Simple farm tractors are history

   / Simple farm tractors are history #41  
Todays farm tractors are packed with electronics and gadgets.
This is the dash of a Massey Ferguson today:
View attachment 2796821
Left side informational and right side immediate action but with them not lit I think I would be placing a dot of fingernail polish adjacent to some of the one's most critical to me. That's just TOO busy of a dash for me.
 
   / Simple farm tractors are history #42  
We wore out my grandfather's Case SC four times already.
No doubt it could probably be fixed with an adjustable wrench, roll of bailing wire and a hammer....ahhh, the good ole days
 
   / Simple farm tractors are history #43  
Thank you I will keep my 79 245 Massey I purchased a few years ago. The engine was in a box and needed rebuilt. But as a Massey mechanic that was no issue. Had a little other work to do on it and a few things just aren't what they used to be, but it serves me very well. As for all those lights buzzers and other "features" my 5 gauges tell me all I need to know. Even if the tach doesn't work but has 10000 hours on it. As for parts if not new there are many salvage yards around that can provide all the parts I might need. The design of the small Masseys has changed very little from the old 35's (1950's) to tractors built in the 80's.
 
   / Simple farm tractors are history
  • Thread Starter
#44  
Left side informational and right side immediate action but with them not lit I think I would be placing a dot of fingernail polish adjacent to some of the one's most critical to me. That's just TOO busy of a dash for me.
Spoke with an acquaintance that bought a new tractor, he said it has a waterproof pouch screwed to a rear fender to store the owners manual.
 
   / Simple farm tractors are history #45  
Spoke with an acquaintance that bought a new tractor, he said it has a waterproof pouch screwed to a rear fender to store the owners manual.
In 2025 if you got a manual you are lucky. I just bought a Fluke meter: “safety warning” in MANY languages. But manual is only available online.

The first post in this thread caught my attention. My Massey Ferguson 204 was made in 1959 (as close as I can tell from the serial number; Work Bulls were made 1959-1965). My panel has tach/hour meter and four 2” gauges (which I installed, swapping ammeter for voltmeter). I really like the total absence of electronics.

Modern tractors may make sense for production farmers, but I think the average guy at home is often better off with an older, SIMPLE tractor (fewer possible points of failure). There are businesses supporting the more common older machines, and there are still parts rigs out there. My budget is definitely an old tractor budget.
 
   / Simple farm tractors are history #46  
I am sticking with the plain and simple. Still have two with a pull cable to kill. Rebuild as needed, at least they are repairable and don’t have so many ways to stop you and parts you can’t make or buy.
 

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