My tractors are so old that some might look in my shed and call them yesterdays tractors.   But, they still run and do their job.   One is a classic model, a Ferguson TE-20.  This handy little tractor is one of the most common of the old models.  Hundreds of thousands of them were made.  They are found all over the USA and Great Britain.  Actually, they are all over the world.  Parts are still available for most repairs.  Many parts are found on the Internet, especially Ebay.

My Ferguson TE-20 Tractor

Another one of my tractors is a Case DC.  This tractor was made in 1952 and is a real work horse.  It has a three point hitch and will handle most modern tractor equipments.  I use a 6 ft. brushcutter and box blade regularly with it.

My Case DC Tractor

Image via Wikipedia

If you operate a Ford tractor, you often need Ford tractor parts.  Most can be found at your local Ford tractor dealership.  This is the fastest method of repairing your Ford tractor.  Another source is the Internet.  This is preferable many times as you can shop from your home or office and sometimes get a better deal.  Of course, this takes a few days for delivery.

Another source is Ebay.  You can find many new and used parts there.  Ask all the questions you must to be certain you are buying the correct parts for your particular Ford tractor.  Most parts that fit a Ford tractor will not interchange with other makes.

In the case of older or antique tractors, you may only find used parts for your tractor.  This is no problem as long as they are in good condition.   When shopping online, you may find other owners that will be willing to sell or trade their own Ford tractor parts.

Image via Wikipedia

One of the early imported tractors, Kubota tractors, has proven itself over and over with the American public.  These tractors have the orange paint on them, and owners often say “you never get a lemon when your buy and orange”.

Kubota tractors are very popular sellers and come with all the features tractor buyers look for.  Ease of use, three point hitches, and dependability are some of the most important features for a modern tractor and Kobota tractors have it all.

Kubota tractors also hold their resale value due to their great reputation on the farm.   They are one of the leading imported tractors.

Image by r.rosenberger via Flickr

Lawn tractors are becoming an essential part of the home owner’s equipment.   These machines mow the grass quickly and easily while the operator just rides along.  Most of them cut a swath 42 inches wide making the old 20 inch pushmower a thing of the past.   Some lawn tractors have automatic transmissions making them even easier to operate.   The earliest lawn tractors  were small and underlpowered, often with 5 horsepower engines that stalled at the slightest amount of high grass encountered.  Most now have at least a 12 horsepower engine and can cut the thickest grass in the neighborhood.

If you own a lawn tractor, make sure you keep it out of the weather when not being used.  Check the oil level and condition before using and make sure the air cleaner is maintained.  Also, keep an eye on the belts and pulleys located on the deck below.  Proper maintenance of lawn tractors will ensure that your machine lasts for many years.

Image by Emily D Elliott via Flickr

If you own a tractor, you have tractor tires.   Some of the oldest tractors did not use rubber tractor tires, but used steel tires.   But, these are a thing of the past now.   Most tractor tires have large cleats that help with traction.   Together with the wide shape of the tires, this gives them the grip neccessary to pull large loads.  Tractor tires must be kept to the proper pressure.  Failure to do this will cause short tire life due to the flexing of the tire.  Over pressured tires will also suffer from short tire life and also lack of traction.

Some tractor tires are filled with liquid such as a water and antifreeze mixture in order to gain extra weight and more traction.  These tires will still have a portion of air in them.  Antifreeze is neccessary for cold weather use to avoid ice from forming inside which would damage the tube within the tires.

As tractor tires are quite expensive, many people look for used tires to replace the occasional tractor tire failure.   These may be difficult to locate.   Another source for tractor tires is Ebay.

Image by Big Grey Mare via Flickr

Used tractors are one of the best bargains to be found in the tractor market.  Unless you are determined to purchase a new tractor, consider a used one.  There are some great bargains in all sizes and models.  The first thing to consider is the size or horsepower of the tractor you need.  Try to find a used tractor that is large enough to do the job, but not much larger.  Most people need a 30 to 45 horsepower tractor to maintain their acreage or farm.  These tractors are called category one tractors because of the hook-up assembly for their implements.  Larger that 60 horsepower tractors use category two implement which are just larger in size.  The two will not interchange on the tractors as the spread and thickness of the lift arms and their pins are larger on the category two implements and tractors.  So, this decision has to be made before shopping for a used tractor and implements to match.   Yes, you must purchase some implements such as plows, brush cutters and etc.

