The vehicle that you keep asking to see! Our Landlords Massey Ferguson 690 - LMM Drives episode 28

Hello good people of the Internet,
Today we're looking at a vehicle that keeps being requested from you guys in the comments every time you catch sight of it - and it's not one of mine! Today we're looking at our Landlords Massey Ferguson 690 tractor.
A video featuring:
Lawrie - Presenter, happy to be back on a tractor,
Ash - Presenter, newly appointed to the team,
Matt - Cameraman and secret tractor fan.
A video edited by Lawrie.
A big thank you to our Landlord for letting us take the 690 out for a play.
... And for putting up with us for the rest of the time.
Want more info on us and the stuff in The Shed, or want to get in contact? Check out our Website!
lawriesmechanicalmarvels.com/
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[@trevorhaddox6884]

30:20 pretty advanced tech for 1894! XD

[@johnt7232]

I had a 698T was a great tractor , was the first tractor i bought myself when i took over the farm when my late father retired, loved it

[@stevengrieve678]

I drove a 690 and 699 in the 90s for 4 years, cracking old tools

[@biancalopez7458]

Hello, I have a MF690 tractor and recently the three-point linkage stopped working. Does anyone know what could be the cause?

[@tommyzoo]

Really enjoyed the video and good to see a 600 in such good and original condition. I spent many happy years driving a 690 4wd with an MF80 Loader. Very tough and reliable machines. A couple of points though ! The turbo version was not a 690T but was a 698T which used the 236 Perkins engine and was one of the first to use a wategate turbo. They were brilliant machines with 90 hp. The 236 was an amazing engine which was a much better starter on cold mornings than the 248 and you couldn't break them. The front grill was a clever design poorly executed with the lights issues you raise. The side lights were cured by the cover that came on the later 85 models. The 600 series actually sold pretty well and are a nicely sorted machine. The rotten ( rust ) cabs were pretty quiet and the Synchro 12 was one of the toughest boxes anywhere, The splitter was actually really good when carting heavy loads when a drop to second was too much and a flick of the wrist had you in a slightly lower gear that you got used to using on roads close to your farm. It is all in the use of them on a daily basis. Also the hook links were brilliant for its year and the external control was actually far easier to use than you showed lol !! My issues with the tractor was the angle of the clutch and brakes meant you had to kind of step down on them from a weird angle whereas the pedals on the 500 series were at the perfect angle. Also the spools were too short really to make loader work comfortable albeit easily modified. The tractor was an obvious stop gap between the 500 and the biggest change to the 3000 series. These are often misunderstood machines but still drive well today and are generally tough as hell. There are clearly people who had issues with them, much as any makes, but the spine of the machine and the Perkins engines made them good farm tractors

[@HeavyTanker-vx4oq]

Oh, really like that new intro.

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@Cliffdog01]

What I like most is the sound it makes every time you hit the throttle it sounded very tractor and I liked that a lot.

[@Steve-bo6ht]

Thanks for getting Ash on board he's an incredible mechanic 👍

[@TractorTen]

Thats a tidy one,those cabs tend to rot ,a lot

[@lmm]

It's not in bad shape!

[@HRHDuke]

Ahh a blast from my past. I have spent hours and hours in one of those, it was a great machine :) This was in West Sussex, in the mid 80's on a 750 acre farm. We loved it but I do recall it blew a big end whilst still new and under warranty...phew!

[@tompaah7503]

Looks brand spanking new, most of the 600-series had large problems with rusting cabs. Doors mostly rotted and the rear mounting to the frame tends to look quite bad too. I have a 675 4WD and the front axle works perfectly, it has about 8000 hours on the clock.

[@lmm]

It's not in bad shape - been stored inside most of its life

[@adamcrane1436]

Good morning @@lmm how many subscribers do you have

[@lmm]

@@adamcrane1436 you can see that on the channel homepage

[@michaelhealy7964]

One of the best Massey's ever made

[@lmm]

It's not bad is it

[@simonbroddle754]

Spent hours in a 690. Loved the tractor, great memories. The Grammer seat was bouncy and not as nice as the Bostrom. I did rewire the headlights as they were problematical. This one looks like it's on 12 x 38. There was an option for 16 x 38 as well. I think the regional sales are down to the dealership network & support.

[@HarryStephenson]

Thanks Lawrie been asking about that for a long time.

[@lmm]

You're welcome

[@randyeller8139]

Love the Perkins engine! My cousin who’s taken over the farming around here has a couple of smaller Massey Fergusons with canopies but not the cab. Weird fact: the MF 275 two wheel drive tie rod end is the same as a ‘57 Chevy Bel Air! Great video!

[@jvmalta081]

wow ! you stepped up some notches in the signature tune keep u the good work!

[@gillespie6587]

That tractor looks so amazing for its age

[@bentullett6068]

That's a really great example of this age Masey Ferguson tractor. It's rare we see newer New Holland TM series tractors coming in to the dealership I work at in this condition.

