Randy Morris is betting that a lot of farmers liked their old Massey Ferguson model 35 tractors.
The Redvers, Sask., farm equipment dealer is the Canadian distributor for TAFE tractors. Tractors and Agricultural Farm Equipment of Chennai, India, still produces what is, for all purposes, the small horsepower Massey tractors of the 1960s.
While the manufacturer has other more technologically advanced tractors, including small front-wheel assist machines in its line, it is the tractors produced in the 42-year-old Massey Ferguson factory in India that capture the most attention here in Canada.
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“Farmers see these low-tech tractors and it’s something they are familiar with. The price doesn’t hurt either,” said Morris, of Shortline Spraying and Equipment Ltd.
TAFE, pronounced like taffy, has 17 percent of the market share in India, where small farm size dictates greater use of the 25-90 horsepower machines, rather than the higher powered tractors required by North American producers.
“Smaller farms and even larger ones here all have a place for a chore tractor and these are a good, low cost fit,” said Morris.
Other than the orange paint job, the TAFE 4010 is a dead ringer for the old Massey 35. Powered by a three cylinder Perkins diesel putting out 36 hp at the engine and 32 hp at the power takeoff, it has an eight-forward, two-reverse, manual transmission with live hydraulics, with both draft and position controls, a 540 rpm pto, and a row adjustable front axle.
It nods its head to the new century with safety standards such as a roll bar, seatbelt and power steering.
The tractor weighs 1,800 kilograms, not unlike its old Massey counterpart. Also available are 25 and 50 hp versions of the tractor.
More modern tractors from the company are the front wheel assist-drive 2500 and 3800 CE models.
These include three-point hitches, dual spool hydraulics and 12-speed, shuttle shift semi-automatic transmissions.
Pricing for the older style line starts at $16,400 for the 25 hp, $19,600 for the 36 hp and $21,000 for the 50 hp. The more modern CEs with Mitsubishi diesels are $22,400 for the 28 hp 2800 CE and $23,900 for the 36 hp 3600 CE.
So far Morris has attracted a dealer in Alberta and in Manitoba.
“It’s been slow to attract dealers, but we are getting inquiries and hope to have someone in (British Columbia) before too long,” he said.
