considering buying a used Tafe 35

cghbuilder86 · Aug 3, 2015

Does anyone have any info on a 1999-2001 Tafe 35? I have run across one for sale near where I live. They said they are the only owners and bought it new around 2000. It has 475 hours and comes with a bush hog and box blade. If I check it out and it looks good, my concern then is parts and service. She said parts are interchangable with a massey. I went to the Tafe website and now tafe makes massey ferguson also. But I can't find much info for parts on a tafe and dont know which massey tractor model would be the closest match to compare. I would also need a manual to know exactly how to properly service and maintain it. She is asking $6000. What do you guys think? I really hate to buy a tractor that is nearly impossible or extremely difficult to find matching parts for.

ptfarmer · Aug 3, 2015

Some info http://tractors.wikia.com/wiki/TAFE

I have a radiator from a TAFE 35 that I found in a salvage yard in my MF2135 industrial (the 2135 is the same as the 135). The TAFE radiator bolted right in.

maxwell99 · Aug 4, 2015

Who knows any more about most of the small tractors. My friend just bought a new Massey
Ferguson about the size of a 245 with front end loader, great little tractor.

I thought they had Perkins diesel engines, this one has an Italian made engine. Starts
right up and almost pours fuel back into the tank, it uses so little fuel.

After driving it a bit, I almost thought I was back behind an old mule when I got on my
old TO35 Ferguson.

If you like it, low hours, you like the price, buy it,
If it's a reasonable deal on a small tractor, that's not all beat up, someone else will
be loading it up on his trailer when you go back to look at it.

A John Deere of the same size will cost you almost double the price.

DavidP, South Wales · Aug 4, 2015

Hi,
Here in the UK I have not had anything to do with the Tafe brand of MFs. However one of the importer's selling points is that parts are interchangable so hopefully that is correct. One problem encountered in the past is that some claim that IMT and Ursus tractors are the same as genuine MF ones. A problem that I have found is that whilst many parts do look similar the threads on the MF will be imperial and the threads on the others will be metric. This has caused problems.

DavidP, South Wales

Tony in Mass. · Aug 4, 2015

You might be onto something David!! Perhaps this is why the American build teams are always several seconds slower than your side of the pond? If you accidently thread a 12mm bolt into a 1/2 inch hole... yeah that will spin in there quick!!

There's not so many TAFE's here, but this type of machine does have a following in the states tho... I could be working on a Ferguson 40 or TEA20 for months, and no one gives it a second look... I am now working on a Bolens with a 3 cylinder Izeki.... and it has a fan club!
I could sell that thing 3 or 4 times a day.... never that sort of following for the proven old stuff- that is old because they don't break or wear out!
Human beings are soooo disappointing....

ptfarmer · Aug 4, 2015

The TAFE that I found in the salvage yard (it had the 235 style hood on it) had the same steering box/transmission shifter cover like the MF235 does. I pulled the whole assembly off since it the steering box was nice, and smooth with hardly any play (the box/cover is made from aluminum). I plan on trying to put it on my old MF2135 industrial this winter, and I hope it fits, and works like it should. I only paid $50.00 for the complete steering box/transmission cover, and the radiator. I had to only shorten the fill neck on the radiator so the radiator cap could fit under the hood of my 2135. When I first seen the tractor I thought it was MF235, I have never heard of TAFE (Tractor And Farm Equipment) before I found that one. But they are still building them in India to this day.

Tony in Mass. · Aug 4, 2015

Years ago a dealer told me most of the basic design of the 235's in the late 1990's was the same as a TO35 from the 1950's.
So for India to keep it in production is just good business sense... where did I see this before? Oh, a post just like this on the Harry page!
Seems a lot of al alloy in them, like TEA's eh? and the cast steel- like diff housings? aren't as strong as the old timers. So us Yanks- and other occidentals?? got to have more patience and think 2 steps ahead, cause a broke in half tractor is a good way to have a bad day....

wellmax99 · Aug 4, 2015

here is a couple of reviews I found:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/guide/tafe/35DI.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/guide/tafe/35DI/reviews/9668.htm

miner09 · Aug 5, 2015

For 6 grand I would look for a USA built tractor. You should be able to get a very nice tractor for that amount. And probably be more satisfied. Tafe is probably like the Long, Belarus etc. They were popular years ago and now no one wants them in USA.

considering buying a used Tafe 35

cghbuilder86

Member

ptfarmer

Well-known Member

maxwell99

Well-known Member

DavidP, South Wales

Well-known Member

Tony in Mass.

Well-known Member

ptfarmer

Well-known Member

Tony in Mass.

Well-known Member

wellmax99

Member

miner09

Well-known Member

Similar threads