1440 Comes Out On Top

[Snakebit]

Been lurching for many hours over a few days. The forums I visited most are those that mirror the brands I have been researching and shopping for. I finally decided to post when I couldn’t hold any more information or questions without risking explosion.

I currently own the only tractor I have ever purchased; a 231S full sized utility tractor just short of 50 hp. I admit that at the time I bought it (new 5 years ago) I was a bit naïve and chose a tractor on very little criteria. First, I didn’t even LOOK at a compact tractor. They weren’t “real” tractors. They were for city folk that moved to the country. Besides, I wanted something that would get the job done! I needed to pull a 6’ bush-hog and 5’ cultivator and maybe even a row plow every once in awhile. With this in mind, I quickly realized why I saw so many 240 and 231S tractors in my county. They were simply the most power for the dollar offered by the big names. I couldn’t believe how much I could get for my money. Tractor, HD 6’ bush-hog, HD 6’ box-blade, HD 20’ tilt bed trailer, ALL for about $15,000!

Since neither I or my good neighbor had more than a part-time need for a tractor, we partnered on the purchase and have both been very pleased with the package. “Bulletproof” would be a good description.

However, we are both building new homes and will now live about 30 miles apart and I have decided to sell out to him and buy a new rig. The only thing I intended to purchase differently is that I really want a FEL this time. So off I go to re-purchase a package from the same dealer I used previously.

You can all guess what happened this time. I discovered the compact tractor or what you guys call the CUT. The dealer did an excellent job of listening to what I wanted the tractor for this time, and while he didn’t tell me I would be wrong for purchasing a new 400 series (the replacement for the 231S), he did make me hear him out on just what the “little tractors” were capable of. Then I played around on a couple of MFs and Kiotis.

Wow! I was so wrong. Needless to say I didn’t leave with anything but a strong desire to do some research. This site is a goldmine for that mission. And after digesting all I can take, I have come to the following conclusion:

The MF 1440 is to the compact tractor what the 231S was to the entry level full sized tractor. The most CUT for the dollar I can find. (IMO) Why is it not receiving more notoriety?

This is a 40 horse tractor with the power and frame to handle serious implements!
It has all of the current crop of options and has some big-tractor specs too…like …It has almost 3000 lbs of lift capacity at the hitch!
And the price is fantastic. I was quoted $21,300 (before haggling) for the following:
1440 Shuttle Shift,
R4,
6’ hd international bush hog
6’ Atlas hd box blade
1466 FEL
18’ hd round pipe tiltbed trailer

I think that is about $13,500 for the tractor. Am I missing something? Is there anything else out there that even comes close? (It could only be better if the FEL could perform at the NH L16 level.....making the TC35 my second choice)

Sorry for the length. Had a lot on my mind. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PS: Why doesn't Massey Ferguson get it's own 2 forum section on this board? The Kioti does. What is the threshold?

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Why doesn't Massey Ferguson get it's own 2 forum section on this board? The Kioti does. What is the threshold? )</font>

As for why, just look at the number of posts in the Kioti forums vs. the number of posts in the one Massey forum. As for a "threshold", that information would have to come from Muhammad. However, thus far there just aren't as many Massey owners among our membership (and presumably not as many Masseys sold?), and not as many Massey related messages posted. I sure don't have an answer as to why the Masseys are not more popular. Perhaps less advertising and marketing skills, fewer dealers, dealer attitudes, or something. I know in '95 I visited two Massey dealers (one of them also sold Kubotas and the other sold Whites) and neither of them seemed interested in me or in selling their tractors; i.e., neither was the kind of guy I'd want to do business with. However, the Massey owners I've met all seemed to think very highly of that brand, so maybe the time will come when the Masseys become more popular.

In the meantime, welcome to the forum, and if the Massey has all the features you want, and "feels" right to you, I don't think you'd go wrong buying it.

 

[JerryG]

Snakebit,
You pretty well summed it up. As far as the loader, the hydraulics are set at a low pressure. When my warranty runs out, I may turn mine up. Or I may not, I am pretty happy with its capability. Get a price with the power-shuttle. I have had both and will not be without the power-shuttle again.

 

[Snakebit]

Yes bird, I realize fewer posts resulted in the MF second class citizenship, I was just whining. But I am surprised that MF doesn't have a big following because in "standard" size they are the king around these parts and have been big around the world forever.

And JerryG, I see you have the 1440 AND you are very knowledable. That just makes me even more sure I'm on the right track in my research.

After studying all the MF specs, I assume I might have been driving a 1440V when I was at the dealer, but I can't be sure. I "see" that there is a shuttle shift and power shuttle shift available, but I'm not sure what the difference is. (other than the 8f/8r vs 16f/16r) The one I drove and had quoted simply had a clutch with a 4 position gear shift on the deck and a forward/reverse lever on the column. Is that enouph info to designate which model I was on? And do you have an estimate for the upcharge....about?

For those that highly recommend the hydro, I am glad you love it so much, but I have a hydro Deere lawn tractor mower and I kind of miss the gears. So I'll take the savings and put it somewhere else. I admit it is very efficient though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JerryG]

The power-shuttle has a fluid clutch. It will last forever. You never have to change the clutch. Another thing is that with a power-shuttle, you don't have to clutch to change direction. All you have to do is flip the shuttle lever.

 

[Snakebit]

Thanks for the info.
So, no clutch for forward/reverse change. Must be nice for loader work.

That brings up the one other feature I like about the TC35. The button on the loader joystick that switches between high and low gear ratios. Hit the dirt pile in low/ fill the bucket/ reverse in high gear. Sounds cool.

Again, the dream machine is the 1440 with the TC35 loader.

Oh well, can't have everything. At least not for that price.

 

[Birdhunter1]

This has been discussed before and MF doesn't seem to advertise as heavy as he other brands in the compact market. In teh ag market MF is a leader in the world but they just haven't caught on near as heavy in the compat world. I think when word gets out it will skyrocket sales bu tat this point they don't advertise near as much as the others, they aren't as popular and I wold think this is why their prices are good. So keep it quiet and maybe it will be our secret and stay this way. I have also been looking at a MF compact, probably the 1445 or the 1455, I want one big enough to be used inthe hay fields and also on smaller jobs.

 

[JerryG]

Massey Ferguson has always had a advertising problem with compact tractors. This is also exacerbated by the dealers being mostly Ag dealers. They as a whole seem to be somewhat resistant to selling anything that small. I hope that they will begin to see where the increase is in the area right now. Right now, compact tractors is where it is at. I know that one of the two dealers that I use has released that and he has just added a second dealership.

 

[MicroPilot]

I always see advertising (newspaper and billboards) from the other tractor dealers around me, even the guy selling LG Montana (LG Cable) tractors is taking out 1/2 page ads. I've never seen an advertisment from the Massey dealer near me.

I wanted to buy a Massey, but the dealer closest to me didn't have any 35-45 hp CUTS on the lot and quoted me an outrageuos price for a Farmtrac. I'm sure his price for a red tractor that I really wanted to see would have been even more.

Doesn't the manufacturer typically give dealers money to spend on advertising?

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue">Doesn't the manufacturer typically give dealers money to spend on advertising? </font>
I don't know how they work advertising with the dealers. Both of the MF dealer close to me, run adds in two or three different papers every so often.