Recent content by Martin Roper

I would recommend older, used, smaller agricultural tractors, Ford, Massey, John Deere etc, they will have more power (particularly if considering a flail), more stability and far more robust than the compacts which I consider for home use only plus not plastered with electronic junk which will...

In my opinion you are better off getting (new or used) quality mower, Ferris, Scag etc. and a used small agricultural tractor, you are then sorted.

Get your self a self a 360 digger, it will be a decision you will never regret. It is rare that ours is not in use most days.

I have put up a workshop last year for my semi retirement, was going for a two post, even had the floor made thicker for the posts. At the last moment I switched to a four post which not only does not have to be bolted down but can be moved around on wheels if required ( used it to put up the...

In my opinion, if you are capable of doing most of the work your self I would cross all three of those dealer reliant tractors from your list and look at larger second hand machines with as little electronics as possible. As has already been suggested some thing 60 to 70 horse (maybe even 80)...

Some mowers are made in batches, I do not know if this is the case with some tractors. I purchased a new Ferris mower that identified as a couple of years older but had definitely not been used ( but then the hour meter wasn't working ). It is very frustrating as you have purchased a "new"...

I have seven, Ford 7840, 6640 (with fore loader), 5640, 3000 select-o-speed, Massey 35, John Deere 2140 and an Aebi TT210 with front mounted flail, couldn't possibly do without any of them.

Pressure wash, then grease.

You would be much better in my opinion to have a 360 tracked digger, 2.5 / 3 tonne, so much easier to use, they come in for every thing, you will find uses you haven't dreamed of. The day of the back hoe has gone.

Truthfully we have all been there, the man that hasn't made a mistake hasn't done anything!

In the UK we can gross at 24 tonnes (52910 lbs) on the road with an agricultural tractor with coupled brakes, I think it can go to 26 with air brakes but I think your question is what your tractor will handle easily off road in which case 14000 lbs should be no problem.

This is the trouble if you have the economy brands, they don't have the value in them for the dealer to trade on in any form so they are better off offering a discount with out the hassle of the trade, because believe it or not but even dealers have to make money.

Sounds as if your dealer is trying to pull a fast one, 9 months old and forty hours, that's what you expect from a cheap Chinese machine. Unless the dealer can prove you have misused it I would be very disheartened if he doesn't sort this.

Any engine just needs to get the oil up to pressure before work but they also need to get to operating temperature as soon as possible so it has to be a compromise. The engine also needs to calm before stopping, especially if has a turbo, I feel a good rule of thumb is to treat your machine how...

How about mounting it on the three point linkage, either direct or a quick hitch, also be easier to transport to other parts etc.