Tractor Sizing Massey 1600 or 2600?

ElephantRock · Jun 30, 2012

Recently acquired 30 acre farm property, 8 acres fields, 22 woods. Looking to do some haying, plant some corn, brushhog, cut firewood and do some clearing. Also, plow or snow blow. Land is mostly flat, some mild grades. Woods are a mess from some of it having been logged a few years ago. In my search for the right tractor, horse pwr has progressively gotten larger. I started at 35 and am now thinking that 50 might be a better fit. I have little experience in driving tactors of this size, my current tractor is a JD x748 used for mowing and plowing. From my Massey test drives I have grown accustomed to the idea of a powershuttle of even a syncroshift.

Thoughts?

WilliamBos · Jun 30, 2012

I would skip the light duty 2600 series. If you want Powershuttle, there is a new line coming out. Will be full powershuttle, should be released come fall.

Powershuttle is the way to go.

ElephantRock · Jun 30, 2012

I did drive a 1643 powershuttle and liked it alot. But after driving the 2615, the extra power and dedicated hydrolics gave me pause. Is this new line going to replace the 1600 powershuttles?

ElephantRock · Jun 30, 2012

So you consider the 2615 to be light duty? What then would you call the 1643 i tried out?

WilliamBos · Jun 30, 2012

No, massey has a 2600 series, and the 2600HD series. With some of the issues that they have had with the light duty 2600, I would look at the 2600HD or wsit for the new series come fall. We have a 1635, but if I had 30 acres, i would look bigget. JMHO.

And it would be Powershuttle either way.

Mike476 · Jul 1, 2012

If you plan to do some haying, I'd recommend basing your tractor needs on the PTO HP needed to run your bailer. The 2600HD are a basic tractor but built to take the rigors of farming more than the 1600 series. My preference is the 1600 series for a small hobby farm with a few horses but I buy my hay, haying myself would put me in a totally different class of tractor.

ElephantRock · Jul 1, 2012

Thanks to both of you for clearing this up for me. So given the issues that the 2600 has, my choicesr are either the 2600 HD, wait for the fall for the new line up, or look at another tractor. In addition to the Massey dealer, I have a Case IH Farmall dealer, a JD dealer, and a Kubota dealer all within an hour drive from me. Would you recommend sticking with Massey or should I consider another brand?

ElephantRock · Jul 1, 2012

Just did a little research on the 2600HD. It is a HUGE beast of a tractor, 74 hp. And it only comes in 8x8 Synchro shuttle. I can't help but feel this is overkill since i'm only a weekend farmer. Also, seems like WilliamBos feels pretty storngly in Powershuttle. I would like to find something in the 50 hp range with powershuttle that can handle heavy duty work. Does such a thing exist?

Turbys_1700 · Jul 1, 2012

I personally like the 2600 series for the weekend farmer...
Some on here have stated that the 2600 series has issues...
I would contact several MF dealers and talk to their mechanics...
Most of the time they will tell you the truth about a specific series, especially if they have had a disproportionate number brought in for repairs under warranty...
A lot of that depends on the number of units sold...