[@charliedymond479]

Nah they stuck Turbo on the 390 - we had a 390T. Grand video 👍👍👍

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

Well done guys! I enjoyed that! :-)

[@darren-cottageatelier8962]

welcome back, great new intro... loved the video, welcome to the team Ash :-)

[@SandPVRR]

"You are such a tractor nerd" - Brilliant!

[@ianrx122]

Good to see you guys out doing what you enjoy. Nice camera work by the secret tractor fan. Really like the drone shot near the end.

[@xfilesseasonteneponeandsix8346]

My neighbour in ontario canada has this exact tractor with a loader and more beat up.. just cleared the snow off our driveway

[@lmm]

Oh that's super!

[@johndeere7245]

The reason you see Italia in the cab is because the cab was produced in Italy and not in France with the rest of the tractor. A/C is pitiful on those tractors, absolutely pitiful, 300 series wasn't any better in that department. The Multipower is actually older than the splitter transmission, Multipower came out in the 60's as a powershift splitter transmission, no clutch. Had a 399 with the three stick 12 speed, you worry but it is a simple transmission to shift, the split is syncronized, no different running up through the gears as a twin stick truck transmission and it didn't freewheel in low like Multipower and you can shift in high without binding unlike Multi. I've only ever seen very few 600 series Masseys here in South Georgia USA, two as a matter of fact, both 699, one with a cab and one with a 4 post ROPS. 298's were more popular here, the 80's were tough and 298's were cheap reliable power, had one of those too and you couldn't kill it, it was traded for the 399. It is funny you mention hook end links, we don't have them here, everything here is specced with extendalink lower hitches with the balls, and double acting remotes should not have been too new, 175's if they had factory remote valves should have had double acting valves, only the selector valves like a 35 had were 1 way.

[@pamelawhitfield4570]

Ash reminds me of my brother - a plant mechanic from a farming background and tractor nerd! The family go-to-person to fix different bits of kit :-)

[@lmm]

They're useful people to have about

[@pamelawhitfield4570]

Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels various relatives with old knackered tractors, diggers and whatnot would agree with you. 😁

[@therealracerxtablet5162]

I'm around old Iron like that All the time. You can do some Great Stuff Those FM's💪

[@gosportjamie]

I suspect they didn't sell too well to the farmers with similarly sized farms in Dorset was because the Dorset farmers had been bitten by previous MFs going very rusty there. A lot of good farming land in Dorset is in the more coastal areas, meaning they get a lot of the salty sea air, which isn't great for rust resistance...

[@western_alex]

Nice one Lawrie!

[@nicolaiitchenko7610]

Very pro looking and sounding intro...love it!

[@josephinring]

You can compress water just as easily as you can compress diesel!! Good Video 👍

[@grayfool]

Nice one. Nice example of the tractor too. Good to see it stll running around. I'll always be interested to see videos about any plant or machinery, fascinating stuff.

[@b7100ripper]

grand video and even better tractor, loads of new tractor vids about but good to see the old ones too!!

[@allanblackesq]

Great video for tractor lovers. i have enjoyed it tremendously, thanks. :)

[@stevogenix1411]

36:00 Yes loved it - Thanks.

[@davidbutler7602]

Thanks for that 👍

[@andrewreynolds4949]

That’s a nice looking tractor

[@lmm]

It's not a bad old thing

[@mikego18753]

I think you,ve got to try shit spreading in the winter before you make the final decision on the cab.Cheers.

[@sawyerawr5783]

next up on LMM Drives: Jupiter! (I mean seeing as it works...for now)

[@crazyfvck]

Nice :)

[@anthony342]

love that 690 .

[@lmm]

Nice tractor indeed

[@Gabriel-he6ih]

Also known as a Yugoslavian legend, made by IMT.

[@Barisic122]

Ppppffffffff better then the original 😁

[@Daveyrd11]

Looks great, I want a drive!

[@davidsample9130]

So farmers know how much power is available at the pto for driving implements. The remainder is what is required to drive on board systems.

[@southcoast999]

Oh nice

[@caseyquinn5634]

grew up on replaced a ford 4000 padded cab the 690 was class, first type solid steps and the hand brake low to the floor another thing the dash lights weren't colored, ours was a three stick, good tractor to buckrake ,

[@MapTheDragonRailways]

I’d love to see a furguson t20 review

[@richieburrelltractionengin7801]

i love to see you guys do british ww2 tanks

[@lmm]

Me and Matt would love that too!

[@richieburrelltractionengin7801]

@@lmm it's would be a great video cause I'm very in ww2 milatary stuff 😊 hope you are all keeping safe

[@lmm]

We're good thanks. Tanks would be fun, it's just being able to do something with one!

