Anyone ever feel like CA is just the best tractor?

Well my favorite little allis now is my D14 with power steering.  I had to put an extended eye on my sc allcrop drill to be able to hook it up, but it handled it so much better than the CA....better hydraulic control, no tire rubbing, more gear selections, high low, easier to get off the tractor to check things, more comfortable.....never thought I'd pick a D14 over the D17, but this tractor is really growing on me. it is also my corn and bean planting tractor this year.

RMD wrote: I grew up with CA's, but I take my D-12 series II with true independent hydraulics and PTO over the CA any day.  I remember pushing snow with a back blade and a CA - push back, pushing the clutch to stop, take it out of gear and let the clutch out to lift the blade, push the clutch back in to put it in gear to move forward.  Get' s old after a while.

I don't understand?  Why not use the hand clutch?  Sure you have to pull it and reach around with your left hand to operate the hydraulics but it sure works well, I use it to plow gardens and it works wonderfull for insuring you stop in lift in exactly the same spot every time.

I don't understand the gentleman that is bouncing around either.  My CA's ride is quite nice.  Maybe the shock absorber in the center of the spring was bad on yours?  Things loose and wore out?  I have rode a D series with a real sloppy seat that wiggled all over the place, felt like one of those bobble head dolls, but admit one that is tight is quite nice.

I love my CA, never had a more manuverable and handy chore tractor.  My other color tractors sit unused now. 

I do admit its a pain to mount. 

Asking if the CA (or any other model AC tractor) is "the best tractor" is like asking what is better, a Ford or a Chevy. That said, I really like the CA, it is the little Allis with the big Allis features (4 speed tranny, PAW rear rims, "live power" via the hand clutch, "traction booster", and the same hydaulic pump that is one the WD/WD45). A sweet machine pulling a 2X14 SC plow and mowing grass with a 6' Woods mower (my CA is down for awhile until I get a chance to rebuild the hand clutch). I have fabricated a step from diamond plate that bolts onto the left side front platorm support bar and fender/platform support rail to make the access more civilized.

We snowplow and plant with one of our D14's; the other we don't do much with but spread manure. 

Firebrick43 - you must have some log arms with extra elbows if you can work the hydraulic lever on a CA with your left hand while you are holding the hand clutch with your right. You can do those things on a WD maybe, since the hydraulics are on the steering column, but not on a CA.  And you still need to be working the foot clutch to change from reverse to forward.

I always heard the hand clutch in the CA was weak. Dad told us to never touch it!