Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i Tractor & Machinery

Marcus Stephens, from Ilchester, was the 2022 recipient of the Magpie Cup for his newly-restored 1960 Fordson Dexta at his local rally, Abbey Hill, at Yeovil Showground over the early May bank holiday. The Westcountry Magpie Cup is awarded by Dan and Charlie Holland in memory of their grandfather Dennis Holland – also known as ‘The Westcountry Magpie’. Dennis was a collector of rural bygones and vintage tractors, predominantly International Harvester models, and became a local television personality. He is fondly remembered by his family and many friends and something of his character lives on in the cup that bears his name. The Westcountry Magpie Cup is awarded to a long-time supporter of Abbey Hill, a notable new restoration or a combination of both, often catching Dan and Charlie’s eye.…

Creating bales is not a new concept, and the idea of producing round bales has been around for many decades too – purported to have been conceived in the early 1900s – but it would be the 1940s before success with round balers was enjoyed on a larger scale. Allis-Chalmers’ Roto-Baler brought round baling to the masses, but it was a rather complex and large machine considering the size of bales that it produced. It sold well, but was not the answer to those looking for a viable alternative to a conventional baler. Vermeer of the USA is largely credited as inventing the large round baler, after Gary Vermeer and engineer Arnie Mathes produced a prototype in less than two months – ready for it to be introduced in 1971.…

We’ve got four models from Universal Hobbies to share with you in this issue. The first, available now, is a 1:13-scale Vendeuvre BL Agrodyne. It’s an usual scale and considering its size, there’s not that much detail. Secondly there’s the Manitou 125D in Salti livery – a must for any carpet farmer storing their potatoes in boxes! It’s an intricate little model with plenty of features and detail – we like it a lot! It’s on sale 15 September. Available on 1 October is the European version of the Massey Ferguson 65 in 1:32 scale. It’s great to have a tractor from this era in this scale, as is our final offering – on sale 20 October. The MF 24 chisel plough, complete with low-draft tines, contrasts nicely with the…

Buyers looking for a heavy-duty machine whilst listening to The Beatles, would have had the Super 6 at the top of their wish list. Equipped with a powerful six-cylinder engine and four equal-sized wheels, this latest County meant business. Big brother to the less expensive Super 4, the first examples of the model were built between 1962 and 1965 by County Commercial Cars Ltd., based at Fleet in Hampshire. These two four-wheel drive machines had been the breakthrough for County and propelled the company from a niche market to volume producer. County had been created by the Tapp brothers in 1929. The family firm had started off modifying Ford trucks, and its vehicles were used by the British army during WW2. Following the end of hostilities, it was given an…

The 2022 Sedgemoor Vintage Show was held near West Huntspill, near Bridgwater in Somerset, on 9 and 10 July 2022, courtesy of Geoff Reasons, writes Joseph Lewis. Around 100 listed tractors ranged from a 1917 International Titan and locally supplied 1942 John Deere BO, owned by Ivan Sparks, to a recently imported Massey Ferguson 1805 articulated model, owned by Dehane Rhodes. Highlights included Ford and Fordbased classics. The 1989 Ford 6610 Force II, owned by M Bishop from Theale, is notable for having an All-Purpose cab and floor-mounted gear levers. The 6610 was a one-owner-from-new model, which came from Devizes in Wiltshire with only 4,000 hours on the clock. Local Ford owner Martin Evans had only completed his 1970 Roadless 115 just before the show. Serial number 5975, we understand,…

After successfully refinishing the skid unit in Chocolate Brown I have moved on to the white areas of the tractor. The paint for the tractor has been supplied by David Brown Parts Ltd., and the actual shade of the Orchid White was, until recently, an unknown quantity. My nephew has recently repainted his DB 885 in Orchid White, which proved to be rather too dark and creamy for my liking, so I was pleasantly surprised to find my paint to be much whiter and more to my satisfaction! DASHBOARD The first item to be finished in white on the 780 has been the dashboard. Some local repairs were necessary before I could prepare it for painting. Red oxide was used as a primer, but a beige primer was sprayed over…

