Movin' on

Hi,
After receiving an offer that I just could not refuse on a recent roadrun the 165 has gone to a new home. I've had my eye on this 3060 for some time. The deal was done and it was delivered last Wednesday. In 3 hectic days I have fabricated a passenger seat and upholstered it, given the tractor a short service, done a few jobs that I knew about and a few that I didn't, in time for another tractor run on Sunday.
The Ogmore Castle Run is held every year in South Wales to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Research. Sadly only 23 tractors turned out in the glorious weather for the run into the Vale Of Glamorgan. Madam Babs is delighted with the seat and took her turn with the driving. We knew the weather was going to be good as we now have a cab!!!!!!

DavidP, South Wales

Only posted the one photo.

D

Sweet looking tractor! Question for you, the front where the weights go there is a slot and a pin in the casting, is there so implements you guys use for that or what? I have a 399 just got this spring, and was wondering, the american tractors don't have that.

Hi,
In the UK and Europe many people still use four wheel trailers. As you probably know it is easier to reverse a four wheel trailer when it is attached to the front of the tractor. The hole also forms part of the wafer weight arrangement. The centre weight has a jaw to locate in the slot which is retained by the 30mm towpin. Additional weights are fitted either side and a special bolt is passed through with a further bolt engaged from the other end. The centre weight has an additional jaw on the front so that you still have a hitch.

DavidP, South Wales

I would think we are all fine with this deal David... if you got deeper into David Brown or Field Marshalls... we might feel differently...
You might be the fellow to ask! Sam and Julie were steering me away from a 'barn find' complete and nice running MF25... or the fixer upper with a good grill- actually was 2 for sale at the fergie meet! I can't help but feel an ancient DNA link to this exotic (in the states anyway) piece of franco-tech. What say you sir???

Well its a nice answer David but we all know that it is really for. Its for when you want to pull it out of a wet hole when it gets stuck or tow it home when it breaks down LOL.

Hi Tony,
David Who?????? Not many MF 25s in the UK. It was the fore-runner of the 130 of course. a very different tractor to the
35 and 135 etc. I have no idea what the parts situation is like here let alone in the US. I'd say the first one with
the bar grille looks the better of the two but not by much. If you can buy it right and have a corner in your shed for
this one then it has to be worth a shot. I don't think it will let you down.

Cheers

DavidP

Hi Tony,
Let me steer you in the right direction here.
As David has said, the 25's your side, and 30's we have here in Oz were the French forerunner to the 130's.
They all had "issues".
Before you buy, remember that parts are a nightmare to find, buy both tractors and you may have solved some of that problem, provided they both don't have the "same" issues.
Check the final drives for end-play. Grab the top of the tyre and rock it back and forth towards the diff, if you hear knocking or notice movement, you have problems. The short axle will be worn and loose in the epecyclic carrier, and the only thing stopping that axle from parting company with the rest of the tractor, is a narrow gutted circlip.......beware!
Check the brakes....it probably has none. Most left the assembly plant with this, a standard feature. Two types were used, a wedge/chock type and a caliper/clamping type, both as insipid as each other, believe me. If your planning a hillclimb event, forget it.....beware!
The 3 point linkage/hitch was another "issue" area. Overload the linkage and bets are on that the valve body under the lift cover will bind up quicker than overdosing on a barrel of KFC!! Beware!
Check the engine for easy starting....or lack of it! Although it's a Perkins, either a 107 or 108, they were notoriously hard starters at times....maybe not quite as bad as the 23C's.....but close!!
Can I say in defence of these tractors, probably their best feature was a syncro transmission and dual clutch, which gave very few problems.
So while your priding yourself in "graunchless" gearchanges, just remember that you will have to pull it up at some stage.... that's when the sweat beads will be gathering on your brow.......but don't let me put you off, GO FOR IT TONY!!

Yee! Gidday mate! Long time no hear!
Well, I made what I thought was a more than reasonable offer. He didn't like it. Sam surprisingly told me to offer even more, still wasn't enough, I offered a couple hundred more than Sam's thoughts, still no go. So I will wait for him to see what it tastes like, as he eats the bloody thing. Who else in his right mind wants one? Oh never mind, don't answer that...
To me it would be only a missing number in the collection- 20, __, 30, 35, 40- the missing link sorta thing- or the middle piece of the Faber-jay egg sorta thing... (cripes... sounds like I need a new hobby eh??) not to use or depend on to grow food - and I don't want to know what a diesel tractor tastes like....

Nice photo Dave - Captures my father and I inspecting the rad leak on our 65, before everyone got lost!!

Don't supose you have a high res image, kicking around?