3 Factors to Consider Before You Buy Your First Used or New Tractor

1 June 2015
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A tractor is a must-have for any farm, even a small family-run business, and can also make taking care of very large properties much easier. They can be used for more than planting and harvesting, but can also drag a mower behind them or be used to haul bags of supplies from one end of the property to another. When shopping at Massey Ferguson tractor sales, you may get overwhelmed with the features and options that are offered. It's vital that you take the time to note what's needed for the work the tractor will do, so consider the following factors to keep in mind.

1. PTO horsepower

The PTO horsepower, or the Power Takeoff horsepower, refers to the actual power the tractor will offer to perform certain heavy-duty jobs. This is different than the horsepower of an engine. The horsepower of an engine tells you the speed it can maintain or load it can pull, but a tractor's PTO horsepower tells you the power it has for hauling or using certain implements. This PTO horsepower is power that is transferred from the tractor to an implement that has been attached, through a rotating shaft under the tractor itself.

The stronger the implement that is attached or the more power it will need to operate, the higher the PTO horsepower you'll need from your tractor. Many implements that you attach will note the required PTO horsepower, so be sure you understand how this is different than an engine's horsepower and shop accordingly.

2. Three-point hitches

A tractor will almost always have a hitch on the back for hauling various instruments and equipment, but a three-point hitch can be a good choice for most larger instruments. This hitch has two arms that extend from the outside points of the tractor along with a middle hitch. These are usually used for larger instruments you haul behind you so that they disperse the weight across the length of the tractor. These may be more expensive but they can reduce the risk of a tractor getting bogged down by larger and heavier cutters and other equipment.

3. Hydraulics

The amount of power you get from the hydraulics of a tractor are important for the type of instruments you use; loaders, backhoes, and even the power steering of a tractor are controlled by the hydraulics system. A one-pump hydraulics system is good for smaller tractors that don't need much power; these are fine for gardening implements and mowers.

Larger instruments such as loaders should have a two-pump hydraulic system for maximum force. Choose the hydraulics according to the implements you'll have attached and how you'll use your tractor, and invest in the two-pump system if needed.