Looking for my first tractor

I would go with the massey 1526 between the two if I was looking just my opinion

I would go with the Massey...it is a lot of tractor for the money

You can get just what you want in new but the budget says look for the best fit within budget. Go with the Massey you can upgrade later if and when budget loosens up a bit. You'll have a nice trade in.
Congrats on the land and all the best luck and be sure to enjoy the journey.

@baumer64 Welcome to the site!

My wife and I are doing the same thing you are. Buying a small 20 acre homestead. I grew up on a farm and know what it takes to do the work, and tractor size.
We are looking to run a haybine 35hp, bailer 35hp, rake 20hp, brushhog 20hp, and a poop spreader 20hp.
My 5220 Duetz/Allis 26HP diesel with 4x4, FEL, and a 3 point backhoe will not be big enough. (I'm sure the backhoe could use more that 26hp to run it correctly but it works) minimum 35hp to the PTO to run some of those implements. So Mine won't work https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/003/1/6/3160-deutz-allis-5220.html the Massey will not cut it either. . https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/009/4/3/9437-massey-ferguson-1526.html

I've been searching Marketplace for weeks. I'm a JD guy so that's all I've been looking for. 1974 JD 1020 40HP 2wd with a loader $6K
https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/0/6/65-john-deere-1020.html
There are implement auctions so you can bid on line.

JD tractors listed low to high on their HP. TractorData.com - John Deere farm tractors sorted by power

I am sure you will find a Furd guy, a Massey guy, an HI guy, maybe even a Minneapolis Moline guy to tell you all how how much better they are than a John Deere but in the end it's up to you.
Older and used is the way to go as far as I can see. New electronics are a problem and need dealer only care. I'll stick with the mechanical stuff you can fix at home.

Good luck to you.

Tony

So I looked over the MF tonight while walking the dog. I was hoping to take a picture of the serial/VIN but couldn't find it in the dark. Where should it be? I read somewhere it should be under the seat.
The hours say 204. An area where paint seems to be peeling on top of the hood. Just a couple 1-2" chips. Guessing someone left something sitting there. It is a hydrostatic drive.

Advice on what else I should look for and what should be a fair price?

As to “what to look for?” Condition. I’ve seen a lot of low hour tractors that have been absolutely beaten, ragged on, and are nearing the end of their useful life. Missing body panels, missing filler caps from hydraulic reservoirs, loader buckets bent up every which way from Sunday, and engine oil black as the night sky. Conversely, I’ve seen several high hour machines in phenomenal condition for the same price that have a lot of life left in them.
I tend to seek out Massey and Kubota, but In the end, price and condition almost always trumps brand.

Keys to a happy purchase:

1. Figure out everything you will need in a tractor, list it all out, and find one that does all that.
2. Then up that machine by two levels.

Some reality:
The price pain of a quality machine purchase disappears when you first run the machine.
The PAIN of regret for an inadequate machine, revisits you with increasing intensity each time you run the inadequate machine.

Have looked at https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/search?Category=1111&sort=6 ?

You can filter out by year, HP, price ...

Do you have a way to bring it home?

Shawn T W. said:

Have looked at https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/search?Category=1111&sort=6 ?

You can filter out by year, HP, price ...

Do you have a way to bring it home?

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Thanks, I hadn't seen the tractorhouse site. Yes, I can haul it home. I'll borrow a flatbed from a friend and hook that to my Duramax 1-Ton.

Go to proxibid and find local auctions in your area. I stick to a couple of auction businesses I like and frequent them for stuff. I ended up with an almost new Challenger 25 gallon well pressure bladder for $35. I did not even really know what it was or how to use it until after the auction :-D I bought it at a supermarket auction!

if you have $10,000 cash (figure $9000 then 25% for fees and taxes) then you most certainly can get a good deal on a 4x4 with FL.

Here is an auction I am watching:

Kubota BX23S 4x4 Mini Backhoe With Front Loader


I think it will go for a bit shy of $7,000, we will see.

