Massey compact tractors

[Anonymous Poster]

It seems to me that Massey is not as favored as JD, NH and Kubota. CAn some one tell me why? Is Massey doing something wrong? are they having money problems? I grew up with Massey and always liked them. I am ready to buy a compact, but do not want to buy any head aches.

thanks

 

[MDSteve]

I have a dealer within 2 miles of my house and did look at them but they were higher than JD or Kubota.

Steve

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I have a friend who does landscaping, and they are/were diehard MF fans. No more. Their latest machines look real nice at the dealers shop, where they always are. They tried the rebadged Isekis, but kept getting things hung up.

They switched to Long, and are in purple love.

But when I priced Purple, Green was less... Go Figure...

 

[Whiskey]

Fluffyone:

I posted somewhat of the same question, but it was geared around the MF 1433v.

I think they did have some money problems and restuctered the biz. (meaning AGCO Tractors). They seem to have a problem advertising there product, meaning I always know and hear more about JD, Kubota, New Holland.

You asked about the 1200 models a couple of threads back, my understanding is that the 1200 models have been up dated to the 1400 models, that doesn't mean you won't find new 1200 models sitting on a lot some where.

Most folks know them for there bigger tractors with perkins motors tried and true tractor combos. and folks will tell you that. They just don't seem to get any respect on there CUT's and I don't think there are as many dealers shops out there as with the other manf's. tractors.

Keep this in mind Kubota is the only dealer out there that is selling a tractor that Kubota is the maker of, JD, MF, NH all use a differant company in Japan making there CUT's and the japan companies have been around for many moon's making tarctors.

Well, with all that said would I shy away form MF CUT's, not a bit I'm looking at the 1433v very hard and will most likely end up with one of course unless the Kubota dealer throws me a bone on the price.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Whiskey

 

[dourobob]

I have a Massey Dealer fairly close to me. As the the dealership has moved to another family generation it has also moved quite dramaticlly from farm size to compact tractors.

I love the old Masseys and have absolutely no experience with the newer and smaller ones but, when this dealer wanted to charge me $52 for a spin-on oil filter adapter for my MF 35 and another dealer, about an hour away, says he wants $22 for the same thing, well, it makes me wonder if the "newer generation" is seeing more $$$ than service in their business.

Just my $0.25 rant.

Bob

 

[GaryG]

I have owned two MF 65 diesels and loved them. I tried getting my MF dealer to order me a MF GC2310 and he told me that they were not sure if they were going to continue carrying Massey. He had a 3 year old "new" 1230 that was faded from the sun. He would not come down on the MSRP and he will probably have it forever. I don't think that MF is really interested in the small tractor business like the big 3. Just like the Kioti CK20. It looks like a great machine. If they never make it to our shores and become available it makes it difficult for the dealers to survive. I think all the small tractors have pros & cons. The dealer is the most important part of the equation.

 

[markie61]

Just WAAYYYYY too many $ for the same or less capabilities/features as other brands. Same with Challenger and AGCO brands - same tractors/different colors.
JMHO...... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Does some of the massies come from romania/pakistan or someplace over there ? Just curious.

 

[markie61]

One came from Brazil....

 

[JerryG]

I have a 1999 MF 1250. The Iseki compacts are as heavy duty and dependable as any compacts on the market. I can say this because I have worked mine hard for over three years on my farm. Would I buy another one? Yes and it is at the dealer getting put together now. Why did I buy another one? Well, let me say this new MF 1440 has more horsepower than my MF 1250. I could use around 5-8 more hp for one of my attachment that I have to use regularly.
If a dealer didn't order a GC2300 when they first became available, they will have to wait in line. My local dealer had the for sight to order some of them and he should have ordered more.
As of about two months ago the prices on the MF compacts went down. My new MF 1440 with loader and backhoe was cut by about $2000. That's before haggling or getting your best price. I think that I would tell anyone to check with their dealer on a ordered tractor first to see what the price difference would be from one on the lot.
Massey has never really been into the compact market. That is why they are not in favor as much as some others. I think that with the introduction of the 1400's and the GC's we should see a change in that. They have finely added several options that were available from other manufactures. A lot of the problem may be that lots of the dealers are old time farm dealers that are hard to change. But they will have to or lose to much money because the compact segment is the only growing segment in agriculture today.

