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David Brown 990 or MF 150

T

thoner7

Member
I'm looking at two tractors to buy and replace my TO-20. I will be brush hogging and snow plowing. I'll skid logs, move dirt, move fire wood too, but less often. Not farming with it.

I'm hoping to run a 6 ft brush hog. My Concerns are fuel consumption, reliability, finding parts etc.

What y'all think?

https://utica.craigslist.org/grd/d/munnsville-massey-ferguson-150-diesel/6828110642.html

https://binghamton.craigslist.org/grd/d/windsor-case-david-brown-57-horse/6818252754.html
 
I owned a David Brown 995 for many years. It was a good tractor, started easy, very fuel efficient, ran very good. The only problem I had
with the tractor was the hydraulics, they never worked like they should. They were just slow.
 
MF 150 hands down....maybe not as much power as the DB, but far easier to maintain
and get parts for user friendlier and if it's a diesel, one of the most fuel
efficient models around.
Ben
 

I had an 885 for a few years. I sold it to get a 1490. It was really good on fuel. The only thing that I didn't like was the difficulty of getting my feet around the shift levers when getting on and off.
 
I know nothing about either of these tractors but it looks like the DB is a little bigger tractor, clearly bigger rear tires. I believe live-PTO comments were already made.

One thought would be to visit the parts man, or both parts men, and discuss with them parts availability. If they want specifics be prepared to look for parts for a wear item like a pump, brakes, hydraulic valves/components, overhaul kits, or steering components.

Of course drive each of them and see if that drives any strong preference. And of course evaluate prior care and maintenance.

Your getting good comments about both. Prior Care and Maintenance is really important. But if you can't get parts for even the best tractor it becomes a weeds tractor on a serious brake down.

Just my thoughts, I read this post with a lot of interest to see what opinions you got. Good Luck.

Paul
 
(quoted from post at 18:44:39 03/01/19) MF 150 hands down....maybe not as much power as the DB, but far easier to maintain
and get parts for user friendlier and if it's a diesel, one of the most fuel
efficient models around.
Ben
Click to expand...



X2 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I ran a 7' mower behind a 150 diesel with no problems. The 150 will more than likely have live pto, but it could have independent pto. The 150 is pretty much a 165 but with the ad3.152 Perkins diesel that came in the 135.
 
(quoted from post at 20:20:58 03/01/19)
(quoted from post at 18:44:39 03/01/19) MF 150 hands down....maybe not as much power as the DB, but far easier to maintain
and get parts for user friendlier and if it's a diesel, one of the most fuel
efficient models around.
Ben
Click to expand...

So the guys in the David Brown subform say parts are easy to come by. Both tractors also have many people saying they are extremely reliable.

Basically it comes down to power/size. The MF150 is already set up for what I want, a loader with snowplow that mounts to the loader (easy changes). The DB the loader needs to be Mounted, and then I'd probably modify the plow toount on the loader arms so I don't have to wrestle the loader off/on every winter/spring.

The DB seems to have quite a bit more.power though so all that work might be worth it?? Or not nessecary for what I'll be doing?
Click to expand...
 
Also how heavy duty is the loader setup on that 150? The DB one is off a JD 2110 he said and it looks real sturdy
 
(quoted from post at 05:28:28 03/02/19) Also how heavy duty is the loader setup on that 150? The DB one is off a JD 2110 he said and it looks real sturdy
Click to expand...

O yea, the DB also looks quite a bit higher and I'm wondering if the center of gravity would become an issue on hills? I have some on my property I wouldn't drive parallel with
 
Guy only wants 3800 for the David Brown with everything. So price is very similar.

Sorry for so many repeated postings but the edit function nseems to be down .
 
(quoted from post at 10:08:53 03/02/19)
(quoted from post at 05:28:28 03/02/19) Also how heavy duty is the loader setup on that 150? The DB one is off a JD 2110 he said and it looks real sturdy
Click to expand...

O yea, the DB also looks quite a bit higher and I'm wondering if the center of gravity would become an issue on hills? I have some on my property I wouldn't drive parallel with
Click to expand...

Not going to be an issue.

