Machinery that was new years ago

[7610 super q]

November 1986, and an 885xl arrived. Radial tyres looked a bit flat compared to the cross ply we'd used to.
I specifically asked for a radio to be fitted ( not standard ). It arrived without a radio.
Gear change was stiff and awkward " It'll loosen up after a few hours ".
5000 hours later....it was still stiff and awkward.

Disappointed in the dealer and the tractor, but as with everything else, rather than flogging it for f**k all, should have parked it in the corner of the shed as a pension plan.

 

[RAG 99]

I have a fond childhood memory of a certain Marshall 802 arriving on the back of an ecf lowloader back in 1982. The "Harvest Gold" paintwork looked fantastic and when my mate and I heard that Marshall whistle from the turbocharger, it sent us into meltdown!

 

[aussie massey]

I can remember when the 300 series first came out about 30 years ago and my Dad ordering a 390, l can still remember the excitement of watching this new shiny and large tractor for its day coming down our driveway. Great memories l was only about 13 or 14 at the time, cant believe it was 30 years ago.

 

[Munkul]

I remember the same - about 8 years old, and with no warning a shiny brand new 390T 12/12 lands on the farm.
Same feeling in 2007 when we got our JX1100U.
The odd shiny new implement comes, still get that fuzzy warm feeling of nice gear that HOPEFULLY won't need repairs for a good long time... :/

I think we're due another new tractor... unfortunately to get the gear we want on our budget, it's all been second hand for a few years!

 

[Deerefarmer]

2wd 2955, I remember the only tractor dad bought new, it was the main tractor on farm for many years, I learned to drive on it ,,got pushed off a hill or so, spent many an hour making hay with it.
It never caused any trouble til head gasket went at 10k hrs
He traded it for a newer used tractor at 15k hrs

 

[joe soapy]

1952/53, when i was 4 05 years old, Watkins and Roseveare delivered a brand new Nuffield universal, TVO, no pto or hyd.
lorry had 2 planks to unload the tractor but the driver was afraid to drive the tractor down them.
Chap called Frank Davis who lived in the village volunteered to drive it off in front of a small crowd.
Once on the ground, a few jumped on and a few laps around the mooey were done.
Was a big innovation at the time not having to run some petrol through the carb before stopping.
the axles had to be sawn off soon after, and a non live drive pto fitted after a round baler was purchased.
Only repairs i can remenber was when the timing slipped when using the starting handle, did most of the heavy work till it was traded in 1966
was quite fast on the road.

66 must have been a very good year there were more D reg tractors sold that year than ever before

 

[TripleSix]

I drove this back from the dealers in March 2017.
Ended up driving its identical twin back from the dealers too.
At work mind, not mine.

Not quite as romantic as getting a new Ford in 1970...

 

[Weasel]

1996 we got a brand new Renault 106-54. Kept it until 2008, best tractor we've ever had! Regret selling it so much it would turn you to drink

 

[J 1177]

Not quite new but in 1990 the old fella had had a decent year so decided to trade in one of the tractors for a new one. A seven year old 2wd 785xl Nash for the new identical spec case version. He had the price was about to ring up and do the deal on a current stock tractor having never actually seen it in the flesh, so he thought he'd pop in and have a look before committing.

When he got there there it was parked up brand new (g redg) version of his current Nash. Very smart, as he turned around there was a tractor parked in the corner of the shed a 2wd 885xl super 2 (f plate) with aircon, os tyres, twin assistors, ta, the lot.
It had just done 300hrs. Less money than the new 785xl
Well that set him off, diddnt want the new one. apparently the 885 was maybe supposedly sold to another farmer.
In the end we got it, I can remember it coming and spending days upon days powerharrowing with a 3m maschio, working it's nuts off

 

[Ray996]

I was looking threw somethings in an old chest of drawer and found the manual that came with a tractor we bought new in 1992, it was a fiat90/90. I sold that tractor to Dobson about 5 years ago for 3grand and l bought a mf5455.from them. I can remember the day that fiat came home, l was eighteen, dad and l thought it was massive. That tractor did alot of work, we got a Astor 5.5 ton dung spreader and spread loads of hen pen with it.zetor spreader. Has anyone else got some nice story's of the day a new tractor or machine came onto the farm??

