor working longer, or big tractor working less. You might check Neb. tests for HP per lb. fuel--unless you all ready know which it the fuel hog.
My thoughts are to convert you to a trash farmer and not work that ground so many times..he..he.
Kenny

 

[TGIN]

If it`s like my 706 with the 310 It may even make a gal. or 2 in a long day . They do sip the fuel .

 

[Tradititonal Farmer]

I bale around 400 bales a year with a NH 851 using a Yanmar 330 to cut hay with (1 qt/hr) a Zetor 3520 to rake with (1/2 gal/hr) and an Oliver/Cockshutt
1650D Wheatland to bale with (1 gal/hr)

 

[Spook]

Allan, ya got me droolin' over that tractor. Don't have the need for it, place to put it, but sure is pretty.

 

[super99]

The only way to know for sure is to try it and see, let us know how it works out. Chris

 

[Anonymous-0]

What about looking into no till.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Maybe its time to reset the injector pumps on the big dogs from power to economy and shift them up a gear. No use having them set for power if you don't need it.

Jerry

 

[Anonymous-0]

Here's a thought, probably too late for this year. Put that 320 in grass, like brome/orchard grass, etc, fence it,rotate pasture, run stockers from April/May till Oct/Nov. Might have to supplement small amt of grain. Sell them in Nov and no cattle to fool with over winter, no hay to put up. you can do this with a Super C!! Cmore

 

[Allan in NE]

Yep,

That's what the last feller that owned it was doing. Come to think of it, he was the last guy to see any profit too. :>(

These high prices kinda take all the fun out of it any more.

Guy told me the other night that ya couldn't find 1,000 bushel of wheat in the whole derned county. :>)

Allan

 

[Janicholson]

I know you know.
Almost any engine will produce the best economy of power when working near its design potential. Diesels are more frogiving, but even they need to haul around and scrub more parts together than they use when lightly loaded. So I think you should give it a try. (or do a bit less turning of the soil) JimN

 

[Anonymous-0]

Round here, seed beans are expensive and getting really hard to find at ANY PRICE!! Cmore

 

[jwal10]

Allan, I farmed with big equipment and a lot of acres. When I got to feeling poorly I cut back to 1 tractor and 400 acres. Farmed the best land and let God control the outcome. I had a lot more fun enjoying the ride. Made just as much money in the end, I got to hold less money longer. If that is the tractor you enjoy the most go for it, even if you have to take a few shovels off, or take the wings off. I am down to an H now but the fun factor has gone way up. That 686 would be a joy to run, nice looking tractor. Do what you love, love what you do, the alternative makes life too short....James

 

[rednekelmo]

how about useing the 1066 stick her up in hi 2 or 3 and throttle back.

 

[Anonymous-0]

With what you just said, 18 ft. of cultivator should be a breeze. Maybe run a tad shallower?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I pulled a 20 ft with 3 bar harrow behind with my 706 gasser for many years. Added 3 rear weights to each side and went about plow speed. Pulled it real good but man that thing drank the gas.

 

[Den N Ms]

Nice lookin 686,I know you hate to get her dirty, but put her to work and earn back all that lovin labor you put in.

 

[cadet trooper]

Allen, I know you're old school but I would say that in my area and most of Ohio is no-till even the easy turning river bottom ground. You can't even find a molboard plow or field cultivator at most dealerships around anywhere. For the most part it is no-till planters and drills and an occasional chisel plow and some trash field cultivators. BTW you will have to buy a good field sprayer. Tough times call for tough measures.