Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2021 i Tractor & Machinery

Hello and welcome to the second of our new-look issues. As I write we’re nearing the end of lockdown here in England and what a relief that is. I’m sad that some events have already been cancelled, particularly as I thought that 2021 would see normality return relatively quickly, but we must be thankful for what we have and look forward to the better days that are still to come. With my children back at school at least my wife and I do not have the added pressure of home schooling and so that is a bonus in itself. Although I tried hard at school, absorbing information didn’t come easy to me and so it’s almost laughable to think that my teaching was helping to shape my children’s future! Anyway,…

STAR LETTER Sad end for Garvie seed spreader Dear T&M, I thought you may be interested to see my Garvie grass seed spreader, which I had lined with plastic and planted with spring bulbs. It was destroyed on 11 March by a car traveling at 60mph, that swerved across the road and hit the Garvie and my log pile before stopping in a hawthorn hedge. The cast frame and wooden boxes didn’t stand a chance – even the axle is bent. The car is a complete write-off and the driver was injured by the seat belt, steering wheel and air bags, but came off very lightly as two logs ended up on the dashboard after coming through the windscreen. The car roof also had half an inch of compost and…

With farm mechanisation came the ability to alleviate the need for manual labour in the majority of farm tasks and spreading fertiliser was no exception. Using manure, from livestock on the farm, to provide additional nutrients would always be common, but with the increasing popularity of granular fertiliser came the need to apply it in an efficient manner. Massey Ferguson’s first fertiliser spreaders were offered in both category I and II mounted and trailed form to suit all tractors – with the former costing £47-10-0 in 1957 and the latter setting buyers back an additional £9. Both used the same model number – 721 – and were referred to as a ‘Spinner Broadcaster’, a term that remained throughout the company’s marketing of such machines for many years. Those of you…

In the early 1980s the 80-90hp bracket was very popular and tractor manufacturers needed to get their offerings right in order to claim a slice of what was a very competitive market. David Brown had introduced the new 90 Series and its model to take on the opposition in the aforementioned sector was the 1490 – available in both two and four-wheel drive form, while Marshall, picking up the baton where Leyland had left off, was marketing the 802 and 804 – the former being a two-wheel drive tractor (hence the ‘2’ in 802). As those that follow this series will know, we choose two tractors as closely matched as possible when comparing them, but this pairing is particularly interesting given the use of an almost identical Sekura-built cab on…

The latest sale by Euro Auctions saw more than 60 tractors go under the hammer in early March. As usual, the tractor sale took place on the first day of the three-day auction, with all of the machines parading onto the selling ramp. The age range of the tractors varied considerably, although most could be described as being relatively new and in very good condition. There were some classic models for sale that were in various states of repair too, definitely enough to interest the tractor enthusiast. Bidding was mainly via the Internet, due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, but prices held up well throughout the sale. The John Deeres were making the top money. Leading the way was a 6155M from 2019. It was certainly in excellent condition with…

The prices are based on tractors sold at sales, on the Internet, privately and in some overseas markets too. Naturally, prices change as time progresses and it’s not always an upward trend, but you will get a good indication of what’s going on with the current market by referring to our guide. Here are a few pointers on buying a tractor to help you. If you are looking for a tractor to buy for restoration, or work, there’s a vast choice. However, if you are looking for something specific, do weigh up your options first, particularly if you have a limited budget. If it’s a popular model, then it’s not always to your advantage to go for the first one you see. Whatever is wrong with the tractor, make sure…

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As an island nation our relationship with the sea is strong, and over the years we have come to rely on it as a source of food. In times gone by, countless scores of fishing vessels would have set sail for the daily catch and although the number of boats regularly heading out to sea is smaller than it once was, dozens of smaller working craft can still be found around our coastline. Many of these vessels have to be launched from beaches and with this comes a need for a source of power to move said boats from dry land to the sea. Over the years a plethora of farm tractors and construction equipment has found a new life by the sea as the motive force for boats that…

