Massey Ferguson 390 buying advice.

[Dowler78]

I'm looking to buy myself a Massey Ferguson 390 very soon.

Is there anything in particular to check when viewing one and anything that I should Check has been done?

And anything I should avoid.

The tractor will only be used lightly for topping and Paddock maintenance.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jsmith2211]

Why a 390? the 300 series is vastly overpriced for what they are

 

[Kezman50]

Why a 390? the 300 series is vastly overpriced for what they are

Well I have a 398 and I’ve heard it lord knows how many times over the years from fellow farmers that have newer MF’s to dealers. They all say it was one of the last, before things started to get complicated with electronics etc......so, very much worth it because your buying into straightforward mechanics that scores high on reliability and relatively straightforward to repair when issues arise.

 

[Jsmith2211]

Well I have a 398 and I’ve heard it lord knows how many times over the years from fellow farmers that have newer MF’s to dealers. They all say it was one of the last, before things started to get complicated with electronics etc......so, very much worth it because your buying into straightforward mechanics that scores high on reliability and relatively straightforward to repair when issues arise.

well we've a 398 with an 880 loader. gets a lot of use in the grain shed loading the mill and moving dumpy bags of meal around. The loader is worn out (it was on a 390T before the 398, and so was used as the loader on our main tractor for 10 years at least before being used every day through the winter for the last 20...), the engine is breathing heavily and she smokes a bit... but its still going! It's only on about 7800 hours as well. There is something to be said for the basicness of them and the reliablility, but then again why pay 10-15k (which is what you have to pay for a nice one now) for a 30 year old machine? I've seen newer machines go for around the same / a small bit more(there was a 2008 5445 for about 16k on facebook in decent condition i saw the other day). A more modern machine would just be nicer to use than a 390/398, which is still the same basic manual controls and all (with the exception of shuttle) as a 35! Personally if all you are going to use it for is topping and rolling etc i'd go for something like a 590 or 575 instead. Not quite as comfortable and high tech as a shuttle 398 but would be 1/3rd of the price and it sounds would probably do everything you want it to. My 135 runs a 9' topper and pulls the 8' roller just fine. Another machine to look at would be the DB/CASE 1390/1394 or 1490/1494. They are supposed to be good machines, but ive not every owned or driven one so i cant vouch for that. (We do have a 575, in dire need of a rebuild at 13ish thousand hours, probably only has about 40hp now!) the above listed models can be picked up for around the 5-6k mark for nice machines, and ive seen them for around 4k if you dont mind a bit of a dog! However if you are set on a 390, get a tidy one and look after it, and view it as an investment, because they are going up in value.

 

[Will 1594]

This was immaculate ,,some nice masseys pop up in cheffins ,we looked at anice 375 ,but make strong money
just keep looking

 

[daveydiesel1]

Ok. If its a later model with the gearleaver on the side and the hml on the same stick ask if its ever had the spring selector replaced for changin range as the originals will break and its a few quid for the part but a major job gettin at it. If u buy it make sure and fit an isolator to it and be sure to turn it of EVERY time u switch her of as they have a tendency to catch fire. If its a non turbo ur lookin at try to see it cold as they can be a pig to start so then ul see how it starts, ours needed a geared starter which helped dramaticly. Check the hitch and hooks that hold it up for wear as its not a brill hitch for durability and make sure the wee metal blocks are on it before u tip a trailer or itl end up hitchin of and the drawbar could end up in the cab with u. If its a 18×6 check the splitter works as these wear out eventually. Other than these few things they are a good handy tractor with a nice cab aslong as ur not taking passengers and very frugal on the diesel

 

[wdah/him]

have a few 300series here, yep 390 hard to start if not heated even in summer. geared staeter is a big help and still heat it. cabs will rot, 390 cant pull that much as they are dead, but a turbo really helps that out. i would rather a 3 stick model, have had 12/12 30km 399, drove 18/6 40km 390t and really only gearbox i will have is a 3stick as fitted to our 399, also have drove 2 390 with 8/8 gearbox and lift off cab, still have one on farm.

good well known basic tractors.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Personally if it was me id be trying to find a good 4355. U have a better cab with better laid out controls and a passenger seat, side mounted exhaust, better hitch and probably better lift capacity. Still the same great reliable tractor but more refined. but wouldnt go for powershuttle. Last of the best tractors ever built imho

 

[farmer pickles]

Well I have a 398 and I’ve heard it lord knows how many times over the years from fellow farmers that have newer MF’s to dealers. They all say it was one of the last, before things started to get complicated with electronics etc......so, very much worth it because your buying into straightforward mechanics that scores high on reliability and relatively straightforward to repair when issues arise.

