MF 590

[john smith 124]

Does the Massey 590 have a gearbox that is capable of shifting up and down while moving, it is a 12speed multi power gearbox made in the final model year 1981. Online it says this gearbox is a part synchro but I am confused which gears are synchronised.

 

[gatepost]

Multi power, is shift on the go, it works by locking up the different rings of epicyclic gears, designed really to run in high, but knock down in field when you need too, harder ground/thicker swath etc, no engine breaking in low!

 

[JWL]

I think the OP is more interested in gearstick changes, that's what sorts the men from the boys. It's a long long time ago since I was sat in a 590 but it was more of a juggle with engine speed, ground speed and feel to get a fairly smooth gearchange on the move

 

[Henarar]

Does the Massey 590 have a gearbox that is capable of shifting up and down while moving, it is a 12speed multi power gearbox made in the final model year 1981. Online it says this gearbox is a part synchro but I am confused which gears are synchronised.

IIRC synchro between 2nd and top but not 1st/second but that does not mean you can't change between 1st and second while moving

 

[trebornella]

Just read the comments on the 'modern' machinery forum, all make sense, but you have to realise that a 590 gearbox is not like car / van / modern tractor gearbox. You can change up on the move, but need to give it time and learn to double de-clutch. Better than a 100 series crash box, but not much. Multi power was revolutionary when first introduced in 1960's, but could be dangerous with an unskilled operator.
My old Dad used to drive a Ford 4000 and could change gear smoothly without using the clutch. Never could get the hang of it myself.

 

[MF-ANDY]

Multi power, is shift on the go, it works by locking up the different rings of epicyclic gears, designed really to run in high, but knock down in field when you need too, harder ground/thicker swath etc, no engine breaking in low!

There aren't any epicyclics in a mp box

 

[76masseyman]

Does the Massey 590 have a gearbox that is capable of shifting up and down while moving, it is a 12speed multi power gearbox made in the final model year 1981. Online it says this gearbox is a part synchro but I am confused which gears are synchronised.

Just to clarify, do you have two gear levers sticking out the floor, or three ?

 

[betweenthelines]

Just read the comments on the 'modern' machinery forum, all make sense, but you have to realise that a 590 gearbox is not like car / van / modern tractor gearbox. You can change up on the move, but need to give it time and learn to double de-clutch. Better than a 100 series crash box, but not much. Multi power was revolutionary when first introduced in 1960's, but could be dangerous with an unskilled operator.
My old Dad used to drive a Ford 4000 and could change gear smoothly without using the clutch. Never could get the hang of it myself.

Yeah, he had a selectamatic (Ford's typically poor copy of a MF idea)

 

[smcapstick]

Yes, you can. It just takes a little bit of practice/skill.

 

[Bucks Boy]

Yeah, he had a selectamatic (Ford's typically poor copy of a MF idea)

Selectamatic is a David Brown hydraulic system and was never fitted to 4000’s. He said it had a clutch, so it wasn’t a selectospeed. Selectospoeed wasn’t a MF idea, and you couldn’t get dual power on a 4000. Shame MF didn’t copy Ford’s Dual Power.

 

[trebornella]

Yes, you can. It just takes a little bit of practice/skill.

Yes, Dad had that skill, I never mastered it. Dad always drove a standard 4000, not a jerk-o-matic. He always preferred a 3 pot 4000 to a 4 pot 5000, said they were a better tractor all round.

 

[Celtic Driver]

Just read the comments on the 'modern' machinery forum, all make sense, but you have to realise that a 590 gearbox is not like car / van / modern tractor gearbox. You can change up on the move, but need to give it time and learn to double de-clutch. Better than a 100 series crash box, but not much. Multi power was revolutionary when first introduced in 1960's, but could be dangerous with an unskilled operator.
My old Dad used to drive a Ford 4000 and could change gear smoothly without using the clutch. Never could get the hang of it myself.

You can change down through the gears on a standard 590 once you get the hang of it rev matching to your speed .

 

[flywheel]

Use the clutch pedal every time you change gear ...

 

[Lowland1]

Yes, Dad had that skill, I never mastered it. Dad always drove a standard 4000, not a jerk-o-matic. He always preferred a 3 pot 4000 to a 4 pot 5000, said they were a better tractor all round.

I can do that too. You need one with a foot throttle though. Yes the 4000s are better than 5000s too.

 

[Celtic Driver]

I can do that too. You need one with a foot throttle though. Yes the 4000s are better than 5000s too.

The Ford 4000 gearbox was great to use a nice light change better than most synchro boxes .