Wow!/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gifI think that this is the longest post that I have ever placed.

 

[GaryG]

I like Massey and it was my first choice, mainly because the dealer is less than a mile from me. He is old and stodgy, set in his ways. Just not interested in selling MF compacts. My only choice was to search out other compacts. I found a good dealer 25 miles away that sells Kubota & NH. I can't emphasize enough that the dealer is more important than the brand or color..

 

[Woodbeef]

Over the years Massey has sold economy utility tractors in North America made by their licensees in other countries. Ursus of Poland,Uzel of Turkey,and recently from Massey of Brazil have been available here.

 

[SteveM]

I am a gentleman farmer/hobby tractor seller. Or something like that, and I currently have an older massey compact. I really like the tractor, and my dealer has been supportive. But he is not in the league of the big three in terms of inventory or marketing. Most people dont even know his dealership exists....yikes! He does run a few ads, and does the local garden/farm shows - but that is about it. I think Agco does not provide enough marketing support for him, mainly. Anyhow, the long and the short of it is that I have a much harder time selling a Massey used than a deere or kubota, and for me it is a lesson learned.

 

[Soundguy]

In the old days, MF was a slightly economy style tractor dealer. ( No boo's yet from the gallery.. I'll explain myself ). The MF is a time tested design.. up untill a few years ago, when they started playing the same game as everybody else, and re-badging overseas units, the MF was essentially using the same designs it had been for the last 40 years.
Think of them as a worker tractor as opposed to a luxory tractor.. not all the bell's and whistles, etc.

Around here, orange and green are sky high.. blue and red are close.

Soundguy

 

[JerryG]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( They tried the rebadged Isekis, but kept getting things hung up.)</font>

rockyridgefarm,
What did you mean by kept getting things hung up? What problem did they have? What models was the problem with?

 

[Curt]

Profits have been pretty scarce in the global farm equipment market for a while. AGCO made a profit last quarter and predict modest profits for the year. Their stock symbol is AG, in case you want to follow it.

I bought a MF 1215 in 2000, and have been very happy with it. While NH and 'bota dealers seemed indifferent, a phone call to the MF dealer got me a demo for the weekend - and lessons! My only advice is to carefully check features and construction - things like PTO operation, position control, etc.
Make sure you like the dealer! Good luck looking.

Curt

 

[MF1455v]

Just spent 3 weeks shopping for new tractor and bought a MF 1455v. JD and Kubota out of my price range. Almost bought a Case/NH TC45. Last stop was MF and got a 55hp tractor instead of 45hp that is 500+ lbs heaver for same price. Have now had tractor 2 weeks and have more power than I will ever need. Great tractor.

 

[Stonewall]

I will second Kurts' comments on the 1215. I have one as well and it is a great little tractor. It has done everything I have asked of it and got me and my neighbors dug out of the blizzard of '03 with out a hick up. I did stop in at the dealer the other day to see if they had any 1400s on the lot. It seems that the 142X and smaller models are rebadged 1200s. BUT the 143X and up have features like shuttle shifts, more gears, telescoping lower links, tilt steering, full lift hoods - etc. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I will take a closer look when I am ready to upgrade from the 1215.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I looked at the MFs, but went with a Kubota. I visited the MF dealer on a cold 5F day. The MF on the lot would not start. A farmer neighbor told me this is a quirk of the Perkins Diesel engine they use. Only have that info to share. The Bota engine is used widely by many, so I went with the rep of the Bota.

LOL Frank