old cheap easy to fix tractor

[duckidaho]

Does anyone have a suggestion for an old, cheap, small, easy to fix tractor that could drag a tiller and do a little snowplowing on my long driveway?

[MooseToo]

your budget ?

[duckidaho]

$500? $1000? Not more than that I think. Thanks

[MooseToo]

that kind of limits you - you won't be able to be selective as to brand, age, diesel/gas or appearance -

unless you happen upon a sweetheart deal, about all you can look for is a tractor someone is actually using rather than storing - watch it work, verify that at least most of the design features operate, check that it doesn't smoke or leak TOO much, see that it goes in all gears, steers fairly reliably and STOPS when you want it to - keep in mind, a few weeks ago when the salvage market topped, a small tractor would bring that kind of money as scrap -

and then you've bought in to a crap-shoot - at least you'll not have so much money in it that, when it does die on you, you won't feel obligated to spend for big dollar repair - and, even if you only get a year or two's worth of service out of it, you won't feel like you wasted a bunch of bucks -

good luck !

p.s. - if all you'll have is a once a year tilling job and snow plowing a few times each winter, perhaps you'd be better off renting a little tractor from a close neighbor ?

[MissouriFree]

yeah a $1000 top limit really is tough. But if you are think of getting one that you can bring back to life or at least one that needs a bit of work I would think a Ford 8 or 9 n would fit the bit. they are 50 years old but never die and there are parts everywhere for them.

here is a site you can browse to get ideas

http://www.tractorshed.com/fordnclub/arc_adlist.htm

good luck and if you find a good one let us know what is happening

[flatwater]

I'm with you Missourifree. There only 18 horse power but there quite a work horse. You can buy after market hydraulics for a front bucket or settle for the old trip bucket. I did a lot of back blade plowing ( still can't straighten my neck)

[backlash]

Watch Craigslist.

[Penny_Plinker]

An ATV does a great job plowing snow. If you already have an atv, the snow plow only costs $300 or so. You may even be able to buy pull behind tillers because atvs are used to plant deer plots in inassessible places. Plus you could use your ATV to haul your deer out. Remember, if you do get a tractor for 1,000 you still have to buy a tiller for it, and that may cost another 1,000.

But to your tractor question, We have two tractors, a Ford New Holland and a old Massey Ferguson. The Massey Ferguson is easier to work on, the parts are cheaper, and it's easy on fuel. I think you can find one cheap, i sure hope you can and good luck.

Penny

[DM]

It would be very hard to find a farm tractor for $1,000.00 that would handle a tiller... Old tractors just weren't made for that job... That's why you see folks buying old plows and disc to put behind them.

I think i'd pay someone to work your garden up for a couple years, and save untill you can get a decent tractor right off...

DM

[cinok]

Never mind that a 3 pt tiller is 1200+, How long of a driveway mabe a older h/d garden tractor will work

[DM]

I guess a cheap tractor would be a used china tractor. There was a sale here last weekend that had several china tractors in the row. They had 4wd and loaders, and none had high hours on them... Most were in the 40hp bracket, and had leaks ect... It looked to me like everyone of them needed some work, but they were all there.

None were old, but they only brought anywhere's from $700.00 up to about $3,000.00.

Like i've said before, put a china tractor on a farm, and they don't last long... Then they have NO resale.

DM