Table of contents for October 2024 in Tractor & Machinery

AUGUST 10th-11th 2024 Even though it rained and rained on Saturday, August 24th at the Hellingly Festival of Transport, near Hailsham, in East Sussex, we’re delighted to report that the event came good on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, with a great crowd attracted to this famous event, which has been running now for 50 years. As always, the show’s tractor section included about 60 assorted models, but one of the real stars for us was an oh-so-original, 1967 Dutra four-wheel drive. The tractor, owned by Nick Hayward from Ticehurst, in East Sussex, and powered by a Perkins P6, was brought to the show by his son. We were amazed at the machine’s overall condition and lack of rust and, given its later-style livery, it was one exhibit that really…

In Massey Ferguson circles, it’s the MF 135 that tends to grab all the headlines. It was the standard-bearer within the ‘Red Giant’ 100 Series range that burst onto the scene in 1964, and the model enjoyed phenomenal sales success across the world. It truly was a sweet-spot tractor that offered just about the perfect combination of size, power output and purchase price. Farmers flocked to buy it, with good reason; it was a superb machine. But, as is always the case when any star performer ‘brings the house down’, those that are tasked with continuing the show tend to find the going decidedly tough. In the MF 135’s case, that ominous responsibility fell upon the shoulders of the MF 148, which Massey Ferguson introduced in 1971. The new model…

Send your drawings to: ‘Whizz Kids!’, Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL Or, scan and then email them to: tm.ed@kelsey.co.uk The stuff of dreams This is me when I grow up, driving my dream tractor – a bright blue New Holland. Davey-James Ashton (age 4) Inspiring tractor! I love Tractor & Machinery and look forward to getting each new issue of the magazine. This is my drawing of the MF 698 featured in the July edition. James Kane, via email My dad’s tractor Here is a drawing of my dad’s Massey Ferguson 135 for the Whizz Kids competition. Everyone knows what a Massey Ferguson is! Tommy Ford (aged 8), Knutsford, Cheshire Grandad’s Nuffield This is the drawing I did of my grandad’s Nuffield. His…

The tractor division of the huge, Italian vehicle builder, Fiat, was on a roll during the early 1980s, following several years of being the No.1 tractor seller in Europe. This was largely due to the success of the 80 Series machines of the 1970s that covered a wide range of power outputs. But it was in 1984 that significant changes arrived, notably with the newly-created Fiatagri organisation, but also with the first 90 Series tractors that replaced the older models. The new model range built on Fiat’s existing success in the UK, significantly enlarging the company’s market share here. The 90 Series brought with it a raft of new features and was extremely well received by farmers here and in many other countries. Now, 40 years on, I thought it…

Send your questions to tm.ed@kelsey.co.uk (Pictures are only for illustration, unless indicated otherwise, and are not the tractors being written about) It’s all a matter of timing! STANDARD 23C-POWERED MF 35 STARTING BADLY Q I recently purchased a Massey Ferguson 35 tractor that’s powered by a Standard 23C diesel engine. The engine was purported to have been rebuilt at considerable expense, according to the vendor. However, although it runs well and has good oil pressure, it’s extremely difficult to start from cold, and I’m now beginning to wonder if it’s been rebuilt at all, given this issue? I like the tractor and, as I say, it runs very well. So, my question is what can be done to improve the cold-starting performance of this engine? I know they had a…

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Tim Pearman has been collecting primarily Ford and Ford-based tractors for nearly 25 years, but he didn’t start with the blue machines. “My dad was an agricultural contractor and I grew up surrounded by Nuffield tractors and machinery, he explained. “After leaving school I worked with him for 13 years and, during that time, I and two friends built the biggest bale stack. It was in the Guinness Book of Records, consisted of 37,500 bales and the record stood for three years! I rarely sell anything because I just get such a buzz from owning them all! “I started my own construction business in 1986, and bought my first tractor – a Muir-Hill 121 – in 2001. Then everything just grew from there. Now 23 years have passed and I’ve…

… will feature up to 250 top ploughmen and women from all parts of Great Britain COMPETITION PLOUGHING For only the third time in the 73-year history of the event, the county of Nottinghamshire will be host to the 2024 British National Ploughing Championships, over the weekend of October 12th-13th. The Championships are a highlight of the farming year and will feature up to 250 top ploughmen and women from all parts of Great Britain. With 15 different ploughing classes run over the two days, visitors will be able to see their skills with tractors and modern reversible and conventional ploughing, plus various vintage classes with trailed, mounted and classic ploughs. Club classes for Ferguson, David Brown and Ford & Fordson, as well as horticultural, crawler and the traditional and…

