Tractor advise

[randyt]

Im looking at a used massey ferguson model 1529 made in 2014. It looks in good shape, runs good, good rubber. Comes with a bucket, back blade and landscape rake. Private sale asking 15 thousand

Any thoughts on this tractor?

 

[Peanut]

When it was new it sold for about $13.5K, just checked TractorData.com Massey Ferguson 1529 tractor information

I have a Massy 451, Brazilian built. I think it was only built for 3 years around '04. I've smoked the clutch twice and had the power steering pump seize. I have never smoked the clutch on any other tractor in my life. The transmission has never felt right to me. Other than that no real complaints. It's a 48hp tractor we got to run the hay mower and baler. If I had it to do over again I'd probably do more research and go another route but dad had his heart set on a Massy.

I have heard nothing about the Japanese built units like the 1529. Sorry

 

[Cascadian]

I don't know much about them but Massey Ferguson seems to have a good rep. It wasn't super easy to find info on. If it in good shape it is probably worth it. Buying used is always a crap shoot. How many hours?

 

[randyt]

It looks like 476 hours

 

[Supervisor42]

Im looking at a used massey ferguson model 1529 made in 2014. It looks in good shape, runs good, good rubber. Comes with a bucket, back blade and landscape rake. Private sale asking 15 thousand

Any thoughts on this tractor?

After my time.
Hard to believe, decades ago, for years, I was a Massey Ferguson technician.
Splitting one in half to replace the clutch was a lot of work.
And I thought nothing of walking around every day wearing a big hat that said: "MF" on it .

As @Peanut said, check that the clutch doesn't engage at the very top. That makes a BIG difference.

 

[Bacpacker]

Never laid a hand on a Massey, so no advice on that. 476 is pretty low hours for a 7yo tractor
Breaking a tractor in half is hard dangerous work

 

[Supervisor42]

Never laid a hand on a Massey, so no advice on that. 476 is pretty low hours for a 7yo tractor
Breaking a tractor in half is hard dangerous work

Hee hee!
Do one of these!!!
I did.

(sorry, I wandered off topic )

 

[Bacpacker]

No thanks

 

[Spikedriver]

The ooooold Masseys we're decent tractors. IIRC, they had Perkins engines. The cabs didn't compare to JD or IH, and the trannys, rear ends, and hydraulics weren't as good as JD. Some of the old farmers around here still use the bigger models for cheap horsepower. You can buy them for next to nothing. Massey was absorbed into AGCO a while back, and I have no idea about any of their newer equipment. All the Massey dealers in my area are out of business, so there aren't any newer Masseys around...

 

[joel]

Never worked with anything but a OT-30 Ferguson, which is the same as a Ford n8, made after the split from Ford. Now I have a Kubota & my Father had a new Ford & a large John deer after I left home.

 

[Tirediron]

I would really check into the availability of replacement parts, and find out how many vital functions are controlled by electronics, if any, I have never heard of the engine manufacturer, that doesn't necessarily mean much, and as to the Brand name, non of them mean much any more. I would lean more towards multiple older machines to do the job. A front loader on a tractor is just a band aid. and if it doesn't remove quickly and easily it is a faster route to front end problems,

 

[Tirediron]

Never worked with anything but a OT-30 Ferguson, which is the same as a Ford n8, made after the split from Ford. Now I have a Kubota & my Father had a new Ford & a large John deer after I left home.

Fergusons were a completely different tractor and quite a bit superior to fords the same age, burnt far less fuel and were nicer to run, Ferguson invented the reactive 3 point hitch, and the hand shake deal with Henry ford is what made the N series tractor tolerable, Sorry for the derail

 

[Aklogcabin]

I'm a old iron guy. It's what I know. And I still like squirting grease around. I have a 59 case 420b backhoe. It ain't pretty but it's pretty dependable. And for 4300 buck 10 years ago I'm happy. Put a couple septic systems in. I don't have to lift anything heavy.
Our neighbor bought a blue one, little backhoe 4 wheel drive. About 30 grand. My ol case will out plow snow or move dirt easily. Maintenance is key to any equipment. I put a snow plow blade on it this last winter to push snow.
The thought of having an old tractor like this in town would draw some looks. But maybe so can I