You have 2 good tractors there. The MF is going to be a little more ergonomically friendly, but the DB is more powerful. Hydraulics on both are similar in capability. The MF is less likely to suffer from the "it's not a Ford/Deere/IHC so you'll never, ever in million years be able to get parts" myth. Parts for both are readily available thanks to the internet. The electrical system on the DB is Lucas, and it's "different", but not impossible to work with. It looks like the Lucas generator on that one has already been replaced with a Delco unit, so there's half the problems gone already. I don't know if the MF has Multi-Power, which would be a big plus for me. It comes down to tires, overall condition and price. You won't be sorry with either.
 
Edit function has never worked. Seems for some reason they cannot remover the word edit. If they could it would make it easier for every one including YT.
 
Good looking tractors but I believe no dealer support any more. There are still a few old dealerships that sold MF that might have personel left that knows how to work on them but are not numberous like JD dealers. Have a friend that had a 990 and bought a 995 parts tractor thinkthey could use the parts from the 995 to repair the 990. Still not repaired after at least 10 years.
 
For the David Brown you need this LOL!

mvphoto32236.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 17:29:33 03/01/19) I'm looking at two tractors to buy and replace my TO-20. I will be brush hogging and snow plowing. I'll skid logs, move dirt, move fire wood too, but less often. Not farming with it.

I'm hoping to run a 6 ft brush hog. My Concerns are fuel consumption, reliability, finding parts etc.

What y'all think?

https://utica.craigslist.org/grd/d/munnsville-massey-ferguson-150-diesel/6828110642.html

https://binghamton.craigslist.org/grd/d/windsor-case-david-brown-57-horse/6818252754.html
Click to expand...


If you really want to find out about parts go right to the horses mouth. Since David Brown was bought out by JI Case which merged with NH you can go to any CNH dealer for parts. I just checked Messicks and they have the 990s parts pages but with very few in stock. I would talk to them about availability.
 
I have an Oliver 500 which is a David Brown 850 painted green. In the 30 years I have owned it, I have had to replace the water pump and fuel transfer pump. Both items and associated gaskets were bought from Case. Not in stock at my "local" (~30 miles away) dealer, but in my hands in ~3 days.

Fuel and oil filters are from NAPA. Amazingly, always on the shelf at my local store.

It is at just a bit over 5000 hours. Starts easy and runs great. Spends most of its time running a 5' flail mower. I've run a 2-14 plow and ~7' disc behind it. Also used it to log out ~50 fir trees up to 24" diameter, some skidded, and some with an arch. Neighbor borrowed it one year to do his hay when his tractor broke down and could not get it fixed in time.

Don't know a thing about MF tractors so can not offer a comparison. It would have to be a heck of a tractor to be better than a DB though in my experience.
 

David Brown has only 7.5 gpm pump so that is why hydraulics are slow.
http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/4/1/413-david-brown-995.html

MF not much better.

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/4/1/413-david-brown-995.html
 
I don't know which ones do, but I use MF part numbers to order Light and ignition switches for my DBs, the parts are the same and are cheaper.
 
The MF150 should have plenty of power to run a 7' brush hog right? Not mowing over trees or anything but thick grass and tall weeds.

And the loader could lift, how much? 1000# 2000#?? Sorry info is hard to find.

The 990 I see is a Cat 1/2 on the 3 point. I looked at a Ford 4400 which was a 1/2 also and while awesome, it was bigger than I needed I figured.
 
I found a video of a guy brush hogging with an MF 135 and he seemed to be doing alright. I'd likely only use a 6 footer but don't like to be under powered lol

https://youtu.be/KnV0W9dcrtA
 
I'd buy the David Brown any day over the MF150. I've had 5 of them so far. Never had trouble getting parts. Excellent on fuel. Lots of power. 2 speed PTO. Good Hydraulics. Good Power Steering. Differential Lock. I just replaced 1 of my 990's with another. It had well over 20,000 hrs. on it. Injector pump replaced once and a timing chain once. Pretty impressive. Great tractor once you get used to them.
 
(quoted from post at 14:36:24 03/02/19)
(quoted from post at 17:29:33 03/01/19) I'm looking at two tractors to buy and replace my TO-20. I will be brush hogging and snow plowing. I'll skid logs, move dirt, move fire wood too, but less often. Not farming with it.

I'm hoping to run a 6 ft brush hog. My Concerns are fuel consumption, reliability, finding parts etc.