TRACTOR PRODUCTION NEWS In the same year it celebrates 60 years of tractor production, the New Holland plant at Basildon has just marked the production of its two-millionth tractor, a 225hp T7.225. To celebrate the achievement, the T7 received a striking livery with ‘candy blue’ body panels, silver and black ‘New Holland’ graphics featuring the Union flag, a ‘2,000,000 Basildon Tractors’ logo and a New Holland leaf bonnet top. The tractor also features black wheel rims with candy blue rim edges. “This is a major milestone in the life of our Basildon plant, and a mark of both the dedication of our skilled employees here and the loyalty of our customers worldwide, to whom we are extremely grateful,” said Carlo Lambro, New Holland brand president. “From the tractors of 1964…

Thanks to Aaron Taylor we can report that the unique 1933 Ferguson commonly known as the ‘Black Tractor’ has a new home. This is the very first Ferguson tractor made and carries top link hydraulic sensing – a world first at the time. The Black Tractor was on display at London’s Science Museum for decades, but was removed some years ago and hidden away at Wroughton Airfield. However, it now has a new home and was unveiled at a grand ceremony on August 22nd at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Members of the Sheldon and Fleming families were present (Harry Ferguson’s descendants) on the occasion at the museum that has worked so hard to secure the tractor as an exhibit. It now sits not far…

SCALE MODEL NEWS Universal Hobbies has an interesting new 1/32nd scale model in the pipeline, of a Massey Ferguson 9S.425 eight-wheeler. It’s a diecast tractor made using 138 metal, plastic and rubber parts, 180 tampoprinting operations, and it’s presented as a dual wheels version. The model features some new and exclusive complete front and rear dual rims and tyres, plus new, shorter rear mudguards. Another interesting detail is that the rear turn signal and light supports, above the rear mudguards, are foldable. The wheels can turn, there are realistic front and rear UH coupling systems and the three-point linkage is adjustable. The maker says that this is a very accurate model that will satisfy all Massey Ferguson collectors. The price has been set at €95 and the model is scheduled…

The 94 Series was the last model range of David Brown tractors to roll off the assembly line and Neil Reid, from Angus, in Tayside, is a fan. An engineer by profession, Neil has lived in this area of Scotland for his entire life and the superb DB 1294 he owns is a testament to both his enthusiasm for the make and his restoration skills. “I served my time at a local David Brown dealership during the early 1980s,” he explained. “Then I worked on trucks for a few years, followed by Volkswagen/Audi vehicles, before deciding to specialise in hydraulics. I started my own family engineering business – Reid Hydraulic Services Ltd (RHS) in 1994, and haven’t looked back since.” WORKING UNDER PRESSURE RHS is the authorised distributor for Europower…

13th – 14th JULY, 2024 Few events can match the picturesque setting provided at Parham Park by Lady Emma Barnard for the Sussex Steam Rally. Now in its third year at this idyllic site – which does involve a fair walk from the public car park for visitors – this event is developing and growing encouragingly, and offers all the ingredients for a great family day out. According to the official listing, there were just over 70 tractors entered, although we imagine that more were accepted after the programme went to press. The oldest listed was a 1929 McCormick Deering 1020, owned by John Baker, while the newest was Michael Smallbone’s 1984 Trantor Mk.2. Here, for your viewing pleasure and inspiration, are just a few of the tractors we spotted…

CLASSIC WORKING DAY It’s rare these days you get the chance to see a group of Nuffield tractors ploughing together in one field, so you can imagine how excited I was to be able to watch nine of them all hard at work. The chance arose following an invitation I received from Graeme Morrow in Dungannon, in Co Tyrone, who wanted to know if I’d like to attend a Ploughing Day at which a number of classic Nuffields would be flexing their muscles. What’s more, he even suggested that, once I’d finished taking the photographs I needed, I’d be able to get behind the wheel of one of the tractors myself. It took me about a nanosecond to accept that kind offer! A WONDERFUL SIGHT! It was truly a wonderful…

A slightly more glamorous task performed by the County 1164s in Namibia, compared to the salt-related work described in the previous issue, was prospecting for diamonds. In reality, though, this was another very tough job for the tractors which had to perform in an extremely remote area against a backdrop of a harsh and unforgiving climate. Needless to say, though, the 1164s proved themselves to be well up to the job! To get to Springbok, where I could join with the Ford dealer team, involved me taking an 800-mile drive up into South Africa’s Northern Cape region. However, one of the bonuses associated with this long road trip was that I had to pass through Namaqualand, and I was visiting during the spring. This area – if you’re lucky and…

