[AT] most uncomfortable to drive tractor

[Herb Metz]

The part I remember is a neighbor who milked several cows for family milk 
and had an 800' driveway was the first farmer to buy a Ford, and immediately 
became the but of jokes like "don't have to walk down to mailbox now" and 
"don't have to walk out to get milk cows now".   Half dozen years later a 
large majority of farmers in our area also had Fords.



-----Original Message----- 
From: Gunnells, Bradley R
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2013 6:28 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] most uncomfortable to drive tractor
Yes there is a difference between mount/unmount and use. It's been many 
years since I've run a letter series IH but I don't remember the H we used 
to run an auger as too bad in either case.
I've got an Allis WC, WD45, and Ford 800 series. The Ford isn't bad once 
your on. I do find after a while stretching out is tough unless you put your 
feet in front of the floorboards (I'm 5'11" with sz 10 boots). The WD45 is 
miserable to mount and dismount. I think the hand clutch to give sudo live 
PTO is good but that handle is a knee killer. The WC is much easier to 
mount/dismount. Now in terms of operation…so/so. I use it for raking hay and 
like to sit somewhat side saddle so it isn't too bad for that.
Brad

On Mar 24, 2013, at 2:07 PM, jtchall at nc.rr.com wrote:
> 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.