Innehållsförteckning för June 2022 från Tractor & Machinery

Hello and welcome to the June issue of Tractor & Machinery. Another four weeks have flashed by since I last penned an introduction and I find it hard to comprehend that by the time you’re reading this it will be June! Despite the lack of rain in my part of the world, the crops are looking surprisingly good and it’s nice to see the barley so advanced – it only seems like yesterday when it went in the ground! Those of you that follow T&M’s social media channels will have seen that ‘Project X’ made it back to base and although it was never going to make it to my local classic vehicle event on 15 May, it’s had a good, first clean and is looking better for it. The…

A road trip from Land’s End to John O’Groats on congested British roads is sufficient to make all but the hardiest traveller think twice. The shortest route is 600 miles as the crow flies, but as the Irish Sea spoils the party the journey using the motorway network covers an 817-mile route and should take about 14hrs 30mins, given decent traffic conditions. So, why would a team of landscape contractors decide to plan a similar journey driving an Iseki SF544 mower for 20 hours each day over an even longer course of almost 880 miles? The idea for the run came to Colin North, Managing Director of Kent-based Bourne to Garden landscape and gardening contractors, after the death of his father-in-law from Motor Neurone Disease (MND), to raise funds for…

Back in 1981, the Ford Motor Company proudly launched the new Series 10 tractors and, in one fell swoop, modernised almost its entire range of agricultural tractors. Almost – because the higher horsepower TW range, introduced only two years previously, remained in place above the new Series 10 models. There was also another model that remained after the 1981 launch, and became something of an acronym in the new line-up. The retention of this model was intriguing and the reasons for it even more so, and it would take until 1982 before it was effectively replaced by a new addition to the original Series 10 line-up, in the shape of a new model called the 8210 – a tractor that had a strange history due to two earlier incarnations that…

Why? Proven technology with a nice cab. Which one? An example with a pick-up hitch – not all had one! The David Brown 1390 was a mid-range model from the company’s 90 Series that was new for the 1980s, bringing with it a welcome styling update to the previous lines of tractors that had evolved since the ’60s. Underneath that fresh look may have been some familiar sub-assemblies, but this is part of the range’s appeal, in our opinion. Powered by a direct-injection, four-cylinder diesel engine developing 67hp, the 1390 brought with it the same reliability that David Brown owners were accustomed to, attractive fuel consumption and maximum torque low down the rev range. The transmission was similar to previous tractors inasmuch as it offered 12 forward/four reverse speeds with…

Why? A cheaper alternative to the 2850. Which one? A 40kph model – with the cab of your choice! For reasons unbeknown to us, the John Deere 2650 has seemingly become lost amongst the plethora of classics that are currently flavour of the month. Why that is the case is hard to fathom, as it has so much in common with one of the ultimate ‘pocket rockets’ – the 2850. With the same engine under the bonnet, albeit with 8hp less, there’s very little to separate the two and that’s why it’s worth championing the 2650. Powered by a 3.9-litre, turbocharged diesel, the 2650 developed 78hp and had a rated speed of 2,300rpm, boasting one of the lowest piston speeds in its class, a cross-flow cylinder head and a viscous…

A visit to Nigel and James Hutchings and their growing array of John Deere tractors and machinery is always beneficial. Nigel enjoyed a working career with renowned Somerset green and yellow dealer Tincknells, at its Galhampton depot. This time covered the mid 1970s’ 20 Series up to the 20 Series of the new millennium and the introduction of the ‘full-frame’ models. Nigel has now utilised this experience into servicing local customers’ tractors in his workshop, often including the now ‘classic’ models he worked on at Tincknells that are still in use on local dairy and beef farms. James has followed suit as a John Deere devotee. He started out as a local contractor on hedge-trimming duties with his 6900 and 6810 models and now enjoys buying and selling a wide…

