Coal beats oil

Drag tractor gets pulled backward by a traction Engine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLQhvrui ... creen&NR=1

What an interesting way to plow the field.

What an excellent lesson in torque & weight vs. horsepower & speed. I think I can, I think I can...

Same with std field tractors. These modern high HP crappola tractors will never out pull my old junkers. Any modern tractor owners with a HP of about 35-40HP will lose against FFs Ford 8N every time and he can leave the bush hog connected. 2WD only. We rarely run out of HP but traction is largely a function of weight.

Weight and power - great in a tractor but not so good in a woman.

My modern 32 h.p. diesel 12 speed tractor works flawlessly,is fuel thrifty and has a frequency of repair record that is absolutely enviable. Detroit should take a lesson from it. My 1957 Ford NAA is simple, rugged,beautifully styled,and well engineered. It is 6 volt [all original] and will start in any temperature or weather condition.The best part is that this tractor actually talks to me in a way that modern bloodless machinery simply cannot.The sound,the smell, the feel of solid old iron can not be duplicated.I will take the stuff designed with a slide rule and not a wind tunnel every single time. I love my old Ford. Mike P.S. I had the modern before I found the right Ford.

stovepipemike wrote:My modern 32 h.p. diesel 12 speed tractor works flawlessly,is fuel thrifty and has a frequency of repair record that is absolutely enviable. Detroit should take a lesson from it. My 1957 Ford NAA is simple, rugged,beautifully styled,and well engineered. It is 6 volt [all original] and will start in any temperature or weather condition.The best part is that this tractor actually talks to me in a way that modern bloodless machinery simply cannot.The sound,the smell, the feel of solid old iron can not be duplicated.I will take the stuff designed with a slide rule and not a wind tunnel every single time. I love my old Ford. Mike P.S. I had the modern before I found the right Ford.

I totally agree and wait and see how the"modern" tractor runs in 30 years.The old ford will still be running if taken care of,although it's getting harder to find parts for them.

Dennis wrote: I totally agree and wait and see how the"modern" tractor runs in 30 years.The old ford will still be running if taken care of,although it's getting harder to find parts for them.

Do you consider made in the 80's or 90's "modern"? The reason I ask is - My dad just sold 3 John Deere's that were made in the late 80's. Powershift transmissions, electronic dash, air conditioning...and not one of them had less than 10,000 hours on the engine and transmission. The oldest of the three had the engine overhauled around 15,000 hours, and the other two had never been apart. Still running great, no smoke, no issues. I'm not knocking the old Fords, just pointing out that you don't have to buy something made in the 50's to have a good tractor.

Rob, I am not saying that a 80's or 90's tractor is anytying but good.My modern tractor [Deutz] is a 1986. Read my post again,the moderns are enviable from a reliability standpoint. I am saying that from my point of view,the old ones have special qualities that the modern ones do not . Mike

I would think the angle of the strap between them tends to unload the drive tires on the gas job, not that it had a chance anyway!

stovepipemike wrote:Rob, I am not saying that a 80's or 90's tractor is anytying but good.My modern tractor [Deutz] is a 1986. Read my post again,the moderns are enviable from a reliability standpoint. I am saying that from my point of view,the old ones have special qualities that the modern ones do not . Mike

I agree.

I also think Deutz air-cooled diesels are some of the toughest engines ever made.

I also think Deutz air-cooled diesels are some of the toughest engines ever made.

Yep, my 25 ton digger has an air-cooled diesel Mitsubishi-Deutz that is absolutely unkillable. The whole engine series is world class.

Damn, and here my Ford 8N has an old reliable Model A motor--25 hp--what's an old guy to do??

Rob R. wrote:

Dennis wrote: I totally agree and wait and see how the"modern" tractor runs in 30 years.The old ford will still be running if taken care of,although it's getting harder to find parts for them.

Do you consider made in the 80's or 90's "modern"? The reason I ask is - My dad just sold 3 John Deere's that were made in the late 80's. Powershift transmissions, electronic dash, air conditioning...and not one of them had less than 10,000 hours on the engine and transmission. The oldest of the three had the engine overhauled around 15,000 hours, and the other two had never been apart. Still running great, no smoke, no issues. I'm not knocking the old Fords, just pointing out that you don't have to buy something made in the 50's to have a good tractor.

OK, let me clarify. The newer tractors. My freind just bought a brand new 90 hp.4wd John Deere, everything connected to the block had wires connected to them.The service guys plug the laptop into it and diagnoss the problems.It's nice,but bouncing thru the feilds it won't last like his 30 and 40 year old deere's

freetown fred wrote:Damn, and here my Ford 8N has an old reliable Model A motor--25 hp--what's an old guy to do??

An old Ford 8N set our "Standards" Good luck with our new products we are forced to buy. Because cranky old folks like you will not let us buy the good ol'e products

I've had and worked my share of gasoline old tractors, from JD A's, B's, JD M, 40, 430, Ford 8n's Ford 4000 INdustrial..

And you can have 'em all.. for WORK, nothing beats DIESEL torque..

I had a JD 430, 2cyl upright engine, a '59 model, I had a 6' ford Flail mower on it, a real HP HOG.. the engine was rated at 29 or so HP..
When the grass was tall, it would not pull the slight slope in my back yard, I'd have to lift the mower to lighten the load. I'd have to run
the engine at full throttle all the time to pull the mower,

So, I bought an 'early '80's JD 855, a stick shift, 3x3 speed, live pto, and mid pto 4x4 tractor, Power steering, syncro on all gears.
The engine is a Yanmar Diesel, rated at ~28 hp..

When I put the Ford Flail mower behind it, the tractor would pull that hill at less than full throttle with any amount of grass, in fact,
the Ford Flail would siip the drive belts if I loaded it too much..

There is nothing like good modern diesel power..

NOW electronicly monitored, EPA restricted diesels with afterburners or requiring UREA or all that other crap, is just that CRAP,
Diesel 'pollutants' are mostly carbon,, and carbon is the building block of all life,, it's almost pure carbon.. totally harmless Unless
you fall into a swimming pool filled with carbon dust,, then you might drown in it.

I LOVE my diesel JD, and as much as I like the old iron, it's more of a play toy when you really need to work, like plowing old fields,
or pulling a heavy disc, or Haybining heavy Alphalfa.. That's diesel work..

Just my crabby, grumpy old man opinion..

OH, I borrowed a neighbor's '60's ford gasser the other day, since he'd borrowed my post hole digger and it was on his tractor, he still needed
it for a few more weeks, but I had a hole to dig. so I went next door an borrowed the rig.
What a gutless tractor, I think it has half the torque of the little Yanmar diesel in the 855..

Greg L