farmernick06 Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Hi, I was just wondering if anyone could give me a bit of information about Massey Fergusons during the late 80's up to about 2000. The reason why ? Well ever since i was 3-4 i have always had a kiddies video about Tractors. It featured mainly Masseys, infact 98%. And it hasn't struck me to a few minutes ago when i watched the video again for ideas that i would like to know a bit more about the machines. So if you have any info. about how they were, what they were like to drive etc could you please tell me a bit about them. Pics would also be nice . Some rough numbers..... I only saw a few numbers mainly on the combines but a Massey Ferguson 32 up to 38 ( ??? ) Thanks Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Cor... what a question... Well then.... the 30 range of combines were around first in 89 I believe... they were pretty crap really in all honesty... they were a German brand called Dronimberg (usually chocolater brown and bright orange)... Massey just sprayed them red and sent them over here... They never really performed that well... Massey had dominated the combine world until this time with their own built combines... the 525's, 625's the larger 750 and 760... later upgraded to the 855 and 865... As for tractors... the one on the front of that video is most likely a 2640 or a 2680... the 2000 series were an all new range of tractors launched in ABOUT 1980 something... (3-5 at a guess)... they were a HUGE hit as well - in the high HP range... The 600 series was the tractor range for the masses in the later 80's anbd early 90's - this was a range that superseeded the hughly successful 500 series from the 70's (which superseeded the famous 100 series)... I'll pop up some pics of some tractors from the 80's for you in a minute - anything else you want to know then fire away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Oops... didn't mention the 200 series of tractors... which were basically a lower spec version of the 500 and 600 series SOME numbers for the 200 series 230 240 both replaced the 135 really 250 265 275 (really crap seller) 290 298 Here's a pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Now... the 2000 series.. What a lovely range they were... came from America initially... range was 2620 2640 2680 2720 then they launched the 2005 series... 2645 2685 2725 The Americans had a different range with the HUGE perkins V8 in them * Here's my fave... a 2620... huge tractor... this one was underpowered in all honesty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmernick06 Posted December 15, 2006 Author Share Posted December 15, 2006 Thanks Marky .... Most of the Tractors in the video seem to be a bit more modern than the Massey of the front cover, and im not sure if you've mentioned them ... but they mostly had a Lo-profile sticker on the cab.Not sure if thats anything to go by .... i know as much about these Tractors from a farmers point of view than a rat. ??? Another thing when did the Masseys start to lose there rectangular shape ? I was highly interested in farming as a kid .... then the army and i come back to farming and my child hood heroes were all round. What happened there ? Thanks again FN ( I'll Google a few of these Marky, im very interested about them ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Heres an example of the 500 series... this is the tractor of the 70's and 80's if you ask me... it was a revolution in its time... the first tractor range Massey built "around the cab" rather than the old method of mounting a cab afterwards... Range included 550 - basically a LUXURIOUS 135 (same engine (almost) ) 565 575 590 595 - strange tractor from France (America initially) - was an upgraded 1080 - suffered from engine failure regularly sadly Here's a later model 590 with a two door cab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 A ha... you mean the 300 series I guess... I may have to scan them for you.... I only have 80's stuff scanned at the present time... but I do have the pics in my archive though At the risk of boring everyone to tears... The 600 series superseeded the 500 series... nice tractors... but the cabs were rubbish... not durable inside of out sadly Range was 675 690 698 698T 699 699 was a lovely machine... 6 cylinder power - what a beauty * Here's a bottom of the range 675 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 In the mid to late 80's you could also buy an American muscle tractor range called the 400 series... HUGE cummins engines... - they were too big for UK farms really We got the 4840 and 4880 here in the UK... The Americans kept the BRUTE of a 4900 for themselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 As for combines... Massey spoilt it for me when they stopped making the 700 and 800 series... I worked on these babies when I first left school... AWSOME machines... despite what anybody says about them * The 800 series was an upgraded 700 series (like the 760 made by Britains).. