Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles TRACTORSZetor launches 131-171hp four-cylinder Series 6 tractorsZetor may have drifted off the UK farming radar, but the Czech firm intends to bounce back – starting with a new 131-171hp Series 6 range. It encompasses three four-cylinder… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2025A flurry of newcomers in the 90-130hp range destined for livestock and mixed-enterprise farms are the main changes to this year’s Farmers Weekly Ultimate Guide to tractors. See also: Fendt tractors:… TRACTORSDriver's view: Sisto family's 7-year-old New Holland T7.210A dependable engine, solid transmissions and keen pricing have made New Holland’s T7.210 one of the most popular six-cylinder workhorses on the market. It might not be the most powerful… MACHINERYValtra dealers have stock tractors available right NOW!Your compact farm hero If you are looking for a compact tractor that delivers big productivity and all-day comfort, look no further than the A Series. The cab is ergonomic… TRACTORSMassey to source sub-80hp tractors from SDF GroupProduction at SDF Group – maker of Deutz-Fahr, Same and Lamborghini-branded tractors – will get a shot in the arm from a new supply agreement with Agco for selected models… TRACTORSDriver's view: Tom Lamb's 9-year-old Massey 7718 Dyna-6For many mixed and arable farms, Massey Ferguson nailed the sweet spot between power and size with its 200hp 7718. This was the middle model – and biggest small-framer –… MACHINERY MAINTENANCEJohn Deere makes it easier for owners to repair tractorsAdditional resources making it easier for owners and independent workshops to carry out maintenance and repairs on John Deere equipment are being made available. The move largely expands repair options… Tractor reviews and testsSee all TRACTORSOn test: Case's double-clutch gearbox in the 145hp MaxxumDouble-clutch gearboxes have long been a must-have for Audi’s slick-shifting saloons, but the DSG concept has now found favour with farmers looking for similarly snappy acceleration in their tractors. John… TRACTORSOn test: JCB Fastrac 4220There’s no tractor quite like the JCB Fastrac. Since it hit the market in 1991, this equal-wheeled workhorse has found multiple vocations from high-speed haulage to self-propelled spraying and spreading.… TRACTORSDriver’s view: Versatile Delta Track - brawn on a budgetWhen Case-IH chose to bolt four track units to one of its articulated prairie monsters it created a new tractor concept that had no direct rivals for more than 15… TRACTORSVideo: On test - John Deere 6250R v 7250RThe 250hp tractor market is bulging at the seams, so picking the model that provides the best balance of power, chassis size, transmission and fuel consumption requires careful consideration. In… 101-200HPKioti bids to undercut rivals with 140hp HX tractorName an up-and-coming East Asian tractor manufacturer that starts with K and has a penchant for orange paint. The Pointless answer, for fans of the BBC's favourite teatime quiz, is… 201-300HPFirst impressions: Deutz-Fahr's 287hp 8280 TTVDeutz-Fahr has pinned its high-horsepower hopes on a new 8-series range that it reckons has the power, speed and hydraulic capacity to compete with the sector’s biggest sellers. There’s currently… 301-400HPFirst drive: Case-IH’s Magnum 340 AFS ConnectCase-IH has cloaked its new Magnum range in an overcoat of technology as it bids to keep pace with the front runners in the high-horsepower tractor market. The original Magnum,… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: John Deere 6115MPower Farming Verdict: 3.3/5 Deere’s build quality and logical arrangement of controls has been the force behind its perennial success. It also had a strong engine, but being the smallest… TRACTORSFirst impressions: Valtra's new Q305 tractorA two-year reshuffle of Valtra’s entire tractor range, including a new G-series and updates to the As, Ns and Ts, culminated this summer with the launch of a quintet of… TRACTORSRound-up of designer tractor ballast boxes with tool storageA ballast block that doubles as a spacious storage container is rapidly becoming fashionable for tractors operated on arable or mixed enterprise units. Some have been conceived by enterprising operators themselves… MACHINERYTop-end tractor test: Case