The Mountjoy School Tractor Road Run returned on 23 April 2022 following the inaugural run in 2019, writes Joseph Lewis. The run, in aid of Mountjoy School in Beaminster, Dorset, was organised by Richard and Paula Chidley-Randall, with help from Bradley Chidley and Paula’s mother and father, David and Barbara Chidley. Around 30 tractors, four lorries and one Land Rover undertook the 35-mile route from Beaminster across Dorset to the Loders Arms for lunch, before returning to Beaminster. George Elliott, from Winsham near Chard, led the way on his 1968 Massey Ferguson 165, followed by a 1970 County 1124 owned by Martin Caddick from Sherborne, Dorset. Martin acquired his 1124 around five years ago in partly restored condition. He fondly recalls the great-sounding County tractors on his Godfather’s farm and…

DIFFICULTY RATING For any readers not familiar with ‘780 rescue’, the story began nearly three years ago when I was offered the tractor, which had been languishing in brambles for an estimated 20 years. Once home work began at a steady pace, and included the removal of the rusty tinwork and the freeing off of the main controls, most of which were stuck due to lack of use. A successful attempt was made to start the engine, which was promising. The most major task was to split the tractor and remove and free off the stuck clutch – this was covered in an earlier issue of T&M. More recent work has been to clean and prepare the skid unit for repainting, but autumn and winter weather brought the project to…

JULY 2022 issue on sale Friday 1 july BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE Peter Love admires one of the stalwarts of Ford’s Force range when he takes in a 4000 that has been saved and sympathetically restored to maintain its character. OWNING A 523 T&M’s March 2020 feature on the editor’s IH collection raised many questions about the German-built 523. He aims to answer them and to dispel some of the myths! SUPER SIX Tractors built by County are commanding huge sums right now, but the smaller models can offer good value. Bob Weir talks to Mike Richards about his 1004. PLUS Junior, Machinery milestones, Model corner, News, Readers’ gallery, Tractor Mart, Workshop & more… Note: Planned features in T&M may be subject to alteration, due to circumstances beyond our control.…

Neil McCullough spent much of his youth on his neighbours’ farms helping with beef, dairy, pig, cereal and potato enterprises. He didn’t waste much time before he climbed into the tractor seat and found himself driving some of Massey Ferguson’s best-known models, including the ubiquitous 135, 590, 290, 698, 3070 and 398. During that period Neil had experienced every range of Massey Ferguson tractors commonly found on Northern Ireland’s farms and spent many happy hours carting silage during the summer months; a rite of passage for every young tractor enthusiast, especially those in the local Young Farmers Club. Aside from this exciting side of teenage life, Neil spent his time at school achieving the A-level results that he needed to obtain a place at Queen’s University, Belfast, to study Mechanical…

Why? A great-looking, comfortable tractor. Which one? Super Q model, unless height is a concern! The introduction of Ford’s Generation III saw the 6610 bow out to make way for two new models – the 80hp (DIN) 6410 and 90hp (DIN) 6810. It appears that Ford New Holland had analysed the figures for tractors sold and drawn the conclusion that the 81-90hp bracket was the sector to focus on. The new tractor at the top end of the sector, our focus here, was a surprisingly competent model for one so compact. Generating bags of torque and with a lift capacity that put larger tractors to shame, the 6810 could be a prime mover on smaller farms and an understudy on larger holdings. As Ford users had come to expect, the…

Why? An underrated engine that is a great performer. Which one? A Sekura-cabbed example. It puts the QM to shame! When Leyland reached the conclusion that its tractor range was not competing as well as it should have been, it was decided to introduce a new look. After much debate a livery of ‘Golden Harvest’ tinwork and a 60 per cent gloss black skid unit were matched to white wheels. The new model range was launched at the 1980 Smithfield Show and amongst the models were the 702 (two-wheel drive) and 704 (four-wheel drive) that replaced the existing 272 and 472 models. Apart from the new colour scheme, Leyland also introduced a Sekura-built cab as an alternative to the QM unit. Marketed as the ‘Explorer,’ the deluxe cab offered easier…

