David brown 1390

[biggles]

Friend of a friend has a 2 wheel drive 1390 to sell, I might be interested as a straw chopper tractor and maybe on the rake in summer. It does supposed run but has been stood for about 10 years, he says the brakes stick on now and again and it’s missing some cab glass, what’s people views on this sort of machine? I’ve never driven a db before! What’s to look out for if I go for a viewing and what’s the likely problems with the brakes? Also what are they like to work on and get bits for? Any info, cheers

 

[manfromhill]

B

Friend of a friend has a 2 wheel drive 1390 to sell, I might be interested as a straw chopper tractor and maybe on the rake in summer. It does supposed run but has been stood for about 10 years, he says the brakes stick on now and again and it’s missing some cab glass, what’s people views on this sort of machine? I’ve never driven a db before! What’s to look out for if I go for a viewing and what’s the likely problems with the brakes? Also what are they like to work on and get bits for? Any info, cheers

biggest problem if it’s sat will be getting levers etc moving we had a1394’hydro and was a good reliable tractor but that was sold at least twenty years ago so you are going to look at an almost forty year old tractor

 

[kevindb880]

Hi B
I have a smaller DB880
Don’t really know a great deal about the bigger David Browns only what I’ve read and heard but parts wise there are plenty of helpful people such as Barclay Williams who is also very helpful when you need advice.
I think they are reliable cheap and cheap to run but obviously a bit crude against anything a lot newer and then of course there are people that hate them and will tell you to steer well clear.
Checking wise I would check all the usual things but especially look at the transmission oil, make sure it’s clean and looks as if it’s been changed regularly as they don’t like dirty oil.
For what you are looking to do it would a good choice.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Ul struggle to find any tractor thats easier on diesel than a david brown

 

[andybk]

sticky brakes will prob be cables , easily changed and cheap , they are good old busses , slow but sound , just check if its a hydroshift, it changes gear 1, 2, 3 when cold ,

 

[Flat 10]

@Selectamatic

 

[Selectamatic]

Don’t buy it!!

I’ll have it instead...

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Brakes could just be lack of use and might free up with plenty of wd40 on the outside were they go into the hub
Might need to remove hubs and clean up and copper grease
But not rocket science
1390 very maneuverable but comes in second place to a good 995 imo

 

[eagleye]

much nicer cab on a 1390, crank driven hydraulic pump, hand clutch for pto.
have had quite a few DBs. easy on fuel, good gearbox if you can work the three levers

 

[Alchad]

I've got a 1390 4WD, only a hobby farmer and use it for topping, harrowing and carting stuff around. I rebuilt the engine about 10 years ago with the help of a friend and it was fairly easy and parts readily available. If you buy it first thing you should do is change the transmission oil and filters ( there are 2 one you need to drop the casing for and a high pressure one) because the transmission oil also operates the hydraulics. Power steering is from a separate system with an internal pump inside a "can" on the front right. First port of call if the steering is stiff is to check the oil level in the can. Can't say about the brake problem.

Alchad

 

[Netherfield]

Sticking brakes can be the cables from the handbrake, or more likely the shaft which operates against the shoes, it sticks in the casting it goes through, where the bush No 25 is.

If you buy and decide to inspect the brakes you need to lock down the diff lock before removing the right hand side reduction.

 

[biggles]

How would these tractors compare along side an 885 or 785 international of a similar vintage as I’ve always got on well with them in the past for being simple , easy and cheap to keep going, would the dB be a backward or forward step, or much of a muchness ? Cheers

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Depends totally on your preference
I'm totally biased to db . have spent time driving 885 and didn't rate the left hand crunchy gear sticks or the lengths of steel used to control the hydraulic arms always found them a bit crude and would shake the cab if you tried lowering implement gently
Everything has its faults as I side previously a 995/6 is better than a 1390
These are just my opinions based on my experience

 

[Classichay]

ive a case 1394 which is the red version of the DB1390 with a turbo brilliant little tractor. Paid about 5000 for mine in really good order delivered no VAT. Barclay williams is the man you need to make friends with as hes one of the last strongholds for these tractors. Any questions PM me, ive done the brakes on mine and they do stick abit when theyre parked up and don't leave the handbrake on when you park it up as they will bind up. Generally the brakes stick on because the cam is going over centre doesnt take a lot for them to do it. mine was it would just lock up and near on throw you out the seat. new handbrake cables as mine was defunct with being ceased and new exchange brake shoes in the drums. Check the seals in the final drives arent leaking. Barclay williams will put you right, quite enjoy dealing with them as theyre so easy and straight to work with.

 

[robs1]

How would these tractors compare along side an 885 or 785 international of a similar vintage as I’ve always got on well with them in the past for being simple , easy and cheap to keep going, would the dB be a backward or forward step, or much of a muchness ? Cheers

The engine on the db is much better than the ih if the nasher has a xl cab then that is as good as the db, both are decent places to spend a summer's afternoon raking.

 

[Classichay]

The engine on the db is much better than the ih if the nasher has a xl cab then that is as good as the db, both are decent places to spend a summer's afternoon raking.

 

[biggles]

@Classichay they both look smart, 4wd aside which do you prefer all in all? Cheers

 

[Classichay]

@Classichay they both look smart, 4wd aside which do you prefer all in all? Cheers

The 885XL is a nice tractor usually lives with a loader boom on. its probaby a bit more modern in terms of a tractor, no turbo i think its 82hp 72 at the shaft and the 1394 is 77hp i think. the 885 is a heavier machine so it feels safer with the hedge cutter on, but ive done a fair bit this year with the smaller hedge cutter on behind the 1394 and thought it was ace, it goes slower for that sort of job.

 

[robs1]

View attachment 942087

Both look in very good Nick.

 

[Aircooled]

Ul struggle to find any tractor thats easier on diesel than a david brown

A Same 80 explorer.