Not the usual question I bet?

Uncle Albert · May 8, 2019

Hello forumers. Just signed up to ask a question. I am the Treasurer of a local sailing club down south in Essex.

We launch and recover our boats using a 42 year old Massey Ferguson MF355. It copes well with the 4.5 tonne loads we haul upand down our slipway. We are looking to replace it soon as it is sadly showing signs of expiring due to old age rust and lack of self esteem. Power steering hoses are next potential failure closely followed I fear by the PS pump which seems to be irreplaceable.

We do very low hours probably no more than 80 -100 a year and the work it does in by no mean hard but very necessary.

Has anyone a suitable tractor which might fulfil our needs which is looking for disposal and sale.

Oh one more thing, we are a club of mostly retired grumpy old men who have had a lifetime of scrimping and saving so are always reluctant to part with their club subscription in what ever I purchase , so please bear that in mind. Just because we sail a boat we are not wealthy so nothing with too many numbers in the price.

Thanks for taking time to read this

Uncle Albert

Dave W · May 11, 2019

@Uncle Albert
You'd be better posting that in the machinery section.

If you've got a machine you're happy with I'd consider having it done up. Might cost a few quid but cheaper than an upgrade maybe

Goweresque · May 12, 2019

Were MF 355s made 42 years ago (1977)? Tractor data says they were made from 1991-97. I'd have thought all parts would be available for such an age tractor, far older MFs all have parts available.

Uncle Albert · May 12, 2019

Aha Typo, sorry its a 550 according to the numbers on the hood. Its got an 'R' suffix reg number which should be 1976/7 (August letter change month). The assessment is that the Power steering pump and its attendant seals are suspect and the clutch may need changing meaning splitting engine from gearbox which in turn means the cab, or should I say the large amount of rust, purporting to be a cab will not support its self when removed.

Unc

Nearly · May 12, 2019

@REStracTORATION

or should that be

@masseybreaker ?

Speedstar · May 12, 2019

How much is your budget ?

Goweresque · May 12, 2019

MF550 power steering pump off the shelf, £150:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222548221553?ul_noapp=true

REStracTORATION · May 12, 2019

To be honest
Steering pipes £100
Pump 150
Clutch roughly 200
New set of wheels
A bit of tin work
Etc
The cab dosnt have to be removed to do the clutch
But rusted linkage, connection etc will be an issue which will be time consuming with labour etc
A full service ,grease, wheel bearings etc
I'd guess £2000 all in you'd have your tractor recommissioned
For 2k you can buy much of a tractor that will be usable etc
Sometimes it's better the devil you know than buying someone else's problems.

Andrew · May 13, 2019

I used to do a bit of work at Grafham Sailing Club, we had the sane problem and ended up buying a Discovery. We have a shallow gradient slip so fitted a boom on the front for easier visibility that folds up by hand, and is quickly removable so can go on road if needed. We use it for Flying Fifteens, 5.4m Avons and committee boats, but it would cope fine with heavier loads if in low box.

Cheap to buy and easy to source parts for.

Andy26 · May 13, 2019

Andrew said:
I used to do a bit of work at Grafham Sailing Club, we had the sane problem and ended up buying a Discovery. We have a shallow gradient slip so fitted a boom on the front for easier visibility that folds up by hand, and is quickly removable so can go on road if needed. We use it for Flying Fifteens, 5.4m Avons and committee boats, but it would cope fine with heavier loads if in low box.

Cheap to buy and easy to source parts for.

View attachment 797978 View attachment 797980

Our cricket club used to have a nice MF35 to cut the outfield, we sold it on ebay and now use an old 300Tdi Discovery, an MOT failure was a quarter of the price of the 35, much more reliable starts on the button, comfortable etc........

Better not let @Nearly know or he will be after it!

Dave W · May 15, 2019

Andy26 said:
Our cricket club used to have a nice MF35 to cut the outfield, we sold it on ebay and now use an old 300Tdi Discovery, an MOT failure was a quarter of the price of the 35, much more reliable starts on the button, comfortable etc........

Better not let @Nearly know or he will be after it!

Snap!

Uncle Albert · May 15, 2019

Many thanks to all for additional ideas and comments. As we are a committee run club (meaning that things take ages to get decided) all this info will be used to prolong the ensuing debate

I think the Landi idea could get pursued as I think that they they are about 2 tonnes mass and with a v8 should be man enough to perform the pull.

Perhaps the existing tractor refurb may also be a choice given that the parts availability is NOT as our local engineer has suggested. Fully agree that something 30 years old could be a bag of trouble more so than we may possible have now.

Many thanks for all contributions, just off now to launch a couple of boats .

Unc

REStracTORATION · May 15, 2019

Uncle Albert said:
Many thanks to all for additional ideas and comments. As we are a committee run club (meaning that things take ages to get decided) all this info will be used to prolong the ensuing debate

I think the Landi idea could get pursued as I think that they they are about 2 tonnes mass and with a v8 should be man enough to perform the pull.

Perhaps the existing tractor refurb may also be a choice given that the parts availability is NOT as our local engineer has suggested. Fully agree that something 30 years old could be a bag of trouble more so than we may possible have now.

Many thanks for all contributions, just off now to launch a couple of boats .

Unc

I wouldn't get a v8 either for water ingress issues

Stick with a 2-300tdi and snorkel it

TripleSix · May 16, 2019

Uncle Albert said:
Many thanks to all for additional ideas and comments. As we are a committee run club (meaning that things take ages to get decided) all this info will be used to prolong the ensuing debate

I think the Landi idea could get pursued as I think that they they are about 2 tonnes mass and with a v8 should be man enough to perform the pull.

Perhaps the existing tractor refurb may also be a choice given that the parts availability is NOT as our local engineer has suggested. Fully agree that something 30 years old could be a bag of trouble more so than we may possible have now.

Many thanks for all contributions, just off now to launch a couple of boats .

Unc

Don't get a V8

Find a diesel, I'd get an automatic gearbox too.
Nobody can burn the clutch out then

Not the usual question I bet?

Uncle Albert

New Member

Dave W

Member

Goweresque

Member

Uncle Albert

New Member

Nearly

Member

Speedstar

Member

Goweresque

Member

REStracTORATION

Member

Andrew

Never Forgotten

Andy26

Moderator

Dave W

Member

Uncle Albert

New Member

REStracTORATION

Member

TripleSix

Member

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

May Event: The most profitable farm diversification strategy 2024 - Mobile Data Centres

Share this page