In late June/early July, Graham Dell, from Malvern in Worcestershire, will embark on an epic adventure around the United Kingdom and Ireland with his friend Edward ‘Ted’ Lake. Regular readers will remember that the intrepid duo was due to undertake the mammoth trip in 2020 but, unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to their plans. Thankfully, with restrictions now lifted, it’s all systems go for what promises to be the expedition of a lifetime. The painstaking journey, expected to take around a month to complete, will raise money for three charities close to Graham’s heart: Cancer Research UK, Fibromyalgia UK, and Lupus UK. This is not the first time Graham has put his passion for tractors to charitable use, as in 2006 he completed the John O’Groats to Land’s End…

Our friends at Universal Hobbies’ have been busy producing some new releases for us all to enjoy, three of which we have here. The first of these, available now, is a 1:32 MF 5S.145 produced using completely new tooling – with front and rear linkages and foldable mirrors. Secondly is one that we’ve been looking forward to for some time – the company’s 1:32 interpretation of the captivating Fendt Cargo T955. Just like the real thing, the cab lifts up and there’s an openable door, as well as steering and an operable boom. Last, but by no means least, is the 1:32 New Holland T5.140 Giro d’Italia edition, with custom livery and special decals. It’s definitely one for the collector and certainly different! All can be purchased from retailers in…

The 2022 Abbey Hill Rally was held at Yeovil Showground, Somerset, over April 29 to 2 May, writes Joseph Lewis. After an absence of two years, everyone was glad to be back in the Abbey habit! More than 250 tractors were listed in the programme, presided over by Ivor James and family, building on the stewardship of Tony and Valerie Hamblen. Tractors ranged from a 1926 John Deere unstyled D, owned by Lee Curtis, to a 1994 Ford 8240 – one of the very last white-roofed SLE tractors with a factory-fitted turbo, driven by Jack Penny and owned by the Mancini brothers of Taunton. One of the classic stars was a 1973 Universal 550 Super owned by Harry Goring. When bought by the current owner the tractor had glazed bores,…

The tiny village of Bodle Street Green, East Sussex, saw more than 250 exhibitors turn out for the FBHVC ‘Drive It Day’ Charity Gathering & Road Run event on 24 April, organised by Peter Love, with help from some very experienced marshals. The exhibitors comprised all vehicles encompassed by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC), including steam, tractors, cars, light commercials, four-wheel drive vehicles and motorcycles. In the village hall were model railways for the children and a fine horticultural display by Paul and Wendy Mackellow, as well as working stationary engines from members of the Sussex & Kent Weald Stationary Engine Group. With food and a licensed bar available, The Cabin was kept busy all day and the day’s compere David Vaughan kept everyone informed what was…

Ferguson TE-F 20 Q It was interesting to read the article on replacing the starter switch on a TE-D 20. I have a 1952 TE-F 20 with a problem when engaging the starter motor. When pressing the isolator button on the side of the gearbox, and moving the gear stick to the start position, the teeth on the starter motor and the ring gear go tooth to tooth. This does not happen every time. I have replaced the ring gear with a new one from Vapormatic and had the starter motor repaired. The motor has had a new, old stock genuine Lucas pinion fitted. A retired Lucas service engineer did this work for me. He has also ground more of a lead on the pinion teeth to see if this…

DIFFICULTY RATING Some projects are completed quite quickly, but others fall by the wayside on occasions and my ’47 Fordson E27N is just one example. It began with a broken brake cable, which escalated to a full rebuild of the rear end with new bearings and oil seals throughout, along with a brake overhaul. POOR PAINTWORK During the rebuild the tractor was treated to some fresh paint, which amounted to two coats of red oxide, two grey undercoat and two of top coat, and all looked very good at the time. This was back in 2015, but soon after the blue top coat began to peel off at an alarming rate, leaving the light grey undercoat showing through. This disappointing situation led to the tractor being parked up and no…

