[Tregwyr]

I live in Swansea and am after a mid size tractor - would love a front loader, and a flail mower. OH has been looking at various sites - autotrader, farmingads, ebay, preloved etc but as complete newbies it is really difficult to tell what we want/need or to get really sound advice. Can anyone point me to a site/magazine/book/resource that tells me what to look out for? Ask 20 people get 20 answers, I know, but other than just taking a guess, can anyone recommend anyone that wouldn't see us coming a mile off and rip us off?

[Backinwellies]

Ask on here and you will also get 20 answers ....  Do you need a tractor?  How many acres do you have?  A quad with accessories may be better?

[Tregwyr]

 
20 acres. Not touched in 20 years. Contractor charges £180 per day. Already paid him nearly £3k. Overgrown hedges, poor drainage, etc etc.

[cloddopper]

Have you looked at  "  agriaffaires.co.uk "  ...... look in the used farm tractors .
There are several thousand there , might be something with in your pocket range , same with attachments .
 
 Old chain & worm  steered JCB's can some times be had for sensible dosh , not sure if you can get a  flail  cheaply for them .

Find it first and come back on here with the details , I'm sure several people will try and give you the best advice .

Though I do like the tracked cat jobby   

[Backinwellies]

Loved the site Clodd   and started to get excited lots of 4wd with loaders at reasonable price  .... then realised they were all in France!

[Tregwyr]

Thanks Clod. I'll take a look.

[honeyend]

http://www.cheffins.co.uk/machinery/ Bit far for you, saying that they come from eastern Europe to buy, but they do have the results so you can see what they went for. Don't forget local horsey facebook and e-bay,we have just upsized and sold our compact to the bloke that delivered our 'new' Dexta

[Tregwyr]

Found a supplier in Carmarthen that refurbishes Masseys, went over there yesterday for a chat as I am still struggling between the need for 4wd or not.

Our fields are no wetter than any other fields in South Wales, we have already done a fair amount of drainage work which has helped tremendously. There is one area where the slope is steep and I struggle to get up it with my Defender unless in low-range diff-lock, not a slope you would ever drive across - only up or down. But it is quite a small area. The only thing that strongly points toward 4wd is my need for a loader, but I doubt I will be utilising it's full capacity.

So, I am still leaning toward the ubiquitous MF135/165/240 etc. Rather than the Chinese collection. I would like more than 30hp because I am able to borrow some larger equipment from a friend, so most of the smaller compacts are out of the equation. It seems that everything else around the £7k mark is very tatty and even though I am keen to service the tractor myself, I don't really want to renovate one or spend a load of time just getting it working.

Anyway, he has a small selection of very nice MF240s and a MF253 that have been serviced, repaired and the panel work refurbished. So they look 'new'. The MF253 caught my eye as it had just over 1000hrs on the clock, 'wet brakes' power steering, nearly 60hp from the turbo charged perkins, 4 spool valves and an 8 speed 'shuttle' gear box. All it needed was a loaderl.

The price, £6.5k+vat.

So what do you all think? Should I go for it and source a loader to fit?

[Backinwellies]

Who is supplier .... might visit there myself.

We have same dilemma over 2 vs 4wd too so can't really help.

[pigalicious]

Found a supplier in Carmarthen that refurbishes Masseys, went over there yesterday for a chat as I am still struggling between the need for 4wd or not.

Our fields are no wetter than any other fields in South Wales, we have already done a fair amount of drainage work which has helped tremendously. There is one area where the slope is steep and I struggle to get up it with my Defender unless in low-range diff-lock, not a slope you would ever drive across - only up or down. But it is quite a small area. The only thing that strongly points toward 4wd is my need for a loader, but I doubt I will be utilising it's full capacity.

So, I am still leaning toward the ubiquitous MF135/165/240 etc. Rather than the Chinese collection. I would like more than 30hp because I am able to borrow some larger equipment from a friend, so most of the smaller compacts are out of the equation. It seems that everything else around the £7k mark is very tatty and even though I am keen to service the tractor myself, I don't really want to renovate one or spend a load of time just getting it working.

Anyway, he has a small selection of very nice MF240s and a MF253 that have been serviced, repaired and the panel work refurbished. So they look 'new'. The MF253 caught my eye as it had just over 1000hrs on the clock, 'wet brakes' power steering, nearly 60hp from the turbo charged perkins, 4 spool valves and an 8 speed 'shuttle' gear box. All it needed was a loaderl.

The price, £6.5k+vat.

So what do you all think? Should I go for it and source a loader to fit?

sounds reasonable, can you take someone that knows massey tractors to see it, and drive it? You will probably add another 3k for a good loader with attachments. I always think 4wheel drive makes more mess on your land,  the front tyres can pull quite hard on the ground when turning and "ruck up the carpet", so to speak. If your not sure you need 4wd, you probably don't.

       P

[cloddopper]

Are you VAT registered if not it could be very advantageous for you even if your nowhere near the threshold figures & don't sell much ..it's not difficult to do or run .

When you claim the VAT back it saves you 1/5 of all VAT-able stuff .

[Tregwyr]

Does anyone know if it is possible to add/convert a standard loader (MF80 for example) into a 4in1 loader?

My thoughts are if I buy a MF240 or the MF253 that I have seen and source a MF80 or 232 loader can I add an Euro quick release bracket and then buy a 4in1 bucket. The 3rd service for the bucket rams could plug into one of the rear spools and be operated by the spool levers next to the seat.

Is this feasible? Or should I just go and by a Landlegend/Siromer with all the bits ready fixed?

[pgkevet]

The landlegend stuff looks nice and reasonable priced.. but they were a bit far from me to go play with one. I'd taller than most folk so actually being bale to use something comfortably was my priority and I eded up gping to a large agro show and sitting in loads of types. My Tym433 wasn't cheap but is so comfy you can nod off in it - safety cab, air con etc.

The only real mistake is that the small front wheels and weight of loader means it'd be dangerous to use on some of my steeper slopes.

With the benefit of hindsight I'd say go talk to your local agri engineers - who'll be mending anything you break - about what's best for your land, what they can source etc. My local scrap dealer is another fund of experience.

[Tregwyr]

Ended up buying a Massey MF250.

I didn't want to travel too far but it so happens that we were able to take a detour on a Weekend trip to go and view. It was in better condition than most of the tractors I had seen and was in 'working clothes' so hadn't been prettied up to hide anything. I am hoping it was the right choice as the one I was about to buy near me was approaching £9k (with a loader but no cab or bucket). This one came in at £6200. I have had some problems with the power steering and a few leaks here and there but everything is so basic and relatively cheap to fix that I am sure once the initial niggles are sorted it will last well.

[stufe35]

You have bought well, an old massey is better than anything, it will do all you want, everyone knows how to fix them ( though they rarely break) parts are readily available and always will be.  I predict in ten years time your Mf250 will be worth more than you paid for it today, and will still be running like a sowing machine.