Massey Ferguson 6400 v 7600 v 7700 series

[its.... only me]

Looking to upgrade an old tractor was thinking either MF 6480/90 or 7616/18 series. Is there much difference between the 76 & 77 series, was the 76 bad so introduced 77 series - or was it emission’s related. Did/ do the 7618 50 k. versions suffer gearbox issues or because smaller framed not - unlike large framed 64 series. Know of a few larger 7624/26 that had front diff. issues ?
TIA
IOM

 

[Sharny dubs]

Looking to upgrade an old tractor was thinking either MF 6480/90 or 7616/18 series. Is there much difference between the 76 & 77 series, was the 76 bad so introduced 77 series - or was it emission’s related. Did/ do the 7618 50 k. versions suffer gearbox issues or because smaller framed not - unlike large framed 64 series. Know of a few larger 7624/26 that had front diff. issues ?
TIA
IOM

Got a 6495, 7618 and 7726. I would say the 77 front suspension works better and the dash is a wee bit nicer and easier to use. The 77 spool couplings are better as well but apart from that cant see any difference from the 76. My 7618 does 55k on the road. It's in the workshop just now getting a 4wd clutch pack but it's at 9500 hours and does more road work than a tractor really should so not a massive surprise. Up to now the transmission and engine hasn't been touched. The 6495 has 11500 hours and needed transmission work at 10k hours. Wasn't the synchro though, was some gear thingy at the front that few in bits.
At this time I'm sure someone will come along and tell you there masseys flew in bits 5 minutes after they arrived on farm. So far we have had good service.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Got a 6495, 7618 and 7726. I would say the 77 front suspension works better and the dash is a wee bit nicer and easier to use. The 77 spool couplings are better as well but apart from that cant see any difference from the 76. My 7618 does 55k on the road. It's in the workshop just now getting a 4wd clutch pack but it's at 9500 hours and does more road work than a tractor really should so not a massive surprise. Up to now the transmission and engine hasn't been touched. The 6495 has 11500 hours and needed transmission work at 10k hours. Wasn't the synchro though, was some gear thingy at the front that few in bits.
At this time I'm sure someone will come along and tell you there masseys flew in bits 5 minutes after they arrived on farm. So far we have had good service.

The road work shouldnt be sore on the 4wd clutch pack. In fact it should be field work with lot of front weight and oversize tyres that would be sore on it or mabe buckrakin. Ps i am a massey owner so not just brand bashin and glad ther doin wel cause new masseys are certainly gettin behind in the sales charts

 

[Sharny dubs]

The road work shouldnt be sore on the 4wd clutch pack. In fact it should be field work with lot of front weight and oversize tyres that would be sore on it or mabe buckrakin. Ps i am a massey owner so not just brand bashin and glad ther doin wel cause new masseys are certainly gettin behind in the sales charts

I was blaming the 4wd braking on the road for causing the problem. Most be a lot of torque goes through the pack when the brakes are applied on the road. My tractor has done about 6 days buck raking in its life. Mainly hedge/verge cutting, tankering and road work. Hopefully get another 9500 hours before the next breakdown fingers crossed

 

[Ian01]

Dynavt is the way to go with the new masseys, fendt backend with a superior engine, we run 9 mf of 76, 77 and 87 series, clocking on average 1500hrs/yr, not going to say they dont have there quirks but generally a good machine, but VT all the way

 

[HarryB97]

Avoid the 76 series the quality of the ride is appalling the 77 series are much better

 

[its.... only me]

Avoid the 76 series the quality of the ride is appalling the 77 series are much better

Did the cab suspension change from 76 to 77 series ?
Am I right in thinking there are different levels of cab suspension in each range say from an Efficient to Exclusive & if so do they differ from 76 to 77 series ?
The ride on 64 series is good, but issues with air leaks = a real problem.

 

[Lofty1984]

Cab suspension is the same in the basic spec just two springs which are heavier duty on the 77 and then you can spec the up rated cab suspension that’s adjustable we have both types in work and to be honest I can’t notice much of a difference, I’d go for a 77 over a 76 purely for the comfort and as posted about the dash is much nicer and more user friendly if you don’t have the datatronic screen

 

[Fragonard]

Are 7700 more reliable than 7600?

