donjr and other 'greenies'

Yea,I like red...Let me tell ya why.When I was a child,my father used to tell grand stories about the mighty Farmall M-the best(I kind of agree) tractor ever built.I've owned red and green-started with a JD 730d,owned a 4020,bought a brand new Jd 4040 in '80,run lots of JDs(for the neighbors) over the years.Owned M/SM(4 or 5), 560,706(2),856,826,1256,1026,H100.....Overall the IH tractors all seemed to get better fuel economy,have better 'lugging'ability,the engines seemed to have a longer service life(except the 282d,kind of a dog).Yes the John Deeres sure are nice to operate(always wanted a 4320),but they are fuel hogs,and that green paint must have gold in it.When I got started with IH,I just kinda stayed with them.When you have all the same'color',things just seem to fit together better.Besides,its kinda fun to pick on you green guys....

I,m not 'color blind',If I could have one JD from the 60s/70s,it would be a 4320.I would also like a Case 1030,or an Oliver 1950T,aFord 7000 and 8000/8600.Now I supposed you guys are really gonna 'rip' on me Steve

We had a few IH tractors when I was growing up. After one pushed my Grand dad down a hill when the sprag broke they where long gone from our farm. I even bought a IH 1486 once to use. It was the most miserable riding/shifting tractor I have ever owned. I just loved those Backward doors too: NOT. Loved hanging upside down when the hammer loop of my cover-alls hooked the shifter levers getting out. Kept it just one fall harvest. Sold it for a $500 dollar loss and never owned an 86 series since.

I will agree that I would much rather use a IH "M" any day over a JD "A" or 60. The foot clutch and four cylinder engine where much more user friendly.

The only way I sell an IH with a TA is to tell the guy buying it that the TA is his problem. They all are either bad or waiting to go bad. I always write right on the bill of sale that the TA is NOT warrantied in manner. You by it as-is.

You know Red, The first tractor my daddy put me on was an H. He rigged a hand clutch on it so I could operate it because I didnt have enough weight to push it down and legs were too short to stay on the seat at the same time. I can still remember hanging onto the steering wheel, trying to keep it straight and push that clutch in. lol. He always talked about getting a SM but never did. They were pretty pricey out here. He ended up trading in the old H for 2020 JD. It sure looked good but for the kind of work we do it really dogged it so he traded it for a Massey 168. But the one tractor I still have was one that a guy gave him because he couldn't get it to run and that's a Ford 841 Power Master. It still runs everyday. I use it for the moderate work and the 1206 for the heavy work. But what ever I get on in the morning, when I look out over the nose the first thing I see is the red top and front of that old H sticking out in front of me. I can still see the old belt pulley down on the right side and remembering it parked in front of the old circular saw and that old wide belt slapping as dad would push those logs through to cut the old barn timbers and floor. He used store bought lumber for the walls and roof. That old barn burned down about 30 years ago and now my all steel boarding barn is sitting on the site. But when I look out there I can still see it and remember helping Pop raise the timbers and see him up on top roofing that old barn. Aaaa but there I go telling and reminiscing too much again. Yes Red, That first red tractor will always be the best in your memory.

dont matter what colour I have as long as they run and do the job I want it to do. I think I like fixin them more then runnin them, yep Im nuts...LOL

I think with any tractor line you have to be selective as to the tractors that give the best in terms of performance, efficiency, and durability. Which is to say not every tractor of a certain line is going to be strong in each of the mentioned categories never mind all at the same time. I could certainly put together a fleet of Deere's that could satisfy most people assuming they were open to my recommendations. The 4020 side console diesel and 2520 diesel would rival anything made during the same era in their respective horsepower class. I'll agree with you on the Farmall M as we still have the one my grandfather bought new in the early 1940's. Tractors such as the 806 and 1066 are very nice tractors in my mind and I seem to get along with the 86 series, too.

