For the mechanically minded operator, information technology'due south often possible to carry out pocket-size repairs in the farm workshop. But with tractors getting e'er more complex, there's an increasing number of jobs that require expert noesis and equipment.

We spoke to independent Massey Ferguson tractor specialist Steve Hodges near some common issues.

After 21 years working for a Herefordshire machinery dealer, Steve Hodges set up his ain repair business organization, which he'due south been running for the past three years.

He specialises in Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Deutz tractors, plus Merlo telehandlers, all of which he worked on while he was an engineer for Pallisers of Hereford.

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Equally well equally carrying out running repairs, he also takes on complete restoration projects.

Below, we accept a look at some of Mr Hodges' recent repairs and he offers a few tips to reduce the likelihood of costly breakdowns.

Steve Hodges next to his van

6480 oil pump failure

The ubiquitous 6480 had a build run of more eight years, with early versions featuring a Perkins engine and subsequently models a Sisu.

Problems with the Sisu cake are almost unheard of, but Tier 2 and Tier 3 Perkins 1106 engines can requite trouble, most of which are linked to the oil pump.

Thankfully, engine failures are pretty rare, but recently a Tier 2 model did take the oil pump pack up completely, causing the engine to seize. In this case, the gear driving the pump dropped off and acquired i of the pistons to seize in the bore.

The result was a complete engine rebuild, with new pistons, liners, a reground creepo, new cylinder head and turbo, which had too been starved of oil. The price to put information technology correct was about £vi,500.

There was nothing the operator could do to foreclose this particular breakdown, only thankfully it's a rare occurrence.

A more common oil pump problem is plant on Tier 3 Perkins engines, which is easier to diagnose earlier serious damage is acquired.

In these tractors, the bolts property the pump together tin can snap, causing information technology to spring open up when it speeds up.

This results in a pulsing of the oil pressure and the light on the dash will wink on and off, accompanied by an error lawmaking.

Replacement pumps toll £265 and fitting is a xvi-hour task.

Injectors on Tier 3 Perkins blocks are another mutual trouble, and the symptoms are poor starting and an engine knock at depression engine rpm.

Replacement injectors cost about £450 each and take ii to four hours to supervene upon.

Flywheel dampers

A adequately regular Massey Ferguson breakup is the flywheel damper, and Mr Hodges has replaced a few in recent months.

The symptoms of a failed unit are a complete loss of drive and a fairly unpleasant banging noise emanating from the bell housing.

Massey Ferguson flywheel damper

It typically fails between iv,000 and 6,000 hours, when the plates clothing through the casing.

Replacement dampers price about £350 and fitting one is a practiced twenty-four hour period'southward labour for an experienced mechanic – most of the work involves splitting the tractor.

A recent example fixed by Mr Hodges was on a 5455, but most models suffer in the same manner.

Brakes and handbrake

Similar all tractors that run a single-oil organisation, it tin exist a serious trouble if the brakes are worn downwardly to the metallic.

A blocked filter alert light is a practiced indication that the fibre on the discs has started to break upwards, and if this happens, the operator should stop driving immediately.

If information technology's caught at this stage, it's commonly fairly straightforward to flush out the organization, but if the tractor is driven for any length of time with the plates metal to metal, filings tin pass through the whole back finish.

A ready of brake discs for a 6400-serial tractor cost £240 and fitting takes eight to 10 hours.

Handbrakes can too neglect, typically as a result of operators driving with it engaged.

This faux pas causes the minor, ceramic brake discs to wearable out fairly rapidly.

The discs cost nigh £40 each and there are two or three in the assembly, depending on the model.

They're accessed through a side panel on the dorsum terminate and replacement takes about a day. All the same, a 6485 has a different back end, so the job can take up to 2 days.

Dyna-6 transmission range modify solenoids

Range changes on the Dyna-6 manual are performed electronically via a bank of four solenoids on the side of the manual, and these can play upwardly.

If the tractor won't shift between ranges or information technology refuses to movement altogether, these could be the culprits. Occasionally, the switches that are linked to these solenoids are besides to blame.

Both are simple to supercede – the solenoids cost about £125 and the switches £60.

Mechanically, the Dyna-6 is pretty tough, but versions fitted on larger tractors (such as the 6499) don't like being knocked nigh past a big square baler.

The repeated heavy jolting of the ram can cause premature synchro vesture and, in extreme cases, shear off driveshafts.

Therefore, tractors with Vario transmissions are a better bet for this sort of work.

Rear differential

Rear diffs can occasionally give trouble, and a contempo failure was on a 6480, where the bolts sheared and the diff was establish floating around the dorsum stop.

The symptoms were a loss of bulldoze to the rear wheels (pregnant it would only motility in four-wheel bulldoze) and a heavy banging dissonance from the back.

Fixing it involved removing the pinnacle cover – a job that can be done without removing the cab – taking off the rear axles and bolting the diff dorsum in place.

Parts price about £1,000 and it took more than than 20 hours to fix.

6400-series spool valve detents

Spool valve detents on 6400-series tractors take a habit of rusting up, making it near impossible to move the levers.

For these tractors, Massey merely sells the complete valve, which costs about £i,000.

Massey Ferguson spool valve detents

Nonetheless, information technology is possible to get agree of detents for 7600 series tractors, which can be modified to fit and only cost £100.

Information technology'southward a fiddly job, only the cost saving means it's time well spent.

Linkage top arm splines

On most Massey models, linkage top arm spines wear over time to the point that they can slip and occasionally break the castings.

The problem is exacerbated when the machine is doing a lot of typhoon work or has heavy side loads, such equally a mounted mower or hedgetrimmer.

It'south mostly worth replacing the top arms and shaft together, which cost most £880. It takes roughly iv hours.

Bottom-of-clutch switch

Most Massey tractors from the 6200-series onwards have a clutch switch that tin play up and cause a loss of drive after the pedal has been depressed. Occasionally, it's accompanied by an fault code on the dash.

The aptly named Bottom Of Clutch Switch is situated in the pedal box, and one time it has been replaced, the problem should be solved without whatever boosted programming or calibration.

Replacement switches cost about £80.