MF 290

FE35

Member
Location
Cumbria
Hello all I'm going to see a 4wd 290 tomorrow is there anything specific to look out for? Its a Sankey cab 3 stick model with 4000 odd hrs if the clocks to be believed - I appreciate its about 30 yrs old so general wear & tear is to be expected. Any feed back great fully received
 

agrimax

Member
Location
Co Down
The doors and hinges on the Sankey would be a bit flimsy so have a look there. Check the 4wd shaft isn't rattling about and the front axle king pins for play.The engine should start easy and at this time of year really shouldn't need any heat.
 

Mrs Brown

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Orkney Islands
They have a bloody silly drop box on the front axle that gave a lot of greif wore the bronze bush and then leaked all the oil out, got a mod done to it putting the seal out side the bush thus allowing the bush to run in oil did help but still gave a bit of bother and our one didn't have a loader fitted. After this amount of time don't suspect the balancer in the engine will give you any trouble but they used to strip the teeth on the balancer weights and buggered up the drive which nacked the oil pump. Two wheel drives were nice tractor but go for a 390 if you want a nice 4wd ferrgie better steering lock and good cab.
 

FE35

Member
Location
Cumbria
Cheers for the info! I took the plunge seems straight & tidy - hopefully it'll be a good un! I know that a 390 wud be better - hopefully can trade up in a few years!
 

FE35

Member
Location
Cumbria
ImageUploadedByTFF1433888439.926607.jpg
seems straight & tidy for 30yrs old! Hopefully will be a good one
 

Mrs Brown

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Orkney Islands
Looks in cracking order, but please check out the drop box to see if its got oil in it and if you ever here a slight rattle from the engine check out the balancer.
 

FE35

Member
Location
Cumbria
Thanks! There's a new back window in the deal! Cab needs tidied up the door bottoms are a bit holey but save able & yes those mirrors need binned as does the plastic door knob fitted to 1 door - although it does work! I queried the seller on the front axle & he assures the axle oil is where it should be - there's no evidence of leaks but I'll keep an eye on that. The paint works original think t cut will bring it back to almost new looking! It's a bit of a step up for me from a 35 & borrowing a neighbours tractor for bigger jobs!
 

FE35

Member
Location
Cumbria
Tbh 200 series fergies were pretty much discounted from my tractor search due to export popularity so I was pleased when I found this fairly local (60 miles away!) like you say I think it'll have reached the bottom of depreciation & being a Fergie its worth spending on to tidy up, whereas some of the 1390's & even a universal! I've seen just wouldn't be worth the money & effort!
 

Blue.

Member
Livestock Farmer
Had one with a manual 4wd set up (Duncan super cab) but also drove a sankey cabbed one with a similar 4wd set up to a 590,shite front axle design.(n)
 

two-cylinder

Member
Location
Cambridge
Had one at farm college like that, good honest workhorse.
The decals are newer replacements which suggests even if the paint is original that the decals have been replaced at some time.
 

FE35

Member
Location
Cumbria
That's interesting about the decals maybe it has been re sprayed then? If it has I think it's saved it as there's little rot. I'd rather do mechanical repairs than body work so that's a good thing! It's never going to have a huge amount of work to do so will be a rolling restoration - just having a cab to keep the rain off is a big step up for me!!
 

Blue.

Member
Livestock Farmer
It's just short of a tb turbo hanging out the side of the bonnet.(y)

Our 290 was flat as feck,390 was better but still poor.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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