T Connolly
New member
Hello all,
I've been looking for a compact type tractor around the 40 HP range and have narrowed it down to either the Massey Ferguson 1742 with a DL 125 loader or a John Deere 3039 with a 320r loader, both with hydrostatic transmissions. I'm replacing a New Holland Boomer 40 we sold three years ago when we moved to a neighboring state for my wife's job. We're back in Maine and need a tractor to maintain our property and my wife's parents property as they're getting to the point where they can't do much in the way of yard and woodlot maintenance anymore. Along with the FEL I'll be running a light duty 6 foot bush hog to maintain two fields which take about a day each to mow. We will also be running a 5 foot rototiller, a York rake, and a wood chipper. Along with general woods and yard work we will be re-establishing and maintaining an UTV trail which is now covered by numerous blow down trees, building three bridges, etc.
Both The Massey and John Deere dealerships are well established old school dealers within 1/2 hour drive from my house. The price of the two tractors is within a hundred dollars. One dealer will deliver the machine and pick it up for free when maintenance and warrantee work is needed the other will charge me $100.00 per trip (both ways).
I'm sure I'll be asked why we're not considering New Holland this time. We had a TC 33D for 13 years and had no trouble with it at all. When we went to the Boomer 40 it was a different story. The Boomer 40 had starting issues and leaked anti freeze, hydraulic fluid and engine oil from the start . The dealer was able to repair the hydraulic leak and the engine oil drip was repaired as well but it always blew out antifreeze when it got hot. We put up with the quirks though I never liked the Boomer 40 as much as the Boomer TC33D.
The Massey Ferguson is available now though I'd have to wait until spring to get a JD 3039.
My Father in law has a John Deere 4610 he loves and our neighbor has a Massey Ferguson 1647 which he loves so history wise they compare well down the line. At this point I'm leaning toward the Massey Ferguson.
Looking for any input from owners of either of these tractors or just brand experiences good or bad or indifferent!
I've been looking for a compact type tractor around the 40 HP range and have narrowed it down to either the Massey Ferguson 1742 with a DL 125 loader or a John Deere 3039 with a 320r loader, both with hydrostatic transmissions. I'm replacing a New Holland Boomer 40 we sold three years ago when we moved to a neighboring state for my wife's job. We're back in Maine and need a tractor to maintain our property and my wife's parents property as they're getting to the point where they can't do much in the way of yard and woodlot maintenance anymore. Along with the FEL I'll be running a light duty 6 foot bush hog to maintain two fields which take about a day each to mow. We will also be running a 5 foot rototiller, a York rake, and a wood chipper. Along with general woods and yard work we will be re-establishing and maintaining an UTV trail which is now covered by numerous blow down trees, building three bridges, etc.
Both The Massey and John Deere dealerships are well established old school dealers within 1/2 hour drive from my house. The price of the two tractors is within a hundred dollars. One dealer will deliver the machine and pick it up for free when maintenance and warrantee work is needed the other will charge me $100.00 per trip (both ways).
I'm sure I'll be asked why we're not considering New Holland this time. We had a TC 33D for 13 years and had no trouble with it at all. When we went to the Boomer 40 it was a different story. The Boomer 40 had starting issues and leaked anti freeze, hydraulic fluid and engine oil from the start . The dealer was able to repair the hydraulic leak and the engine oil drip was repaired as well but it always blew out antifreeze when it got hot. We put up with the quirks though I never liked the Boomer 40 as much as the Boomer TC33D.
The Massey Ferguson is available now though I'd have to wait until spring to get a JD 3039.
My Father in law has a John Deere 4610 he loves and our neighbor has a Massey Ferguson 1647 which he loves so history wise they compare well down the line. At this point I'm leaning toward the Massey Ferguson.
Looking for any input from owners of either of these tractors or just brand experiences good or bad or indifferent!
