Red Tractor

I get a lot of questions about my new little red tractor, so I thought I would share some information about it on this BLOG.

Earlier this year, when my wife and I decided to formally start Bear Butte Gardens as an official business, we also decided to purchase a tractor.  We'd been talking about it for years.  We were mostly looking for a good used tractor, but we just couldn't find just the right one.  We finally decided to go for the gusto and get a new one instead!

Before we actually bought this one, I did a lot of research.  I compared various brands, models, dealers, options, prices, etc.  We finally decided to purchase a Massey Ferguson model 1648 compact tractor from Valley Implement.

First of all, Valley Implement is located about two miles from our home, so it is very convenient for us.  In all the years of living here, I had only stopped in at Valley Implement a few times to ask about specific used tractors they would have on their lot at the time.  We found Tom and the rest of the staff at Valley Implement to be great to work with.  They are friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us a good deal.

On to the tractor itself...  It is a Massey Ferguson model 1648.  This particular model is part of the 1600 series of compact tractors.  As I understand it, a "compact" class tractor generally has lower gearing than other similar sized (based on horse power) tractors that might be classified as "utility" or simply "agriculture" tractors.  A compact tractor will probably be a bit smaller in physical dimensions also.  This lower gearing works well for tasks such as tilling.  Other non-compact class tractors are intended to move a little faster, like maybe seven to ten miles per hour when working a field.

The MF model 1648 has a four-cylinder diesel engine that produces 47.4 horse power.  It also has a class IV three-point hitch.  This combination of horse power with a class IV hitch make it very versatile around a hobby ranch or garden & greenhouse business.  It seems to have plenty power for anything I done so far, and the hitch will accept a wide variety of implements.

One of our needs is to move snow in the winter.  Before we bought this tractor, we were also considering skid-steer loaders like a Bobcat.  Based on conversations with several people, I came to the conclusion that a small 4wd tractor with a loader will move snow better than a skid-steer loader.  As I understand it, skid-steer loaders work great for moving snow on level pavement, but have problems getting traction on uneven ground such as a long, gravel driveway.  The MF 1648 has four-wheel drive with an easy pull of a lever.  It works great!  I'm looking forward to testing it this winter. 

I also got the matching MF loader.  I use the loader more than I ever thought I would.  It has a standard six-foot-wide bucket that attaches with the standard "quick attach" mount -- just like Bobcat skid-steer loaders.  I'm told that many attachments that can be used on Bobcat can be used on this tractor as well.  The loader is easy to use with a "joy stick" controller.  I have not removed the loader from the tractor yet, but it is designed to be removed quickly and easily by disconnecting the hydraulic hoses and pulling a couple pins.

As for implements that use the three-point hitch, I have three so far.  I have a six-foot-wide rotary, finishing mower, a six-foot-wide maintenance blade, and a post hole digger.  I use the mower to mow the ditches, the yard around the house (the wide open areas), and a fair amount of area around the gardens and greenhouse.  Before we got this tractor, I used a standard 16-hp riding lawn tractor with a 42" mowing deck.  Because the MF is so much larger, has so much power, and can move so much faster, I can mow for one hour what would have taken four to five hours with the lawn tractor.  And when it comes to mowing deep grass, the MF cuts through it with no problem.  The lawn tractor would have required 1st gear and maybe two passes just to get a good clean cut.

The blade works great for maintaining our gravel driveway.  It mounts easy, it's easy to adjust, and easy to use.  The height of the right side of the three-point hitch can be adjusted separately with a turn handle.  This allows me to make just a bit of a "crown" down the center of the driveway so that water runs off instead of making puddles.  And of course, the total height of the three-point hitch can easily be controlled with a lever on the tractor.

The post hole digger is a huge time saver!  Anyone who has ever dug post holes in hard ground by hand surely envies this piece of equipment!  Wherever we have used it, it digs with ease.

We have also used a tiller with this tractor.  When we bought the tractor, Tom at Valley Implement was nice enough to let us use their rental tiller free of charge.  This is another great time saver!  The tiller was six foot wide and the tractor had plenty of power to turn it in virgin soil.  The first pass would go through the sod and dig in about four or five inches.  With another pass or two the tiller would dig in to about eight to ten inches.  And when done, the ground was so beautifully tilled, I didn't even want to walk on it and leave my foot prints!  If possible, we plan to purchase our own tiller next year.  I think it will be very handy to have at a garden & greenhouse business.

There are a couple of other things I want to get for our tractor.  I need to mount a toolbox somewhere.  I'm thinking about using a military surplus ammo can and mounting it to the step tread on the right side of the tractor.  It would be nice to keep a few basic tools, a pair of work gloves, some wire, and some tape with the tractor.  Another item is a shade canopy that can be mounted to the roll bar.  When we were buying the tractor, it didn't seem like a necessary item, but after spending many hours mowing in the hot sun, it seems like a good idea.

I'm also considering some kind of wheel weights.  We sometimes use the loader to move fairly heavy items.  It works pretty good for loading or unloading heavy items on/off a trailer.  One time I was unloading an old antique two-bottom plow and the back tire of the tractor started to come off the ground just a bit.  The loader seemed to handle the load just fine, but the back end of the tractor was just too light.  I've heard that beet juice can be used inside of the tire for weight.  Apparently it won't freeze and it is fairly heavy.  Anyone know about this?

Overall, we are very happy with this tractor.  I would highly recommend this brand and model, as well as Valley Implement as a dealer.  If anyone has any questions, comments, or suggestions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Have a nice day!

Rick Grosek
Bear Butte Gardens
Rick@BearButteGardens.com
http://www.bearbuttegardens.com/