 

[Tirediron]

AK, your 420 Case reminds me of the old ford 4500 industrial that we had, with the industrial loader, and fords backhoe attachment, It had the engine done in stages, the head was the last repair, the valves were so bad you had to pull start it, long story shorter, I did the head and put a bigger hydraulic pump on it, we used it until we got a hydraulic excavator. sold it to a guy to do his trenching, and saw it for sale twice more over a few years, when we got it it badly needed one rear tire, last time i saw it for sale it still needed that tire.

 

[Bacpacker]

My bigger tractor is a 1970 Duetz 3006. 32 HP air cooled and German built. Dad bought it in 1972. We used in working hay, plowing and planting fields, gardens etc, plus a thousand little jobs. I got it from him in 2012 and still us it today. It's old, and ugly, had 3 tires replaced over the years. I had to put a clutch, pressure plate, and throw out bearing when I got it. Other than oil and fuel filters and oil and a couple fan belts we've never done anything to it. It's got around 3500 hours on it.

 

[Supervisor42]

My bigger tractor is a 1970 Duetz 3006. 32 HP air cooled and German built. Dad bought it in 1972. We used in working hay, plowing and planting fields, gardens etc, plus a thousand little jobs. I got it from him in 2012 and still us it today. It's old, and ugly, had 3 tires replaced over the years. I had to put a clutch, pressure plate, and throw out bearing when I got it. Other than oil and fuel filters and oil and a couple fan belts we've never done anything to it. It's got around 3500 hours on it.

The Deutz air-cooled engines are amazing German engineering and manufacturing.
I've worked on almost every make of engine out there and had plenty of the Deutz engines under my hands.
A fanbelt and oil change was all I ever had to do with those. They were indestructible!
Here is a tip: They use the engine oil going thru an oil-cooler to cool the bottom half of the engine.
If one has been working hard, let it sit a long while before trying to drain the oil!
After burning myself several times, I checked the temp.
The oil was above 230°F.
(sorry, off topic again)

 

[Bacpacker]

Thanks for the heads up. When I change oil on it. I'll start it and let it idle a few minutes to heat the oil a little so it drains well. Never had the need to do one HOT. Thanks for the heads up, I'll make sure I never do that.
I agree about them being indestrucable. The temp alarm is even tied to the horn. Belt breaks, temp goes up to the limit and horn goes off. They are simple and tough.

 

[Spikedriver]

I would really check into the availability of replacement parts, and find out how many vital functions are controlled by electronics, if any, I have never heard of the engine manufacturer, that doesn't necessarily mean much, and as to the Brand name, non of them mean much any more. I would lean more towards multiple older machines to do the job. A front loader on a tractor is just a band aid. and if it doesn't remove quickly and easily it is a faster route to front end problems,

We've had a Deere 158 loader on the front of a JD 4430 for over 30 years. That loader has done everything from loading gravel into trucks to moving 6 foot deep wet snow to uprooting tree stumps. The key is to have a big enough tractor for the work you're doing. That 4430 is 125 HP stock, and ours is turned up a little to maybe 140. A 40 HP tractor doesn't have much capability and is easily broken, but you have to work a 125 HP tractor pretty hard to wear out the front end...

 

[Homesteader33]

I have a Massey 2606H very happy with it

 

[ClemKadiddlehopper]

I have a Massey 5460 100HP. I started with a 40 HP but it leaked oil pretty bad so I up graded to a 90HP AGCO. I liked the AGCO, and when I bought a second tractor, AGCO had become Massey. They are pretty much the same tractor other than colour.

When I sold the AGCO last fall, I got the same as I paid for it ten years ago. Neither tractor has given me any trouble but I didn't beat them up either.

 

[joel]

My Father had a John Deer 4040 & it was a big tractor for a small farm.
He used it to pull a Gran Hammy in the field, the spikes would break up the bottom pan.