FOOD PRODUCTION John Deere tractors were delivered to Morrisons stores and the retailer’s headquarters on August 8th, for the ‘24 Hours in Farming’ event (#Farm24). Machines were set up outside seven Morrisons stores to help engage the public in the initiative, which aims to celebrate the hard work and dedication of those involved in the UK’s agricultural industry. The tractors were provided by John Deere dealerships Ripon Farm Services, Tuckwells, Ben Burgess, Masons Kings and Charlies Ag and Turf. All were branded and parked outside stores in Skipton, Boroughbridge, Ipswich, Norwich, Teignmouth, Welshpool and Witham. A JD machine also took pride of place outside the retailer’s headquarters at Hilmore House, near Bradford. “With a focus on showing consumers what really goes on in the agricultural sector, ‘24 Hours in Farming’…

IMPLEMENT NEWS The second-generation Olympic point offers increased thickness at the top of the point to extend the lifespan, and a bevelled shape to improve soil penetration. In addition, an accentuated design evens wear and reduces tractor power consumption. What’s more, the central section is now protected from extended wear to shield the bolts, making changing points easier. Edd Fanshawe, Kuhn’s arable and connected services product specialist, says the new Olympic point retains similar dimensions to the previous version, but offers an increased lifespan with an rrp increase of just 6%.” A new, optional Durakarb point increases point longevity by four times over the new Olympic points, and features tungsten carbide inserts to improve impact resistance plus a patented brazing and heat treatment process. Edd explained: “The working surface of…

AUGUST 10th-11th 2024 One of the many highlights at the excellent Rural Past Times show at Horns Cross, near Bodiam, in East Sussex on August 10th-11th, was a Motor Iberica Ebro 460. This Spanish tractor had connections originally with Ford, which built Fordsons in Spain from as early as 1920. However, the Ford Motor Co sold out in 1954, while Franco was leading his ruthless regime, and the nationalised company continued building Fordson tractor-derived products. This went on until 1980, when the Nissan Motor Co bought the operation. Back in the late 1960s, the company was keen to modernise its tractors and, by taking advantage of links it had with Massey Ferguson, started combining 100 Series Red Giant panelwork with Fordson E1A Major skid units! The result was known as…

Please check with the organiser that the event you’re thinking of attending is going ahead before planning your day, or travelling to the venue. In some cases you may have to book your ticket online before travelling. September 21st September NORTHERN COUNTIES PLOUGHING ASSOC MATCH Tyne Valley, Hexham Northumberland tel: 01434 600809 ploughmen.co.uk 21st September WEST GRINSTEAD & DISTRICT PLOUGHING & AGRICULTURAL ASSOC MATCH Westons Farm, Itchingfield W Sussex RH13 0BD tel: 01903 879488 or 07866 202588 westgrinsteadploughing.co.uk 21st September WILLINGHAM & DISTRICT PLOUGHING SOC MATCH Cambridgeshire tel: 07743 656231 ploughmen.co.uk 21st September CULLOMPTON & DISTRICT PLOUGHING ASSOC MATCH Devon tel: 01392 469025 ploughmen.co.uk 22nd September MORVILLE HEATH VINTAGE PLOUGHING CLUB MATCH Corve Barn Farm, Much Wenlock Shrops TF13 6QX tel: 01746 789666 or 07970 945258 ploughmen.co.uk 22nd September ROYAL…

17th AUGUST – 18th AUGUST, 2024 There were two important anniversaries being celebrated as the tractors, the crowds and the good weather returned to the fields of Holden Farm at Biddenden, in Kent, to enjoy Tractorfest 2024 over the weekend of August 17th-18th. For a start, the show – which has blossomed into one of the biggest and most successful annual tractor extravaganzas in south-east England – was marking its 10th anniversary. Also, among the hundreds of exhibitors on the packed show fields, the Ford & Fordson Association was celebrating its 20th anniversary. The club, formed by Peter Love back in 2004, continues to enjoy fantastic success, and caters for owners of all Ford- and Fordson-derived machinery. Its impressive stand at this year’s show – organised so well by dedicated…

When carrying out restorations on tractors and associated equipment, there are often many heavy units to deal with that require lifting and manoeuvring safely. A well-equipped workshop should be capable of handling such items with ease and one key piece of lifting equipment that all should have is a good quality engine crane. These work on a hydraulic principal similar to hydraulic jacks, and are categorised according to their lift capacity. When selecting one to buy, it’s a good idea to assess the size and weight of items you’re likely to be dealing with, then choose a crane that has a capacity greater than the heaviest potential load. Most cranes have extending arms, and the greatest capacity figure is achieved at the shortest setting. Storage space is another important factor,…