'9',you are right,every line has their good and bad.Only a moron would say that every tractor of a certain line is good,and every body else is junk(sadly I've known some JD owners with that attitude).we all have to decide what works best for us,what we are used to,affordability,dealer service,etc.I got started with IH and have continued with them.That does not necessarily mean that they are all the 'best".Becides,if I ran green,I would not have a reason to pick on you guys.Steve

Now that someone else has said it, I will dare open my mouth. We had a JD 50, an AC WD, and WD45 in my youth. Trying to run that 50, at age 10, with a four row front mounted cultivator(no power steering) and a hand clutch I couldn't get released, cured me of any affection for a two cylinder tractor. I have 3 JD's now, but NO two cylinders. I got along fine with the AC's .
And speaking of the TA, how about the other green tractor? My first experience there down shifting a load, and taking off lake a bat out of you know where, also got my attention!

"Sadly I've known some JD owners with that attitude". Likewise with just as many, maybe MORE Binderoids. Just go to Red Power forum if you'd like to meet a few. I've got 5 different brands in my sheds. ALL have their merits, ALL have their faults.

I totally agree. I grew up on a farm with JD's,worked for a JD dealer for over 20 yrs and own a green, a blue & an orange tractor

OK. Go ahead and pick on me. Can't I just pick on Lyle without fear of reprisal?

For the record, I started with an MT John Deere. Traded it on a 2520. Bought a 350 (yeah, RED) and then added a 70. The 70 got traded on a 3020 gasser which was a dog, and led to a 4030. A 165 Massey was added, and traded on a 4430. The 40 and 44 were traded on a 6400. Due to a lack of iron, I needed some more heavy iron, so I bought an 806. A 4240 was added a few years ago. So, our main iron around here is a 2520, a 6400, the 806 and 4240. I also have a B for fun and some light jobs. But I just have to pick on someone.

Our main problem here is a lack of dealers anymore. I can still get JD parts without running 50 or more miles. We've also got a NH dealer about 20 miles away, but NH has gone through the roof on parts. Closest red guys are on the far side of Lancaster, or out in Frederick.

But the last thing I am is predjudiced. I pick on everyone! Anyone want an 806?

Each class of tractors by age and size was represented well by some brands and not so well by other brands. IH and JD had the best of luck in the 70"s and thats why they are still around.

There just isnt much of an argument saying that an 806 is better than a 4020 or this or that. There is a reason they made so many 4020"s and why so many are still around.

Now in the 70HP class I don"t think the 706 or 656 was quite as frequent around here as the JD 3020, Oliver 1655, Ford 5000.

Then you go to the smaller classes where the MF 135, MF 165 and Ford 3000/4000 dominated.

My dad and I farm with 3 tractors that are all different brands. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. The JD is our most dependable and requires the least maintenance (but its 1 owner) The Massey Ferguson does a lot of baling but it is rough on fuel and is a little tough to shift. The Oliver is used for disking and we usually rake hay with it. Its easy to shift and operate but it has its downfalls (it leaks and only starts 8 months of the year)

Just a warning my cousins USED to bale with a 4320 and although it was a nice tractor it was the worst on fuel out of any of their tractors. Also if you wanted to pull something or run the baler you HAD to have it running about full RPM's. Now they use a 1066 on the baler and save money on fuel.

Just my 2cents

Not gonna 'rip' on you. I just keep seeing that cat on 'em, kinda like a big red litterbox....

Im not color blind either, but have to agree all most colors have good tractors. I like Deere a lot, but farm with a Case 2390. While not having all of the creature comforts of a 4640, it ll do the same work on less fuel, and is very reliable. All maufacturers have their good and bad points.

I like the way you think about the 86 series IH.We were looking for a cheap cab tractor and was considering one untill my son spent a day in a sharp 1486.He would rather have a 4020 with a year around cab than that rough riding,hard shifting, left handed tractor that took a ladder to climb in after the door smacked you in the face.No red tractors here.