Massey 50hxs

[6480]

Thinking of buying a 50hxs for loader work and some light Digger work . Would it be fit for pushing up four or five pits of grass in the summer

 

[smcapstick]

If it's in good nick it will be fine.

EDIT They can be a bit prone to overheat. Keep a trailer compressor handy to blow it out every hour or two.

 

[Zebbedee]

Good digger not sure about the pit job I would say they push better than the equivalent jcb or Ford but a tractor would probably be better although if it's what you have it will do it, as above keep rads clean I had one for years and it was faultless decent cab and good controls etc

 

[Grouse]

Used to have one here, it would probably do the pit job, but would be very cumbersome.

I think a good tractor would be far more useable, agile and easier to operate

 

[awkward]

Contractor here years ago used them very good manoverable and great hydraulics but would an 860 be easier to find now
Edit good to climb too

 

[How much]

50 hx where a good tool I drove loads of 50 hx machines HXS was the later cab version think but i think they also did a 60 hx that had direct drive 5th gear bypassing the powershuttle gearbox , but I think it was a 50HXS with a turbo on it and direct drive on it ?

Anyway yes it was good back then , i would not buy it just for a silage clamp , you would be better with a telescopic handler , but assuming you have a use for a digger the rest of the year go for it .
they where pretty much bulletproof early hx models had some main piviot lift ram turret cracking issues later ones i think Hxs had extra gussets on them from factory gearboxes and shuttles pretty much faultless they would be working hard on a clamp , if you had alot to do i would drop the dipper off at its piviot, to reduce the weight a little or maybe better the entire digger at its u bolt mounting and and put some ballest on in its place , the added clearence under where the the stabilizers would be will help with climbing the pit.
and as mentioned blow out the rad as needed a 60 Hxs would have more power but they will be pretty rare

 

[Massey Holland]

We have a 50hxs,there a good old digger,fast enough hydraulics,the front boom would not be over strong and could crack with the wrong operator.They could push up a bit of grass if a lad was stuck,but the back actor would want to be replaced with a weight block,and the 4wd shaft would need a cover put on it.They would have a quick flick,but I wouldn't buy one to push a lot of grass.

 

[awkward]

Have easily unloaded artic of 2ton pallets fertiliser. Jack legs might catch ground but need to be very steep to do that.and if grass is catching drive shaft your not packing it enough. Very capable machine just not loading shovel or 200 HP tractor with 10ft rake

 

[james ds]

If it's in good nick it will be fine.

EDIT They can be a bit prone to overheat. Keep a trailer compressor handy to blow it out every hour or two.

We used one on the pit years ago , use a net curtain over the front grill and the grass wort stick to it .

 

[fermerboy]

We used to have a 50hxs.

Miserable starting thing, but always went if the battery was good. We used to drop the backactor off and fit a weight block for the summer months. We had the job down to about 40mins after the first time. Don't take the arm off as the jack legs still catch, drop the whole subframe, it's actually easier.
The shuttle is practically bombproof, the worst problem was keeping the radiator clean, tights right over the front of the bonnet and along the sides seemed to be the best option.
Front propshaft will only wrap if it's among long grass, crossing a bout of hay is fatal!!
Usually end up needing the seal at the gear box end, or the wrapped on grass can take the engine oil filter off.
Wouldn't worry about the loader, the MF 50 has the best geometry of any of the diggers, and we've never cracked one. Still have a 60hxt with about 20000hrs and it's no bother. It will beat my 526 loadall loading an artic of barley using the same bucket as the cycle time is so fast.
The front axle gets a hell of a pounding, and the pin through the end of the ram will be loose unless it's been sorted. The bushes in the steering ram go regularly, not a big job. The main pin can wear like hell if it's not greased. Watch the shaft that drives the pump from the front of the crank, they can strip the splines at the pump end. This arrangement also means that the fan belt is a bugger to change, always fit two and tie one up.
Ours had the 5th gear, wind up to full speed on the road, hit button on the dash and she locks into 5th direct drive. Waste of time on a 50 digger it didn't have the power.
Our 60hxt doesn't have that strangely enough.
Other trouble is the switch on the joystick or gearlever, always trouble, there is a red button on the back of the side console which overrides it so you can get off the road or whatever.

Good old machines in the day. I still like our old 60 for some jobs over the loadall.

 

[CrevisbigX]

Friend use to run one on the farm and on the pit at silage time when contracting. Had a Deutz 6.05 commander and a Mex 6 chucking grass at it.

 

[smcapstick]

Here's a boring video of someone buckracking badly with a poorly equipped HX: