What happened to Massey Ferguson?

[Paystar]

Well, my question prompted some interesting comments. My initial intent was to address why Massey seems ghostly in the current CUT foray of Kubota, JD, Kioti, TYM, New Holland, former Branson, and a number of less known. Massey hardly makes their list.

Yes, in the ag world, Massey has a little more handhold. And many of you see older Massey iron and call them present, but I'm speaking of today's market. Their apparent distance sure doesn't help their cause to remain competitive.

I have an LS. It's great. But it was and still is lesser % in the market. Massey is less than that!

Happy New Year, y'all.

Think it all depends in what region you are in. Like here, I have absolutely NO Case IH, New Holland, Tym, Branson dealers anywhere, so those tractors are almost non-existant.
Then the other thing that happened is we lost a couple good family owned Massey dealers because a few years back AGCO started doing the John deere thing and said you have to be a big multiple location franchise to have a dealership with us, so they either closed up or moved on to other smaller brands like LS, Kioti, etc.

 

[aesanders]

Well, my question prompted some interesting comments. My initial intent was to address why Massey seems ghostly in the current CUT foray of Kubota, JD, Kioti, TYM, New Holland, former Branson, and a number of less known. Massey hardly makes their list.

Yes, in the ag world, Massey has a little more handhold. And many of you see older Massey iron and call them present, but I'm speaking of today's market. Their apparent distance sure doesn't help their cause to remain competitive.

I have an LS. It's great. But it was and still is lesser % in the market. Massey is less than that!

Happy New Year, y'all.

I see their newer compacts all over around north Florida. We have a couple good dealers. Definitely more popular than most. Where you getting sales figures from? I bet they sell more than LS.

 

[paulsharvey]

Think it all depends in what region you are in. Like here, I have absolutely NO Case IH, New Holland, Tym, Branson dealers anywhere, so those tractors are almost non-existant.
Then the other thing that happened is we lost a couple good family owned Massey dealers because a few years back AGCO started doing the John deere thing and said you have to be a big multiple location franchise to have a dealership with us, so they either closed up or moved on to other smaller brands like LS, Kioti, etc.

So, I think to that point; the general public guy who wants a Small tractor immediately thinks of Kubota, and he's heard of and knows John Deere. Then he starts looking at prices, and compares known product A and B vs much cheaper unknowns. They tend not to look at 10% cheaper Massey, and by the time they start exploring they have in their mind, the dilemma of Jd/Kub vs cheaper; and somehow, the solid B+ machine, with a solid B+ price doesn't enter thier mind. They are just weighing A quality and F price, vs F quality and A price...

Not saying JD or Kub is A quality or that LS/TYM/Kioti is F quality, but for Joe blow, that's how their mind works.

Me personally, I've been a long time fan of MF; but when it came time to lay money on the table, the 1526 seemed a solid step down in size/lift/weight, but a dang nice machine, just too small for me; and 17E was pretty umm, crude, and the 17M was a thing of beauty, but cost too much.

Guess what I'm saying MF is has less general public name recognition; and doesn't Wow on price. It's just a plain solid choice, and that's not sexy.

 

[EddieWalker]

I think my Massey is very sexy!!!

 

[MoKelly]

I think my Massey is very sexy!!!

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[swines]

I'll illustrate one problem with Massey Ferguson. I have two John Deere dealers, one Kubota dealer, one New Holland dealer, and a Kioti dealer within 15 miles of my place. The nearest MF dealer is 280 miles away.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Just traded my faithful 20yo massey on a 2024 Massey. Looked at other tractors, there’s something i liked in each one but at the end of the day i feel the most comfortable with massey. I thought massey was pretty popular..

 

[paulsharvey]

Just traded my faithful 20yo massey on a 2024 Massey. Looked at other tractors, there’s something i liked in each one but at the end of the day i feel the most comfortable with massey. I thought massey was pretty popular..

I dont know if there are any real numbers available publicly, but I would guess in the 75hp-150hp plus, US market, they are probably a solid 3rd; in the 25-75hp, they are most likely 5th? behind JD/Kub/Case-New Holland, Mahindra, and Kioti?

in the full sized ag machines; I'm not sure, MF is probably 2nd or 3rd? Behind JD, but its hard to say if they are ahead or behind Case?