I have 300 series tractors here too and while I agree with you about them being a simple tractor to maintain imo second hand values are too high compared to buying a mf ten years newer.
I also have a 4245 power shuttle mf and while it's only around 5 years newer than the average 390 it has a nicer cab and far nicer to drive imo.
The spring in the gearbox was a very bad design also and it's a days work to get the range box out to change the spring.

 

[Northern territory]

Personally if it was me id be trying to find a good 4355. U have a better cab with better laid out controls and a passenger seat, side mounted exhaust, better hitch and probably better lift capacity. Still the same great reliable tractor but more refined. but wouldnt go for powershuttle. Last of the best tractors ever built imho

We’ve just moved a 4370 on after owning for 16 years. Good tractor with loader on but had quite a bit of trouble with front diffs which became costly. Had 4500 on clock. Dad said other day we should have just kept it as was better than money in the bank. On a 5613 now which has to many gizmos now really.

 

[farmer pickles]

Personally if it was me id be trying to find a good 4355. U have a better cab with better laid out controls and a passenger seat, side mounted exhaust, better hitch and probably better lift capacity. Still the same great reliable tractor but more refined. but wouldnt go for powershuttle. Last of the best tractors ever built imho

I have a power shuttle 4245. I wouldn't ever buy a tractor with a dry clutch again especially for loader work.

 

[daveydiesel1]

3300 hours. Not a bad deal

 

[J 1177]

Id go for a 4255 or a 4355. The father in law has a 4255 from new, up to its axles in dairy sh!t and it's been brilliant. Best tractor he's ever had. Basic but nice cab.

 

[two-cylinder]

If you are only going to use it for topping and paddock maintenance, an older 200 series would do just as well.

 

[GHuggins]

We’ve just moved a 4370 on after owning for 16 years. Good tractor with loader on but had quite a bit of trouble with front diffs which became costly. Had 4500 on clock. Dad said other day we should have just kept it as was better than money in the bank. On a 5613 now which has to many gizmos now really.

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of front diff problems did you have? I guess because it possibly had a heavier loader on it?

I would even consider a 6100 series tractor or 6200. Yeah, they had some electrical problems that were easily pretty much all fixed with ground cables and then the occasional dampener issue if you really worked them hard, but heavy built fuel efficient tractors if used for light work...

 

[multi power]

Personally if it was me id be trying to find a good 4355. U have a better cab with better laid out controls and a passenger seat, side mounted exhaust, better hitch and probably better lift capacity. Still the same great reliable tractor but more refined. but wouldnt go for powershuttle. Last of the best tractors ever built imho

Definitely not a better hitch !

 

[daveydiesel1]

Definitely not a better hitch !

Its a lot better. That 600/300 hitch is a balls. The blocks of metal that likes falling of, the way it sticks out so far that leaves the tractor struggling to lift loaded trailers, when it wears it moves from side to side which in turn breaks of the spring clip that holds on the hooks and they fall of often gettin lost. We have a 390 and had a 698t and the hitch was the worst bit of them

 

[Down farmer]

Definitely not a better hitch !

Must be bad then as puh/drawbar on 390 MF is only a joke compared to the equivalent Nh off that era cannot understand how health/safety ever allowed the design and yes 390 hard to start (except on a hill) ,sharp edges on paintwork not good but a fairly straightforward tractor but much prefer the blue ones of that time

 

[Yale]

If you want basic and reliable an old Valmet 665/565/465 is great.

We have a 465 and even though its had money spent on repairs it drives and goes like new,not had an easy life either,over 7k hours on it.

I love it

 

[Dry Rot]

Try this group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1814458882160859