[AT] Need advice on 3pt Tractor

[Ken Knierim]

I've seen a small JD crawler with a brush hog being used for clearing
desert brush in this area. It had a 3 point on it so I suspect there
are a few that are out there. My guess is that a crawler is going to
cost more to haul around (tow vehicle wear and fuel) than a comparable
wheeled tractor. It's also going to cost more to run, if you factor in
undercarriage wear, and might be more of a hassle if you're grading up
to paved roads. The wheeled tractor can go right across the road but
the crawler might tear the pavement up...

My guess is that a wheeled tractor would be a better fit for this. I
would look for something with a pretty serious 3-point, as noted
before having down pressure. There might be an old construction type
that would fit the bill, and I would lean toward a diesel as well. In
this area there seem to be more than a few doing this kind of work
using small Massey tractors, some Ford construction units and a number
of Case construction tractors. I haven't used them but I've seen some
really nice work from them.

On the subject of moving dirt, seems to me someone mentioned that if
you want to move dirt it takes weight, both on the tractor and on the
blade. A heavy blade box blade (they call them Gannons around here)
with hydraulic adjustable scarifier teeth seems to be the ticket. You
might look around and see what other folks are using in your area as
that might help with the decision.

Hope this helps.

Ken in AZ

On 8/15/07, Rick Weaver <Rick_Weaver at hilton.com> wrote:
> Just curious, are there crawlers with 3pt hitches you could put a blade
> behind?  If you're grading in the wet season, you'll just end up making
> puddles deeper (at least that's how it works with me).
>
> I would think a crawler with less pounds/square inch ground pressure
> would do a better job grading.  Or better yet, a small dozer?
>
> Just some thoughts.
>
> Rick Weaver
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Francis
> Robinson
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 6:52 AM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] Need advice on 3pt Tractor
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "toma" <toma at risingnet.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 2:38 AM
> Subject: [AT] Need advice on 3pt Tractor
>
>
> > All of my tractors are Caterpillars. I have never owned a wheel
> tractor. I
> > want to look for a wheel tractor with a 3 point hitch that I can set
> up
> > with a grader blade. I worked on a ranch for a while that had an old
> > Massey Furgusen that I think was about a 50 hp tractor. I got to be
> pretty
> > good at grading roads with it. Last year I rented a 4wd Ford that I
> think
> > was about 30 hp, it did and OK job too.
> >
> > I want to get a tractor that I can easily move on a trailer behind a
> 3/4
> > ton pickup. In our area most of the houses are on 5 acre parcels so
> most
> > have extensive driveways, the soil is mostly DG. I want to see if I
> can
> > finance a career change by grading driveways during the wet season.
> >
> > What I am thinking about is a '50's or 60's model tractor in the
> > $2000-$3000 range. I know most of you guys are more knowlegeable about
> > tractors like this than I am so I am asking for recommendations as to
> make
> > and model that would be good for this purpose.
> >
> > There are lots of tractors around this part of California so I figure
> I
> > just need to visulize what I want and one will show up. This
> visualization
> > technique has always worked well for me in the past. A while back I
> > visualized a D8 and one showed up right away.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Tom
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> ^^
>
>
>
>     Ooooooooooooooh what a dangerous concept...   ;-)   Just watching a
> beauty contest would place me in grave danger...   ;-)
>
>     Based on tractors I am personally familiar with if I was looking for
> a
> tractor specifically for grading drives I would probably look for an
> International 300 Utility with fast hitch. Yeah, I know it is not 3
> point
> but can be with adapters. Down pressure was available but when sat on
> float
> (pin out) depth control could be set and would stay right there. I just
> liked the way the hydraulics worked and even though the one we used was
> manual steering (some have power steering) steering was quite easy. We
> kept
> a steering knob on it and it was the easiest steering tractor on the
> farm
> back in the mid 1950's.
>
>
> --
> "farmer"
>
> Francis Robinson
> Central Indiana, USA
> robinson at svs.net
>
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