Just as it had done when filling a gap in its range of tractors for the latter half of the 1960s, IHGB turned to its Continental cousins to find a small tractor that was suitable to bolster the lower end of its Fieldforce range for the 1980s. First introduced in Europe in 1975, the 533 proved to be extremely successful – despite its modest power rating. It is worth noting that it was not a direct replacement for the 523 that was marketed in Britain alongside the 434 and 634 et al, as it used a smaller engine. The 553 (1972-74) and 633 (1975-89) used the same D-179 engine as the 523. Although it was offered solely in two-wheel drive form in Britain, it was available with a driven front…

IT’S N ICE TO BE NIC E Like it? I love it! Dear Junior, This is a picture of my great uncle’s David Brown 780 Selectamatic. I drew it for him because he is in a care home for the moment, so I thought this might cheer him up a little bit. It is one of my favourite tractors ever. I hope you like it. Janosh (aged 10) TERRACOTTA TREAT There’s no mistaking that range of tractors! Dear Junior, I hope you like my drawing of my tractor. I like looking through your magazine with my dad!_ Harriet Dale (aged 4), North Yorkshire ROCK HAULER It’s nice to see two happy faces! Dear Junior, This is my picture of my Gogga’s (granddad's) Massey Ferguson 35X. We are bringing rocks to…

I am trying to find two tractors previously owned by members of my family. The first is a Ford 3610, registration AEW 330Y, that was sold at my uncle’s sale in the 1990s at his farm in Nordelph, Norfolk. It was fitted with a ‘Q’ cab The second tractor is a John Deere AN, registration AEB 652, that my granddad bought new. The last anyone remembers of it was when it surfaced at a machinery dealer called ‘Cubley’ in the Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, area in the 1980s. Can any readers help me locate these tractors? Andrew Dunham, Cambridgeshire If you can help, please write to the editor: tm.ed@kelsey.co.uk A friend of mine has this Ferguson 35 left in a field. It has not been used for a number of years…

What began as a relatively simple task has escalated into something rather more involved. The discovery of a broken centre casting on my MF 35 has led to a replacement being found, and resulted in a complete rebuild of the rear end of the tractor. In the Spring issue I had succeeded in fitting the fresh casting, which was obtained from an industrial version. The only noticeable difference between the original casting and the replacement is the size of the four stud holes that secure the swinging drawbar or pickup hitch in place. The original size was 5⁄8 UNC, and at some time the holes were increased in diameter to ¾ UNC, which is probably better. OIL SEAL After fitting the differential unit and bolting the left-hand axle housing in…

Brexit is certainly not doing the Cheffins Machinery Sales at Sutton any favours. There are thousands of potential buyers from all over the world and some of the stock for these monthly sales comes from mainland Europe, but with the restrictions in place there was certainly a shortage of tractors on 15 March. Despite this, prices were excellent throughout the sale, proving that this is the place to sell your stock. As for the classics and older stock, it was flying out of the gate! The MF market is moving on from the 100 Series into the 200 and 300 Series models and some of the prices achieved were better than when the tractors were new. The stand-out tractors included a 1993, four-wheel drive MF 3065 Autotronic, with just 1,108…

In the opening segment of this two-part series, I concluded with a look a Michael McCartan’s 1989 Ford 7610 Generation III – a tractor that Stephen Lennon had just finished restoring – but also in the workshop was a pair of flat-deck cabs that Stephen has been restoring for County customers. These cabs were manufactured for County by Swedish firm Hara and one was for a short-wheelbase County 974 and the second for a long-wheelbase County 774. Before any restoration work was undertaken, both cabs were totally stripped and sent away for shot blasting. This is the stage when the true condition of a cab is revealed. At this point it is possible to see if the original roll-over protection has been compromised and if that is the case then…

Bob Wardhaugh has lived in the Scottish Borders all of his life and comes from a farming background. He is a member of the Borders Vintage Agricultural Association (BVAA) and regularly exhibits tractors at the club’s annual show in Kelso. “I am an agricultural engineer to trade and served my time at the old Rutherfords tractor dealership in Earlston,” he explained. “I used to work on Nuffield and International tractors. These days I am a working farmer. I have my own holding and do a lot of contract work.” Bob started his collection in the early 1990s and was encouraged by his father, who was also an enthusiast. “My first tractor was a three-wheel Farmall H,” he recalls. “I’ve been collecting ever since and am particularly interested in tractors that…

