Tractors that never made production

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
Viagra is a case in point. It was developed for people with circulation problems but found great utility in other areas. Now there is increased interest in it and the slower acting but more persistent Cialis in preventing heart disease. Research and development of the product and its use is still ongoing after all these years. Current independent research is trying to find whether it is the product that has the prevention benefit or the increased physical activity [horizontal jogging] that it facilitates that benefits. Possibly both? I'm all in favour of a prescription that seems to be win-win, as long as it doesn't create a tentpole type embarrassment all day long.
 
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We had an IH 434 Torque Amplifier which I believe had similar drawbacks to the Ford Select-o-matic. It was fine when it was new but didn't last long and I think very few were sold so there can't be many left now. It was actually very useful when it worked, like Multipower.
 

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
We had an IH 434 Torque Amplifier which I believe had similar drawbacks to the Ford Select-o-matic. It was fine when it was new but didn't last long and I think very few were sold so there can't be many left now. It was actually very useful when it worked, like Multipower.
Torque-Amp was in production for many years and was a popular option on Doncaster built International tractors. It was fitted through the 70's and 1980's as far as I know and slightly modified to the end of factory production.
It didn't like being changed down on the over-run is what I remember of that period and product. That was the excuse IH gave when it failed at any rate. It was only a two speed power-splitter like Multi-Power but with engine braking in both ratios. Much like Ford Dual Power only smoother in operation but less durable.
 
All our later IHs had the conventional TAs fitted, but for some reason the set up they used on the little 434 was a bit of a disaster. I remember it had a big Tecalemit filter assembly under the dash and it used to get very hot. I think they changed it by the time the 674s and the like came out although even that system had its failings. :)
 
Another duffer we had (we used to pick em!) was the Nuffield 4/65. Ours actually turned out to be very good once it was rebuilt, but the SCATS salesman told me that they caused him premature grey hair and balding due to the troubles with the engine balancing and liners. As it was, they only lasted a couple of years before they became Leylands and I believe gained the better 4.98 engines. SCATS packed up the dealership after that.
 

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
What happened to the green and yellow Zetors? I saw one at the JD dealer next door but I never saw another. Did they sell any?

John Deere tractors that were Zetors. Did they ever officially sell them in the UK? They certainly did sell Carraro and still do sell Yanmar made tractors as JD of course. JD also have sold Krone and now Kuhn big square balers as their own as well as Kuhn mounted mowers.

AGCO tend to not spend quite as much on research and development it seems to me, preferring to acquire whole companies that have run out of steam developing their own. They seem to have changed tack recently to actually develop more of their own stuff long term, such as their engines and combines and to an increasing extent, their tractors. Nevertheless they also recently have acquired some of Lely's hay tool business, mainly for the balers it seems to me. Have they adopted any other machines from the Lely line?
 
I'm sure the JD I saw was a Zetor, although didn't they sell Renaults as JDs for a while as well in the scraper tractor category? I'm going senile after my recent knock on the head at the TB test. :)
 

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
I'm sure the JD I saw was a Zetor, although didn't they sell Renaults as JDs for a while as well in the scraper tractor category? I'm going senile after my recent knock on the head at the TB test. :)
Yes they did sell Renault tractors as JD3400 for a while. The smaller ones with the doors that were front hinged latched open forwards.
 

Scribus

Member
Location
Central Atlantic
What happened to the green and yellow Zetors? I saw one at the JD dealer next door but I never saw another. Did they sell any?

According to one history of Zetor the relationship with JD stretches back to the sixties when it was agreed that they would produce tractors for the South American market in JD colours. This fell through due to the Prague Spring but was rekindled in 1993 and the Czechs went on to produce the 2000 series for JD, who also built them in Mexico. A total of 6,500 tractors were made before it all ended in 1996, because, it is said, JD wanted to buy out Zetor completely, but Zetor wanted to remain independent.
 

Scribus

Member
Location
Central Atlantic
Would the Marshal / Leyland venture be in this category ?

Now there's an interesting one!

Going mainly from memory Marshal 'bought' the business and assets of Leyland tractors for pretty much the same figure that the assets were worth. The price was £6m and it included 600 unsold tractors plus parts. In other words they were given the business pretty much for free. There were even questions raised about the deal in parliament.

Reading between the lines the government just wanted shot of the strike prone part of British Leyland and so passed it on to Marshal who hadn't the funds for the sort of investment that was required to keep it viable. There was a lot of turmoil in the tractor business in the early eighties and Marshal, nee Leyland, with it's outdated lineup and lack of government support was always going to be vulnerable.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.2%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.8%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

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

  • 1,287
  • 1
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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