[@MikeTagg-kg1so]

Nice video, I had/have somewhere a toy version of a MF 3000 series i think it is which looks exactly same as that more or less, needless to say that was my favourite toy tractor to play with. Also have the mod for the 3000 series for Farm sim 19 that I'm currently playing. Nice video nice to see your out and about again, nearly at the shed 😁😁😁😁 cant wait for the return to the shed video. Keep it up guys.

[@adamgriffiths2666]

The flat floor is not new the Allis chalmers model U back in the 30,s had a flat floor. But the massey ferguson in the video great, l love it . And yes l own an allis chalmers U, and a massey ferguson 35 and they are both my pride and joy, great video.

[@lmm]

Did the u have a cab as well?

[@adamgriffiths2666]

@@lmm yes l do have a cab as well, great for keeping the weather out

[@graemew7001]

Is the reason for the narrow looking rear wheels due to the fact that they could be doubled up? Maybe they were popular in East Anglia due to the narrow wheels, adjustable front axle for the food crops you guys grow down there, just a guess though not from any knowledge.

[@kirkbumstead]

i seen plenty good looking all org nail Massey Ferguson tractors here in usa virginina with good paint jobs

[@lmm]

Did you guys get any of these ones?

[@tractorman810]

we ran two of those, along with a swb 4wd 698t and a 4wd 699,all supplied by thurlow nuns like this one,all came from downham market branch ,used to love driving them, especially the 698, was a real pocket rocket,i see hes got a set of hedge trimmer brackets on the underside of the rear axels, wouldnt be for a bomford would it, one of ours was fitted with the exact same mounts . we sold up in 1999, all went from a dispersal sale in occold.

[@lmm]

It used to have one - I forget the brand, belt powered and apparently horrific 😂

[@tractorman810]

Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels Interesting, all our were dry stored even in summer they went in the barn at night, wonder if thats one of them, love to know if it came from there, inow where our 1250 went , in norfolk , but none of the others i guess it would be on the log book as first owner, fw frost and sons

[@gorgoreg]

What about reviewing an MB Trac? Did you get those in Britain?

[@ricc136]

Multy power means that you have a 2 range powers shift, no clucht needed and shift under power, the funny bisnis with your 35 hydraulic is just a plumming issue.

[@willtricks9432]

You don't like it because it works. Cheers

[@somebloke2238]

It's Ursus not Uterus

[@lmm]

Is it?

[@William-209]

that is not like you lawrie it duos not have enough rust on it

[@stevogenix1411]

1:11 I wish I was Ash :-(

[@nickshipway8199]

Was that multipower system the one that left you with no engine braking, when high was selected, and caused a large amount of accidents?

[@lmm]

Ah yes, I think so

[@kevmc291]

36:58 everyone looks at Lawrie...

[@microbusss]

doesn't have a licence plate or a SMV triangle on the rear

[@harrymcandrew1447]

i thaught massey fergusons were southern irish tractor makers as i got told

[@nickshipway8199]

No, back then the smaller machines were made in Coventry (at the old Standard Motors plant) and the bigger ones were made about two hours away from Paris. The UK plant is long gone now and I think they opened up factories in the USA, Italy and Brazil.

[@biancalopez7458]

Hello, I have a MF690 tractor and recently the three-point linkage stopped working. Does anyone know what could be the cause?

[@lmm]

Afraid not

[@jimleech8915]

Cop on the cab isn’t just to be “modern” it is to be for safety it could save your life

[@lmm]

Oh really?

[@jimleech8915]

@@lmm don’t even joke about that !!

[@gigiadrianmager6003]

Hy gentelmans! Y am from România and y own a Massey Ferguson 690 T,built-in 1986,in France as yours.In some reparations,y need to know the flow of the hidraulic pump ( litre/ minute) and the presure of the distribuitor feed by this pump.Y meen the hidraulic distribuitor on the front loader.The loader is a Trimma 1320( Sweden),original,factory mounted.Thanks în advance for yours answere.Y subscribed to the channel! 🙋‍♂️👍🤗

[@lmm]

I'm afraid I have no idea

[@enderplant]

Have you ever driven a steam tractor?

[@StaxRail]

A traction engine would be pretty cool to see, I've steered a roller at a steam fair and can highly recommend it!

[@lmm]

Traction engines and rollers.

[@enderplant]

@@lmm very nice indeed

[@realnutteruk1]

1000th! Yay! only 125 likes though... What's wrong with people?

[@stuartshearer6477]

My front side lights go off when the work lights come on

[@lmm]

Oh so it's meant to do that then

[@stuartshearer6477]

Don't really know if its supposed to 🤔😂

[@muhammadimranzeb1060]

Sir verry nice veido l am from pakistan and i have m f 690 but cant under stand pto cluch fungction and pto sapeed tel me rply english or urdu

[@lmm]

Pto clutch just disengages the Pto, so you can stop they appliance

[@stevogenix1411]

and one day, unfortunately. All these examples of engineering will be gone unless someone can come up with a proper alternative to oil. :-(