Massey Discussion Forums > Massey Talk > Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive
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RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

I have been reading all the recent GP discussions with great interest, especially Joe's discussion on the cut off serial number plates on the early tractors. It brought back memories of a 76 inch GP I restored for a collector near London around 1990, it was serial number 300425 and the plate was as Joe described, I replaced it with one of the US reproduced M-H plates available at that time and never thought anymore about it until reading this, so found the remains of the old plate and here it is, thanks Joe great theory and information.

There was no sign of any grey or green paint on this tractor at all, plenty of red underneath the oil and grease, it had even run down the back of the serial number plate.

Malcolm.
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RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

Malcolm:

On my way back from my Cub hunting trip I stopped at Gary's and he just got a GP in with the Cut tag also.

Joe
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RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

I was going through my photo archives this afternoon looking for shots of various Wallis and M-H tractors for the Dutch MF distributor who are restoring an MH 25 for their summer show.

Anyway I came across shots of that strange GP that was out in the yard at the Dome Valley auction in 2007.  A lot of us stood around pulling our whiskers and wondering what was the significance of the spacer box in that machine.  Has anyone since come up with any clues?  It looked to be so, so original MH but was it?

Then I came across a shot of its serial number plate.  That too is odd.  No number on it to indicate the track width but IND stamped in it.  Has thinking developed on this?  Can anyone recall what track width it was?

Then there are those odd wheels - original MH or after market. 

We need some thinking on all this to get matters straight!!

Photos below

John
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RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

Thanks for posting the photos of that tractor at Yuma with the extension centre piece, I first saw one of these fitted to a G P at The Waverley Nebraska National Show in 1994, my conclusion after studying that tractor for a long time with Derek Hackett was by extending the wheel base and length of the tractor it would make it more stable, I know several in their working day here on the hills were known to "nosedive" when being pushed downhill by the load.

Anyone else have any further info on the extension??? Joe does it appear in any of the parts lists??

Malcolm.

 


RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

Joe,

Mooching round my GPs this afternoon I noticed another difference between my industrial and the regular side valve and ohv tractors.  On the industrial the rear differential front cover plate (for want of a better term) has no ribs on it whereas the other two have.  Any comments - see the photos.  I think you have made some previous comment about this but not noted the lack of ribs?

John
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RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

John:

I know there are at least 3 different rear end front housings the long with ribs the long with no ribs and the short with no ribs so far that I know of.

That other tractor with the extention between the transmition and rear end, I have never found any reference to this in any book. I have seen at least 3-4 tractors in person with this extention on them so if it was not a Massey piece possibly it was an aftermarket fix to the nosediving problem.

We can sleep good tonight after watching TV for the last four hours they finally caught the last suspect in the Boston Marathon Bombings

Here are three diferent rear end front housings.

Joe
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RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

I agree Joe strange but interesting TV tonight!!!  Would you call that "drama",  "reality", "news" or just plain strange!!  Amazing the guy looked at and in his boat in the first place then amazing he didn't get shot!!!

RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

Whilst looking through my literature early this morning for the foldout brochures on another thread I came across a piece of G-P literature which I thought Joe would be interested in seeing, maybe he has one?? or is it him on the seat??

It is a French service and maintenance book with a lovely front cover illustration, the driver looks confident the tractor will pull itself out, hope he kept his boots clean!!

Malcolm.
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RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

Way cool brochure!!! Do you think there are many GPs in France? or at least enough to actually make brochures for? I do not have that one or even seen one like it before but it is a pretty cool looking picture. 

What is up with the little field mouse playing the Guitar just above the Y in Massey Harris?? Must be a hidden French meaning??

Joe




RE:Massey Harris General Purpose Four Wheel Drive

A field mouse playing a guitar?!?  That's a pretty vivid imagination you have there, Joe.  Or else some pretty good home brew, perhaps...  :-)