Know How / Tractors Latest tractor articles TRACTORSClaas steps up tractor range overhaul with new Arion 4This week, Claas launched a new range of 120-150hp tractors at the EIMA show in Italy. Tagged Arion 4s, with a dot and a number to denote their rated power,… TRACTORSMcCormick X7.624's in-cab controls are a work in progressNine new dealers have put pen to paper in the past 18 months, there is an updated 340hp flagship on its way, and a squad of Italian engineers is working… TRACTORSOn test: New engine and transmission revitalise Fendt 516Too small for heavy tillage and too dear for livestock-related duties, Fendt’s four-cylinder tractors have traditionally served as backfill for the ever-popular 724. But the tables are turning. With the… MACHINERYNew EMP tech opens door to wider tractor remapsNew specialist EMP technology allows highly encrypted ECUs to be remapped where previously they were off-limits to third party improvements. The Avon Tuning HD team will be at LAMMA 2027… TRACTORSMore driverless tech for Amos Power's 85hp electric tractorA US digital tech business hopes to emulate European manufacturers such as AgXeed by selling a twin-track driverless tractor for field work. Weighing in at about 3t, the Amos Power… TRACTORSRevamped Valtra T-series gets new 10-speed powershiftThe Finns like to do things their own way. So, despite Valtra’s new T6 being peppered with shared Agco parts, there is a healthy dose of Suolahti engineering in the… TRACTORSFirst look: Massey Ferguson unveils 170-245hp 7S Mark 2sMassey Ferguson has cross-pollinated its 7S and 8S tractors to fill a band of infertile ground between the two. The six 7S “Mark 2s” don’t officially supplant any existing models,… Tractor reviews and testsSee all MACHINERYDriver's view: McCormick MTX 150Driver's verdict I like the simplicity of the McCormick. The gearbox is easy to use, the hydraulics are basic and there are no high-tech electronics to make things complicated. It… TRACTORSDriver's view: Tom Lamb's 9-year-old Massey 7718 Dyna-6For many mixed and arable farms, Massey Ferguson nailed the sweet spot between power and size with its 200hp 7718. This was the middle model – and biggest small-framer –… CVT choice offers perfect tractor working speedWhen Fendt unveiled the first practical continuously variable transmission, it did more than just bring a new level of speed control and adjustment. It brought the engine and transmission together… MACHINERYVideo: Head-to-head: MF 5610 v Case IH 105UPower Farming Verdict From an operator’s point of view, both the Massey Ferguson 5610 and Case IH 105U have moved on quite a bit from their predecessors, but in very… MACHINERYVideo: John Deere e23 tractor v AutopowrJohn Deere’s high-horsepower tractors have been hankering after a new powershift transmission for years and at last it’s here. Nick Fone and Oliver Mark find out if it is any… MACHINERYFendt 516 Vario on testPower Farming Verdict: 4.6/5 Fendt tractors always seem to perform well in our in-depth tests and the 516 was no exception. It topped the scorecard for technical ability and driver… TRACTORSFendt's four-cylinder, 224hp 620 – small engine, big powerFour cylinders? 224hp? It’s hard to believe just what can be wrung from a relatively small engine these days – one that finds itself propelling the successors to Fendt’s uber-popular… TRACTORSDriver's view: Charlie Flindt's John Deere 6155MHampshire farmer and FW columnist Charlie Flindt gives us the 410-hour lowdown on his John Deere 6155M tractor in his inimitable style. Find out what his likes and gripes are,… TRACTORSOn test: John Deere 6120R AutoPowrDeere’s 6R-series has been around for a few years now, but regular updates have kept the tractors fresh along the way. This latest version comes with a screen and control… TRACTORSDriver's view: Fisher Farms’ Claas Axion 960 TTAfter dropping a teaser about its development of a half-track Axion at Agritechnica 2017, Claas officially launched 355hp and 445hp 900-series Terra Trac machines in 2020. Promising 15% more traction… MACHINERYDriven: Zetor Proxima 85Summary Power Transmission Cab PTO/Hydraulics Zetor has found a new lease of life recently with powershift gearboxes and a 180hp model due for