On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:12:46 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


My John Deere tractor has been abused, worked hard, left out in the snow and
rain all winter and it still runs like a top.
The pins on all the pivot points for the front end loader and the back hoe
are starting to wear, so they are getting a little sloppy, and a couple of
hydraulic cylinders need new seals, but it still does more than what it is
rated for. At some point I'll replace all the pins, rebuild the weeping
cylinders and it will be good for another 8-10 years.

Sometimes older models are better than newer.
I mow only about 1/3 an acre, and don't have any tasks for a tractor.
Will have to do some dirt hauling and grading for an area where I had
a tree/stump removed but I have shovels/wheelbarrow for that.
If I had some acreage and was considering a tractor I'd read this
thoroughly.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/
That Massey Ferguson would be a good beginner tractor, but might
affect my reputation in the neighborhood.
On this subject I worked for IH at the dozer plant for almost 9 years,
but have no info on their Farmall line. Nobody in the Chicago plant
talked about lawn tractors because nobody had big lawns.
One of my workmates used to bitch about the poor mileage his Travelall
got, and this was when gas was cheap. I saw Scouts around sometimes,
but they never interested me.
I did a little searching on the net for my old plant, which was
alternately called "Tractor Works" and "McCormack Works," but found
only one picture. This was a major employer in Chicago for many
decades, and now you find hardly anybody heard of it except some
"oldtimers."
IH became essentially defunct before the internet, maybe 1981, so info
is sparse. I did find old TD-30/40's still for sale, so there may be
parts I made still in use. Our competition then was Cat.
After I left there and began computer contracting, one of our clients
was Komatsu, and I was happy I didn't have to do any work there, since
I *still* had Harvester loyalty.
But I never bought a Harvester product.
I understand all small tractors are now essentially manufactured
overseas, so making the choice on that basis is a non-issue.
I've noticed that people swear by certain brands of lawn tractors just
like they do about cars.
If I were to get a lawn/utility tractor I'd probably get the biggest
honking diesel that would fit in my garage. And a bunch of
attachments. I'd like a hammer on that sucker so I could break up my
driveway and put in pavers. Some claws and a bucket.
Aw hell. I'll probably just hire it out.

--Vic