Manual vs hydraulic lift for garden work
 

I'm looking for a tractor to us for garden duty - primarily plowing and cultivating. Been trying to hold out to find one with hydraulic lift but not having much luck.

How 'hard' and how big a pain would it be using these attachments with a manual lift instead? I won't be doing any snow blowing or using a tiller attachment.

Thanks.

Jbo

I am older. I love the "hydraulic lift" features on my Cubs. This "armstrong" thing is for the young ones.

However, IH made an accessory called "spring assist" that made lifting implements easier.

You will have decide what is good for you.

i would hold out for a hydro lift,or electric lift. lifting a rear plow or anything else heavy gets old real quick. the spring assist is the poor mans lift,which might be ok for light duty.

Well said Roland, I have a spring assist on my 582special and it's very handy for lifting rear or front mounted implements.

This is about as inexpensive as they get, if you have a NF cub cadet. I want more than that for the ones I sell.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cub-Cadet-10...item1c55e307f4

Cub Cadet 123

I used one of those small Harbor Freight winches for the lift on my 71. Very pleased with the results.

and on sale with remote control is 49.00,i have one mounted in the bed of my truck for loading tractors. that may very well be the best low buck approach,people use them on atv snow plows too

lift
 

Hello, i have a spring assist on my 100. I made a small middle buster plow for the rear lift to plow rows in my garden. You can hold the button down on the lift handle and have complete control of it. You feel the plow in the ground, the spring pushing back, real easy, pretty cool. Mike:biggrin2:

Thanks for the feedback. I know I really want the hydro lift. Just frustrated waiting around. Already have the implements and ready to put them to use.

Guess based on the majority suggestions here I'll keep waiting unless I find a smoking deal on one without.

Jbo

Manual vs. hydraulic lift for garden work
 

Does the hydraulic pump operate just front-mounted implements, or can it also operate implements mounted on the rear of the tractor? Can the mower deck be raised and lowered via hydraulics?

The hydraulic lift attaches to the rockshaft, so it powers any implement attached to that, be it a belly mower, front blade/snowthrower, or a rear mounted implement if you have the rear lift parts. The lift will not lift front versus rear independently, though, they are all interconnected. It's all up or all down.

Manual vs hydraulic lift for garden work
 

Thank you, cadzag72. I'd love to get hydraulics for my 127 someday, but with two sons in college, it won't happen any time soon.

I'd go with a hydro lift. I used my disk this spring and it was very heavy on my 1200 with manual lift even with a spring assist. My 1211 has hydro lift and I love it! Great for plowing snow. Had a 3pt on the rear the po kept the lift arms and top link.

Spring assist on an armstrong lift makes it better. Hydro is best, but spring assist is a more affordable option for broke guys like me. I like the manual lift is more responsive than the hydraulic. I've mowed with a manual lift and a hydraulic, and I like that I can go over obstacles like tree roots and driveways quicker with a manual lift. It's quicker to pull the lever, go over the obstacle, then drop it. With a hydraulic lift I have to plan longer in advance and then the deck doesn't drop as fast either.