It is now nearly seven years since I rebuilt my 1957 Ferguson 35, and at the time I had worked through the entire mechanical aspects of the tractor, including a full engine rebuild, clutch rebuild and hydraulic system overhaul. Even the PTO shaft was replaced, as the original had worn badly on its splines. RELIABLE Since then the tractor has been in regular service doing the occasional ploughing match, but mainly operating my six-foot rotary topping mower. It has been serviced during this period, but last season was particularly harsh for the tractor, as I had some heavy cutting to do in some very tough and demanding conditions, with some growth as high as the tractor bonnet at times! SERVICE TIME The tractor was well due for a service of…

It’s hard to believe that 22 years have passed since Peter D. Simpson produced Ultimate Tractor Power (volumes 1 and 2) – a definitive work on four-wheel drive articulated tractors of the world. Volume 3 continues the story, looking at the high-horsepower, four-wheel drive articulated machines currently produced around the world and adds a unique section on rubber-tracked machines, both articulated and rigid framed. The North American giants, Case IH, Challenger, John Deere, New Holland and Versatile, have maintained their presence on the global market, but a major newcomer to the market is Rostselmash, based in Rostov-on-Don in Russia, with its wheeled and four-track articulated tractors. As more manufacturers in the high-horsepower market introduced machines fitted with four rubber tracks; the development of the rigid-frame tractor with two rubber tracks…

PRODUCTION The evolution of the Case IH 956XL is a relatively straightforward one and although it can be traced back further, it is arguably the International 955XL that it has most of its roots in.  Introduced in 1981, the 955XL succeeded the popular 955, but less than 1,000 were produced as it was a mere stepping stone to the 956XL – which arrived in 1982. It was this tractor that would evolve to become one of the best-liked models ever produced in the company’s French and German factories. Following the merger between International Harvester and J I Case the tractor would be finished in the red and black livery with black and silver/silver wheels and it is this incarnation that we focus on here – often cited as the most…

It has been a very long and arduous process to complete a tractor that started out as an expensive, hopeless wreck, but David Aylward and his team in Hampshire have triumphed! It all began in 2018 when Pam and Graham Towndrow took a call from Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions Ltd. regarding what turned out to be the second Nuffield tractor off the production line in December 1948. They recognised the Nuffield M4, serial number NT502, as the most important tractor that any Nuffield fan could own and decided that, as they run The Nuffield and Leyland Tractor Club, it would be the ultimate machine to have on display wherever they go. Unfortunately, others recognised its importance too and despite it being a wreck it was hotly contested at the auction.…

In the 1970s the Massey Ferguson 1200 was a big tractor for British farms, but for a select few it simply wasn’t big enough! To cater for farms and contractors requiring more than the beauty from Barton Dock Road could offer, there was the MF 1505. Introduced in 1974, two years after the 1200 hit the farms of the UK, the 1505 brought prairie power to those that could afford it, with agility to match. At first glance it looked like a 1200 on steroids, but it’s not quite that straightforward – as there are differences aside from the engine. Built by Massey Ferguson in North America, the 1505 was the successor to the 1500 and fitted with a Caterpillar V8 engine rated at 180hp (DIN) – with 160hp available…

On Saturday 25 June, the Friends of Ferguson Heritage held a display and working event for Ferguson tractors and their implements at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co. Down, writes James Connolly. Visitors from England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland travelled to Cultra – some to spectate and others to participate. The weather turned out to be bright and sunny, especially in the afternoon, which made for a very pleasant day. The FoFH put on a very good show that the general public enjoyed, which highlighted the important contribution that Harry Ferguson made to the agricultural world with his ground-breaking tractors. It was interesting to see the many different types of implements and machines that could be used with the Ferguson tractors, such as ploughs, disc harrows,…

DIFFICULTY RATING Balers are one of the key implements for producing hay, and can be one of the most troublesome machines to operate at the best of times. Although there are no guarantees, good servicing and maintenance goes a long way towards baler reliability. After a dodgy start baling last year, my nephew’s Claas Dominant baler began to perform quite well, with very few loose bales leaving the chamber. Some work had been carried out a couple of years earlier, including the painting of the bale chamber in red oxide to prevent rust forming, so my advice at the end of last season was to clear the chamber of hay and thoroughly clean and lubricate the baler before putting it to bed for the winter! DISAPPOINTING With the thoughts that…