While shopping, make sure you are buying a tractor that has been out of the weather most of it’s life.   Water can get into the gearboxes and electrical switches and cause plenty of problems.   A three point hitch is essential, but unless you are considering an antique tractor, this should not be a problem.  A search of your classified advertisements section of the local newspaper or Ebay or some other online service should yeild many example of used tractors for sale.

Image via Wikipedia

If you have old or new tractors, you are going to need tractor parts.   Parts for modern tractors can be purchased from tractor dealers.  But, if you are trying to maintain an antique tractor, you may get some strange looks at the parts counter when you try to describe the make and model of your tractor.

So, what can you do?  Til the last few years, before the Internet, it was a big problem.  The parts were out there, but it was nearly impossible to connect with people who were willing to sell their tractor parts.

The solution is the Internet.  I use Ebay to find tractor parts.  In many cases, I can find what I need.  It may be new or used, but that is little problem.  You can also get some great tips and advice for repairing your tractor if you search online.

Image via Wikipedia

When many people think of tractors, they think of John Deere tractors.   Why?  They are an old tractor maker and with the bright green color, they naturally stand out.   Are John Deere tractors better than others?  Not really.   In fact, real tractor enthusiasts can get quite excited about any number of other tractors that used to populate farms and ranches.   Many people have heard the distinct sound made by some of the old two and single cylinder John Deere tractors.  This is where the term “poppin Jonny” comes from.  These old tractors had one cylinder and a huge flywheel.  They could be idled down to just a few revolutions per minute.

Today, collecting John Deere tractors is big.  Many people have multiple John Deere tractors and keep them in top condition.  They are displayed in tractor shows and parades all across the country.  Consequently, parts for antique John Deere tractors are quite expensive to purchase.   A good place to find replacement parts for John Deere tractors is eBay.

Image by gem66 via Flickr

Farms and Families

Many of us grew up on a farm or ranch and the first vehicle we drove was a farm tractor.  For myself, that was a Ferguson TE-20. I am not sure of the make of the tractor in the photo, but it is obvious the family is proud to own it and it is surely a part of their lives and livelihood.

During the 1930s, tractors began to replace mules and draft horses on many farms.  This made the farmer much more efficient and enabled him to farm more land and thereby make more money for his family.

Most of these old tractors are long gone, but a few live on in the collections of tractor enthusiasts.

What is a tractor house?  It is a place for your tractor or tractors to rest, away from the rain, while waiting for you to make use of them again.  This may sound rediculous, a tractor can stand the rain, can’t it?   It is designed to weather the elements only to a degree.  If you leave your tractor in the rain all the time, you will find all kinds of problems when you go to use it.   The first problem is usually a failure to start.  While your tractor sets in the driving rain, the ignition switch gets plenty wet.  After a few weeks of this, it may develop corrosion in the switch and fail to pass current.   It is not designed to be cleaned, so get ready to purchase another one and install it.  The distributor, if you have a gas tractor, will get water in it and need cleaned before it will work.   Not really an expense, but a pain when you need to use the tractor.

Water gets into the fuel system.  Water gets into the gear boxes and into that tear in the seat that seemed so unimportant until you jump on the tractor after a heavy rain and suddenly realize your pants are wet from sitting on a soaked seat.

Fortunately, none of this has to happen.   Build a simple shed or tractor house for your expensive tractors,  No heat is needed, just a roof with no sides.  Your tractor will last many years longer and you will spend more time driving and working the tractor rather than performing extra maintenance.

With the rising cost of everything nowadays, people are looking for good used garden tractors.  What is a garden tractor?  You might think of it as an overgrown riding lawn mower.  A garden tractor is bigger and has the ability to use attachments such as snow blowers, cultivators, plows, etc.

Complex equipment such as garden tractors is quite expensive, leading some to shop around for a great deal on a used machine.  Always check out the condition of a garden tractor before purchase.   Is the deck in good condition?  Sometimes the pulleys and bearings need replacement.  This can be done, but is expensive sometimes.  The buyer should be prepared to do some repairs such as belt replacement and adjustment of deck, adjustment of linkages such as throttle and choke, deck leveling and repair of leaking tires.

Some places to find used garden tractors are Ebay, local newspapers and online local portal sites such as Texas Online Directory.