Go BottomFord 1210 - Looking for Info on this Tractor
 | Kelly Wright
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2000-05-06 16019
I'm looking at a Ford 1210 for use around my "hobby farm". It has a belly mounted finish mower, 3 cyl diesel, 330 original hours, and is in pretty good shape. It doesn't have a loader, though I'd like to possibly get one if I buy the unit. I'm not sure what year it is, as I don't know when these machines were made, but I'd guess it's perhaps 10 to 12 years old or so.Uses would be mowing about 1.5 acres around the house & barn, cleaning out the animal stalls (with a loader), landscaping (my wife loves to run tractors and seems to always be moving soil around).I'm curious about:Reputation - is this considered a quality tractor?Are front loaders readily available, and if so, what might it cost to add a loader?Is it capable of handling a 5 foot 3 pt brush hog?Anything else I might need to know or be aware regarding this tractor?Thanks in advance...
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2000-05-07 16024
The 1210 may be a little small for a 5' rotary cutter, depending on what's being cut of course. I don't know the 1210, but Ford tended to space its models by about 3 engine hp. The 1310 is 19 engine HP (about 17 PTO), so the 1210 may be around 14 pto hp.
In terms of a loader, a New Holland dealer should be able to identify options.
The Ford 'teen' series compacts were made in the mid-80's. I guess that includes the 1210. Each 'teen' was dressed in 00, 10 or 20 models. There were 15 models for some. Most have been out of production for awhile, but New Holland seems to provide good support. Several of the '20' models remain in production. As a group they seem to be well regarded. ....
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| Kelly Wright
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-05-07 16032
Thanks for the helpful info...
Regarding the comment about a 5 foot rotary mower perhaps being a bit big for a 1210.
Would a 4 foot rotary be more practical? I could sell the 5 foot brush hog along with my Ford 860 (which is going to be for sale anyway) and pickup a 4 foot unit for the 1210. ....
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| Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 962 
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2000-05-07 16034
Kelly, You might want to look at the link below. According to them, the 1210 was 16hp and made from 1983-86. ....
Link:
Click Here
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2000-05-08 16043
This HP stuff gets tricky. I don't have a rotary cutter, so this is 'for what's is worth.' Most equipment manufacturer web sites have specs which include recommended HP. Bush Hog recommends 25 - 35 HP for its 5'. Rhino recommends 20 to 40 for its 5'. On the other hand, Farm King recommends 15 - 25 for its 5' and 12 for a 4'. All these are specs for standard duty models.
So, at least one manufacturer has a 5' for your HP. The question is how 'duty' is defined, meaning what are they designed to cut. The Bush Hog and Rhino units may be able to handle saplings, but the Farm King probably can't. The Rhino spec indicates it will handle 1" material.
Generally, manufacturer HP recommendations are fairly conservative. A tractor can handle a larger implement by going slower, taking smaller bites etc. However, with cutters, the cutter has to be designed to handle the size material it's cutting. Going slow doesn't help. Hit a 2" sapling with a light cutter, and the shear pin breaks or the clutch slips.
Anyway, if you're cutting scrub, a 5' cutter might work, but probably not if there are saplings. Another consideration is whether 4' covers your tire tracks. As I understand, it's common to back into bush that's too tall or thick to drive through. That probably won't work too well if the cutter doesn't cover the tire tracks.
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| Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 962
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2000-05-08 16044
Of course, TomG is right about the horsepower to turn the PTO, and then sometimes you also need to consider the weight of the implement and whether or not it's too heavy for your 3-point hitch. ....
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| david
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-05-08 16058
I recently purchased a 1210 HST with a Continental Belton 54" belly mower. It is replacing my Himemoto E16 with a KingKutter 60" finish mower. I mow 2.5 acres. The 1210 is by far the better mowing machine. Easier to handle, quicker turning, better finish, no scalping. If I can just get my wife to drive it..... ....
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| Kelly Wright
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-05-08 16070
Thanks again for everyone's advice.
Frankly, I haven't decided what I'm going to do regarding the 1210. Chances are, it won't be available for long as everyone has mowing on their minds this time of year and this machine is in good shape with only 300+ original hours.
My needs for a compact tractor are 80 percent of the time is finish mowing, 15 percent brush hogging (an important 15 percent) and eventually some loader work around the house and barn.
I have to decide if I should get a known entity for mowing (the 1210), and take a chance that I can figure out a solution for brush hogging. The loader should simply be a matter of finding one. Hmmm... ....
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| Paul
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-05-08 16072
I recently purchased a Ford 1215 with 320 hours. My nieghbor has a 1210 like the one you're considering. Our machines are virtually identical. They're 3 cylinder diesels with a displacement of 58.2 cu.in. (954 cc) and a compression ratio of 23:1 (I'm told @ 15 HP). The PTO horsepower on the Hydrostatic drive is 13.5 per my owners manual. In my opinion the 5' rotary is a little too much these machines. As for the bucket loader. I just bought a Great Bend 220 loader and I love it. Great Bend (Model 220), Woods (Model 1006) and Bush Hog (Model 1846QT) all make after market loaders that fit the 1210. All cost about the same, I paid $2,600 installed. Check out the individual manufacturer homepages for specs. All match up pretty equal. Woods offers 48", 54" and 60" buckets. Great Bend and Bush Hog just 48" and 60". Again, the 1210 is a little on the light side (1360 lbs w/ 4wd) for a loader, so be prepared to cary some extra wieght around or load your tires. If the price is right I think you'll like the 1210, with just 330 hours, its barely broken in. Enjoy. ....
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