Table of contents for February 2023 in Tractor & Machinery

WITH THE NEW 5ML SERIES, WHICH INCLUDES THE FLAGSHIP 5130ML, John Deere introduces its most intelligent and powerful narrow tractors for use in high-value crops to date. The 5ML tractors can be equipped with a comprehensive John Deere technology package for precision farming and deliver a maximum output of 134hp. The John Deere PowerTech Plus engine in the new 5130 ML is a 4.5-litre four-cylinder unit with a solid torque rise of 30 per cent and a maximum output of 134hp. The mechanical PowerQuad Plus transmission has four of the optionally available Powr8 transmission eight power shiftable gears. When range shifting, the matching powershift gear is automatically selected. This and the no-clutch range shifting with the de-clutch button makes the tractor stand out in terms of comfort. The 5ML not…

Prior to the Tenneco takeover of International Harvester, in 1984/85, and the subsequent merger with J I Case, IH had a formidable range of Doncaster-built tractors in the form of the 85 Series. These tractors were the next generation to follow the 84 Series ‘Hi-Performers’ and a logical progression from the forward-thinking design that was introduced as the World Wide Series in the early 1970s. There was longevity in the initial design, but certain elements would need bolstering to ensure that the 85 Series, which would be part of the wider ‘Fieldforce’ range, would make a serious mark when it was launched in 1981. Fieldforce linked the European-built tractors with the new, Doncaster-built models – with the XL Control Centre as a common fitment. This cab was the product of…

The history of manufacturers of agricultural machinery is built not only upon success, but also failure of those that fell by the wayside. From these experiences, mergers, takeovers, and acquisitions, strong, viable, companies have been built and Massey Ferguson is in the premier league. In brief, The Massey Manufacturing Company merged with A Harris, Son and Company in the 1890s to form Massey-Harris Limited. In 1953 it subsequently merged with Harry Ferguson Ltd. to become Massey-Harris-Ferguson, only taking on the new name, Massey Ferguson, on 19 November 1957. Massey Ferguson became part of AGCO in 1994. The combination of these two companies, one Canadian, the other British, consolidated Massey Ferguson’s position as a major manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, and as a truly global company. It did not, however,…

When Tim Edwards’ Massey Ferguson 135 MkIII arrived, one of the many things I noticed was that the front tyres were new. Whoever had mounted these on the rims hadn't managed to put them on symmetrically, as one side was higher up the sidewall than the other. This tractor doesn’t travel at great speed, but I am sure that the unevenness would be noticeable. As they were nearly new, the 15-inch BKT tyres didn't take too much prising off, and when they were half off, I pulled the tube out – which, unsurprisingly, was stuck to the rim. I could see that the inside of the rim was rusty, so with the tyre completely off I reached for my angle grinder, fitted with a twisted cup brush, and set to…

I stated in the January issue that I have had a love-hate experience with my E27N over the years, regarding its starting and reliability, but not to be beaten I am doing my best to improve matters. The ingredients for easy starting and smooth running are a supply of clean fresh fuel, a healthy spark at the plugs and correct timing. One would imagine that with all these factors in place it would be so, but this is a petrol/TVO model! NEW GASKETS I have thoroughly stripped the manifold assembly and completely cleaned all the important areas, including the vaporiser plate, float chamber, throttle housing and the mixing chamber. Air leaks are often the cause of poor starting, due to too weak a fuel/air mixture. A correct running mixture of…

Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show On Saturday 6 November, Brown & Co. staged the Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show collective sale, featuring 24 tractors. Placed in a similar position to 2021, on hard standing, it was a much better situation for everyone. It’s never been the easiest of sales for Brown & Co. to conduct, but the company does its best in the circumstances. The stock offered was not the greatest by any means, but three quarters of the lots changed hands. As for the best of the bunch, that was a restored Fordson E1A New Performance Major, selling for £5,000. A Fordson Dexta, in similar condition, sold for £4,800. Without doubt, the bargain in the sale was a 1928 John Deere D, no. 58018, in lovely original…

Hugh Simmons We are sorry to have to advise the passing of Hugh(ie) Dudley Simmons, aged 75, writes the Sodbury Vale Tractor Club. He was born on Frog Lane Farm, Coalpit Heath, Gloucestershire, and lived there all his life. His business was as a groundworks contractor. Hugh restored various tractors and enjoyed entering ploughing matches. Teamed with Roy Hill, the pair made expert judges. They also offered excellent advice to those who’d listen. The funeral service took place on 1 November, with a packed church, followed by burial in the parish. The cortege was topped and tailed with International Harvester tractors driven by Hugh’s friends. Full Moon Tractor Run The Full Moon Tractor Run took place on 10 December, at Rhayader, writes Gary Jones. Although there was not much of…