PART M-N 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,…

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The 1980s was a decade of change in agricultural machinery manufacture. It saw the loss of familiar names, such as David Brown, International Harvester and Leyland, but thankfully they all lived on in some way, shape or form. Coupled with the politics, economic climate and typical day-to-day trials and tribulations, there was a definite shift in power requirements on farms, with the need to be more productive leading to larger implements and, ultimately, more powerful tractors. Figures from The Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) show that at the beginning of the decade, chiefly in 1981 and ’82, the 71-80hp sector was the most popular – with 25.7 per cent and 26.1 per cent (respectively) of agricultural tractor registrations relating to this category. In 1983, the balance tipped and the 81-90hp sector…

Why? Well-built with performance to match. Which one? Two-wheel drive – you won’t need four-wheel drive! The International 856XL may seem like an unusual choice for this feature, but it is one that continues to be overlooked by those in the market for an 80-90hp tractor, unless they’re an IH enthusiast! The fact is that it when it was introduced in 1983, most farmers in the UK were happy with a Doncaster-built 885XL, producing 82.1hp (DIN), so few examples of the 856XL were sold in comparison. But besides a few extra horses under the bonnet, what did the Continental-built tractor offer that the British-built one could not? At the heart of the 856XL was the DT-239 engine, built in Germany, sharing bore and stroke dimensions with its bigger brothers in…

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Evers and Wall Ltd., of Lambourn Woodlands in Berkshire, marketed various mounted sprayers over the years, including the Hardy range. The 200/40 was the smallest with a 40-gallon tank and 19ft 9in working width, while the 400/60 upped capacity to 60 gallons. The 80-gallon 800/80 had a working width of 26ft 3in and all had plastic tanks. All images from promotional literature. The use of chemicals to encourage growth, stifle pests and suppress weeds is nothing new and although the use of technology has improved accuracy and increase efficiency, the machines used to apply liquids and granular fertilisers to crops have changed very little since their use became mainstream on farms throughout the middle of the last century. Today, with the price of such chemicals at an all-time high and…

After two years of waiting, the National Vintage Tractor Road Run eventually took place on Easter Day, Sunday 17 April, at Llanilid Farm, Pencoed, near Bridgend, with more than half the entry being Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors, writes Anne Bates. The event attracted 420 entries (including 40 modern tractors at the back of the field) and was raising money for two worthy causes – Wales Air Ambulance Charity and Marie Curie. After the customary tractor blessing by the Reverend Glenda Oglesbee and a speech by NVTRR co-founder Ashley Godsall, it was time for the off. The tractors were led from the start line by entrant number 500, who was three-and-a-half-year old Gwilym, on his battery-powered New Holland T7 tractor, under the watchful eyes of his mother and grandmother. Gwilym…

Gordon Carson and members of the NVTEC East Anglia are to be congratulated for their hard work in making the 44th Stradsett Park Vintage Rally happen on 1-2 May, says Peter Love. Situated at Stradsett Park, near Downham Market in Norfolk, there was something for everyone – with the best tractor content of any rally held so far in the UK this year. The weather was varied, but the crowd was huge – probably because the event was catching up on its missed two years. The special displays of those years were present for everyone to enjoy, including the 75th anniversary of the Fordson E27N (now in its 77th year), as well as Minneapolis-Moline and Eastern European tractors – essentially comprising Czech Zetors and a Hungarian Dutra. As always, Gordon…

Although Cheffins set a European record for the sale of a 1982, ‘short nose’ County 1474 at £200,000 plus commission, on Saturday 24 April, Thursday 21 April saw a new world record set for any tractor sold in preservation at Aumann Auctions’ Pre ’30 sale at Nokomis, Illinois, USA. An astonishing £1,172,281 ($1,470,000) was paid for a 1913 Case 60. This is the highest price ever paid for a preservation tractor and more than any steam engine. The tractor is powered by a twin-cylinder engine with 10in bore and 12in stroke and although it was originally planned that 500 would be made, it looks as though 125 were actually built and five remain today. Dennis Powers purchased this tractor in 1993 from Ron Carey, who originally purchased it from the…