What y'all think?

https://utica.craigslist.org/grd/d/munnsville-massey-ferguson-150-diesel/6828110642.html

https://binghamton.craigslist.org/grd/d/windsor-case-david-brown-57-horse/6818252754.html
Click to expand...


If you really want to find out about parts go right to the horses mouth. Since David Brown was bought out by JI Case which merged with NH you can go to any CNH dealer for parts. I just checked Messicks and they have the 990s parts pages but with very few in stock. I would talk to them about availability.
Click to expand...

There are probably Case/IH dealers that were Case dealers to start with that give a rats about the older Case equipment. But the average Case/IH dealer that was an IHC dealer isn't going to know crap, or care, about a David Brown. USE THE INTERNET! You can get whatever you need, but waiting for a local dealer to help you is nuts. You can parts from Canada, the UK, wherever. I got parts from the UK in 4 days! Use the internet friends.
 
(quoted from post at 21:26:55 03/02/19) Only if it is being used as a lawn mower. Heavy stuff then a 5' will overload it.
Click to expand...

I've cleared a lot of the actual brush with the tp-20 and yes it was underpowered. But long term I'll be mowing it 3-4 times a year so no Woody stuff just grass.
 
.....USE THE INTERNET! You can get whatever you need, but waiting for a local dealer to help you is nuts.
Click to expand...

This is very true. When I bought the fuel transfer pump for the green DB850, I went to Case/IH website and poked around their on-line parts catalog. Found the original pump had been superseded with a similar pump. There were instructions telling me that one fuel line would need to be bent slightly to align with the port on the new pump. Ordered and paid for over the web and drop shipped to my local dealer for no cost. The local guy called in 3 days telling me there was a part to pick up. Super easy!

Years earlier, when I needed the waterpump, I had to go to the dealer. The parts guy thought they could get parts for a DB, but had never ordered any. He dug way in the back of the cabinet where they kept the microfilmed parts books found a box marked Case/David Brown and blew about 1/4" of dust off the top. Dug around in there and found the pump part number and got it ordered. 3 or so days later I had to back to the dealer to pick it up. Pretty easy too, but 2 trips instead of one.
 


Usually these days you can find the part numbers on line and query your dealer that way. I still end up ordering on line most of time to save running around.
 
I'm going to be looking at both these machines tomorrow. What are some problem areas I should check out on both? Maintenance issues etc? The MF I don't believe is multi power nor independent PTO but not certain. DB I know nothing about but folks rave about them
 
The owner of the Ferguson says the alternator may not be working right, because he sometimes has to jump start the battery to start the tractor.

I'm reading up on it And it sounds like this is an issue with these models, but I'm not fully understanding.... I'm not sure what the difference is between a generator and alternator I guess...nor voltage regulators....

Is there a simple modern day repair? Like just putting on a new alternator?
 
What size mower a tractor will run has too many variables. Mowing tall stalky, weedy crap is easy compared to 3' tall heavy wet grass. I've flail mowed blackberries that were over 8' tall in one pass while wearing my motorcycle leathers and helmet and it was easy. 3' tall heavy wet grass will bog the tractor down if I try to flail that in one pass.
 
(quoted from post at 12:39:51 03/04/19) The owner of the Ferguson says the alternator may not be working right, because he sometimes has to jump start the battery to start the tractor.

I'm reading up on it And it sounds like this is an issue with these models, but I'm not fully understanding.... I'm not sure what the difference is between a generator and alternator I guess...nor voltage regulators....

Is there a simple modern day repair? Like just putting on a new alternator?
Click to expand...

Usually either a generator or alternator on an old tractor is repaired by simply cleaning the battery cable terminals at both ends of each
 
Well I figured I should let you guys know....I bought the 150. Mainly because of condition. The DB smoked a bit and just had more issues. The MF has its own needs but they are much more dooable for a novice like me. .
 
(quoted from post at 10:59:56 03/08/19) Well I figured I should let you guys know....I bought the 150. Mainly because of condition. The DB smoked a bit and just had more issues. The MF has its own needs but they are much more dooable for a novice like me. .
Click to expand...


I don't think you would have been unhappy with either of them. And the MF was less expensive too, wasn't it?
 
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