launch in the near future. The Proxima… MACHINERYDeutz-Fahr 6160.4 TTV on testPower Farming Verdict: 4/5 Deutz-Fahr has been on a mission to update its higher horsepower tractors. They now have plenty of and radical styling, but the DLG results suggest there's… Tractor buying advice Ultimate guide to buying a tractor 2025 What to look for when buying and fitting a tractor dashcam 6 simple, low-cost loader tractor options The inspection service helping buyers spot dodgy tractors Handy checklist for buying a second-hand tractor Buying a tractor? How to make sense of engine statistics Understanding CVT and powershift transmissions when buying a tra... Legal tips for buying and selling second-hand machinery Tractor guidesSee all TRACTORSFendt's four-cylinder, 224hp 620 – small engine, big powerFour cylinders? 224hp? It’s hard to believe just what can be wrung from a relatively small engine these days – one that finds itself propelling the successors to Fendt’s uber-popular… MACHINERY110hp tractor test: Zetor Forterra HSX 110Power Farming Verdict: 3.1/5 In many ways the Czech’s spec is generous – there’s four pto speeds and automatic powershifts – and it’s also pretty manoeuvrable. But the cab remains… Tractor tyres v tracks: which is best?Low ground pressure, unbeatable traction and greater productivity potential. That sums up the attraction of high horsepower tracked tractors to arable farmers who run them for cultivation and drilling in… 301-400HPFirst drive: Case-IH’s Magnum 340 AFS ConnectCase-IH has cloaked its new Magnum range in an overcoat of technology as it bids to keep pace with the front runners in the high-horsepower tractor market. The original Magnum,… TRACTORSDriver’s view: Marilyn Jones’ Same Dorado 90 Natural tractorFor the past couple of years, the main workhorse on Marilyn Jones’ hill farm near Brecon, Powys, has been a 2019 Same Dorado 90 Natural. This compact 87hp tractor is… MACHINERYMid-range tractor test: NH T7.270Power Farming Verdict: 3.9/5 The T7 finished second overall and its engine and transmission performed well at the DLG tests. The only minor disappointments were the cab and monitor. Cab… CVT choice offers perfect tractor working speedWhen Fendt unveiled the first practical continuously variable transmission, it did more than just bring a new level of speed control and adjustment. It brought the engine and transmission together… TRACTORSVideo: John Deere four-track 8RX – an alternative to wheels?Since its launch at Germany’s Agritechnica show in November, the web has been awash with pictures and videos of John Deere’s shiny new 8RX tracked tractor range. The hype has… TRACTORSBuying a tractor? How to make sense of engine statisticsHands up who knows the difference between a tractor’s rated and maximum power? Or what the perfect torque curve should look like? How about torque rise? Or six-point fuel tests?… TECHNOLOGYTractor makers grapple with yet more emissions rulesMuch of the development costs of new tractors these days involves engine emissions. Will that soon end? Probably not, says Peter Hill. Just when everyone thought the clampdown on tractor… TRACTORSDriver’s view: McCormick X6.413 P6-DriveFitted with a 4.5-litre FPT engine and an in-house six-speed semi-powershift transmission, the X6.4 is McCormick’s premium offering in the four-cylinder sector. This means buyers have access to a host… MACHINERYDeutz-Fahr 5100C on testDeutz-Fahr 5100C Price £59,015 RANKING: 4th Cab The Deutz’s four-pillar cab wasn’t the biggest on test, but it was a comfortable place to sit. The controls were well laid… Tractor technologySee all CVT choice offers perfect tractor working speedWhen Fendt unveiled the first practical continuously variable transmission, it did more than just bring a new level of speed control and adjustment. It brought the engine and transmission together… TRACTORSBluewhite driverless retrofit transforms sub-100hp tractorsAn Israeli-American start-up has developed a retrofit kit that allows small tractors to work entirely autonomously, principally for spraying permanent crops such as vines and orchards. Given Bluewhite's focus is… TRACTORSNovel hybrid tractor drivetrain developed by CNH brand SteyrAny Formula 1 fan will be