Acknowledged for leading the low carbon technology way when it comes to tractors, Reesink Agriculture will be exhibiting the industry’s first all-electric tractor, from Farmtrac, at the Low Carbon Agriculture Show. This will be joined by BigToolRack’s Ultimate Rack for the ultimate in tractor cargo space. Farmtrac’s FT25G is critically acclaimed for bringing zero emissions, minimal noise and vibration, high-energy efficiency, and low operating and maintenance costs to the UK’s farming sector. It has led the way with the growing industry focus on moving away from fossil fuels to low or zero emission products since it launched two years ago and, in that time, has proven itself as more than capable of equalling the performance of its diesel counterparts, something Fully Charged presenter Robert Llewellyn and farmer Adam Henson discovered…

The hills of North Wales are rich in both sheep and dairy farms, and along with this is an Aladdin’s cave of associated farm machinery. One such farm I visited recently, near to the town of Ruthin, is run by Nick Faire and his parents, and sports a varied collection of tractors – some already classics and some that will be considered classics in the future! Nick’s parents first bought the farm, which runs to around 115 acres, way back in 1982, and it has become their passion over the years. Originally a dairy enterprise, milk production has now ceased, and the farm is stocked with around 200 sheep and a small suckler herd of 20 Suffolk cattle. Growing up on the farm has no doubt fuelled Nick’s interest in…

SHOW OFF YOUR SKILLS Send your drawings to: ‘Junior’, Kelsey Publishing Ltd., The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL or, if you’re a whizz-kid like me, scan them and e-mail them to: tm.ed@kelsey.co.uk DOUBLE DELIGHT Wow, two drawings! Thank you! Dear Junior, I love to draw tractors and my favourite one is the tracked tractor that Grandpa has. Kevin Baer (aged 8) PICK OF THE CROP COMPUTER WHIZZ That’s brilliant – well done! Dear Junior, I’ve been practicing drawing on my dad’s computer. I hope you like my MF 1200. Oscar Hamlyn (aged 12) TINY TRAILER It does look a bit odd, doesn’t it? Dear Junior, I have done a quick drawing of what I saw the other day, as it looked funny! It was a John…

CLARKE 135TE TURBO MIG WELDER £353.99 inc. VAT Machine Mart Tel: 0115 956 5555 machinemart.co.uk The MIG135TE welder is easy to set-up and ideal for the DIY enthusiast, with power settings from 30-130A, and the ability to weld mild steel up to 5mm thick. It features a professional-style, non-live torch, which is a distinct advantage for the inexperienced welder, and a turbo fan for prolonged welding at full power. It comes in a stylish case with a hinged side door providing access to the wire reel and gas bottle and has power selector switches for easy use, allowing beginners to produce professional-grade welds with ease, so it’s ideal for automotive repair and other DIY jobs in the workshop. The 135TE is excellent value and comes complete with everything you need…

The 2022 sales season came to an end, and I have to say that it was just as hot as it was at the beginning of the year, with more people seemingly investing in tractors than ever before. I will discuss the market in more detail in the March issue. Cheffins already has 14 tractor sales arranged for 2023, including the sale of the late Richard Vernon’s machines on Saturday 17 June, which will feature much of the vast collection of steam and veteran tractors that he bought more than 30 years ago. H J Pugh & Co. is taking bookings for the first big classic and vintage collective sale of the year at Tractor & Machinery’s Tractor World Spring event on 11-12 March, at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern,…

PART L-M The prices are based on tractors sold at sales, on the Internet, privately and in some overseas markets too. Naturally, prices change as time progresses and it’s not always an upward trend, but you will get a good indication of what’s going on with the current market by referring to our guide. Here are a few pointers on buying a tractor to help you. If you are looking for a tractor to buy for restoration, or work, there’s a vast choice. However, if you are looking for something specific, do weigh up your options first, particularly if you have a limited budget. If it’s a popular model, then it’s not always to your advantage to go for the first one you see. Whatever is wrong with the tractor,…

Happy New Year to you all! Following my Last Word in the January issue, regarding the Science Museum selling off three tractors, I have received correspondence from several readers – none of whom liked what has been done. However, there are, as always, two sides to the story. Paul Evans, the owner/curator of the superb Internal Fire Museum of Power, assures me that the Science Museum placed these tractors on the Museums Association disposals list some time ago, for interested museums to acquire them, as they were deemed surplus. Presumably, there was no interest from British museums, so they were sold off. Apparently, the Science Museum is following the Spectrum guidelines, but the obvious question is why they were deemed surplus in the first place, as all three have genuine…

