[AT] most uncomfortable to drive tractor

[Al Jones]

Everybody that knows me knows that I have a very low opinion of the Ford N's and the Fergies.  Lightweight, under-powered, and rediculously over-priced.  It pains me to talk bad about the MF's because we have a great MF dealer in town and they are wonderful to deal with but I would not own a MF tractor on purpose.  Anyway, I drove my father in law's MF 235 over Christmas and I must say it was VERY uncomfortable to drive.  Nowhere to put your feet, and the brake pedals were "backwards."  Once I figured out to use my heels instead of my foot, it wasn't so bad but still not good. Made me thankful that my dad chose a Deere back in the early '80s instead of that MF 285.

I know we were supposed to stop at 1980 but in the late '90s I had the mistfortune of driving a MF 231.  It was even worse.  The foot accelerator required you to thread your feet (I have a size 12 shoe) OVER the brake pedals to operate--it was like the pedal was up level with the top of the hood!

I never drove one, but it always looked to me like the WD and WD45 Allis was hard to get up on, sort of like sitting in a cockpit.

Al

-----Original Message-----
>From: jtchall at nc.rr.com
>Sent: Mar 24, 2013 3:07 PM
>To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Subject: [AT] most uncomfortable to drive tractor
>
>Either the list is dead or March Madness has everyone glued to the boob-tube.
>
>I drove an 8N Ford yesterday as well as a 135 Massey. I couldn’t help but thinking they are very uncomfortable tractors to operate.  My biggest complaint is difficulty getting off and on as well as no where to put your feet where you can quickly and easily access the pedals. The brake pedal arrangement on the 8N was the worst. Maybe these tractors would be comfortable if you are 5”2” with a size 8 shoe.
>
>
>Since traffic is low, let’s hear your vote for most uncomfortable to drive old tractor. Just a few rules to keep us on track:
>
>1) No body cares how reliable your grandpas 30hp tractor was running 25 hrs a day 8 days a week farming 15,000 acres (not including double crop acres). The question is was it comfortable to use.
>
>2) Most early (primitive) tractors in my opinion were uncomfortable to drive without question. About the time styled tractors came out around 1940, things were beginning to get standardized. So lets go back no further than the Farmall letter series (or your favorite paint colors equivalent models)
>
>3) Nothing newer than 1980. By then AC units in cabs were becoming reliable, cabs were roomier, and air-ride seats were coming onto the scene.
>
>
>I vote for the 8N Ford.
>
>John Hall
>
>PS, to the Ford and Massey owners on the list, those tractors are still too popular and sell for too much money as chore tractors for you to take any offense to my comments, unless your basketball team has already been sent home and you just need to vent.
>
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