Thank You All!

[coolhl7]

After lurking here for many many months and reading hundreds of hours worth of GREAT advice and discussion and reading Muhammad's book I bought my first tractor for my 40 acres.
The brand I chose wasn't based on which was best since I found that all the top manufacturers had excellent products. I decided to go with the best dealer and in MY area the best dealer for me was Massey.
MF1540 Hydro with FEL, heavy duty bucket with welded-on hooks, skid steer quick release, 5 ft medium duty Bush Hog cutter, 6 ft Taylor Pittsburg rotor tiller, lots of manuals read cover to cover.
Now do I get a tooth bar for the bucket or a front end root rake????

 

[johnk]

Nice looking tractor. What you just bought was a huge Christmas list for next year. So many things you want and can use. Good luck with the tractor. You'll enjoy it...

 

[jbrumberg]

coolhl7:

Welcome to TBN ! Now we can help you spend your hard earned money . Good choice and good rig. Jay

 

[kentrodngun]

Nice looking machine. Have lots of fun playing, ehh, working with it. Be safe & take it slow - never get too comfortable on it. Now you can start cruising the Attachments & other forum threads to queue up your next add-on. Be sure to read others comments regarding how useful some attachments are or aren't. I've learned a lot & saved myself some $$ in the process.

 

[Bird]

Now do I get a tooth bar for the bucket or a front end root rake????

I don't really think we can give you a good reliable valid answer since we don't know exactly how you intend to use it or what projects you'll be working on. But that usually doesn't keep some of us from expressing our opinion so I'll say that I'd get the toothbar. I found mine invaluable.

 

[Oleozz]

Very nice looking tractor. We have a MF dealer only two miles away and I always take a peek at what new pieces of equipment they have sitting in their lot as I drive past. Good Luck
ps---I agree with Bird, you can't go wrong with a toothbar. (or a grapple)

 

[coolhl7]

I really wanted a grapple but the added expense and need for remotes pushed me past my budget.
I plan to make new trails through my wooded property.
I have been hiring out a gyro track to quickly turn the larger brush and small trees into mulch. But I definitely needed the 40HP for the 5 ft. medium duty Bush Hog to keep the privet and yaupon down.
will I ruin the bucket edge w/o a toothbar or a cutting edge if I am just trying to level out new trails and take out small bushes etc.
Thanks again.

 

[john_bud]

You won't ruin anything. I have used a bucket without a toothbar to move many thousands of yards of dirt and gravel. My bigger tractor/hoe is 43 years old and has never had a tooth bar. Are they nice, yes. Are they manditory, no.

Did you fill the tires? That would be my suggestion over a tooth bar - by far.


I did see a tractor like yours at the vintage tractor pulls last summer. It was surprisingly quiet. Nice!

jb

 

[coolhl7]

R4's are loaded.
I took the advice given over and over on this forum.
besides, my dealer insisted they be loaded if they come with a bucket.
However I didnt go for the widest stance since I have to do alot of bush hogging on flat land and i want to get the 5 ft cutter as close to the fenceline as possible.

 

[thcri]

When I was buying Massey was one on my list. But with no dealers in the area I didn't get a chance to even sit on one.

murph

 

[ToddW]

Nice looking tractor! Be safe and have tons of fun...errrr...work hard

/Todd

 

[GEB]

Looks good from here, you'll find it's nice to have fun while getting things done at the same time
Enjoy!
Gene

 

[jinman]

I plan to make new trails through my wooded property.

I have both a bucket with a toothbar and another one without. For spreading and backdragging materials, I prefer the bucket without. For clearing brush and uprooting small trees, I use the bucket with the toothbar. For your application a toothbar is what I would recommend. Remember, a bucket without a toothbar is like a hand without fingers.

The nice thing about a toothbar is you can remove it in about 15 minutes and then you have a plain bucket.

Oh yes! Congratulations on that Massey. That's a nice looking tractor.

 

[3RRL]

I really wanted a grapple but the added expense and need for remotes pushed me past my budget.
I plan to make new trails through my wooded property.
I have been hiring out a gyro track to quickly turn the larger brush and small trees into mulch. But I definitely needed the 40HP for the 5 ft. medium duty Bush Hog to keep the privet and yaupon down.
will I ruin the bucket edge w/o a toothbar or a cutting edge if I am just trying to level out new trails and take out small bushes etc.
Thanks again.

I have always admired the lines of the Massey. It is a very good looking tractor with size and symmetry that just makes it look like a powerful tractor.
Your dealer made a good call insisting to have the tires filled. The added stability and traction are great benefits as well as the added safety that goes along with that. I wouldn't worry too much about mowing right along the fence line, but would definitely consider the widest stance for your wooded property....is it hilly?

I have moved a lot of dirt with a toothless bucket but for DIGGING dirt or popping out trees and shrubs, there is no comparison. You can get a good foot hold to the roots or trunk and pry them out easily. The grapple addition is something you can do yourself at a later date. It too is a tremendous tool. There have been several threads on how to do this without too much trouble or expense. For what you say your needs are, I wold consider those two items as next on the list.

Do you have hydraulic side tilt and top link cylinders? If not, I would consider that as well. The ease of implement operation and control is incredible. You would never have to get out of the seat to adjust them. They are also super handy for hooking up implements. That brings us to Pat's EZ change system, which I think is also worth the money for eliminating the time and trouble you spend hooking up. Those are the things I would put on my list of tractor additions over the next year or two. I would prioritize your immediate chores to determine which to add first, and so on.

You have a great looking tractor there.
Congratulations.

 

[Glowplug]

. . . you can't go wrong with a toothbar. (or a grapple)

OR BOTH!!!

TBN members sure can spend other people's money well.
I think 3RRL just spent about $3,500 of yours.