renewablejohn

The engine is a TY290 and has far more torque than the 3 cyl version which replaced it. Also has fewer parts to go wrong.

Well I think I now know what has happened. I have rotated the clutch lever to enable the slave cylinder to be 50% compressed. The slave cylinder is now working properly with clutch pedal operating as normal however the clutch is still not working so I think Tyz05 is right the clutch is worn and will need to be replaced. Time to call in the professionals and watch the decline in my bank balance. Thanks to all for suggestions

I thought CE marking was more a retailing issue in Europe as a means for stopping foreign imports. ie you cannot import goods without CE mark and retail throughout Europe but you can direct import goods without CE mark for own personal us. At present direct importing a 2 cyl tractor from china without CE mark as it is not approved for EU emissions standards for road use. Totally irrelevant as it will never be used on the road.

What do you need to do to get that. I applied spending ages filling forms in on our 15 acres and received £100 then spent the next 3 years arguing how many acres we have after they deduct off for the stream that flows through the land and the temporary shed we built which knocked off 0.12 of an acre which then made the claim invalid. RPA has a lot to answer for. After that I gave up as for £100 it was not worth the effort but for £1500 I might reconsider.

Started tractor up and tried to put in gear it appeared the clutch was not working. Checked clutch fluid level and it was two thirds down so topped up and retried still did not work. Followed pipes down for leaks and slave cylinder rubber boot split with pin dangling down. (Basically slave cylinder u/s). Bought new slave cylinder and fitted. Clutch has not been adjusted since I bought the MB Trac so will see what I need to do to adjust it if no joy with bleeding overnight.

Why not just drive it back. The ferry lands in Liverpool and there is plenty of country roads to North Wales. Nice way of seeing the countryside but then I do enjoy cruising on country roads at the legal 20mph. I did consider a combine from Oxford to Bolton but that was a journey to far.

Thanks all At the moment I have connected a pipe to the bleed nipple on the slave cylinder with the pipe higher than the master cylinder. Pressing the pedal pumps fluid out the pipe. I will leave overnight to see if air bubbles migrate out. Looking at my other MB Trac the clutch lever seems to compress the slave cylinder by half whereas the slave cylinder is fully extended on the one I am trying to fix. Although it will compress with the use of a crow bar. Is there a spring mechanism in the clutch which compresses the slave cylinder.

Have just fitted a new clutch slave cylinder and trying to bleed it doing the normal plastic tube in a bottle trick. Clutch pedal remains rock solid but will go down as you bleed it. Have even lifted clutch lever up fully retracting slave cylinder and then tightened bleed nipple up. First pump of pedal and the pedal is rock solid again. Any suggestions what I am doing wrong or do you think its sods law that both the clutch cylinder and slave cylinder have gone at the same time.

I only have 15 acres and looking for more all the time. We tried getting the subsidies but for the amount of effort put in I was disappointed with the £100 it achieved. Quite frankly I prefer doing my own thing rather than dictated to by subsidy rules. Do bear in mind the tax benefits of running a farm but it is a double edge sword as the revenue are very anti small farmers and have very draconian rules if you cant make a profit once every 5 years. Do consider inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning even before buying the land. All that said in your circumstances I would first look at ways you can generate income from renewable energy bearing in mind every 1kw generator equates to 1k per annum in income. Start with looking at hydro, wind, then solar for the topography of your land and establish a cost benefit analysis for each. At the moment renewables are the easiest part of farming to finance and could incorporate your land purchase. I avoid animals on our farm as your tied to a daily routine. Woodland is good and a source of tax free income after 2 years but bear in mind potential conflict with a wind turbine and solar.

Our set up is similar to Theocus apart from the processor being at the end of the polytunnel as I dont like getting wet. We also load direct into IBC container frames and stack direct into the polytunnel. Delivery of IBC container either by pallet fork on the back of the tractor or 7.5 tonne curtainside with tail lift and hand pallet forks

Dont think the pump is much of a problem after 12 years and over 6000 hours. If your worried about lube you could always mix in a bit of hydraulic oil.

Might sound controversial but have you tried running the engine on kerosene rather than diesel. Our chinese tractor we bought new from the factory and did not smoke. Put red diesel in and it started slight smoking and the power was less. Went looking through the engine specs and found engine was designed for kerosene use as that is the common fuel in China. The added advantage has been no problems with injectors clogging up which the engines have a reputation for.

I purchased my concrete bog mats from Wolfenden concrete near Barnoldswick in Lancs. They sometime have reject stock or cancelled orders going cheap so worth a check every so often. 45 gallon drums with a bar through 2/3 way up filled with concrete are simple but effective. Can still move with tractor hydraulics on the bar.

If you wanted both winch and a blade try this 1985 CAT D3B Machines - Pipelayers For Sale At MachineryTrader.com

This is what you want and under 10k absolute bargain 1967 CAT 561B Machines - Pipelayers For Sale At MachineryTrader.com

Even keeping in long lengths is no longer a deterrent. Had about 10 tonnes taken overnight all in 5mtr and over lengths. Obviously came armed with chainsaws fortunately it is a locked site so only timber close to the exit taken.

I could do you kindling as well as briquettes, wood pellets, and G30 spec woodchip.

No this is what you want with a big winch Field Marshall Tractors for Sale only problem will be costing more than the 155

I know it was a daft question but looking at that forwarder it is not so different to my MB Trac and forwarder. My Kesla trailer is equipped with power rams for off setting the trailer with tracks being a standard option. If the MB steering was locked straight and tracks fitted would this be a poor mans solution. If the trailer steering was not sufficient then independent hand brake steering of the rear wheels would act as normal caterpillar track levers. Any problem with this theory.

Stu How do you steer that forwarder with band tracks on. Do you just use the brake pedal to lock whichever rear wheel.

You could be eligible for upto 50% on the new parts but there will be no grant available on the 2nd hand dozer so I would not discount it straight away until you do the sums.

Dont tell the punters that the stoves are efficient otherwise they will buy less logs. I know what you mean I have a Dunsley Yorkshire and Dunsley Highlander neither of which you can tell are burning from the chimney pots but boy do they bang the heat out.

You could just convert your MB Trac with some Mattracks Mattracks | Select Tracks by Vehicle

I think you will have a hard time selling crates at £45 when you can pick IBC cages up for between £10 to £20.

I am sure fastracs were targeted in a sting operation around use as an awful lot of farmers were done in a short period of time. The message did get out and very few risk it if they do other operations besides farming which most do.