I Bought a Versatile 150 Bi-Directional

Welcome back!
Boy, things have been busy lately! This weekend we spent quite a bit of time wrapping up some projects at the dealership and managed to work on my new tractor for a little bit. I found this Versatile on Facebook and had it bought and drug home within a week. I first thought I may have bought a pile of junk, but after it fired up with minimal tinkering, I knew I made a good buy. I am hoping to do a multiple vide series on bringing this old tractor back to life.
Thanks for watching, and I will see ya next time!

[@hankelrod7315]

I have owned a Versatile 160 & now have 2 of the NH 9030’s. I wished I would have kept the 160!!! It was a low hour machine when I sold it (think around 1200 hrs - it went to MN). You either love ‘‘em or hate em - they are perfect livestock loader tractors

[@danlowery3235]

Grandpa Renner is the man! Love that guys smile and enthusiasm!

[@RennerStockFarms]

He’s one of the coolest guys around!

[@BRPFan]

Oh my worked on lots of 150 bi-di Versatile back in the dealership years!

[@RennerStockFarms]

Is that a good or bad thing? Haha

[@farmhandmike]

Great Video, Awesome Hat and nice Versatile 150 tractor, Great to see you guys today.

[@RennerStockFarms]

Thanks Mike, glad you stopped by!

[@craigsimon935]

I have a 1981 150 as well that I picked up a few years ago in NE Iowa. It is a handy little tractor and a lot of fun.

[@ecksdog]

Great relationship with your grandpa. Cherish the time.

[@AllisChalmersMN]

That versatile fired right up! The look and smile on your grandpas face was like he knew it would start.

[@lukestorm956]

This video reminds me so much of me and my dad!! Thank you. Pretty cool versatile you guys brought home. We are still running an 850 for the majority of our tillage

[@hankelrod7315]

Check the gear shift cable to make sure it fully engages each range gear - if it doesn’t it will kick itself out of gear & if on a hill it will take you for a ride. The brakes never work on these tractors. These tractors freewheel incredibly fast & with their narrow tread width & articulated steering they flip over easy. I learned the hard way & almost rolled mine over couple times

[@michaelgoergen6702]

Grandpa was just as happy as you thanks

[@RennerStockFarms]

He insisted on getting it running that night!

[@randykroells8049]

I helped a farmer fill bags with a blue two way tractor, the hydro made it very easy to creep along while filling them.

[@RennerStockFarms]

The hydro is very handy for a lot of jobs, looking forward to putting this one to work

[@hughperkins707]

I had a 276 years ago, great tractor, had a loader, haybine and a swather for it. Loved it It had a Cummins in it. 👍

[@RennerStockFarms]

A 276 would be another great find, maybe someday!

[@kswaynes7569]

Nice Versatile Jon! You and Grandpa make a great team!

[@RennerStockFarms]

We sure do, thank you!

[@bradwarner8933]

Hello John and Grandpa, the Steiger looks great! A little spit and polish really brought those Deere’s around. The 150 looks like it’s going to be a different and fun project. Enjoyed seeing you guys laughing and enjoying your passion. God Bless and be safe!

[@RennerStockFarms]

Good to hear from you Brad!

[@johnholliger5136]

Can’t believe how quickly you got the little wildcat done, great job! Looking forward to seeing it.

[@RennerStockFarms]

Thanks John, it will look good sitting next to your Steiger at the show!

[@tylerdahl4596]

We feed with a 160 on our small operation. We spin the seat around in the summer and it’s the back up haying tractor. Have pulled 16’ cultipacker real shallow too work hay ground as well. Awesome little “versatile “ tractor fun to run. Can’t wait to see more of this one.

[@RennerStockFarms]

I bought an old sale brochure off eBay and the pictures in there are very cool, “versatile” is a great adjective to describe this tractor and all it can do

[@hankelrod7315]

I owned a 160 & kick myself all the time for selling it to a guy in MN; I have since bought 2 NH 9030’s; they are the best winter feeding tractor platform ever made

[@peteschiavoni]

Those 2 Deeres came out nice for not a restoration. The Steiger looks absolutely awesome!! I’m looking forward to this project on the Versatile. It’s going to come out great! Lots of fun. I wish I could make it to the show. Being disabled makes it extremely difficult but I’m hoping you guys get some great video. Thank you Jon and your Grandpa for sharing these videos. Love watching you two men working together.

[@RennerStockFarms]

I will be filming every second of the show and have a lot planned! Thanks for watching Pete!

[@Thebigtipper101]

Wow that Steiger looks so awesome you did an amazing job one man's junk is another man's treasure truly amazing

[@alexmikhael5061]

thatzza COOL lil versatile150 CONGRATZ!!!!! righton!! that thing is COOL!

[@chadshafer8095]

Your Steiger looks Great. The Versatile will be Awesome to see Restored.

[@matthulbert811]

Can’t wait to see the transformation of the 150!

[@RennerStockFarms]

Me either!

[@keydanasefa8438]

Missed you guys

[@piperdoug428]

Yeah the Bi-Di are getting collectable up here where they came from, Man i'd love to come down n see the collection and meet you guys some day, when i have time, lol

[@RennerStockFarms]

Come down for the show! How bad are the restrictions to get across the border?

