My "new" tractor

Bought my Dad's IH 574 with 2250 loader for 4500. 3500 hard hours but the motor and rear end is solid.

Put electronic ignition on it (screw setting points), rebuilt governor, rebuilt starter, new coil, cap, distributer, clutch, ignition switch, new front tires, rebuilt alternator, new water pump and turned flywheel. Plus all kinds of small things. 2800 bucks.

Great grandpa bought this tractor new in 1978. Many years of raising hogs and crops but a versatile tractor for gas 67 hp. Compression is over 170 (180 spec new). Has factory heavy duty hydraulic pump (wood splitting), rear loaded tires, 1 remote valve, but not MFWD.

To test it's starting capability, left it outside over nite. -10 with windchill. Fired up, 574, 674 gas tractors are known for being cold natured.

My Oliver 550 has appreciated double since I bought it in 2001. 4500 bucks for it and was offered 10k because it has 1510 loader and power steering. Not to mention only 1500 hours. It's to the point that it's unreasonable to put it to farm work considering it's age and limited hydraulic capabilities. Parts are scarce as well.

I've beat myself over the head looking at tractors, skid steerers, backhoes and loaders for over 2 years. This 574 won't fully satisfy my loader needs. It can run augers to unload and load bins, do small bushogging, wood splitting/hauling/stacking, grade stone, push snow etc. What it can't do is forklift work, grapple bucket (high dollar adaptation to current loader on 574). Looking for a 2500lb-3000lb capacity skid steer now, with cab and ac.

So there's your "new" loader tractor useless info of the day In picture it is 0 with wind of 20 mph and snowing. The helmit isn't for safety but warmth.

Thankyou for the compliments. I believe in the 1970s made farm machinery. Some of the highest quality machinery during agriculture's golden age 1. (1970-1979). We are currently in the golden age part 2. (2005-201X?) Too bad some of the equipment isn't built as well today. Now have 5 tractors in the working rotation from way back. Most farms our size don't farm with this old stuff. 1976 JD 6030 200 hp. 1977 IH 1086, 145 hp, 1969 Oliver 550 50 hp, 1978 574 67 hp, and JD 1976 backhoe 85 hp.

Great grandpa had great taste and yeah, I consider it a family heirloom. The 550 is sentimental also, bought it at 18. I'm gonna tinker with a home made FEMA gasifier to mount on the loader of the 550. Might be fun to create electricity with PTO.

I really like the old IH tractors. 806, 1206, 1086, 656, 884, 560

More eye candy. JD 6030, awesome brute. Not many of these around. Everyone talks about this tractor.

danno, the outside duals are warn out. they touch the ground in field conditions for flotation more than traction. on concrete they would barely touch the ground. the big tires are new and duals are 30 years old, so it is not an optical illusion haha. new duals are 1250 a piece. running them another year.

backwoods, you are right about the atv's now being bigger than tractors from the 30-40-50 era.

I have satisfied my grapple bucket, forks and muddy/snowy conditions machine.

Went half and half on a 2011 JD 333 Track Loader (skid steer). Brand new, 2 hours. Dad regains 50% ownership of 574. LOL. I'll get a picture of it in action after the ground freezes up. Purchased 84" material bucket, 84" root grapple bucket and forks.

Any ideas on good telescoping saws that match skid loaders?