Remember dad getting new David Brown 1212 in 1977,he had 1200 before that.when the 90 series came out he got a 1490 ,total luxury back in the day. Last tractor he had was fiat 880.5 and was brute of a tractor for power ,remember the exhaust glowing in the dark when working hard cultivating!

 

[holywell farmer]

I remember the same - about 8 years old, and with no warning a shiny brand new 390T 12/12 lands on the farm.
Same feeling in 2007 when we got our JX1100U.
The odd shiny new implement comes, still get that fuzzy warm feeling of nice gear that HOPEFULLY won't need repairs for a good long time... :/

I think we're due another new tractor... unfortunately to get the gear we want on our budget, it's all been second hand for a few years!

I have never had pleasure of driving a 390t yet,

 

[ollandroverman]

I have never had the mild disappointment of driving a 390t yet,

Fixed that for you

 

[holywell farmer]

Fixed that for you

What's bad about them ?

 

[Red Fred]

November 1986, and an 885xl arrived. Radial tyres looked a bit flat compared to the cross ply we'd used to.
I specifically asked for a radio to be fitted ( not standard ). It arrived without a radio.
Gear change was stiff and awkward " It'll loosen up after a few hours ".
5000 hours later....it was still stiff and awkward.

Disappointed in the dealer and the tractor, but as with everything else, rather than flogging it for fudge all, should have parked it in the corner of the shed as a pension plan.

I remember when the Stockman Specials came out, must have been late 1991, and they had an ad in FW for IIRC a 695 2wd for £6999 or a 4wd 895 for £12999. Even then, it was remarkably good value as it propelled us from 2wd David Browns into 4wd loader territory. My mate turned up for a cup of tea and I remember saying to him "Bl==== H==l, that's a good deal! I'm going to have one of them." It ended up doing 12000 hours, but we had the same thing with the tight gearbox when it was new- "It'll free up with wear, never seen one with that problem before!". Well, my sister's estate bought one the same time and it had exactly the same trouble, which turned out to be a missing circlip or rollpin in the box.
Remember the day our Nuff 4/65 arrived, and dad sat me up on the big flat-top wing as we came down the drive. It seemed huge to a 6 year old.

 

[ollandroverman]

What's bad about them ?

Nothing.
They don't excel in any particular area ether.
They are very average, all round capable enough, and dare i say it, some what boring.
I don't understand why people hold them in the highest esteem.

 

[Happy]

I have a fond childhood memory of a certain Marshall 802 arriving on the back of an ecf lowloader back in 1982. The "Harvest Gold" paintwork looked fantastic and when my mate and I heard that Marshall whistle from the turbocharger, it sent us into meltdown!

Much the same here but maybe a year earlier.
Excitement of Christmas Day waiting on Dad finishing feeding beasts before we could open our presents.
When he did come back to the house it was in a brand new yellow Leyland 602.
Was the last Leyland on the place as switched to IH after that.

 

[glasshouse]

a 90 90 for 3k !!! i sold a 100 90 similar age etc for 11k and thought that was cheap to a family member.

i know that tractor, did you put the straight pipe on it?

 

[Munkul]

Nothing.
They don't excel in any particular area ether.
They are very average, all round capable enough, and dare i say it, some what boring.
I don't understand why people hold them in the highest esteem.

haha I wouldnt really rate one either.
- no air con
- no air seat (maybe an option, but ours has a sprung seat)
- "cosy" cab with awkward rear window
- lift arms, hitch etc bit weak compared to newer tractors (we fitted 398 lift assistor rams to ours)

on the plus side... its a nimble, small tractor that all the controls "feel" nice to use, it pulls really well and definitely does more than 40k on the road
I can't see us ever getting rid of ours, it's in good shape cosmetically and doesn't do many hours.
But it's not the tractor i would ever go to for a day's work, I'd rather one of the two with A/C and air seats...

 

[startinghandle]

Still have the original handbook for the Fordson Dexta bought new from Jones Bros Abergele in 1959. Think it cost about £650.

Until then we had always had Fergies, but the notorious starting problems with the FE35 meant that the Perkins engined three cylinder Dexta was more reliable. In reality the three cylinder Massey 35 was a much better tractor, but the starting problems with the four cylinder 35 took a long time to forget.

do you still have Dexta?

 

[DeeGee]

do you still have Dexta?

No it was sold over thirty years ago.