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pingu Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Well i'll comment on tractors from more my era :D In 1995 MF bought out the MF 6100 series and the 8100 series. The 6100 series inculded at this time: MF 6120 (not sold in the UK as far as i'm aware) 65hp MF 6130 (quite rare and mainly seen in 2wd form) 75 hp MF 6140 85hp MF 6150 95hp MF 6160 100hp MF 6170 110hp MF 6180 120hp In 1997 MF bought out the 6190 to extend the range to 130 hp and was pretty much a replacement for the 8110 The MF 8100 consistered of: MF 8110 135hp MF 8110S 135hp MF 8120 145hp MF 8130 155hp MF 8140 160hp MF 8150 180 hp MF 8160 200hp Later on in production a MF 8170 (240hp) and MF 8180 (260hp) were brought out in 1997/8 to compete with JD and Case IH In 1999 the 61's and 81's were replaced by the 62's and 82's MF 6235 (85 hp) not sold in the UK MF 6245 95hp MF 6255 105hp MF 6260 110hp MF 6265 115hp MF 6270 120 hp MF 6280 130hp MF 6290 140hp And for the 82's MF 8210 145hp MF 8220 160hp MF 8240 170hp MF 8250 185hp MF 8260 210hp MF 8270 240 hp MF 8280 272hp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 These are the Dronimberg machines you mention... > > This was the "launch range" - these horrible machines spoilt it for Massey Ferguson really... not the best move they have ever made in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Well done Phil... are you trying to say I'm old :D Here's a 31 for you FarmerNick... I think I'd better stop there before you fall asleep lads :D - any more questions please ask... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmernick06 Posted December 15, 2006 Author Share Posted December 15, 2006 Thankyou ever so much Marky ..... im not falling asleep im loving it finding a bit more about the machines i've grown up loving. Thankyou also MF Fan ... i've got some serious googling to do :D A couple of things ... were Masseys the dominant figure in the trade then ? I've always thought this but have never really known about any other tractors around the time. And why did Massey Ferguson start changing there image and shape ? The pic is probably one of my favourite tractors haven't a clue about numbers but a Massey like this was always a dream and i finally got to sit and be driven in one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 My pleasure FN... I think Massey WERE the dominant force in tractors and combines at that time (others will say differently.. but that's colour wars - situatuion normal :D )... As for shape... I guess if you look back to the 80's it had some very specific styling with most things... looks at cars from that era.. clothes.. anything really... I think Massey have constantly tried to keep abreast of style changes over the years... The 6100 series is a bit after my time... during the period I went off tractor brochure collecting and started working for a living... and making babies and all that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pingu Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Would i implie a thing like that marky :D I thought i'd just say the bit i know a fair bit about but you may not just giving a helping hand ;) And an extra hand in 1999 they also bought out the MF 7200 series combines which consisted of: - MF 7250 - 5 straw walkers with 14ft table and 200hp MF 7252 - 5 straw walkers with a 16ft table and 215hp MF 7254 - 5 straw walkers with a 16ft table and 220 hp MF 7256 - 5 straw walkers with a 18ft table and 250hp (beatufull combines having driven one briefly and help service one) MF 7272 - 6 straw walkers with a 20ft table and 290hp MF 7274 - 6 straw walkers with a 22ft table and 330hp MF 7276 - 6 straw walkers with a 25ft head (the first MF combine to be sold with a 25ft powerflow header) and a 360hp lump and they really went like sh!t off a shovel The MF 7200 series combines were alot better then the machines they replaced the MF 32-40 series harvesters with alot less problems etc My last final bit about Massey's in the late 90's :D Picture of a MF 7278 not a 7276, 7278's replaced the 76's in 2001 and were far better having 8 straw walkers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 no massey 1200's and 1250's in there marky, they were 80's kit mate, those 600 series were spot on to drive mate, the cab wasnt the best, poor in visibillity ,but the basic range was a improvement on the 500's and they were good to ,many a happy day on a 575 or 690 even the 698t or 699 carting ect on the farm, think the 699 was the first tractor, or vechile i drove with air con from memory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 no massey 1200's and 1250's in there marky, they were 80's kit mate, those 600 series were spot on to drive mate, the cab wasnt the best, poor in visibillity ,but the basic range was a improvement on the 500's and they were good to ,many a happy day on a 575 or 690 even the 698t or 699 carting ect on the farm, think the 699 was the first tractor, or vechile i drove with air con from memory Sorry Sean..... you are right... lets not forget the 1200... 