Specifications Valtra G 135 Product code: UH6291 (black), UH6292 (burnt orange), UH6293 (red), UH 6294 (turquoise) Scale: 1:32 Size: 150x69x96mm Weight: 365g Specifications Massey Ferguson 8S.265 Product code: UH6262 Scale: 1:32 Size: 170x90x115mm Weight: 585g Specifications Massey Ferguson NEXT concept tractor Product code: UH6279 Scale: 1:32 Size: 170x90x115mm Weight: 585g Universal Hobbies has produced another batch of 1:32 limited edition models and all four are available to buy now. Based on the Valtra G 135, the black and red versions are limited to 750 pieces, while 1,000 of the ‘Unlimited’ burnt orange and turquoise versions have been created. All have a recommended retail price of €71. Available on 20 April, the Massey Ferguson 8S.265 is sure to be popular as the full-size version is currently taking the farming world by…

In part one of our trip through the reminisces of Martin Dickinson, and his years working on a pea gang in Lincolnshire, we saw how static viners gradually gave way to mobile machines working in the field to thresh the peas from the vines. We now re-join Martin as the original cutter and loader system was replaced by a second generation of mobile machine, more refined and larger than those that had brought in the system. For Martin’s second season working on the pea gang on the Limestone Heath in the county of Lincolnshire, the operation had been modernised quite spectacularly from what had gone before, following the introduction of a RECO self-propelled pea cutter based on a high-clearance and reverse-drive International Harvester tractor, plus two large, bright yellow Mather…

I purchased this Bristol crawler many years ago, and after some work sorting out the distributor, the engine was started and ran well. Unfortunately, some of the cowling was missing and the engine became too hot, and had to be stopped. So I looked for a small diesel engine to replace the air-cooled petrol engine. I have since discovered the original engine that was fitted is a rare, 16hp Wisconsin/Lister ACL4, with a cone clutch fitted, built from 1939. The crawler consists of the channel frame and one set of bottom rollers from a crawler dated up to 1937, which has been welded to the frame from a post-1945 Bristol 10, with its bottom rollers. The extra-long frame then had the air-cooled engine and cone clutch spaced apart from the…

Fordson N Q I have a 1936 Fordson N that I recently bought with the intention of restoring. It arrived in running order and starts and runs very well, but I’m having issues with the gearbox and gear selection. I’m finding that, with the engine running, when I depress the clutch pedal to select any gear I can’t avoid grating the gears, as the clutch seems to be dragging. After a fight I can get it into gear. A friend of mine has suggested that the transmission oil is causing drag, and the clutch, which I believe is a wet clutch that runs in the engine oil, may also be sticking. I have been advised to change the oil to a lighter viscosity, perhaps to use universal oil in the…

As always, the sales scene never lets up and owing to production dates we will have much to catch up with in the next issue. It is clear, from sales in the last month or so, that there is a lack of stock around and therefore prices have been very good for what’s been offered. If it’s any good it has been making ‘top dollar’ and I feel that this will be the way ahead for the not-too-distant future. As always, the popular marques, particularly Ford and Massey Ferguson, have been going well and at a number of sales classic John Deere tractor prices have seen a hike. In this issue I preview three good sales coming up shortly, including Aumann Auctions’ Pre-30 Sale that includes an Emerson & Brantingham…

Few antique tractors have the scale that the Big 4 Thirty, built by the Gas Traction Company, has. Indeed, for collectors the Big 4 represents the ‘spirit of an era’ when the large prairie tractors dominated. The company said in an advertisement from 1910 that they were ‘the first and largest builder in the world of four-cylinder engines’, says Dan Boomgarden. In 1908 they formed a new company called the Gas Traction Company and a year later took the name Big 4 as the company trademark. Few of these Big 4 Thirty tractors survive, either traded in for smaller, modern models or dismantled during WW2 scrap drives or before. For many years there were approximately 20 complete Big 4 Thirty tractors known to have survived. At one time it was…