Little Grey Fergie

[m_c]

Does the extra 'E' denote electric?

You never know

It means it's a TVO narrow wheel (vineyard) version.
I can't remember all the codes of the top of my head, but TEA was normal width petrol. TED was normal width TVO.
Can't remember when Ferguson started making the narrow width version, as the original narrow width conversions were done by Reekie (predecessor to the current potato equipment manufacturer in the Angus area), where they essentially cut the rear axle trumpets down, and welded them back together, as there was demand for a tractor narrow enough to be used by soft fruit growers in the area. My grandad bought the TEE for working raspberries/currants from a local farmer who had originally bought it for working in the stocks. The tractor hasn't ever stayed anywhere more than 5 miles from the original supplying dealer.

My dad then replaced the Fergie with a MF135 Vineyard, and the Fergie was relegated to the back of the shed for many years.

As iconic as Grey Fergies are, they are a very basic tractor, verging on being impractical for practical use.
Only draft control linkage, so you can't accurately control linkage height.
Single clutch, so when you clutch to change gear the PTO and hydraulics stop, or even worse, with the wrong equipment the PTO keeps driving it!
Pretty high geared, so not good for low speed work.

The 35 did improve on those issues, but it was really the MF100 series where things became far more useable, with dual clutches (or IPTO), and separate height and draft linkage controls.

You can't even really call the Fergie that revolutionary, as it was it's predecessor the Ford Ferguson that revolutionised ploughing with Ferguson's draft control system. The Fergie was the second mass produced tractor to use draft control, and was only produced after Harry fell out with Henry.
It is however the only tractor to have had over 500'000 sold.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have driven one with a front loader and a granite block on the rear arms for balance - it was hard to steer at the best of times but......

 

[Tinbasherdan]

We had a grey fergie with a Perkins p3 in it for years, it didn’t half get worked hard but never once failed. I get a hankering every now and again but they’re getting to be daft money nowadays, as they’ve become fashionable!

Neighbour just traded in his deutz for a brand new fergie, I’ve borrowed the deutz a few times and although it’s quite fancy it was still simple. I couldn’t even work out how to get the fergie into gear. It’s got more buttons than the space shuttle.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Oh a point to look mout for.
Some of the heads that have been repaired or "recondidtioned" have differant threads taped into them from original.
It should say on the documentation, but not always.

The manifolds bolts on the exhaust were either brass or copper coated steel. Brass looks better and will not seize.

 

[Robotstar5]

Mrs Robo said it's harder to get onto than her horse and later sent me some links to padded cushions for the metal seat

 

[Bullet2012]

Is it just the angle of the photo ? Or my ageing eyesight ? As is looks quite wide for an “orchard” version

 

[Robotstar5]

Is it just the angle of the photo ? Or my ageing eyesight ? As is looks quite wide for an “orchard” version

I've never heard Mrs Robo referred to as an "Orchard version" before

I don't know enough about them (yet) to answer that one, does this pic help?

I'll try and remember to measure the track when I'm there next

 

[Bullet2012]

Well she looks all rosey, and surely she is the apple of your eye.
I will try to get pics of the few that share the storage place I use, one of them is an orchard spec.

 

[Robotstar5]

Well she looks all rosey, and surely she is the apple of your eye.
I will try to get pics of the few that share the storage place I use, one of them is an orchard spec.

Apparently you can adjust the rear wheel rim assembly to give different widths.

 

[Kayos]

One things for sure it won't have addblu, egr, scr, common rail or any of the other electronic wizardry that so bedraggles the modern tractor.

Good choice.

Nothing wrong with common rail, id rather have a modern common rail over say a P pump

 

[m_c]

I've never heard Mrs Robo referred to as an "Orchard version" before

I don't know enough about them (yet) to answer that one, does this pic help?

View attachment 330021

I'll try and remember to measure the track when I'm there next

That's a standard width tractor.

 

[Bravheart]

Nothing wrong with common rail, id rather have a modern common rail over say a P pump

My comments were meant to to be light hearted. Of course a 'wee grey fergie' will never compete with modern day stuff, but repair bills for these modern day electronic monsters are eye watering and possibly many times the cost of that fergie.
Electrics and electronics can cause many of these problems and fault codes with these tractors and although common rail fuel systems are of course a great leap forward in terms of power, emissions and management of engines but in terms of reliability ask me again when they get to the age of that grey fergie

 

[Gareth J]

Doesn't look like a lot of use on the back end, what is the wear like on the pedals, knobs and steering wheel? Takes a lot to wear out pedals - we've had an mf35x here from new that's been in constant use (yard scraper for the last 40yrs) the pedals had a bit of extra material put on about 5yrs ago.

A lot of TVO tractors had quite an early retirement, with luck, yours might be in excellent condition.

 

[Bullet2012]

Sorry it’s a bit cramped in the barn at the moment,
this is the orchard spec one

 

[Bullet2012]

Also exhaust runs underneath as opposed to up right.
approximately 31 inches distance across the top of the wheel arches.
yes wheels can be reversed to slightly widen or narrow the track.
HTH.

 

[m_c]

Also exhaust runs underneath as opposed to up right.

That was standard on a lot of early tractors, including Fergies. Upright exhausts as standard only came later.

 

[Bobupndown]

My dad's 1955 TED20 has the low mounted exhaust still.

 

[Bullet2012]

That was standard on a lot of early tractors, including Fergies. Upright exhausts as standard only came later.

My dad's 1955 TED20 has the low mounted exhaust still.

True, but all orchards have underslung exhaust

 

[Robotstar5]

Sorry it’s a bit cramped in the barn at the moment,
this is the orchard spec one
View attachment 330067View attachment 330068View attachment 330069View attachment 330070

I see what you mean, the fenders are almost touching the seat on that one where there is a bigger gap on mine, I did see when researching they made narrow track versions by shortening the axle casing.

 

[Robotstar5]

Thats an adaptor to take it from the original smaller size to the more modern standard, knock the roll pin out and the adaptor should slide off.

Thanks to @Fraserb I knocked the rollpin out and removed the adapter.

So now the original dust/dirt cover will fit properly

While I was there I moved the towball into the right position for towing, due to the age of the tractor I wondered if it would be an old 2" ball, but luckily it's the later 50mm so all my stuff will fit.