[AT] most uncomfortable to drive tractor

Mon Mar 25 06:45:40 PDT 2013

The most comfortable tractor for me was the 930 Case CK with the 
original rubber torsion seat.  I drove one as a kid and searched for 30 
years to find one.  When I finally found the tractor, I did not get the 
original seat as the former owner had installed a Bostrom seat the day 
he bought it new.  I could not get the original seat bought.  However I 
found a 1070 seat for it later.  I mounted a later seat pan on the 
original suspension..  I can sit on it for hours and not be worn out..  
All of the controls are where they need to be.  I have a mid 70's Ford 
5000, and I have to say that brake lock has to be operated with my 
pliers.  the later models they extended the lock handle up the 
transmission case.  I baled with it for years, and the PTO lever put a 
cramp in my side every time I engaged it.  I still have a JD 4010 and 
the platform with the original seat is very comfortable.   However, we 
need to remember that JD engineers hired a Chiropractor to help design 
the JD seat on the 4010.  They started designing the 4010 in about 
1953..  With the Synchro shift JD, you nearly have the same thing as a 
shuttle reverse lever.  My only real gripe is that the hyd  and pto 
controls are left of the steering wheel and I tend to turn and look aver 
my right shoulder.  Not an easy position any more.    We should remember 
that in the 50's and 60's most farmers were about 125-150lbs, and 6 ft 
was tall.. a size 10 shoe was large.   Since I used to be 6'1" andnow 
weigh 310lbs with a size 13 EW boot,  I can not easily operate the MF 50 
that we bought new in 1964  My NH TS110 is great, but if I could have 
afforded to replace the air seat suspension with another air susp, it 
would be really a great ride.  I just could not justify the $500 for the 
replacement suspension.  I replaced the entire seat with a new spring 
suspension seat on clearance from a major manuf.   I might add that 
Grammer makes the sorriest air seats you can buy.  For the money they 
charge, you get a pile of crap.

  I mentioned my 7030 allis as having the WD type of suspension. The WD 
had the seat hinged in front of you with your feet either tucked behind 
the seat or stuck out in front.  The 7030 has the seat hinged with a 4 
bar linkage on the back of the cab and you still bottom out on the shock 
absorber directly under the seat. I have lost the control of my right 
foot and cannot walk more than 100 ft at one time due to bulged discs 
from these tractors.
Cecil in OKla

On 3/25/2013 7:52 AM, Cecil R Bearden wrote:
> I will second that vote on the WD & WD45 Allis.  I have back problems
> from sitting on a WD for hours with my feet out in front of me and
> hitting a rough spot and the shock absorber bottoming out.  It then
> drives our butt up into your neck.   My 7030Allis still has the same
> type of seat hinge that causes you to bounce up and down on the lower
> stop when on rough ground.
> Cecil in OKla
>
>
> On 3/24/2013 4:40 PM, charlie hill wrote:
>> Al, you are right about the WD and WD 45 not to mention that you have to
>> throw your right hip out of joint
>> to get your foot on the clutch.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Al Jones
>> Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2013 4:51 PM
>> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
>> Subject: Re: [AT] most uncomfortable to drive tractor
>>
>>
>> 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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