One place they shine is commercial/government machines. Corps/Gov are gonna get bids/RFPs from JD/Kub/Case-NH, and Massey; not from Mahindra/Kioti/LS/TYM, and there are a lot of machines mowing road right of ways, parks, ball fields, schools, ect

 

[can do]

Just traded my faithful 20yo massey on a 2024 Massey. Looked at other tractors, there’s something i liked in each one but at the end of the day i feel the most comfortable with massey. I thought massey was pretty popular..

My 64 year old M-F 50 is in the shop right now for a new clutch, & a few other things, & I so miss having her here to to skid logs; As well as spliting wood. You don't know what ya got till it's gone; I still have the 5 year old 1526 too the other chores, But it's just different not having Stella here to work with . In short I wish I had the need for a newer M-F; I'd go buy one asap they are still popular in my world, & the only tractor brand I ever owned, & nobody in my family has ever owned a tractor before other than my brother who bought his 1st new tractor 3 years ago; A M-F of course. I think allot of people buy Massey-Ferguson by word of mouth from people who have owned them. I knew I wanted a M-F from the beginning without anybody telling me about tractors. NO REGRETS HERE. IMHO You made a good choice.

 

[Hay Dude]

I dont know if there are any real numbers available publicly, but I would guess in the 75hp-150hp plus, US market, they are probably a solid 3rd; in the 25-75hp, they are most likely 5th? behind JD/Kub/Case-New Holland, Mahindra, and Kioti?

in the full sized ag machines; I'm not sure, MF is probably 2nd or 3rd? Behind JD, but its hard to say if they are ahead or behind Case?

One place they shine is commercial/government machines. Corps/Gov are gonna get bids/RFPs from JD/Kub/Case-NH, and Massey; not from Mahindra/Kioti/LS/TYM, and there are a lot of machines mowing road right of ways, parks, ball fields, schools, ect

What’s weird is I only saw 2 brands mowing roadsides around here up till about 5 years ago

New Holland and Challenger. Challenger is just a Massey with a CAT/Perkins diesel and a little different cab roof/windshield and CAT yellow paint.

Now Challenger is gone, so that has changed. I still see a lot of New Hollands, but the Challengers have been replaced mostly with lowend economy Deeres.

Massey makes a great tractor. The bigger versions have Fendt transmission, rear axle, braking systems. You get a 1/2 of a Fendt for about 1/4 less money.

Don’t know much about the little ones, but the dealerships should be solid, AG backed dealers with excellent service and parts networks.

 

[sea2summit]

Massey‘s main problem in my opinion is their supply chain, most of the parts are imported and that has been an issue in the past. If you think whatever color you have never breaks, you’re wrong. All tractors need parts at some point.

I drive several hours to the massey dealer for my hay equipment. If I was going to buy a bigger tractor Massey’s would be contenders for sure.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yep. Everything “big” from Massey is from Europe. Little I’m guessing Brazil or southeast Asia.
Heston stuff still built in US. I think some of the huge Masseys may be built in the US.
But I have had excellent parts service. Parts show up at my shop in under 3 days, but my dealer (Agriteer) stocks just about everything. Parts never an issue.
For MY needs, AGCO is the way to go. Hesston on the balers and AGCO on the tractors. I would own another Heston baler if the opportunity (price/model) becomes available. Fendt is fantasy land, but there should I ever make the “big time”.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Yep. Everything “big” from Massey is from Europe. Little I’m guessing Brazil or southeast Asia.
Heston stuff still built in US. I think some of the huge Masseys may be built in the US.
But I have had excellent parts service. Parts show up at my shop in under 3 days, but my dealer (Agriteer) stocks just about everything. Parts never an issue.
For MY needs, AGCO is the way to go. Hesston on the balers and AGCO on the tractors. I would own another Heston baler if the opportunity (price/model) becomes available. Fendt is fantasy land, but there should I ever make the “big time”.

I was starting to run into parts issue with my old massey. Like plastic cab parts, the plastic around the steering column was broke and when i tried to order it it came up as obsolete.

 

[Hay Dude]

I was starting to run into parts issue with my old massey. Like plastic cab parts, the plastic around the steering column was broke and when i tried to order it it came up as obsolete.