JB_4x4 said:

Go to proxibid and find local auctions in your area. I stick to a couple of auction businesses I like and frequent them for stuff. I ended up with an almost new Challenger 25 gallon well pressure bladder for $35. I did not even really know what it was or how to use it until after the auction :-D I bought it at a supermarket auction!

if you have $10,000 cash (figure $9000 then 25% for fees and taxes) then you most certainly can get a good deal on a 4x4 with FL.

Here is an auction I am watching:

Kubota BX23S 4x4 Mini Backhoe With Front Loader

Kubota BX23S 4x4 Mini Backhoe With Front Loader | Heavy Construction Equipment Loaders Backhoe Loaders | Online Auctions | Proxibid

<p><span style="color:#c0392b">Located Offsite In Blairsville GA</span></p> <p>100 Hours</p> <p>Serial Number 63727</p> <p>Runs / Operates</p> <p> </p><br />

www.proxibid.com

I think it will go for a bit shy of $7,000, we will see.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on the "proxibid" listing as I wasn't aware of that site. I'll be watching for some woodworking equipment to see if any of that comes up for auction.
In the Northwest however, I could only find one auction with equipment within 7 hours of Spokane. At this point with the tractor need, we've decided to buy a new one. I'll post this weekend after I pick it up.
Good luck on the tractor you're looking at.

Thank you, but, I will not be buying it, no tow vehicle at the moment, but, I am educating myself on the costs, so, when I bid I get a good deal. When I go to pick up my stuff at farm and equipment auctions I walk around and see what sold, the condition, etc. since know I know the price and for most of the bidders I compete against, it's not their first auction where they throw down $20,000+.

You can use proxibid and auctionzip.com to search within a state or set of miles. Get the e-mail updates and notices because some of the bigger ones only hold auctions every 3-4 months, but, they have 300+ lots.

At a small auction for a chimney and stove fabrication business going out of business, I bought an expensive roof rack to turn into a ROP cage for $10, new CMUs for $.20 each, lumber, and brand new bundles of expensive shingles at $12 a bundle. I made all my hard costs back including gas, because a guy was stuck because his helper ditched with the planned truck and he couldn't get his load into his SUV. So, for $50 I loaded my trailer with his stuff, and drove 10 miles away to deliver it. The owner when he saw what I did, decided to give me more stuff for free, which I donated to my neighbor's backyard project. So, networking and being available works out {+}

In GA they have an auctioneer association and you can find all the legit ones within the state.

I could only find one auction with equipment within 7 hours of Spokane

Click to expand...

That might be true, but, I am sure you are just missing them from lack of experience {+}.

Sorry I didn't update everyone.
I ended up going new and picked up a TYM T264 with a FEL and 60" back blade for just over $19,000 including tax.
Seems like a perfect fit for me. All I need now is the pallet fork attachment and I'm set.
When I picked up the tractor, there was a 1"x3" section of the fender where paint had chipped off. They will take it back and replace that section which is the whole fender floor assembly. I'm asking if they would trade the forks for not fixing it and then I'll just repaint it myself.

Thanks for all of the comments and advice everyone has shared!

Nice machine...good luck with it

MARK (LI) said:

Nice machine...good luck with it

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Thanks Mark.
Oh, and they welded hooks to the top of the bucket and filled the rear tires. These are standard services at this dealer.

Looks like your construction project is going to be kicked up a notch, I am having to rent a Toro Dingo for my neighbor to help him take care of his self-created mess. I could use a FEL already.

Pallet forks for the front or the back?

Looks like the bucket is pinned on, is that correct?

A "quick attach" bucket/forks is very handy if you have that, it will make switching so much easier, and you will find you using both, so much more ... I have the "Skid Steer Quick Attach" (SSQA) version on mine, about 30 seconds, once you get out of the seat!

Shawn T W. said:

Pallet forks for the front or the back?

Looks like the bucket is pinned on, is that correct?

Click to expand...

Thanks Shawn. The bucket is a quick attach so I'm wanting front forks. Besides being able to move pallets, I have a bunch of logs I'll need to move around as well. I know the forks will be useful for this purpose too.