IH Magnum 340Power Farming Verdict: 3.6/5 The Fiat engine performed well, especially under full load, and is in its element on heavy draft work. The engine-transmission automation system and mechanically efficient gearbox… TRACTORSOn test: Claas Arion 440 CISThe Claas is all geared up for loader work, with brilliant views through the roof window, a clever speed steering system and clutch-pedal-free braking. However, it was short of power… Tractor buying advice Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2024 6 simple, low-cost loader tractor options Tips for buying a second-hand Challenger MT765E tractor The inspection service helping buyers spot dodgy tractors Handy checklist for buying a second-hand tractor Buying a tractor? How to make sense of engine statistics Understanding CVT and powershift transmissions when buying a tra... Legal tips for buying and selling second-hand machinery Tractor guidesSee all TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: Wood-fuelled tractorsIt might sound a bit wacky, but tractors have the potential to be powered by wood – as proven by several farming inventions over the years. The tractor fuel produced… TRACTORSWhat to look for when buying and fitting a tractor dashcamDrive a tractor on the road for any length of time and you are bound to see some form of reckless manoeuvre from an impatient motorist. Most of the time,… TRACTORSClaas tractors: Common problems and how to fix themAmassing a sales tally of roughly 600 tractors a year at the last count makes Claas the eighth most popular tractor brand in the UK, just behind Valtra. And of… MACHINERYOn test: 9-series takes Deutz tractors over 300hpDeutz-Fahr is a tractor builder on a mission. It has followed up the launch of its 6- and 7-series CVTs with another tractor range that pushes the company’s boundaries well… MACHINERYTips for buying a 350hp Cat Challenger C-series on a budgetShopping for a 350hp tractor with less than £30,000 in your back pocket brings up precious few options in the UK. But if you keep your eyes peeled you might… TRACTORSDriver's view: Case Rowtrac reduces compaction in SuffolkWhen it was time to chuck in the chief high-horsepower tractor at Home Farm Nacton, Suffolk, production manager Jason Smith decided to break from the norm and took a punt… TRACTORSVideo: Valtra T174 Versu tractor on testValtra has made huge progress with its T-series tractors over the past couple of years, so it was no surprise that it ranked so highly in our test. Its cab… TRACTORSDriver’s view: 1997 Case-IH Magnum 7230After a series of pricey breakdowns with newer tractors, Leicestershire contractors Leon and Simon Smith decided to try some older, simpler horsepower. The pair’s mechanical woes came to a head… TRACTORSVideo: We try out John Deere's monster 8400RIf you missed our test report from the week we spent with John Deere’s monster 8400R, you can now watch the video to give you a flavour of what the… MACHINERYTop-end tractors put to the ultimate testThe test Engines Transmissions Hydraulics Cabs Test process AdBlue We’ve gathered together the most powerful wheeled tractors on the market for a monster multitest. And for the first time ever… TECHNOLOGYDiesel-electric drives offer give cheaper tractor powerThe Autonomous Tractor Corporation (ATC) has found a way to recycle old tractors to get another 25,000 hours of labour from a wornout workhorse. The US company, tucked away in… MACHINERYDriver's view: McCormick MTX 150Driver's verdict I like the simplicity of the McCormick. The gearbox is easy to use, the hydraulics are basic and there are no high-tech electronics to make things complicated. It… Tractor technologySee all TRACTORSFully autonomous John Deere tractor approved for productionJohn Deere has announced that its fully autonomous tractor will go into large-scale production this year. The driverless 8R is the first of its kind for the American manufacturer, and… Knott self-adjusting brake claims to give easier servicingBurton-on-Trent brake manufacturer Knott-Avonride has launched what it claims is the first automatically adjusting system for auto-reverse brakes for livestock trailers. Its universal brake system differs from other systems on the market… TECHNOLOGYEngineer adapts Kubota tractors for driverless contractingPlenty of