They all do. I can no longer get the hydraulic remote solenoids for my 1999 Case-IH magnum. Talk about an uneasy feeling……
And that ain’t no plastic dress part for the cab. That’s a mechanical system that runs my baler.
Deere & CAT seem to carry parts for old machines longer.

 

[paulsharvey]

Kubota doesn't still have parts for their Lxxx series. There are some aftermarket makers, some old stock, and probably some stuff still direct, but when we are talking about manufacter runs of less than 20,000 machines, world wide, 40 years ago, unfortunately, that's reality.

I dont think Massey offers any of the parts for the Hinimoto made units anymore, which was the early to mid 80s manufacture.

 

[EddieWalker]

Finding parts online has been a challenge for my Massey 4707. Messicks has a great website that I buy all my New Holland and Land Pride parts from. I searched for a cab filter for my Massey 4707 and couldn't find it anywhere. Seems like all the dealers want you to call them and talk to somebody, or walk into their dealership to buy stuff. I want to click and pay online and not have to leave my house.

 

[mo1]

Well, my question prompted some interesting comments. My initial intent was to address why Massey seems ghostly in the current CUT foray of Kubota, JD, Kioti, TYM, New Holland, former Branson, and a number of less known. Massey hardly makes their list.

Yes, in the ag world, Massey has a little more handhold. And many of you see older Massey iron and call them present, but I'm speaking of today's market. Their apparent distance sure doesn't help their cause to remain competitive.

I have an LS. It's great. But it was and still is lesser % in the market. Massey is less than that!

Happy New Year, y'all.

Massey-Ferguson had a bunch of financial trouble in the 1970s and 1980s and underwent several changes of ownership after that. That certainly didn't help them stay competitive, particularly against competition that either kept growing (Deere) or conglomerated to become huge (Case, International, Ford, and New Holland -> CNH.) AGCO has a big row to hoe to try to restore Massey-Ferguson to its former market share in the market. Time will tell if they can do so.

I dont know if there are any real numbers available publicly, but I would guess in the 75hp-150hp plus, US market, they are probably a solid 3rd; in the 25-75hp, they are most likely 5th? behind JD/Kub/Case-New Holland, Mahindra, and Kioti?

in the full sized ag machines; I'm not sure, MF is probably 2nd or 3rd? Behind JD, but its hard to say if they are ahead or behind Case?

One place they shine is commercial/government machines. Corps/Gov are gonna get bids/RFPs from JD/Kub/Case-NH, and Massey; not from Mahindra/Kioti/LS/TYM, and there are a lot of machines mowing road right of ways, parks, ball fields, schools, ect

I would suspect Kubota is third behind Deere and CNH in the 75-150 HP market in the U.S. AGCO would probably be fourth as few makers compete in the U.S. ag market. AGCO is probably (a very distant) third in the 200+ HP market as it is basically just them, Deere, and CNH that even offer anything in that size range here. Compacts would be Deere and Kubota in the top two spots, probably LS as third as they not only make their own machines but all of CNH's compacts as well, then it's hard to tell from there.

All of the road mowing machines I've seen in my state are Deere or New Holland, with Deere having about 80-90% of the market.

 

[oldnslo]

They all do. I can no longer get the hydraulic remote solenoids for my 1999 Case-IH magnum. Talk about an uneasy feeling……
And that ain’t no plastic dress part for the cab. That’s a mechanical system that runs my baler.

The solenoids were probably a purchased item by the valve manufacturer and design changes made them obsolete. Not sure if the magnums had Husco valves or Rexroth but both have phased out products do to design changes. It really sucks when a $20 coil prevents the use of of $20,000 tractor.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

With 100HP +, AGCO pushes Fendt too much. They have discontinued AGCO tractors, Challenger tractors and have deemphasized Massey tractors on the dealer lots to the point that you’d think they were being discontinued, too.
They are really flooding the market with Fendt.

Not where I live. There's waaaay more Masseys than Fendts here.

SR

 

[Hay Dude]

Not where I live. There's waaaay more Masseys than Fendts here.

SR

I don’t think Fendt has made its way into your area like mine. We have large farm operations near me with 4-6 Fendts on the farm.