New Massey Compacts!!

[can do]

I apologize if this is considered too old of a thread to revive. I was in the market for a sub-compact/compact tractor a few years ago, but ended up shifting my attention to a whole-home renovation instead. Now, I'm back on the hunt for a tractor and I've been watching both MF and JD pretty closely over the last couple months. I've personally been considering an MF 1825E or a JD 3025E.

I should note my research has been specifically focused on US-market models.

I was happy to stumble upon this thread mentioning new MF models, but my excitement faded when I realized the "new" MF 1E.25 appears to just be a slightly revised 1825E. The only notable differences I can find are the hydrostatic pedal configuration and possibly the addition of a standard/optional mid-PTO on the 1E.25 -- not positive on that though. I appreciate the former, but I do not desire the latter if my purchase ends up being a dedicated "woods" tractor. Other than that, the 1825E and 1E.25 appear to be pretty visually identical.

The 1526, on the other hand, is dimensionally smaller than the 2024 1825E/2025 1E.25. I believe the 1526 comes in around 1800-2000 pounds while the 1825E/1E.25 are 2500+ pounds. My numbers may be off a little, but I also believe the 1526 has a roughly 35" tall rear tire while the 1825E/1E.25 has a roughly 40" tall rear tire.

I'm in a predicament. I'm 80% on purchasing something to be used almost exclusively in the woods, with occasional driveway maintenance, and would prefer it to not have a mid-PTO. If that's the way I go, I need to either find a 2024 1825E or go for the JD 3025E. However, I'm 20% on purchasing a Swiss Army knife tractor that is small enough to mow the yard, but heavy enough to occasionally perform questionable tasks around the property (e.g. skidding logs and moving earth). If I go that route, I believe the 1526, in all its long-in-the-tooth glory, is the way to go.

If your really going to go all in on a M-F 1526 now the time AGCO is offering special financing on certain models, & the M-F 1526 is one of them. The replacement for the 1526 has a slightly higher flow rate. I have a 1526 I wouldn't use it for what your intended purposes are I just feel it's to light of a tractor, But saying that if it's on a limited basis it will get the job done; Just as long it's purpose is not dedicated to skidding logs one other thing I hear some owners complain about is the design of the rops being to to high, & it's forward rake it has never been a issue for me. I have a 1959 M-F 50 gasser that is dedicated to a log splitter as well as skidding logs, & my 1526 does other work; I will say this of the 1526 what ever job I've asked to do it has done, & is very reliable. These are on special financing to make way for the newer replacement model, & it is a good price on these models. I've always said it's not what the tractor looks like it's what will the tractor do.

 

[joleat]

I appreciate your input and the heads up on current deals. I have a lot to consider in a short buying window.

I'm not a fan of the 1E.25 being considered the replacement for the 1526. The 1E.25 has essentially been in simultaneous production with the 1526 for years -- the 1E.25 just carried the 1825E model name. To me, the 1526 feels much more like it competes with the JD 2-Series, whereas the 1E.25/1825E is more in line with the JD 3-Series. It's probably just an issue of dollars and cents, but I sure do hate to see a model disappear.

 

[can do]

I appreciate your input and the heads up on current deals. I have a lot to consider in a short buying window.

I'm not a fan of the 1E.25 being considered the replacement for the 1526. The 1E.25 has essentially been in simultaneous production with the 1526 for years -- the 1E.25 just carried the 1825E model name. To me, the 1526 feels much more like it competes with the JD 2-Series, whereas the 1E.25/1825E is more in line with the JD 3-Series. It's probably just an issue of dollars and cents, but I sure do hate to see a model disappear.

I appreciate your input and the heads up on current deals. I have a lot to consider in a short buying window.

I'm not a fan of the 1E.25 being considered the replacement for the 1526. The 1E.25 has essentially been in simultaneous production with the 1526 for years -- the 1E.25 just carried the 1825E model name. To me, the 1526 feels much more like it competes with the JD 2-Series, whereas the 1E.25/1825E is more in line with the JD 3-Series. It's probably just an issue of dollars and cents, but I sure do hate to see a model disappear.

When I bought my M-F 1526 it fit my needs perfectly, & still does; Some people said it looked dated, But IMHO I liked the styling because it reminded me of the styling of some the other older, & bigger class Massey-Ferguson's. The model is not really disappearing it's just a restyling so that it's inline with the current models, & it's receiving a new model no.

 

[can do]

When I bought my M-F 1526 it fit perfectly my needs perfectly, & still does; Some people said it looked dated, But IMHO I liked the styling because it reminded me of the styling of some the other older, & bigger class Massey-Ferguson's. The model is not really disappearing it's just a restyling so that it's inline with the current models, & it's receiving a new model no.