manufacturers have had a stab at building a driverless tractor – Case-IH has one based on a Magnum, Kubota’s attempt is a quirky-looking tracked contraption and John Deere… Road legalSee all MACHINERYTractors on the road: Rights, wrongs, rules and regulationsWhen harvest is in full swing, tractors take to the roads up and down the country. It may seem unfair to farmers and contractors, but the presence of a greater… Tractor insights and practical adviceSee all WORKSHOP SKILLSMassey Ferguson tractors: Common problems and how to fix themFor the mechanically minded operator, it’s often possible to carry out minor repairs in the farm workshop. But with tractors getting ever more complex, there’s an increasing number of jobs… TRACTORS6 simple, low-cost loader tractor optionsIn the small loader tractor sector, the demand is for simple, reliable tractors that will get the job done with minimal expense. Most of the big manufacturers offer models to… MACHINERYTractors on the road: Rights, wrongs, rules and regulationsWhen harvest is in full swing, tractors take to the roads up and down the country. It may seem unfair to farmers and contractors, but the presence of a greater… TRACTORSLinkage-mounted mudguard options to reduce mud splatterFactory-fitted fenders might do a half decent job of keeping your tractor clean, but they offer implements little protection against being pebble-dashed with mud, road grime and stones. This is… MACHINERYLynx's new Agribumper variable front weight and bumper systemThe latest addition to the growing product range offered by importer, Lynx Engineering, the Agribumper range of variable front weight and tractor bumper systems provides real flexibility for farmers requiring… Buying the right tractor: part 2 - transmissionIn part 1 of this feature we tackled the basics of tractor selection before evaluating power choice and the costs and benefits of ‘power boost’ options. In this section, we… TRACTORSWorn-out tractor seats: How to refurbish or replace themThousands of hours subjected to bouncing backsides, grubby overalls and flatulence can take its toll on a tractor seat. But considering it’s such a crucial contributor to driver comfort, this… MACHINERYUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2018Our ultimate guide to 50hp-plus tractors available in Britain has been published online for 2018 with a host of changes from last year’s edition. With the removal of discontinued models… TRACTORSTips for maintaining a JCB Fastrac 2170Hip-busting dry clutches, a tanker-like turning circle and shonky wiring are just a few of the common grumbles levelled at early JCB Fastrac models. The list of ailments has been… ARABLEAnalysis: Could technology kill off diesel tractors?Car manufacturers are making great strides in electric drive technology and the death of diesel and petrol engines will be seen as early as 2019 for one major manufacturer. Volvo… TRACTORS£50k Sabanto Steward kit gets Fendt 700 working autonomouslyLong, lonely hours spent cultivating, drilling and mowing could be a thing of the past with the advent of a plug-in kit that can get any autosteer-ready tractor operating autonomously.… TRACTORSHandy checklist for buying a second-hand tractorHaving a comprehensive checklist to hand when going to view a second-hand tractor could make the difference between bringing home a stalwart and shelling out for a disaster. The second-hand… VideoSee all VIDEO: Claas ups its 100hp offeringClaas has broadened its Arion range to offer three new models in the 100hp to 130hp bracket. Slotting in between the existing Axos 300 range, which spans the 75-105hp… VIDEO: MF5475 and 5480 tractors: Which is best?Four or six cylinders? It's a debate that has raged for decades and is not one that will be settled easily. To make some sense of it, Nick Fone got… MACHINERYGrassland UK: McCormick X70 makes UK debut[fwi_vidyard code="koYUDkQ3R1yidzwP-OsKNA"] Grassland provided the launch-pad for McCormick’s latest range of 150hp to 214hp tractors. Now dubbed as the X70 series, five new models replace outgoing TTX and XTX machines.… MACHINERYVideo: Furse four tractor test: Fendt 718 VarioThe Fendt 718 is expensive, but it's a top-quality contractor's tractor, has excellent fuel consumption and has been the most reliable machine on test. The cab is a bit on…