1250 AND>>> the 1135 and 1155 as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 My fave MF tractor of all times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 this will sound sad marky ,but to the best of my memory i have never seen one of those 1135/ 55 ' s in real life mate, and that was in a time of fergy heaven in the 70 , 80's early 90's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 this will sound sad marky ,but to the best of my memory i have never seen one of those 1135/ 55 ' s in real life mate, and that was in a time of fergy heaven in the 70 , 80's early 90's I've only ever seen them new and un-touched or old and knackered at Cheffins sale ground Sean - never working mate for me either They wern't popular tractors over here mate :'( :'( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractorman810 Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 i did wonder mate, shame as they were pretty big in there time to, almost 2000 series for runners really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 I guess they were really Sean... In the UK just a bit before their time really \ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow legs Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 not picking fault, great job markey but wasnt the 6270 115hp not 120hp as you put??? i only as as i drive a 6270 for a living and was lead to belive its 115, all i know is my jd 3040 pulls as well as it and its only 96hp (6hp over the rated hp as it was dyno tested on wednesday ) please will you continue this moving onto the 54/64/84 series as its good reference i belive the diference between the 8110 and 8110s was that one had closed centre hyds and the other had open, this made one cheaper so they sold well as they were a big tractor for small tractor money, the dealership i was at at the time sold a few, made life harder in stores dept as the filters were different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pingu Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 I've always been told by my local dealer that they were 120hp and tested a few on the dyno and were easily chucking this out. But i could be wrong just what i was told. I put both down as in there own right the 8110's were different tractors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJB1 Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 can i chip in as an ex-driver ? no? tough ! the 100 series tractors were what i cut my teeth on really from the 135 a beautifully balanced tractor both on it's own or with a loader , & you won't find a gutsier little tractor about but now very much into their twilight years they are getting tired in their original form but always a joy to drive the 165 was the middleweight of it's class & a perfect all rounder the 175/8 was the same , the head drivers tractor at the time would be the 185/8 . the 185 was a peach to drive again with the power - weight ratio spot on :) the 500's were always a good bet , but i still have my own issues with the 550, the best of the bunch has to be the 590 & only really found one fault with them &that was they used the same diamiter clutch plates as the 135 !! so if you wern't carefull a loader tractor would eat clutches the 595 being the dog of the class & many didn't perform as well as expected :( the 200's allgood except for maybe the secura cabs , they got tired very quickly the duncan cabs wern't much better but if kept clean & tidy they wernt a bad place to be the 298 with duncan cab was a good tractor ,unlike the 698 which for me turned out to be another mongrel in a litter of pedigree's, the 698 T was great but the top dog had to be the 699 & in my view is still one of masseys best tractors . the 2000series tractors were beasts of their time along with the ford TW range all but the 2620 & the 45 series have been worked hard with me & still remain a good reliable workhorse , not as fast as their modern 40K counterparts , but speed isn't everything & a day in one of these clumsy lumbering giants wouldn't go amiss even now the 300's were better than the 200 predesessors but mechanically they were the same tracor with better cabs my massey carear stopped at the 30/31/39 series tractors & were damn good workhorses as with all makes there were good & bad in all ranges & like many i have my favourites , many massey tractors i have worked have been praised & many have been cursed but in all a pretty cosistant offering the 6000series was about when i was still in farming but i was driving deeres at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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