New 1540

[datanull]

I decided the 1540 was adequate for my needs. I like the Massey Fergurson and the dealer is close and has been in business for a long time. Very busy place especially now at the start of "Hay Season". Open till 6pm on Saturday, that's good for us, pretend farmers. Everything else if 30 or so miles.

I get back home waiting for delivery and my wife says, "Did you get pallet forks, you gotta have pallet forks." Call the dealer "ya'll got pallet forks? no problem. She is right, you gotta have pallet forks.

So I, spent most of today running the bush hog and picking up various objects, like the bucket and box blade to stow them for later. Tractor stuff is heavy. The 1540 seems to be plenty strong for the 6' bush hog, lugged it down a couple of times but that usually involved "ground contact".

The "Power shuttle" is really easy to use. I had never operated a tractor with a "modern" transmission. I like "snail cutting in reverse plenty of time to look for stuff you don't want to cut, like a Parsley Hawthorn.

Next milestone is changing implements, tractor stuff is heavy.

I could post pictures but it looks just like the ones in the brochure.

I have a several acres about 40ish that I don稚 want to cut until late summer when all the birds should be done nesting. If I could get someone to cut it for hay will the hay be any good?

[DMF]

Congrats on your new tractor!

I'd guess that your hay would be good for mulch and that's about it if you wait until the end of summer.

[datanull]

Since I asked that question I have read that the quality is lower but it may be acceptable enough that I could find someone who would want it. Otherwise I'll just bush hog it late July to Aug. Bird's come first at "Hopper Park by the Creek"

[1stmassey]

Howdy,
Just my 2 cents worth, but I never have time to cut hay until late summer. August, sometimes even early September. I have horses and have never had a problem with the hay being "bad". It doesn't have the nutrients that earlier hay has, but my horses still eat it all up and have no issues as long as it is worked and dried properly.

[DMF]

1stmassey - How far up in VT are you? How tall/stalky does your hay get by late summer?

I live in central Mass; our field has a Southern exposure and by the end of May it is ready to cut! Due to the weather we haven't cut yet and last Sunday when I brush-hogged around the otside edges the hay was as tall as the rear tires on my 1552... Horse people won't touch it down here.

Usually, if I cut the first week of June at the latest I'll have good horse hay. Of course, the horse folks around here are nuts (no offense) and won't buy my hay off the field at a discount price; they "need" second cut. 'Course, by the time March comes along that 1st cut hay I put in the barn looks pretty good to all those horse people that wouldn't buy it in the spring...fine by me; they pay an additional $1.50 per bale...

Usually we can get 3 cuttings if we get the first one in early enough. This year has been awful though and after this rain most of the hay will be lying down...

[1stmassey]

Hi DMF,
I live in Middlesex Which is North Central Vt. Right next to Montpelier. No offence taken about the "Horse People". I wasn't one until I married into them.
Our field does get a little stocky by the end of summer, but not really that bad. It has definalely gone by, but it is still fine. We have our field is planted with Timothy and Clover. Very nice hay.
Your "Horse People" are crazy for wanting 2nd cut. A properly done 1st cut is much better hay than any other cut in the year. They probably want it more stalky because horses eat less stalky hay than fine hay. They have to chew it longer so it lasts longer meaning they feed less. You've got to love it though come springtime when the "NEED" your hay!!!
I read a few of your previous posts and see you have 1552. I just bought one from a dealer in Mass last weekend. I am having them install remotes and load the tires before I pick it up. They had to order all the parts in for it. Hopefully they will be all in today and I will be able to pick it up next week. I am very anxious to play....errrrr......... I mean work with it!! It has the 12x12 Power Shuttle. That will take some getting used to after running my old JD 2010 for the last 10 years.
How is your 1552 working out for you? Any problems? From what I've read from others, it should make me a good tractor. How big of a piece of equipment have you run off the PTO with it. I'm just curious as to what its limits will be.
Nice chattin with ya,

Mike Osborne
Middlesex Vt

[DMF]

Hi Mike,

I love my new Massey. I had a 1433V for 6 years prior to getting this one...I had 500 hours on it when I traded it in last September/October. I've had this one less than 1 year and i already have over 100 hours on it...I can just do so much more with this one.

I haven't run anything very big on it at this point. I have a 6-foot tiller and a 5' brush-hog. My "test" would have been my partner's baler but the weather hasn't cooperated for making hay... I am sure that would'nt be much of a test as he runs it behind his 40 HP Ford now without much problems. I have the 12 x 12 Dyna QPS on mine...awesome!

What dealer did you get it from...? Curious as mine is in Belchertown.

[1stmassey]

Hey there DMF,
I bought it from Northeast Tractor in Norfolk. It had 27 hours on it. I still bought it as new becaue it never left the lot. His fork lift crapped the bed last fall, and all he used this for was loading and unloading trailers with a set of forks.
Best part is he kept it indoors all winter!! :-) I paid 9 grand less for that 1552 from him, than a dealer closer to me wanted for the exact same tractor!!!
It is 3 1/2 hrs from where I live and 230 miles. A pretty good haul, but I figured it was worth the difference in price to go that far to get it.
A bailer really doesn't take that HP to run. Well mine doesn't any way. I ran my JD 336 bailer with my old 2010 and that had about 20 HP left from the original 46!!....lol....Ya, she's pretty tired!!!

[Sawdust Farmer]

Originally Posted by 1stmassey

Hey there DMF,
I bought it from Northeast Tractor in Norfolk. It had 27 hours on it. I still bought it as new becaue it never left the lot. His fork lift crapped the bed last fall, and all he used this for was loading and unloading trailers with a set of forks.
Best part is he kept it indoors all winter!! :-) I paid 9 grand less for that 1552 from him, than a dealer closer to me wanted for the exact same tractor!!!
It is 3 1/2 hrs from where I live and 230 miles. A pretty good haul, but I figured it was worth the difference in price to go that far to get it.
A bailer really doesn't take that HP to run. Well mine doesn't any way. I ran my JD 336 bailer with my old 2010 and that had about 20 HP left from the original 46!!....lol....Ya, she's pretty tired!!!

Congratulations 1stmassey! I saw that tractor listed on ebay a few weeks ago and talked to the them about it. It was a great deal!!! I wanted to buy it, but it would have been a heck of a haul back and I was afraid my local dealer wouldn't be too supportive if I needed help with anything in the future.

sf

[1stmassey]

Originally Posted by Sawdust Farmer

Congratulations 1stmassey! I saw that tractor listed on ebay a few weeks ago and talked to the them about it. It was a great deal!!! I wanted to buy it, but it would have been a heck of a haul back and I was afraid my local dealer wouldn't be too supportive if I needed help with anything in the future.

sf

Hey Sawdust,
That is where I found it too. I actually called my Massey dealer (The better of the two) before I bought it to make sure service and warranty wouldn't be a problem with them. I explained everything to them, and they didn't blame me for buying it. They couldn't even have come close to the price. They told me service and warranty work wouldn't be a problem. They aren't ones to throw work out the door. They are a good honest dealer and have been around for a long time.
I can't wait to start using it!!. Who knows, sometime in the next two months, it might even dry up enough for me to cut my hay!!