The rugged and lightweight Massey Ferguson 399

Oct 13, 2016

The 399 could be a hay farmer’s favorite tractor

IN THE SHOP with Rachel

By Rachel Gingell
Farms.com

The 399 is the highest horsepower tractor in the 300 series that Massey Ferguson produced. When first introduced in 1987, the tractor had 85 horsepower (PTO). This increased in the 1989 model year to 90 horsepower. In 1991, the tractor’s horsepower increased again to 104 - where it stayed until the final year of production (which was 1997).

The tractor is built on a proven, rugged Massey Ferguson frame. The transmission and engine are very reliable. It’s easy to get parts for the Perkins engine. The straightforward design means that owners can often do repairs themselves with ordinary shop tools, resulting in big savings!

Compared to most tractors in the 80 to 100 horsepower range, the MF 399 is considerably lighter. It weighs around 7500 pounds (more or less depending on options). This is an unusual feature - depending on your intended use for the tractor, it could be just what you’ve been looking for.

Massey Ferguson 399
Photo: TractorData.com/John Smith

The MF 399 truly excels at making hay and at other applications that are heavy on PTO power. The lightweight design is especially helpful in the wet months of early spring and late fall. Compared to heavier tractors, the 399 will be far gentler on your fields. The tractor easy to haul and fun to drive. It’s a great solution for portable PTO power.

The tractor certainly has enough horsepower to handle additional weight. You can load it up with chloride in the tires and weights, and it’ll still run strong! However, if you keep this up for the lifetime of the tractor, it will put too much strain on the transmission. When shopping for a used MF 399, watch for this sort of abuse. Check all the gears in the transmission carefully, and ask the owners what sort of work the tractor has been used for.

Making hay is hot and dusty work - but the right equipment can go a long way towards making the job bearable. Next time you’re in the market for a lightweight powerhouse, check out the MF 399.

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