[@nellsonstout7001]

The SWC is gorgeous 😍😍

[@user-rw2um8ro2p]

Great video John the 150 Will be a nice project

[@RennerStockFarms]

Thank you!

[@teddycrenshaw223]

The old wildcat is looking great.

[@RennerStockFarms]

Thanks Teddy!

[@ChevyConQueso]

I had no idea Versatile made a reversible tractor. That is a really cool find, and truly lives up to the name.

[@RennerStockFarms]

They were used on many cattle and dairy operations as chore tractors. Luckily this one never saw a farm and was only used for mowing and blowing snow

[@charlesmason1278]

probably known more for the 150, 160, 256, 276, and 9030 bi-directional machines than anything else

[@Skyhawks1979]

A better machine was never made for cattlemen.@@charlesmason1278

[@garybarrett6581]

l think the johnnie with loader looks good and it will got out do the job!!! the bidirectional works good to push a rear mount culivator or a rotary mower by pushing the mower it elminates the wheel tracks!! l can remenber when they came out new!!

[@ArmpitStudios]

Nice Versatile! I only just learned they had a bidirectional a week or two ago when South Sask Farmer had one in his shop. Very cool. Cooler than the Mercedes MB Tracs, I’d say.

[@RennerStockFarms]

They are really neat, I’m glad I bought it!

[@roblonsdale8927]

mb tracs were unreliable undrepowered lumps with no lock and a very depressing cab

[@ArmpitStudios]

@@roblonsdale8927 Whoopty-doo. They are still cool as fuck.

[@lancedever5633]

That150 looks like a interesting project. The Stieger looks really good. I was driving around awhile ago and found a old wildcat sitting on an old place. I wonder if anyone wants to rescue it.

[@johnrodgers7633]

I hope to make your show. You might have to build a gas plant so we can buy fuel from you to go home with

[@RennerStockFarms]

What’s diesel cost where you’re at? We are hovering right around $5

[@daveblodgett9371]

My hope is to bring my 9600 Ford n disk

[@ponypwr]

You guys have a new DEERE DEALER? Lets see some content there at the dealer!

[@RennerStockFarms]

Gramps started selling Duetz in 1969 and Deere in 1973

[@tyerock7851]

Awesome find and it runs! Did it come with the loader?

[@RennerStockFarms]

It actually came with two! The previous owner had two 150’s but one burned up when he was bush hogging. He was too far from home to get help in time to save the tractor, they ended up scrapping it and saving the loader.

[@brucewalker2276]

I have a swather attachment for a 150 if you're interested.

[@Jrhorse_cattle]

I would LOVE to have a 150 as a feed/chore tractor. But the 2 or 3 I’ve ever come across for sale are all north of 20k$. Far outside of my budget. Sad part. They look just like yours. Not even restored or painted.

[@ihfarmer6568]

the versatile is real handy machine but put a master disconnect on the battery because they have tendicy to burn up, I have one that is toast, IH farmer 656,

[@roblonsdale8927]

anything old should not be left with the battery live , old wiring is more often than not very perished and a liability

[@scottfry4947]

The dates on the banner for the show says that it is the 28-29 of Aug. but the KZbin video says the dates are 25-27 of August so witch is right

[@RennerStockFarms]

Which banner are you talking about? The show is August 25-27

[@scottfry4947]

@@RennerStockFarms The banner that has your grandpa on one side and your brother on the other side the dates say the 28th and 29th which would be a Sunday and a Monday of August

[@RennerStockFarms]

I don’t know where you saw that banner, are you sure that wasn’t for the 2018 or 2020 show?

[@two-strokesmoke7289]

Why would you want to torture yourself that much????? They are a hydraulic nightmare and various other things (Versatile 150) My dad bought more than a half a dozen of those style tractors, never done with maintenance chores, leaks that never end, air conditioning is marginal, axles break, pto's blow up, hydraulic pumps and motors in a constant state of disrepair......not kidding or exaggerating. Oh yeah, almost forgot loaders were weak in early models also.....bend, break, tweak. Center bushings get loose, lug nuts come loose. (if you use the loader) Good luck with your new "prize" prayers and best wishes....... The only thing worth mentioning that is positive, the Perkins were really easy on fuel. The 256 and 276 (with the cummins) were also economical, but tank was small.

[@two-strokesmoke7289]

I imagine I will be called a "hater" just trying to give you a heads up, I have first hand real world experience with those tractors........

[@ChevyConQueso]

I imagine they are well aware of potential issues with those machines. Their collection of restored, partial and unrestored tractors is massive however, and I have no doubt this thing is just a fun collectible, like a lot of their machines are. It'll probably get some use, but it's not like they will need to depend on it. They're really the ideal owners for old iron like that, so that others can enjoy seeing them around for a long time to come.

[@Skyhawks1979]

Or family has has a 160, two 276's and two 9030's. Other than a burst hose or two we never had a problem. They are awesome cattle rancher machines.

[@two-strokesmoke7289]

@@Skyhawks1979 Yes they are!!! I stand by my first statement, if you properly maintain them, they are okay, but when things start going wrong or wearing out........stand by for a lot of mecanickin'.......

[@williamcorleu5839]

John Deere all the way