Simon

Thought you might like to see some of our kit and know a bit of background about me as a new member.

We farm just under 300 acres on the Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire border.

Just over 200 acres are share farmed.

I now work for an interior fit out contractor designing offices but prior to that I have worked for Renault Ag at what was their flagship uk branch - CRA Ludlow and before that for William Davies Honda, and ag engineer with a Honda ATV franchise.

I'll dig out some photos of Renault - was a super little dealership, unfortunately it was just before the huge restructuring and it closed down after only 2 years of operation.

Below are some pictures of our kit. The TS was replaced this autumn for the T6030+. I'll post some photos of the rest of our kit when I get the chance.

The Dominator combine will be one of my first conversion / scratch attempts for 15 years, watch this space!

Simon

Definitely prefer to buy parts! Otherwise I'll have more tractors to find wheels for!!That and not having a 4020 to hand!

Any one know any good ones? PMA32 only have bigger ones - proper Euro style - I want olde english!

There was a fad for sticking trailer wheels on the front round here but the offset was no good and knackered the bearings too frequently so that's become less common [1:1!].

Looking for some nice little goodyears, will want the same for the Dom78 conversion when I find a suitable donor chassis.....

I used to work for Renault and spent a bit of time on these - I'll see if I can dig out any photos of my time at CRA Ludlow [Now a Travis Perkins]

700 series were a standard GIMA 'dynashift' type transmission - 4 speed gate, dump button on the stick, nudge for range change, 4 powershift ratios. 800 series were the full powershift version of the same tractor - display on the RH cab A pillar told you what gear you had and the stick was basically the hand throttle with a nice handle on it for the buttons. Both 7 & 8's had the electro hydraulic shuttle on the dash. There were very few early ones sold with mechancal shuttles.

Major complaint of the semi powershift was that MF had pilfered the nice linkage for themselves, leaving Renault with a slightly awkward off set shift pattern. It takes some getting used to but once you are it's not as notchy as you think it is when you first try it.

RZ Hydrostable cabs were superb, comfortable and spacious. Heating blowers were very loud though.

Access to service items was pretty good - RZ's were higher mounted than RX's making everything a bit easier. Side panels on engines are a little hefty on 600 series but were 2 piece on 7 & 800's. Lift up fibreglass noses useful for cleaning rads. Top panels over engines are a bolt on concern, not like these modern lift up things like our new NH T series.

Gearboxes were pretty reliable - we had major problems with a creep box on a customers 710RZ [i think that's what it was] but the problems were more of Renault's warranty obstinacies than  repeated mechanical failure.

Engines were good - DPS weren't they? Same as the Deere 6 & 7000 series but with slighly different blocks to compensate for the lack of a chassies frame.

All in all they were a nice tractor, my choice would be for an 800 series just to get away from that notchy gear change but either will make a good workhorse.

We're all blue at home now having been blue and orange at the time [used to annoy the GM at Ludlow but what can I say].

Given the choice I'd have the TM but if I honestly had to pick the better machine I think it would have to be the Renault.

What do you take the front wheels from? There seems a bit of a shortage of wider ribbed front tyres.

Planning a 2wd Ford 7710 Force I conversion - needs big boots but I don't like floats - anyone have a source for wide front & rear wheels & tyres like the ones used here?

Simon

Granted, the loader is great but why has no-one mentioned the MF 3000 series in the background?!

What's the basis for that and can you post some photos when finished Sean?

Simon

I've taken to drawing up buildings in 1:32 on ArchiCAD and printing on A1 - While the software thinks it's done a 1/32nd scale set of plans what you get is a 1:1 template.

If anyone has any buildings they want 1:1 templates for to save on the faff of converting the scale then PM me and I'll take a look at them for you. Particularly suitable for specialist buildings - dealerships etc.

Anyone and no one in particular - Stephen, you must know.....

How do you get the white areas on the decals? I've not done any yet but having browsed the code 3 slide off decal sheets available in various online stores they all seem to be transparent. And I've yet to come across an inkjet printer with a white cartridge!

So you must be using either white decal paper so some other clever trick - painting out behind clear decals in white? How's it done?!

Cheers

Simon

Mr Marshall!

I'll take one! Don't mind which it is so long as the cab is good - going to attempt a 1991 Dominator 78S conversion. Just need a clapped out combine to go with it.... any ideas?

And why aren't you on ebay anymore?

Cheers

Simon