Massey Ferguson 230 Info required

[Mr Pea]

I've recently purchased a MF 230 (1988) fitted with a Duncan D870 cab. I would be greatful if anyone could share information about serial numbers etc and how many 230 where actually produced. Ive searched the internet and I cant findmuch info. I've spoken to Duncan Cabs and they informed me that only 630 of these cabs where made.

 

[Will 1594]

does it increase value of them as got an immaculate one here
is paint colour right on those wheels
ours as silver not grey

 

[OliverLee390]

230s didn't have cabs from the factory like the 240, so was most likely fitted by a dealer, if that helps at all, a friend of mine owns one with the same cab that used to be on gang mowers

 

[Jeremy B]

Hello. There were two versions of the 230 made. The original one had a true 39hp engine supplied by Perkins fuelled to that power and would rev the full range ( up to circa 2250 rpm) and this tractor was export only. It sold particularly well in Morocco where there was a government incentive to help small farmers in the form of a subsidy for tractors less than 40hp.

The UK market 230 was different. In order to get a cabless tractor below the 86DBa drivers ear noise limit we took a 47hp MF 240 and slowed the engine down to about 1950 rpm and fitted a front pointing horizontal exhaust and a few other tweaks to get the noise level down. Slowing the 47hp engine down effectively cut the power curve off at that speed which coincidentally also gave 39hp. This engine speed restriction was done on the line at Banner Lane so the engine left Perkins as a 47hp unit. Dealers who twigged this would often open them up again by adjusting the pump stop.

The Duncan cab you have was mostly fitted to 240's as it met the noise regs. Tractors were built to "cab spec" at Banner lane, fitted with a wooden seat then taken to Duncan's small Coventry operation where the cabs were fitted ( same process for the Low Profile detachable cab fitted to 390's). The tractors were then returned to Banner Lane, given a final check and despatched to dealers along with other tractors. I believe Duncan also supplied some cabs to dealers too.

Your tractor may be a true 230 ( ie fuelled to 39hp) that had a cab fitted as above perhaps before the de-speeded unit was available or it was a de-speeded one that someone just wanted a cab on. Some were done that way.

The 230 sold well in the UK as a basic machine, retail price for the cables one was £ 9950, the main option was power steering which took it over £10k. It lived on until engine emissions rules killed it, we tried de-speeding a US market MF 243 which had the right emissions but was too noisy. Tests at MIRA showed the speed we had to go down to to get the noise level were too low to be practical so it was not pursued. We solved it a few years later by creating the MF 410 and 420 made by Uzel in Turkey. That had the Perkins 1103 engine and we got the noise level down by using side panels, horizontal exhaust again and a few other things. The main market was Portugal but quite a few were sold in the UK until Uzel ceased production in 2008.

Sorry I don't have serial numbers or production records for the 230 but I suggest you have a look at what max engine RPM you have and see if the pump max speed seal looks like its been tampered with.

Hope that helps,

Jeremy

 

[Mr Pea]

Thanks very much for the info Jeremy B. Please could you tell me what where the years of production for the Banner lane built 230.
Also, please could you tell me whereabouts these 230's where made:

TractorData.com Massey Ferguson 230 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

 

[Jeremy B]

The tractor in the link was made in the US plant in Detroit for North America only. That was before my time so I don't know much about them, that plant closed in 83 and the US market was then supplied from Banner Lane plus some base models from Ursus followed by Uzel.

The UK 200 series was introduced in 79, before my time but my 1980 and 82 MF Worldwide catalogues both list the 240 and above but no 230. My guess is it was a late 80's introduction driven my markets like Morocco as mentioned above.

What I do know is that UK market 230 production ended in September 2001 with the introduction of tier 1 engine emission rules. We were not allowed to make any more after that but dealers were able to sell out existing stock. As no direct replacement was available a batch were built prior to the deadline for UK dealer stock so it is quite possible to come across a 230 registered in the UK in 2002 or even 2003.

Export 230's continued until the plant closed in December 2002 though to be honest very few 230's were built as unless there was a good reason to buy one ( like in Morocco) everyone bought 240's as the cost was almost the same.

 

[its.... only me]

Another one here for sale atm.

 

[its.... only me]

Just noticed the rear wheels are set differently from one side to the other ?

 

[Mr Pea]

Yes, the Tractor has been working in Trials Plots, maybe that explains the offset wheel spacings

 

[Massey240]

does it increase value of them as got an immaculate one here
is paint colour right on those wheels
ours as silver not grey

Hi Will, I am looking for a clean MF230, what hours etc are on yours. Thanks Nigel.

 

[Massey240]

does it increase value of them as got an immaculate one here
is paint colour right on those wheels
ours as silver not grey

Hi Will, I am looking for a clean MF230, what hours etc are on yours. Thanks Nigel.

 

[Will 1594]

Hi Will, I am looking for a clean MF230, what hours etc are on yours. Thanks Nigel.

sorry wife had sold it
sell you “ the little beast “ 362 if you want a handy tractor

 

[Massey240]

sorry wife had sold it
sell you “ the little beast “ 362 if you want a handy tractor

Hi Will, thanks for response, not sure about MF362, do you know of any original Ferguson 35 4 cylinder, MF 35 3 cylinder, must be in original condition, low hours and well looked after. Collector tractors.

 

[Will 1594]

Hi Will, thanks for response, not sure about MF362, do you know of any original Ferguson 35 4 cylinder, MF 35 3 cylinder, must be in original condition, low hours and well looked after. Collector tractors.

will be out there some where
depends how big a wallet you have
know of a very nice 35 x multi power
i know he refused 10000 for it

 

[Massey240]

is it original, not painted? low hours?
You have to pay for the correct one.
35/135's I am after, never near cow muck, brake and clutch pedals with little to no wear.
good straight tins.

 

[Will 1594]

is it original, not painted? low hours?
You have to pay for the correct one.
35/135's I am after, never near cow muck, brake and clutch pedals with little to no wear.
good straight tins.

yes arable fen farm
like time stood still sort of place
it will only “maybe and big if “ when he dies it may get sold along with the other 99 tractors he has
was talking to him yesterday at ploughing and he said he had his knees done and said he wants to do another 20 years that will take him to 90
we offered him 8 for it 2 years ago or wife did

 

[Massey 240]

yes arable fen farm
like time stood still sort of place
it will only “maybe and big if “ when he dies it may get sold along with the other 99 tractors he has
was talking to him yesterday at ploughing and he said he had his knees done and said he wants to do another 20 years that will take him to 90
we offered him 8 for it 2 years ago or wife did

Note: serial plate is inside head light grill on front.