Best Farm Tractor

Larger ones, meanwhile, can make interesting landscaping attractions and conversation pieces. Tractor Attachments If you need to remove lots of smaller rocks, a variety of tractor attachments are available to help you get the job done.

Not only are most difficult to hold open without breaking the binding, they could be incomplete, as information was often added to later revised versions. Daily Tractor Maintenance Checklist Seasonal Tractor Maintenance Checklist This article originally...

(Although, having the leading edge of the board hover ever so slightly above the ground will help it slide smoothly and not get caught on bumpy ground.) While I wouldn't recommend this approach for huge projects, like clearing a field—you'll obviously...

Also, if you plan to use an ATV during the winter (perhaps for plowing snow), be ready to install wheel weights, tire chains and/or snow tires to improve its performance in slippery conditions.

It should register less than negative 34 degrees F. Take time to evaluate the oil for water or other contaminants, such as diesel fuel. When changing any oil, always change the filter, as well.

They take your tractor from being just an engine and wheels, to being the do-anything rig you dreamed of someday owning. Utility Tractors These heavy-duty units are generally designed for commercial-scale farms.

Four-wheel Drive (4WD) Vehicles with four-wheel drive allow all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously. Many tractors allow users to switch between 2WD and 4WD via a mechanism on the control panel.

Plow attachments have fallen out of favor in many circles recently, and with good reasons: Tillage exposes loose soil to erosion, can negatively affect soil health and requires the use of costly fuel.

Repair for leaks, big or small, might simply entail tightening or replacing hoses or clamps or tightening drain plugs. If not, start the engine, and let it warm up before checking the oil.

Not a week goes by that a farmer doesn't lament, “If I only had that tractor (or tiller , wagon or other piece of equipment), farming would be easier.” Looking at the price tag, you might be able to afford a particular piece of machinery, but there...

Power Take-Off One of the most important parts of your machine, the PTO is a spinning shaft commonly located at the rear of the tractor. Some tractors, such as those with hydrostatic transmissions, are driven with foot pedals, and increasing the speed...

They're basically essential for large-scale farm maintenance and they're also necessary for using some machines, including cultivators and hay balers . With their wider mower decks, you can mow more land in less time, and additional features like hydraulic...

The most efficient way to move firewood out of the woods is to cut it into manageable lengths and load them on a trailer for later cutting and splitting; the front-end loader comes in handy for the big ones.

(For instance, the hay-baler is nearly $10,000.) Used machines can be difficult to come by, as these machines can often last a lifetime with proper maintenance and care. Most implements range in price from $150 to $2,000, though there are a few that exceed...

Bigger isn't always better. For photos of past Vintage Harvest events, visit this blog . A sign off to the side of the road announced the Vintage Harvest. I later found out that the Vintage Harvest is an annual affair held the last weekend of every August.

The speedy hare knew he couldn't lose a race against the slow, plodding tortoise, but an ill-timed nap left him too far behind to overtake the slow (but steady) tortoise, who scored the victory.

But while many projects are perfect for spring, be careful while moving farm machinery and heavy wagons in the weeks after the spring thaw. Truth be told, the ground was dry enough to accommodate the farm machinery—except for one area on the edge of...

Horsepower This is a numerical measurement of a tractor's power, and the only one of these tractor terms that doesn't describe a physical aspect of the machine. Front-End Loader One of the most useful attachments for any tractor, this is a large heavy-duty...

When looking for implements to fit with your tractor, be realistic about the expectations you have for the type of farming or hobby farm you have developed: Along with your budget, this will govern what types of attachments you eventually purchase.

It can seem like modern tractors have so many features and controls that it's hard to memorize them all and put them to use. In the end, freeing the mower was simple, thanks to a little-used feature that was there when I needed it.

It can take a bit of effort to get the tractor and implement into exactly the right position so that the three points of attachment can be made—getting two of them secured tends to be easy enough, but I find that the third one can be quite stubborn...

What size and type of oil filter fits the machine? With oil changes under your belt, you might decide to try your hand at larger maintenance projects, keeping that tractor running smoothly for many years to come.

Fortunately, grading a gravel driveway is a task that can be accomplished (at least with some level of success) by any farmer with a large tractor and the right equipment, with the “right equipment” being the key.

If there are three numbers—such as 23×8.5-12—the first number is the width (23 inches), the second is the height (8.5 inches), and the third is the rim size (12 inches). Tractor tires, and standard tire sizes, have changed a bit over the years, so...

Start as Early as Possible To anyone who has ever baled hay, this is obvious but it bears repeating—the process is slow and can't be rushed. While it's impossible to prepare yourself for every possible scenario, having a supply of replacements parts...

That's perfect for pulling wagons and even raking hay, but when it comes to harder tasks such as baling hay, Little Mo falls short. Really, the only knock I have against our Massey is that the gear shift can become jammed on occasion, a known phenomenon...

A grapple for the front-end loader makes the job of removing limbs and small, fallen trees from the property a snap. Build Firebreaks Whether you're conducting a prescribed burn or installing a fence line through the woods, the tractor is ideal for building...