MF200 or MF500?

westwicklow

Which would you recommend and why, MF200 series or MF500 series? Am thinking of making a purchase soon.

cearrbach

mf500 in my opinion, its a better tractor! imo!

westwicklow

cearrbach wrote: »

mf500 in my opinion, its a better tractor! imo!

Thanks Cearrbach. Why do you recommend the mf500's?

powerfarmer

I always thought that the 500 series is a nicer tractor to drive than the 200s because you are seated slightly higher with a nice uncluttered cab layout and that the 500s were more modern looking, But it depends what your looking for remember that the 200 series was introduced to replace the 100 series as a lower spec lower cost range beside the 500 series and for markets where the 500s integral Q cab was not required.
500s are susceptible to corrosion , the cab floor, lower pillars, and roof front are known rust spots most cab parts and bonnet panels are not available new for them however doors and rear window frames are available but doors are mega money.
500s were built in the UK and France at the same time French built ones with the 8 sp gearbox could give problems , they have a different gear pattern to UK ones, French ones have different in cab details to UK ones.
Most have one door but from 1980 to 82 2 door cabs were built, usually painted red think the silver grey suited them better
200s were fitted with cabs from Cabcraft, Duncan or GKN sankey, the cabcraft usually only on smaller models (265) and was rather noisey. the duncan or sankey are both ok but the controls with the duncan are almost the same as on a 100 series pedals on floor etc sankey a bit better but clutch pedal is VERY heavy to operate

Bonnets and similar bits are available new for 200s as they are still being built in Pakistan, Iran, Poland, India, Brazil and God knows where else

Mechanically there is little difference except the 12 speed syncro gearbox (3 gear lever) is more common on the 200s but was only fitted to 500s late in production . Is is worth having as it makes the tractor quicker for road work. The 8 speed standard trans is probably the most common ..if a bit slow the 12 sp multipower was also available but I wouldnt bother with it.

Independent pto was standard on 500s ,optional on most 200s
Built in spool valves were optional on both but worth having too

IMO a UK built 590 with the silver cab is a classic.

reilig

I thought that the 500 series replaced the 100 series in about 1977/78??? And that the 200 series replaced the 500 series after a long trail of reliability issues with the 500 series.

Most of the 200 series were introduced around 1983-84.

The 500 series were renouned for having engine, gearbox and hydraulic system faults - especially the French made ones. Rust was another major problem with the 500 series. Biggest problem with the 500 series was the common disintegration of pressure plates in the engine transmission leaving you with no PTO. Cabs were cramped - many of the earlier ones had only one door which became a safety issue with modern Health and Safety Laws.
There is a reason why only about 80% of both the 100 series and the 200 series are still on the road in Ireland, whereas over 50% of the 500 series tractors sold in Ireland are currently in scrap yards. A mechanic does not want to see you coming with a 500 series tractor for repairs. Where as they welcome the simpler 200 series as much as the 100 series.

A 290 in comparison to a 590 - well I don't think you can really compare.
Apart from the fact that in the 590 you might be sitting a bit higher in the seat. But reliability wise, the 290 is far ahead, has a much shorter turning circle, can lift more, breaks down less, is easier and cheaper to service and repair, has more cab space and as a personal opinion, looks much better.

Just my twopence worth on it

powerfarmer wrote: »

I always thought that the 500 series is a nicer tractor to drive than the 200s because you are seated slightly higher with a nice uncluttered cab layout and that the 500s were more modern looking, But it depends what your looking for remember that the 200 series was introduced to replace the 100 series as a lower spec lower cost range beside the 500 series and for markets where the 500s integral Q cab was not required.
500s are susceptible to corrosion , the cab floor, lower pillars, and roof front are known rust spots most cab parts and bonnet panels are not available new for them however doors and rear window frames are available but doors are mega money.
500s were built in the UK and France at the same time French built ones with the 8 sp gearbox could give problems , they have a different gear pattern to UK ones, French ones have different in cab details to UK ones.
Most have one door but from 1980 to 82 2 door cabs were built, usually painted red think the silver grey suited them better
200s were fitted with cabs from Cabcraft, Duncan or GKN sankey, the cabcraft usually only on smaller models (265) and was rather noisey. the duncan or sankey are both ok but the controls with the duncan are almost the same as on a 100 series pedals on floor etc sankey a bit better but clutch pedal is VERY heavy to operate

Bonnets and similar bits are available new for 200s as they are still being built in Pakistan, Iran, Poland, India, Brazil and God knows where else

Mechanically there is little difference except the 12 speed syncro gearbox (3 gear lever) is more common on the 200s but was only fitted to 500s late in production . Is is worth having as it makes the tractor quicker for road work. The 8 speed standard trans is probably the most common ..if a bit slow the 12 sp multipower was also available but I wouldnt bother with it.

Independent pto was standard on 500s ,optional on most 200s
Built in spool valves were optional on both but worth having too

IMO a UK built 590 with the silver cab is a classic.

adne

reilig wrote: »

A 290 in comparison to a 590 - well I don't think you can really compare.
Apart from the fact that in the 590 you might be sitting a bit higher in the seat. But reliability wise, the 290 is far ahead, has a much shorter turning circle, can lift more, breaks down less, is easier and cheaper to service and repair, has more cab space and as a personal opinion, looks much better.