An unmissable date on tractor and commercial enthusiasts’ calendars for Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 March, preparations for 2023’s Tractor World Spring and Classic Commercial Show are already roaring on. With displays, stands, shopping and bargains already set to exceed 2022’s spectacular return show, canny exhibitors, attendees, and trade and club stands are busy securing pitches, auction lots, and early bird admission tickets for the biggest and longest-established show of its kind. Benefitting from the extensive facilities at Malvern’s Three Counties Showground, much of the show will be set comfortably indoors across three large permanent exhibition halls plus link marquee, showing off the exhibits and merchandise, whatever the weather! Amongst the club stands, feature presentations include the Fordson New Performance range. In a special celebration, Friends of Ferguson Heritage and…

MORRIS LUBRICANTS IS ADVISING FARMERS TO PUT OIL, lubricant, and grease performance ahead of price, as they prepare their tractors for the new season. With rising prices hitting the agricultural community hard, such as the steep increase in fertiliser costs having a significant impact on the sector, it can be tempting to look for short-term savings elsewhere. Choosing a cheap, alternative oil to the manufacturer’s specification, at a lower price, may seem like a sound investment. However, says Adrian Hill, Morris Lubricants’ Technology Manager, selecting the wrong, and usually, an inferior quality oil may result in significant, long-term consequences to equipment performance and in the end, an overall increase in running cost. The company, which manufacturers the specialist Agrimax range of agricultural lubricants for a wide range of tractors, vehicles,…

Some of the new 1:32 releases from Universal Hobbies are a while away, but we think they should be shared with you and that they are definitely worth the wait! The two classic tractor offerings are both limited-edition models – with a production run of just 1,000 each, so get your hands on them as soon as they become available in March. The first is a Case 1394 Hydra-Shift, while the second is the same model in the later, Case IH livery. We expect them to be priced around the €69 (£60) mark. If modern tractors are your thing, you won’t get more cutting edge than New Holland’s methane-powered T6.180 – in Giro d’Italia 2022 livery. This is expected to have an RRP of €98 (£85) and will also be…

Being a regular attendee of agricultural shows from an early age, Kim Parks took along his camera to record the very latest in machinery on display from all the local dealerships in his area. Looking back through these images it is easy to be taken back in time, with all the tractors and farm equipment being brand new and straight ‘out of the box’ in a form that can never be replicated. Everything was different back then, and Kim certainly believes that the agricultural shows nowadays are nowhere near as interesting as they were back in the 1970s and ’80s. “There were more makes of tractor, more machinery, and lots and lots of new things, rather than just slightly improved machines, and the tractors really were all different, rather than…

The Fordson N bought last December as a half share between my son, David, and I was featured in the November 2022 issue, where we introduced it and discussed the cracked cylinder block. At that point, the oil was drained and when time allowed, we repaired the block using Nickel welding rods, after which it stood around waiting further attention. Fresh oil was added, and the cooling system was filled with straight water before attempting to start the engine. A clean of the ignition points brought a healthy spark at the plugs and after some healthy exercise cranking it up, the engine eventually burst into life. It was allowed to warm up before attempting to drive off, as the clutch was dragging somewhat, despite having the clutch pedal hooked down…

Peter Love Editor The joint founder of T&M and many other magazines. He has been involved in vehicle preservation since 1954 and has a wealth of experience as an owner, organiser, tour operator and much more. He is dedicated to vehicle preservation. David Reed Northern correspondent David has worked with Peter Love since 1995 when they met at the late lamented Sandringham Rally. He is an ex-York school teacher and has interests in tractors and commercial vehicles. Joseph Lewis Southern correspondent Joe has been part of Peter Love’s set-up since 1996 and has contributed to many of his endeavours. He is a valued member of the Tractor Mar team.…

JANUARY 13-23 January National Online Timed Auction of Machinery, Straw & Forage. Brown & Co. brown-co.com 16 January Cambridge Machinery Sale. Machinery Saleground, Sutton, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2QT. Cheffins tel: 01353 777767 16-24 January Online Timed Collective Auction of Farm Machinery & Effects. Located on farms throughout Devon, Dorset, Somerset & Wiltshire. Symonds & Sampson, tel: 01884 218911 19-24 January Online Auction of Vintage Tractors, Implements & Spares. Brown & Co, brown-co.com 21 January Collective Sale of Tractors, Vehicles, Agricultural, Horticultural, Plant, Building & General Equipment. The West Country Sales Centre, Five Bridges, Willand, Cullompton EX15 1QP. Stags tel: 01769 572042 25-28 January Auction of Industrial, Plant & Agricultural Equipment. Roall Lane, Leeds, Goole DN14 0NY. Euro Auctions tel: 01977 662255 26 January Auction of Agricultural Tractors, Forage Harvesters, Machinery…