I can fully appreciate the fact that I have acquired too many tractors. But you know what? I can also thin the herd from time to tome. The biggest problem is that I then have to deal with Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace flakes. You know the ones. They shoot a message asking, "Is it still available?", even though I've said in my ads that I won't respond to that inquiry. One guy asked that question and I didn't respond. He then pushed the subject and said, "Why won't you answer me?".... I then had to ask him if he had any questions, and that I said in the ad that I won't respond to "is it available". He came back with a very nasty remark and nothing else. I don't know why people like that get to me but they do. I think some folks are just plain mean, but I digress.
Ok, so I need to thin the tractor herd. Which ones can I most easily live without? Part of that is pretty simple. The Ford 9N and the Farmall C. The Ferguson TO-20 and TO-35 are next in line.
April 2, 2025 I put those four on FB Marketplace. Six days later, the 9N was the first to go. I just didn't have any attachment to it, so it was easy to watch it leave.
Several months went by with no more sales. I decided then that the Massey-Harris Pony should also go bye-bye, as I realized I'd never get to that very large project, so in August I also put it up for sale. It went in a week or two. Yes, you can barely see its hood and muffler there in the dump trailer with the very high sides, behind the International 140, which I used to push the Pony into the trailer.
The tractor I was most hoping to unload, er, I mean reluctantly sell, was the Farmall C, and that also left in August. It turned out to be way, way, way more work than I was willing to put in to it. Yes, I bought enough parts to install the front bolster/steering assembly so the thing would actually roll on its own four tires. I used the 140 to push the Pony onto that trailer also. By the way, isn't that JD BO cute out there in the distance? No, it's not a permanent lawn ornament. I just put it out in the summer to spruce things up a bit.
The next one to bite the dust, also in August, was the Ferguson TO-35. I was a bit reluctant to sell this one because it was the most capable tractor in my fleet (not counting the Kubota BX-24) because of the six-speed transmission with low first gear, live hydraulics and live PTO. Off it went a new owner though.
I also sold the field mower that I'd bought to use with the TO-35. I initially bought the mower to help my tractor club keep a field mowed, but the arrangement between the club and the field owner dissolved and I never did get to try the thing out.
At this point in time I have two tractors remaining with 3-point hitches, the Ferguson TO-20 and the John Deere BN, and I'd like to keep one. I would most like to get rid of the JD BN, as it takes up more room than the TO-20. Well, I take that back. Maybe the TO-20 does because of the narrow front end of the BN and the ability to park something beside its narrow front end. Not sure on that one. Space is limited so I'll have to figure it out.
I suppose I should mention that after getting rid of those four tractors, I did acquire the Oliver 60 Standard project, another deep pit with which to throw money into.... Ebb and flow, ebb and flow.
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