Well Said Reilig - There is no comparison, the 590 is renowed for been a ball of Sh one T

reilig

adne wrote: »

Well Said Reilig - There is no comparison, the 590 is renowed for been a ball of Sh one T

A lot of silage contractors bought them in the early 80's for driving those single chop harvestors that were out at the time - they actually turned a lot of MF stalwards away from the Massey and onto other brands - never to return. The populatity of Same, Ford, and John Deere tractors really took off on the back of a poorly manufactured MF at this time. They didn't turn it around much with the production of the 600 series, but made a lot of inroads with the 200 series and topped the class with the 300 series.

powerfarmer

The 500 series was intended to replace the 100 series in 1976 for the UK market ( to comply with UK cab noise regulations) but for countries where those rules didnt apply the 100 series were still being made until the 200s were gradually introduced from 1980. The 200s were initially intended for export markets , the idea was that the main sellers in the UK would be the 500s and the 600s Giving MF a 2 tier range low spec 200s, high spec 600s the 200s were never really intended to be fitted with Q cabs however the 200s sold well as they were cheaper until the 300s came on stream from late 1986 The 600 series replaced the 500s in 1982 and production of the 200s ran in parallel with the 600s and 300s until the closure of the UK factory

French made 500s were known for gearbox problems but it was the French built 595 which gave the series a bad name the factory had little experience of building large tractors and the 595 was known for problems BUT the 595 is mechanically almost totally different to the rest of the 500 series.
The UK built models 550 to 590 shared most of their main parts with the proven 1x8 models from the 100 series

westwicklow

Great information. Thanks to everyone.

GERMAN ROCKS

to be honest id say you would be better stay away from both those series and im a big massey man. they made bullet broof 100 series but didnt make a good tractor again until the 300 series. i would say go for an old fiat such as a fiat 1000 or 980

MrFoxman360

200 series are not bad tractors, and although they may lack the style and comfort of the 500, generally they are more reliable the the 500's as they are newer, and are therefore better designed with the niggling faults done away with (for the most part)

Saying that the 595 was the only bad tractor of the 500's as such, as it was derived from the 1080, and not the 100 series like the others. 1080 was unreliable, so was the 595 and the third attempt, dubbed the 595 mk11 was only marginally better.

personally, I would stilll go for the 500 series, mainly for sentimintal reasons, but they are pretty good. 565 is starting to become a collectors tractor now.

Rust is a problem and getting one with a decent cab door is nearly impossible. brakes on the 550 are useless too by the way, same as the 135 brakes just not near as effective.

adne

Any thoughts on MF 399??

westwicklow

adne wrote: »

Any thoughts on MF 399??

Eh, they're in a different league to the OP.

Francis1

Where would I get a righthand door for a MF 265 sankey cab?

DanFindy

If i were u i would try to stretch my budget to an early 300 series, if ur thinkin about a 265 try to get one with the hydrostatic steering, the oil steering was fierce bad on em, 290s are a good tractor but a bit underpowered, the 500 series tractors are grand but u would have to try source a low hours one definately a uk built one too and under no circumstances touch a 595 they were about the biggest pile of sh88e massey ever built.

Francis1

Where would I get a righthand door for a MF 265 sankey cab?

cedan

The 290 came with 3 different cabs, the lambourn, Sankey and Duncan. I have a 290 with a Lambourn and would advise you to stay away from this one. Very poorly thought out cab and im sure that it is the reason for my back problems:mad: The Duncan, to me appears to be the nicest.

Multi power is always an issue with the old masseys and it is, possibly, the only major problem with the 290s. When my father bought it, the multi power had asbestos discs in it which gave up after a couple of years. Hereplaced them with bronze ones(I think) and the multi power hasn't been looked at since. The problem with it now is that we can't get the lever to work right to engage it so i'm constantly jumping down with a screwdriver to flick it, making it a little pointless:rolleyes:

Other than that, our 290 is a good solid workhorse. It used to work with a contractor on an 8ft mower when new, then on a silage pit/pulling 16ft trailers. After 10 years of that it retired and to this day, it works everyday with a loader on the farm, and can still bale 300 round bales every summer. All this and the engine still hasn't been touched. This is a testiment to how reliable it is, if a little old fashioned.

The 590s are not so good. The same contractor(a cousin) had one at the same time(its now rotting in a ditch in his yard). Wonderful tractor to drive, very comfortable. 2 door cabs are the ones to go for here. Tend to rot VERY badly at the door hinges/bottom of the doors/under the seat/top of the cab.....

Multi power causes the same issues, so go for the 8 speed if possible.

The biggest problem with them, is that the back end casing used to actually split in two. They can be welded back together(ive seen it done) but this is a testiment to their poor build quality in general. Back ends were like butter in them. As a couple of people rightly pointed out here, mechanics(even in the recession) will turn them away from their door.

All depends what you want from your tractor really. If you just want a runabout for tippin round with a transport box, go for a 590(can be got for around half the price of a 290). A turbo works quite well on them too, 25% increases, alot of bang for your buck(you'll nead to strengthen the engine though).

My advice though would be to buy yourself a nice 290 with a Duncan cab(NOT LAMBOURN!!!!)

Slidey

Informative post cedan.

Welcome to Boards.

Francis1

Thanks very much for this contribution, which I found very useful

cedan

Thanks guys.

@Francis1, try Conatys in county meath for a 265 door, they have a pretty extensive range of stuff there.

edit: sorry, just read the post in the Wanted forum!

Francis1

I have been trying Conatys on a regular basis over the last nine months without success but the doors are scarce

Geezer1000

Francis1 wrote: »

I have been trying Conatys on a regular basis over the last nine months without success but the doors are scarce

Try carrolls engineering in ardee

Francis1

will do, thanks very much

foreman

Any thoughts on the 375.. would you recommend 30k or 40k box..

9935452

foreman wrote: »

Any thoughts on the 375.. would you recommend 30k or 40k box..

i believe 1st is geared fairly high in the 40k s. If you are pulling a big load behind you it can be hard to start off