Notice...you said AgRo, I said AGCO . Either way, I was wrong on that point. Landini has never OWNED Massey. Pre '94, AGCO had the North American Marketing rights to Landini tractors (that's what I was thinking about) Same/Deutz-Fahr owns LAMBORGHINI (whoops, wrong L)
I appologize for that point, Bill!

NOW, about this Landini/MF. It is a Red 385 MF right??? Buy it new?? What year??
Like I said, Massey has sold the "molds" for it's discontinued models for years....and I just looked in my guide book, couldn't find a MF 385 anywhere. Found 383's, 384 Orchards, and 390's.

I haven't looked at the Landini's for quite some time, but the last one I looked at was nothing like the Massey's we've ever sold in the last 12 years...From the 200 series clear to the 8100 series HHP models. Just FYI, the 200's (now 400's) series tractors are the cheaper models...basically an updated Ford 8N diesel. The nicer models are what is similar to the AGCO models.

What I am sure of is Landini NEVER "owned" Massey Ferguson. AGCO bought MF in 94 as the largest tractor manufacturer in the WORLD for 30+ years running...Landini couldn't afford it I aslso noticed on that link you posted Bill that McCormick and Landini are both owned by Agro...which would lead me to believe that the Landini's are somewhat similar to McCormicks (Read maybe, haven't looked, but I know what the McCormicks are)

I'm finished (for) now...I love a good tractor debate, Your turn.
Chris

 

I know i cannot go wrong with a green colored tractor, but I found that the Kubota's are a little cheaper. But there is a Dist. Center for Deere down in Columbus. That would be handy if something did go wrong with a Deere
All of these choices, so little money!

 

Where are you located??? You say Columbus...Ohio, Georgia, Where. If it's the one in Columbus, Ohio they're closing it in the next two years.

Just trying to help,
Chris

 

I dont know where you heard that the columbus parts center is closeing but it is one of the largest deere has and supplies most of the north east US

 

Bought my red M-F Landini new in '90, it's a 385 GE (Ground Effect)

Here you go, check this Landini info out http://www.jml.co.nz/tractors_new.htm

If you have a high speed connection go here http://www.landini.it/eng/az_storia.htm
Says MF bought Landini in 1959 and they began making MFs
MF sold out in 1989 and Landini continued making MF and still does even though they were acquired by AGCO in 1993.
1986 shows a red MF Landini tractor like the one I have.

 

Chris is right, I'm afraid. My co-worker's wife got transfered here, about a 1 1/2 yrs ago, or so. She works for Deere, and that is what they told her.

 

where is "here" What does she do for deere? I work as a service tech for deere but we haven't heard anything, 90% of our parts come through columbus, if so I wonder where there going to come from now?

 

Hoyt,
Just so that you know, Kubota's Northern division is in Columbus, Ohio also. There is the sales, service, and parts in that place for the whole Northeast US. PM me if you are in the Columbus area and need the name and number of a good dealer.
Andy

 

Boy Infidel, You and I are sure good at back and forth!

But, I do see where we are both right...MF is not owned by Landini, never has been. However...Landini did, and probably still does, build some models (orchard, vineyard, and such) for MF in other markets (non North American). The reason I say some, is I know for a fact that SAME builds the Orchard/Vineyard tractors for MF for the North American market (with Perkins engines of course).

Did you buy your tractor from a MF dealer??? I couldn't tell you what models were offered then (I was 5 ) or who built them.

I hope I've got it straightened out "a bit," I'm sure you'll point out another flaw in my story . I wish we'd been a dealer all along, then I might know more than what happened after AGCO.

BTW, here are the NA "Specialty" MF's : http://www.masseyferguson.agcocorp.c...cfm?pid=1.7.26
http://www.masseyferguson.agcocorp.c...cfm?pid=1.7.81
http://www.masseyferguson.agcocorp.c...cfm?pid=1.7.24
These are the SAME built units.

Go Ahead Bill, make me backpeddle again, (I feel like the Deere dealer north of us now
Chris)

 

Think we're even now, we both were wrong on some points. One thing I found when searching for MF info was that the 30 hp and smaller Masseys have been built by dozens of different companies. Found it interesting, should have saved the link, don't feel like searching again though.

 

Don't worry, I know the little ones have been built all over....they were one of the main reasons we went with the MF line 10-12 years ago, we needed a compact. When we picked them up, the 1200 series, they were being built in Japan by Iseki.
They are "basically" the same tractor today, and they have been EXCELLENT. Only problems are with safety switches , other than that, a seal here, about 1 water pump a year on 150 different tractors (that we've sold, don't know how many the old dealers sold), and other than that routine maintainence.

If you're looking at 17-55 Engine HP, don't be a bit afraid to look at a Massey (Or AGCO or CHALLENGER, same tractors, different sheetmetal and paint)

Win Column:
Chris-.5, Bill-Lost count.5
Chris

 

She works for Deere, in Moline, IL. Not sure what all she does, other than handle the different shipping companies. Always looking for the companies that have the best shipping rates and service, to help keep costs down. Fred told me where the parts would be coming from, but don't recall where. Didn't make much sense to me, it will be farther away for you.

 

Make no mistake, the Columbus Depot is closing in the next two years...Deere is "negotiating" with our local Deere "Dealer ) to build a warehouse for them to use as a depot.

Not sure what's gonna happen...
Chris

 

New Holland TN series, a little more $ than the Kubota, but you get what you pay for.

 

We just got the news today, columbus closes in february of 06, parts for us will now come from indy