 

[can do]

View attachment 3084007

I still like the styling of my 1959 M-F 50, But all model numbers change.

 

[joleat]

I'm wondering if I'm missing a key piece of information here. To clarify, what is the new model number you're referring to for the 1526?

As a note, I'm also fond of the look of the 1526. Specifically, I like the round headlights. My quip about it being long-in-the-tooth is just based on its overall age and lack of "updates".

 

[can do]

I'm wondering if I'm missing a key piece of information here. To clarify, what is the new model number you're referring to for the 1526?

As a note, I'm also fond of the look of the 1526. Specifically, I like the round headlights. My quip about it being long-in-the-tooth is just based on its overall age and lack of "updates".

This is what I have so far the M-F 1M.25 it's the replacement for the M-F 1526, But with a cab the model without a cab I believe is a M-F 1E.25 the 2024 M-F 1526's could have been ordered with rear remotes, & quick attach for the fel ( standard ) as well as a 3rd function, & these could be added on by the dealer as well. Most of these where not available when I bought my 2018 M-F 1526. Massey- Ferguson ( AGCO ) didn't do many upgrades to the 1526 so they could keep it in a competitive price range.

 

[joleat]

I'm certainly no expert and I'm willing to eat crow if necessary. I really appreciate your willingness to talk through this with me as I'm just trying to learn more about the options I have. With that said, I'm still not on board with considering the 1E.25 an updated 1526. If the 1526 ceases production for 2025, I do not see a product in Massey Ferguson's lineup that will truly be apples-to-apples.

The 1E.25 is an 1825E with a new model number. These tractors have 40" rear tires, steel fenders, weigh in excess of 2500 pounds, have a factory frame-mount backhoe option, and are built in Indonesia. If you put one beside of the other and cover the model numbers, a casual observer will not be able to tell them apart unless they notice one has a treadle pedal and the other has side-by-side pedals. These tractors are direct competitors of the current production John Deere 3E tractors.

The 1526 has 35" rear tires, plastic fenders, weighs under 2000 pounds, has no factory backhoe option, has an optional mid-PTO, and is built in Japan. These tractors are somewhat of a competitor of the current production John Deere 2R tractors, but it should be noted the 2R tractors have an available factory frame-mount backhoe.

I think I mentioned this earlier, but the 1E.25 may also now have an optional mid-PTO. The sources I've found so far are somewhat unreliable, so I'm not certain about this.

 

[can do]

I'm certainly no expert and I'm willing to eat crow if necessary. I really appreciate your willingness to talk through this with me as I'm just trying to learn more about the options I have. With that said, I'm still not on board with considering the 1E.25 an updated 1526. If the 1526 ceases production for 2025, I do not see a product in Massey Ferguson's lineup that will truly be apples-to-apples.

The 1E.25 is an 1825E with a new model number. These tractors have 40" rear tires, steel fenders, weigh in excess of 2500 pounds, have a factory frame-mount backhoe option, and are built in Indonesia. If you put one beside of the other and cover the model numbers, a casual observer will not be able to tell them apart unless they notice one has a treadle pedal and the other has side-by-side pedals. These tractors are direct competitors of the current production John Deere 3E tractors.

The 1526 has 35" rear tires, plastic fenders, weighs under 2000 pounds, has no factory backhoe option, has an optional mid-PTO, and is built in Japan. These tractors are somewhat of a competitor of the current production John Deere 2R tractors, but it should be noted the 2R tractors have an available factory frame-mount backhoe.

I think I mentioned this earlier, but the 1E.25 may also now have an optional mid-PTO. The sources I've found so far are somewhat unreliable, so I'm not certain about this.

I'll have to concur with your comparison of the 1E.25 is pretty much the same as the 1825E, & if the 1M.25 didn't have the cab on it it would be closer to the 1526 not taking the new Sabre styling hood into consideration as well as the metal rear fenders the fuelling is in the same location without the fuel door. Now the 1E.25 has ground fueling, & for that reason you can not get a belly mower option, & as far as a mid mount pto I don't know if that is a option at all. I do know for a fact that you could get a backhoe on the 1526 thru your dealer if they where participating with Woods implements partnership I did check into it when I was purchasing my 1526, & it would cost slightly over $4,000.00 in 2018 to have it installed, & as I recall it would be a 6 to 8 week delay to have one installed before you could take delivery of your tractor. For me that was cost prohibitive as well as the wait for installing one.

 

[Paystar]

View attachment 3084007

VERY NICE!!!!