ploughmyfield.com

It was my birthday at the end of last week and I asked for the usual Tractor DVD from my parents.

The Second Sight Production Massey Ferguson series of DVD’s has reached the 100 (135, 165 etc) range of tractors. These don’t really interest me so I didn’t ask for one of those. I did see released at Christmas time though a Special Edition TE20 in colour DVD so I asked for that one.

I wasn’t disappointed. The DVD features 4 films in colour one about dairies which was interesting but didn’t show much about tractors! Take not Second Sight. But the forth film was a gem. It showed extensively the work of the Ferguson tractor school at Stoneleigh. The one where all the Ferguson dealers used to be trained. I think If I could go back in history to any time it would be to about 1954 to the Ferguson tractor hay day. The I could attend the schools courses on Tractor Driving and  Tractor & Implement maintenance.   Then I’d be in the company of all those training experts. Wow the questions I’d have.

Anyway enough dreaming for now, well worth parting with some cash for film 4 alone. Even better if it’s your birthday and you can get someone else to buy it for you. Now all I have to do is get them to buy me a couple of back types for christmas!

Link to the item here: TE20 Colour Special

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Unless you’ve been ploughing on the moon for the past couple of months you can’t helped but notice the website www.reborntractor.net. The website which has had over 14,000 visits in October was setup primarily to promote the DVD of an MF 135 restoration. Well the DVD has been released and www.ploughmyfield.com has got hold of a copy to report on the contents and what we thought.

I first thing I’d like to say is thank goodness for DVD’s if this release had been on Video I think I would have warn it out by now as I’ve watched it so many times! The process of restoring tractors isn’t a new concept so it was nice to see a new and very professional approach to telling the story, I say story it’s more of a journey. last Tuesday night when my son was finally in bed and all the days jobs completed I thought I’d have a quick look at the DVD to see what all the fuss was about. After 30 mins watching I thought I’d just watch to the end of the first of the 2 DVD’s in the box. The end of the first DVD arrived all to soon so I though I’d just see what the second contained, at 1:30am I was still in the living room glued to the telly. There isn’t a lot that can normally keep me from my bed but in this case I didn’t even feel tired. I have to say at this point that I don’t own a 135 and I don’t think I ever will but that didn’t stop me wanting to watch the DVD again. So who do I think the DVD is aimed at well obviously if your about to restore your 135 then you, but as the owner of a TE-F20 I thought the items covered in The DVD where still relevant and useful to me. One section in particular on replacing the half shaft seals in the back axle I must have watched 10 times. I have to replace the seals on my tractor and the process is exactly the same. It was so nice to see someone go through how to do it. The sections on body work shaping and painting are also relevant to a much wider audience. the DVD also delves into the people who restore tractors, why they do it and what drives them. I’ve never seen this covered before but it left me wanting to play the footage to all those people who ask me, “So why have you got a tractor in the garage?” They would then understand why I do it. on 2 DVD’s with over 200 minutes. The presenter Emma Louise Johnston Looks as though she know nothing about tractors in the opening sequence. As the restoration progresses you can see her knowledge grow as well as her confidence. She was totally convincing. I just wish the experts on hand in this DVD where there when I started restoring my tractor. Although they make a joke at the start of the DVD about not telling your spouse about how much it cost to me this is the only thing that is missing. some kind of accounts as to the cost of all this restoring I can see why they didn’t put it in as the memory of the money you spent fades you still have a cracking tractor to look at and drive.

If you own a 135 then this DVD gets a 6/5 for the rest of us I’d still say 4/5 lots for old and new restorers alike. One you’ll come back to and watch again. The most interesting thing was said at the end of the DVD that they are looking to restore something else and it could be a TE-20. I wait in anticipation.

The website is also developing quite nicely, lots of competitions and a newsletter to subscribe to.

Available from:  www.reborntractor.net
Price: £24.95
Running Time: 210mins

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Image curtesy of Old Pond Publishing

Painting your tractor is always high on the hit list when looking at the pages of this website.

The article I have put together from my experiences with painting and surface preporation for the engine rebuild can be found here: Painting Parts Process

I don’t think I’ve got it 100% right yet so I’m always searching for ways to improve the results I get. I’ve been a fan or Alan Davies since I met him at Newark show 4 years ago. I liked his honesty and down to earth approach. what I mean by that is at the time he wasn’t trying to sell anything or promote any thing other than himself and his work. The advise he gave was fantastic and he always had crowd around his bunch when giving a demonstration.

Alan has got together with Old Pond publishing to produce a 142minute long (2DVD set) of preparing, filling, sanding, undercoats, and topcoats in order to achieve a super finish for bonnets, wheels and the main body of the tractor. At £19.95 it’s not cheap but I think I have gained £20 worth of knowledge and my tractor value will definitely be increased by at lest £20 once I have practiced the techniques Alan demonstrates.  It’s just nice to see how someone else does things. I disappear into my garage and I’m on my own to produce the results. I going to get one of the hammers Alan uses.

If you don’t know what to get someone as a Christmas or birthday present and they are interested in tractors or old cars, bikes lorries you’d not go far wrong than adding this item to your short list.  

A link to buy the DVD and a more detailed description of the item.

I’m giving it a 4.5/5 it should have been 5 hours long with a glimpse at the welding/brazing and painting small parts but other than that fab.

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Visit to:  
Museum of Rural Life Scotland, Kittochside, East Kilbride, Scotland G76 9HR
Date: 9th May 2009
Reviewed By: John Morris

 Here is my report on the museum, definatly worth a visit if you are in the area, you can editor publish which bits or my photos as you like.The museum is listed  on the FOFH web site

The museum is run by the Scotish National Trust and is Free to all trust
members. When you first arrive you see the implements outside,

and then the T20 in the chidrens play area

 bit of a shame really.The main Farm Buildings are about half a mile away up the hill but trailor ride lifts are avaiable. These are a 1950s farm house and buildings interesting in their own right.In the yard was a working T20

and round the back the main working tractors a MF65 and a MF35

Inside the museum building itself there was an imacculate Ferguson Brown and a MF Combine.

 The main area of tractors were crammed in tightly and difficult to photograph. These included a Ford Ferguson T20 and a plough as well as locally made Nuffields and other makes.Finally it has the famous Glasgow Tractor.

John Morris

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