 

[Speedstar]

Looking to upgrade an old tractor was thinking either MF 6480/90 or 7616/18 series. Is there much difference between the 76 & 77 series, was the 76 bad so introduced 77 series - or was it emission’s related. Did/ do the 7618 50 k. versions suffer gearbox issues or because smaller framed not - unlike large framed 64 series. Know of a few larger 7624/26 that had front diff. issues ?
TIA
IOM

If you can find a late MF 74 buy it one of the last good tractors they made , do not touch a 76 , it will turn out to be the mostr expensive tractor you have ever owned in repairs, later 77 with a dyna VT gearbox are a lot better , cheap to buy second hand as no one wants them & hard to export

 

[Nearly]

@Spud
@masseybreaker

 

[Speedstar]

The road work shouldnt be sore on the 4wd clutch pack. In fact it should be field work with lot of front weight and oversize tyres that would be sore on it or mabe buckrakin. Ps i am a massey owner so not just brand bashin and glad ther doin wel cause new masseys are certainly gettin behind in the sales charts

they are hard on clutch pack on the road as you touch the brakes & it puts the 4wd in & you think the front axle is going to come off the tractor

 

[Hampton]

I have a 6480, mapped to 180hp, a 7718 and now a 7s190
6480 is a great tractor, fairly bombproof, but the gearbox is a bit of a pain. I used to have a Claas Arion 630 that had the same gearbox but was less complicated
7718 is great, really like it but not driven it much yet.
only just got 7s and not driven it at all, but workman seems to like it. Mind you, he loves anything new!!

 

[Spud]

Are 7700 more reliable than 7600?

In my experience there isn't a lot between them, but the 76's have the edge

 

[Spud]

they are hard on clutch pack on the road as you touch the brakes & it puts the 4wd in & you think the front axle is going to come off the tractor

That's down to driving style, or mismatched tyres
As someone who's owned 3 74's, 3 64's, 3 76's & a 77, some of them to 10,000+ hrs, we replaced a front diff in a 6490 that was driven by a plank, and one set of brakes in a 7490 that were knackered when it arrived (on 10,000hrs)

If your front tyres are new and rears are worn, you will put the front axle under serious pain

 

[James]

If you can find a late MF 74 buy it one of the last good tractors they made , do not touch a 76 , it will turn out to be the mostr expensive tractor you have ever owned in repairs, later 77 with a dyna VT gearbox are a lot better , cheap to buy second hand as no one wants them & hard to export

Another sweeping generalisation. Not everyone has had the issues you've had with masseys.

 

[Spud]

If you can find a late MF 74 buy it one of the last good tractors they made , do not touch a 76 , it will turn out to be the mostr expensive tractor you have ever owned in repairs, later 77 with a dyna VT gearbox are a lot better , cheap to buy second hand as no one wants them & hard to export

Nowt wrong with a VT of any age.
Rear solenoids way more prone to faults than any 76 or 74. Fendts with the same era gearbox have the same issue.
74 vt's weakness is wiring looms due to the ridged conduit. High low cable gets sticky in really mucky conditions

 

[Lofty1984]

Another sweeping generalisation. Not everyone has had the issues you've had with masseys.

I’ve beat that drum so many times in reply to speedy I snapped the stick and put my boot through the drum

 

[Speedstar]

That's down to driving style, or mismatched tyres
As someone who's owned 3 74's, 3 64's, 3 76's & a 77, some of them to 10,000+ hrs, we replaced a front diff in a 6490 that was driven by a plank, and one set of brakes in a 7490 that were knackered when it arrived (on 10,000hrs)

If your front tyres are new and rears are worn, you will put the front axle under serious pain

we only ever put full sets of tyres on and 99% of the time michelins

 

[Speedstar]

Another sweeping generalisation. Not everyone has had the issues you've had with masseys.

We sorted our problems with MF by selling them , best move we ever made our running cost are very low now & the best they have ever been , never lost a days work with the Mf replacements