buying a small tractor

k mac

i am looking to buy a tractor, as i only have a few acres all i will need it for is topping,spraying,spreading fertiliser and maybe moving round bales i think something like a old MF 165 would be big enough and wondered would i get one for 2K to 3K and if so where,the local tractor dealers,buy and sell ,the dealer?

snowman707

k mac wrote: »

i am looking to buy a tractor, as i only have a few acres all i will need it for is topping,spraying,spreading fertiliser and maybe moving round bales i think something like a old MF 165 would be big enough and wondered would i get one for 2K to 3K and if so where,the local tractor dealers,buy and sell ,the dealer?

don't know where you are but good bargains to be got in the 6 counties

marzic

you should be able to get something in that bracket. my bro sold a sound 165 earlier in the year for €3400, in good off farm cond, but youd getem for less now. Only thing i'd say is get one with power steering, his hadnt and she was rough enough to drive. you should consider also some of the 5 series, if you can get a good one, youd be up in the years plus they're a bit more refined to operate, and youre looking at similar money. 165's are sort of classic now so tidy ones might be pricier

seamus_mcg

marzic wrote: »

you should be able to get something in that bracket. my bro sold a sound 165 earlier in the year for €3400, in good off farm cond, but youd getem for less now. Only thing i'd say is get one with power steering, his hadnt and she was rough enough to drive. you should consider also some of the 5 series, if you can get a good one, youd be up in the years plus they're a bit more refined to operate, and youre looking at similar money. 165's are sort of classic now so tidy ones might be pricier

avoid the 5 series massey. they were and still are a disaster. the good thing about the old 1 series was that they were so reliable. i Know someone selling a 148 if anyones interested. as far as i know it was reconditioned a few years ago. the only reason they're selling it is that the bought a 4 wheel drive.

marzic

seamus_mcg wrote: »

avoid the 5 series massey. they were and still are a disaster. the good thing about the old 1 series was that they were so reliable. i Know someone selling a 148 if anyones interested. as far as i know it was reconditioned a few years ago. the only reason they're selling it is that the bought a 4 wheel drive.

Bit of a generalisation, they weren't quite the stuff of 1 or 2 series, but i've seen more than a few 565s doing hard work for 20yrs with no major probs. a 148 wouldnt lift bales without weight in front, which you shouldnt have to be doing

dan1988iel

What would be better to lift bales, a MF165 or an MF135??

marlyman

k mac wrote: »

i am looking to buy a tractor, as i only have a few acres all i will need it for is topping,spraying,spreading fertiliser and maybe moving round bales i think something like a old MF 165 would be big enough and wondered would i get one for 2K to 3K and if so where,the local tractor dealers,buy and sell ,the dealer?

A 165 fit your bill exactly. One for 2k-3k is a bit wishful unless you want a VERY rough machine. Stay away from the dealers as they will not give you good value for your money, buy private. I have been around ireland and the uk in the last six months and a mechanically good 165 will set you back 5k-6k full stop. i know where this is one or two if you need pointers.

marlyman

dan1988iel wrote: »

What would be better to lift bales, a MF165 or an MF135??

a standard 165 is better to lift bales that a standard 135. My 135 can lift 2 bales, one front and one back and move them faster than any 165. but its the exception rather than the rule :-)

Casinoking

You'll probably buy a Ford 4000 a bit cheaper than a decent 165, similar size and horsepower and pretty bomb proof as long as you get a post 68 force one. Apart from that anything for the kind of money you're talking about will be a basket case. I'd advising a minimum spend of 4 grand.

Danuogma

If you can get your hands on a fairly clean Zetor 8011,or 8111, go for it. I have had a 8011 for about 10 years now, it is f*cking bulletproof so it is.

k mac

what about a 86 case 1394 2wd .it is very clean and reasonably priced at about 3k .Are they a good tractor ?

shakin

marzic wrote: »

you should be able to get something in that bracket. my bro sold a sound 165 earlier in the year for €3400, in good off farm cond, but youd getem for less now. Only thing i'd say is get one with power steering, his hadnt and she was rough enough to drive. you should consider also some of the 5 series, if you can get a good one, youd be up in the years plus they're a bit more refined to operate, and youre looking at similar money. 165's are sort of classic now so tidy ones might be pricier

+1 and i think the round axle as opposed to the square one is better, 165 is bang on what you need

reilig

shakin wrote: »

+1 and i think the round axle as opposed to the square one is better, 165 is bang on what you need

Most 165 owners would say the opposite to you. The square axel brought some reliability to the 165 series. Round axel brakes gave a few problems. They wore very quickly, often pulled to the left or right when pressed and some of them had a tendency to stick and you would have to reverse to get them to disengage. The square axel 165 had no such problems.