SOMETHING DIFFERENT The Ford-based conversions by County, Muir-Hill and Roadless are as popular as ever, but what makes Northrop different? Jonathan Whitlam aims to find out. TWO-TONE TALES The Leyland 255 may not be everyone’s first choice, but this isn’t the only one of its type in Robert Chisholm’s collection. He tells us more about its restoration. BUILDING COMBINES Massey Ferguson built some of the most popular combine harvester models of a generation. We reminisce about their construction during the glory days of manufacturing. PLUS Junior, Machinery milestones, Model corner, News, Readers’ gallery, Tractor Mart, Workshop & more……

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One of the most underrated things about the superb Weeting Steam Engine Rally & Country Show is the harvest field. Amongst the highlights this year was Steve Carter’s Kilmarnock-built Massey-Harris-Ferguson 780 Special, which left the line in July 1958. The Special signified that the combine had independent reel adjustment from the driver’s seat, hydraulic table lift and hydraulic speed control. The 780 was the most popular combine in Great Britain in the 1950s with M-H-F said to have up to 90 per cent of combine sales at this time. When advertised in November 1953, ready for the December Smithfield Show, it would cost you £1,475-0-0 retail to buy, but with discount for the 1954 season was down to £1,386-10-0. British farmers took to it, having sampled the magnificent M-H 21…

Once again, we’ve teamed up with Machine Mart to offer a lucky reader the chance to win a petrol-driven pressure washer, worth more than £300! The EURO 5-compliant Clarke Tiger 1800B high-pressure washer is great for cleaning agricultural machinery, as well as other vehicles and concrete/paved yards. It is particularly useful in remote locations where there is no access to mains electricity. The Tiger 1800B is portable with a compact, yet tough, protective carry frame, and features a high-pressure, five-metre hose and lance with an adjustable nozzle (fan and pencil jet). It is able to draw water from a water butt or barrel and includes a hose and filter for that purpose. It is driven by a 3hp petrol engine that meets EU/2016/1628 regulations, which means improved economy and efficiency…

Statistics provided by NICE (The In 1989 Kate Chivers founded the then named National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) advise only 10 per cent of persons that suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital survive – a sobering figure, writes Bernard Holloway. It is essential to administer medical care as soon as possible to this and other medical traumas and the concept of the ‘golden hour’ becomes significant. This provides a window of opportunity to administer appropriate care, if the injury has the potential to cause irreparable damage to the victim and to minimise its effects on the patients well-being including death. Although it must be written, some clinicians prefer to interpret this as ensuring the patient receives rapid medical intervention as soon as possible. There is no doubt…

In stunning weather, something that this show has not been blessed with in the past, the Kent County Show on 8-10 July was a big hit with more than 80,000 visitors, says Peter Love. Following a cancelled show in 2020, and a restricted number of visitors at the 2021 Summer Fayre, the 2022 Kent County Show was the 91st show and first one since 2019. Rebuilding after the pandemic, and organised by almost an entirely new team, it refocused on agriculture, animals and education, with input from The National Fruit Show education department supported by LEAF (Linking Education and Farming), to provide insight into food production. Minette Batters, the NFU president, together with a selection of the county’s MPs, effectively demonstrated why the countryside is so important and showcased much…

Ford 4610 Q I have a 1982 Ford 4610 tractor, which will not move in third or fourth gear, seventh and eighth in high. I removed the gearbox top and cannot see any problem. This seems to be a problem with ‘Rubik’s Cube’ column change. Did you ever come across this? If so I would really appreciate if you have any idea how to solve it. Gerry Dunning, via e-mail A The early Ford Series 10 tractors with the column change weren’t the best of gear shifts. The gearbox itself is robust enough, which is why you didn’t discover anything amiss when you removed the top cover. As you have surmised, the problem is likely to be with the linkage between the levers and the top of the gearbox, rather than…

Well, we are more than half way through the year and sales and prices continue to be strong, particularly for blue and red tractors and MB-tracs, largely the later green ones. The autumn is shaping up very well, with some good sales booked by the major companies featuring the favoured marques. With interest rates as they are, your money can be well spent on a tractor or two, as good examples of classic models have seen strong prices achieved. Despite this, my advice is not to be too greedy. Some people are placing too high a reserve on what they are offering, and just because it’s a classic doesn’t mean that it deserves top money. Rough examples will never command the highest prices, so please place your reserve accordingly. MEET…