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 | Mike
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2000-02-23 13123
I am thinking of trading up from an '84 IH244 to a '90 Ford 1520 MFWD hydro.Have found it on consignment in my hometown of Helena, MT. Good used compactsare rare finds here. What are your experiences with this vintage of Fords? My IH is 21 HP standard trans, one fits all kit type loader. Am looking forward to little more HP, more weight, factory loader and hydro trans. My uses are typical - field mowing, landscaping (5' box & rake), pull disk, tiller or duckfoot through a shelterbelt & garden, trenching irrigation lines with a single shovel spud-plow. The Ford will cost me about twice as much as the IH is worth. My concern is, is it worth the extra for the extra power & features? Thanks all for your input.
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2000-02-24 13125
I went through months of thinking through reasons to buy a tractor. My wife finally said something to the effect: 'Stop trying to make it reasonable. It's not going to bankrupt us. If that's what you want, then buy it.' Guess I spent a lot of time trying to make an economic case when all it came down to is: 'It's a nice thing to have, and we can afford it.'
Regarding HP, there are some things where small horsepower will stop you cold. However, generally it's more a question of speed. A little more horsepower just gets most things done a little faster. However, you also have to have the
slightly larger implements that go with more hp to take full advantage of the
speed.
As in my case, a lot of it comes down to the difference between want and need. Some times want is just as important as need, and you can spend a lot of time trying to make want into need. What my wife said is that I actually didn't have to do that.
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| Mike
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-02-24 13135
Thanks for the input. My wife is just the opposite. She isn't convinced we need another tractor. Her attitude is "the one we have gets the job done." However, she has never been on it nor has much experience with these kind of things. I think I can convince her, though. I have found that whenever I get into something new the first one I buy gets me started but just fuels my fire for newer, nicer, easier, etc. I do know that having a tractor just one year so far has allowed me to accomplish many things around home that I couldn't for the preceding four years. ....
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| David Paul
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-02-25 13144
Other than the Hydro (You don't say if the 244 is MFD) and possibly MFD there is very little difference in these tractors. If I remember correctly the 1520 is 23hp, you can not tell the difference in 2hp when operating these tractors. I also think you will find little differnce in the performance of the loaders. These two tractors are really pretty evenly matched, this looks more like a swap than an upgrade. If you want to get something noticably bigger look at tractors from 30-35 hp. This will give you a hp difference you can feel and a larger loader with more capacity ....
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| Mike
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-02-26 13175
Thanks David. Now I am thinking I will wait until I can do a real upgrade to approx 30hp, which is what I had in mind before I saw the 1520 on the lot. Realisticly, hydro trans and a single stick loader is not worth $6000 to me.( IH244 worth $6000, Ford 1520 worth $12,000)
I would like to find a harvest return L3010 or TC29D. ....
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