[AT] Actual antique tractor vegetable discussion

[john hall]

Grant. if you like the 100 but want something larger, maybe a 200 will do--I 
think they made a 240 as well. Neither was ever very popular here. They took 
the place of a "C. Unfortuanetly they'll have 2 pt hitch or a conversion kit 
for 3pt.

John Hall

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Brians" <sales at heirloom-organic.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 8:26 PM
Subject: [AT] Actual antique tractor vegetable discussion


>     Here is my promised antique tractor post....
>     First, I could not make it to Tulare's California Antique Farm
> Equipment show over this past weekend due to overwhelming farming and 
> family
> commitments. But Richard Walker was kind enough to bid on and get me some
> Caterpillar D8 parts. I "almost" also got a Cat R4 and various other items
> that went over my limit without being there.... Once again thanks to 
> Richard
> for his assistance and a running commentary of the impromptu tractor pull 
> of
> a Best Steamer tractor and a Holt early, early tractor. WOW!!
>     Second, as I have mentioned on the list before, we use both modern
> (1980's-2008) tractors in my farming operation and also antiques (1930's 
> to
> 1960's). My foremen and I have come to the conclusion that using the 
> modern
> diesel tractors for picking tractors in the manner that the employees use
> them is an exercise in futility when trying to avoid inappropriate usage -
> clutches being overused, alternators left on and running batteries down,
> breaking plastic parts, not understanding modern controls properly. What 
> we
> have figured out works best is a good medium weight row crop tractor with 
> a
> three point hitch that is before the use of plastics in tractors, that 
> does
> not have too much power (between 35 and 65hp), travels at speeds from 
> about
> 2.5mph to 10mph or so (not much higher) and also that has very simple
> controls and sturdy transmission and shifters. I happen to be partial to
> Oliver Row Crop tractors like the 77's, 770's, 1550, and 1650's because
> nearly all of the models meet those parameters. I have also been thinking
> that the late 60's to late 70's IH Farmall tractors might be a good choice
> too because there are still a fair number of them around.
>     So the reason I bring this to the list is that local to me there are
> really not many tractors in this class that are available and that I have
> experience with. The John Deeres of that era don't generally have a three
> point until the new generation and cost more and are less likely to be for
> sale. Allis Chalmers used to have a local dealership and there were lots 
> of
> 160s and 180s sold, but I really have not played with them and the D-17s
> have a great reputation, but I don't have personal experience and my
> neighbor with one has had certain experiences that lead me to think it may
> not be best for this specific use. Can you pass along advice or better yet
> info about California tractors that might help me out? I WILL be acquiring
> at least 2 harvest tractors this year.... Currently we use an Oliver 770, 
> a
> Farmall 100 (not sturdy or fast enough), a Ford 4610 (excellent tractor 
> but
> the shutoff sequence seems to disagree with my pickers...) and various
> trucks. 4WD is not a help for this usage.
>                 Grant Brians
>                 Hollister,California farmer of Vegetables, Nuts and Fruit
>
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