Does the Massey 590 have a gearbox that is capable of shifting up and down while moving, it is a 12speed multi power gearbox made in the final model year 1981. Online it says this gearbox is a part synchro but I am confused which gears are synchronised.
MF 590
- Thread starter john smith 124
- Start date
IIRC synchro between 2nd and top but not 1st/second but that does not mean you can't change between 1st and second while moving
trebornella
Member
Just read the comments on the 'modern' machinery forum, all make sense, but you have to realise that a 590 gearbox is not like car / van / modern tractor gearbox. You can change up on the move, but need to give it time and learn to double de-clutch. Better than a 100 series crash box, but not much. Multi power was revolutionary when first introduced in 1960's, but could be dangerous with an unskilled operator.
My old Dad used to drive a Ford 4000 and could change gear smoothly without using the clutch. Never could get the hang of it myself.
My old Dad used to drive a Ford 4000 and could change gear smoothly without using the clutch. Never could get the hang of it myself.
There aren't any epicyclics in a mp box
76masseyman
Member
- Location
- Lincolncestershire
Just to clarify, do you have two gear levers sticking out the floor, or three ?
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
Yeah, he had a selectamatic (Ford's typically poor copy of a MF idea)
smcapstick
Member
- Location
- Kirkby Lonsdale
Yes, you can. It just takes a little bit of practice/skill.
Selectamatic is a David Brown hydraulic system and was never fitted to 4000’s. He said it had a clutch, so it wasn’t a selectospeed. Selectospoeed wasn’t a MF idea, and you couldn’t get dual power on a 4000. Shame MF didn’t copy Ford’s Dual Power.
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trebornella
Member
Yes, Dad had that skill, I never mastered it. Dad always drove a standard 4000, not a jerk-o-matic. He always preferred a 3 pot 4000 to a 4 pot 5000, said they were a better tractor all round.
Celtic Driver
Member
You can change down through the gears on a standard 590 once you get the hang of it rev matching to your speed .
flywheel
Member
- Location
- wae up north
Use the clutch pedal every time you change gear ...
- Location
- LINCOLNSHIRE/KENYA
I can do that too. You need one with a foot throttle though. Yes the 4000s are better than 5000s too.
Celtic Driver
Member
The Ford 4000 gearbox was great to use a nice light change better than most synchro boxes .
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