used to seeing its high-performance cars harvesting unused energy and deploying it as a tactical power boost further down the track. Farmers could be… Road legalSee all TECHNOLOGYTractor makers grapple with yet more emissions rulesMuch of the development costs of new tractors these days involves engine emissions. Will that soon end? Probably not, says Peter Hill. Just when everyone thought the clampdown on tractor… Tractor insights and practical adviceSee all Tractor tyres v tracks: which is best?Low ground pressure, unbeatable traction and greater productivity potential. That sums up the attraction of high horsepower tracked tractors to arable farmers who run them for cultivation and drilling in… TRACTORSBuying a tractor? How to make sense of engine statisticsHands up who knows the difference between a tractor’s rated and maximum power? Or what the perfect torque curve should look like? How about torque rise? Or six-point fuel tests?… TECHNOLOGYTractor makers grapple with yet more emissions rulesMuch of the development costs of new tractors these days involves engine emissions. Will that soon end? Probably not, says Peter Hill. Just when everyone thought the clampdown on tractor… MACHINERYWhat to look for when buying a used tractorIntro 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Purchasing a used tractor can be a pitfall-laden process for even the most seasoned buyer, with a wide range… MACHINERYRemapped Valtra duo improve safety for road usersGibliston Farming Company’s 2015 Valtra T215 was struggling for power on some of the unforgiving hills and ground farmed in the East Neuk of Fife. The nature of the business… MACHINERYMachinery Milestones: Four-wheel drive tractorsIn the latest instalment of our series looking back over the history of machinery developments, Mike Williams charts the rise of four-wheel drive tractors and how they have become the… TECHNOLOGYCentral tyre inflation systems – the options and pricesPump ’em up for the road, let ’em down for the field. That is the essence of using a central tyre inflation system (CTIS) to actively manage inflation pressures and… Buying the right tractor: part 2 - transmissionIn part 1 of this feature we tackled the basics of tractor selection before evaluating power choice and the costs and benefits of ‘power boost’ options. In this section, we… TRACTORSUltimate guide to buying a tractor 2022The tractor guide listings for 2022 contain a significant number of changes. New and upgraded models having been introduced over the past 12 months, and the last tractors in our… WORKSHOP SKILLSMassey Ferguson tractors: Common problems and how to fix themFor the mechanically minded operator, it’s often possible to carry out minor repairs in the farm workshop. But with tractors getting ever more complex, there’s an increasing number of jobs… HEALTH AND SAFETYTractor cab filters: are you protected?Most operators and farmers will be well aware of the potential risks that working with agricultural chemicals brings, but with the right precautions, users will be kept free from any… TRACTORSMachinery Milestones: Steam-powered tractorsBritain once led the world in developing agricultural steam power, with stationary engines arriving on farms in the 1790s, followed later by portable and traction engines as well as cable-operated… VideoSee all VIDEO: Claas ups its 100hp offeringClaas has broadened its Arion range to offer three new models in the 100hp to 130hp bracket. Slotting in between the existing Axos 300 range, which spans the 75-105hp… MACHINERYValtra launches N93 and N103 tractorsValtra's roots lie deep in the Finnish pine forests. That's probably why it has developed some of the hardiest tractors on the market. Its tractor range extends from 88hp to… TRACTORSVideo: Rare articulated John Deere 8850 goes up for saleA rare articulated John Deere tractor from the mid-1980s has been put up for auction by a Shropshire farm, with a starting bid of £20,000. The 1985 model 8850 is… TRACTORSVideo: John Deere four-track 8RX – an alternative to wheels?Since its launch at Germany’s Agritechnica show in November, the web has been awash with pictures and videos of John Deere’s shiny new 8RX tracked tractor range. The hype has…
