MF 543 opinions

[mf40diesel]

Looking to replace my old Massey Ferguson 40 industrial. It runs mint, with regards to the engine (perkins 152 diesel), but everything else is pretty much hammered to death. I really want 4wd, I am open to any brand, but the old Massey has been really good to me. Plus my Dad has a Deere and I kind of like having something else. Been comparing the Massey 2615, and 543. 2615, made in India, and the 543 Brasil. Quite honestly the 543 looks (below the sheet metal) exactly the same as my MF 40, with regards to the rear end, out board planetaries, even the top link housing is seemingly identical. Of course the 2615 appears far more modern, but I would assume has more electronics which I dont want.

Both seem to have a fair amount of poor press. On here it seems like lots of people say bad things about the 2615, loose bolts and so forth. Seems like their might be some similiar comments about the 543. Any ideas? Both of the 543's I am looking at have very low hours, one only 363, for a 2008 tractor. The other is at 800-ish. Although I would be very excited about that few hours, that leads me to believe, why would anyone trade something in with that little hours? could it be that it was that poor that they wanted to get rid of it?

Also, the model with the 363 hours would require trucking it to Maine. It has a bushhog brand loader. they are asking 19900, I figure around 2000 to ship, so roughly 22k.
the otherone (800 hours) they are asking 16900, but it needs a loader installed. with a brand new MF 240 loader, they said 23000, but I could drive to this one.

I would rather have the MF loader than the bush hog. What is you guys thoughts? Prices seem like I should be able to get them down a bit, but both say they are firm, however I haven't really shown any great commitment yet either.

thanks in advance

john

 

[sawtooth]

Hello John,

I think I sent you a private message this am too but not sure it went through. Anyway to your point the 451 and 543 were produced in Brazil and thus came with problems. Do your search on the internet too but the 461 and 563 had a lot fewer problems mainly due to being manufactured in Turkey. Its a lot of tractor for the money and you want be disappointed. By the way a low hour tractor is nothing to be scared of as there are some people like me that just don't use them alot. Still you must try them out and make sure everything is as it should be. Good luck.

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