Norfolk-based David Colman Engineering Counts on Massey Ferguson for Heavy Work

After problems with a previous tractor brand forced a Norfolk contractor to look at alternatives. Two Massey Fergusons from Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) are now providing the efficiency and reliability he needs.

Operating from his base at Sporle, near Kings Lynn, and trading under the family business name, David Colman Engineering, Andrew Colman bought his first Massey Ferguson from TNS Area Sales Manager, Josh Taylor in late August last year.  Impressed by the comfort and performance, he went on to order his first ever brand-new tractor just two months later – a Massey Ferguson 8S.265 Dyna-7. “My previous two main tractors were both the same brand, but even though they were modern with low recorded hours, the reliability wasn’t good and the dealer couldn’t solve the constant problems. Working as a contractor, I depend on reliable machinery and effective dealer back-up, so that was why I had to look elsewhere,” he explained.

 

Growing contracting business

Andrew started his contracting enterprise with large square baling, which remains the main activity through summer and early autumn each year. His father, David, is a long-established agricultural engineer and his mother, Catherine, does the bookwork for both parts of the family business. As well as baling crops for farms within a 30-mile radius of his base, Andrew also rents approximately 80ha of grassland from which he makes and sells the hay. In total, 25,000 hay, haylage and straw bales are made annually, and his fleet includes two MF balers: a 2150 and a 2170 which are both 2012 models bought second-hand, as well as a baler of another brand which bales miscanthus for biomass. He also has an older MF 185 baler, kept to back-up the MF 2150 in a tricky season.

 

“Our family’s background in agricultural engineering means we do most of our own repairs and servicing when machines are out of the manufacturer’s warranty,” continued Andrew. “As well as the MF balers, we also run two much older tractors, one of which is a Fendt. When anything is needed for any of our AGCO products, Josh and the TNS Fakenham team look after us well and give sound advice. This experience encouraged me to negotiate a deal with Josh to trade both my main-line tractors in for a two-year-old MF 7719S. It had worked 1,000 hours and was in excellent condition.”

Best transmission for the job

The 2024 MF 7719 S has Dyna-VT infinitely variable transmission; chosen for advantages it offers for precision potato and root crop planting and harvesting tasks. Full-time operator, Macauley Smith has driven the 7719 S since its arrival, and says it is incredibly easy to operate. He particularly likes being able to adjust almost all aspects of operation including hydraulic spools from the cab, and he describes the transmission as lovely and smooth. “As far as I’m concerned, this tractor is second to none. The cab is larger than competitor brand tractors of similar power and much more comfortable. Travelling at up to 50kph between work locations or carting straw bales across a field, the ride quality is excellent and I’m sure that when we eventually come to update it, then I will want another the same.”

Shortly after taking delivery of the MF 7719 S, Andrew had the opportunity to borrow a Massey Ferguson 8S tractor from TNS. Impressed by the comfort and performance, he consulted Josh Taylor again and negotiated a deal to buy an MF 8S.265 Dyna-7 that the dealer had in stock. “It’s the first brand new tractor we purchased, and I chose the mechanical transmission as this tractor will do most of the heavier draft work, including up to 800ha of ploughing with our 7f reversible plough, plus deep subsoiling and cultivations, preparing land for drilling and also repairing field damage across 100ha of arable land after outdoor pigs grazed on rotation.”

Chosen for the tasks

Although there will be crossover between tasks allocated to the two tractors and their respective operators, the 7719 S Dyna-VT will do most transport tasks, muck carting, operating the MF 2150 baler, and potato planting and harvesting tasks – in particular de-stoning, while the MF 8S.265 Dyna-7 will do more of the heavy field work, plus mowing grass with Andrew’s set of modern triple mowers with groupers, and operating the MF 2170 square baler.

“For mowing, the MF 8S has exceptional forward visibility due to the large front screen, small dashboard and narrow bonnet. We work on all sorts of terrain including some which is quite uneven, and that is when such a great view of the mower will be a real advantage,” he stressed.

 

Andrew specified 650/85R38 rear tyres for the MF 8S.265 to optimise traction and invested in a 7f reversible plough that can be set up for working in-furrow or on-land. “If conditions are wet, then working in-furrow provides extra traction, but if the land is hard and dry then the big tyres will be prone to sidewall damage in the furrow, and that’s when the option to work on-land is an advantage.

 

Programmable hydraulics

There is no shortage of hydraulic oil flow as a larger pump comes standard on the Exclusive specification tractor. “I would have been happy with a simpler mechanical hydraulic system and controls,” he said. “However, I needed to be able to programme the valve operation to work most efficiently with our triple mowers and groupers, and that more complex function was only available with the electronic option which comes with the Exclusive specification.”

 

Confidence in dealer

Besides selecting his preferred specification, buying new also allowed Andrew to purchase an extended warranty up to 5,600 hours – tailored to precisely match the expected workload, while for routine servicing he chose to pay for the work as it is done. “We’ve always been well looked after by the TNS Fakenham team, and although a new service manager was recently appointed, our experience since he joined so far has been brilliant. I expect to keep both the MF 7719 S and the 8S.265 Dyna-7 for up to 6,000 working hours and am confident that with the TNS team providing support this won’t be a problem. I’m also hoping that the strong brand reputation means resale values when we eventually change should be good.”

Capable and fuel-efficient

By early March, the MF 8S.265 had worked more than 300 hours and completed 350ha of spring ploughing, despite the late start to land work due to the wet spring.

As Andrew hoped, running costs are proving very reasonable. Pulling the 7f plough set at 18in furrows, fuel consumption is averaging only 30 litres per hour. “I’m happy with that,” he confirmed. “This spring, as soon as conditions were dry enough, we started land preparation. I was working alongside a tractor of another brand with similar power, but it couldn’t pull its 6f plough due to lack of traction, while my longer wheelbase MF 8S.265 pulled the 7f plough with ease. That made the difference between being able to finish and get crops in the ground rather than waiting longer for it to dry out and lose valuable working time.

“Other tasks for which the 8S excelled during its first six months on the farm have included pulling our 16t Western manure spreader – applying 3,000t of cattle manure across an 18m spread width, when the ride quality and cab environment proved superb.”

Quietest cab

The MF 8S.265 cab has MF’s exclusive Protect-U design with a 15cm gap separating the encapsulated engine from the cab, reducing in-cab noise and vibration. “It definitely makes a difference,” confirms Andrew. “Cultivating or ploughing with the engine at full power, noise levels remain incredibly low and it’s easy to talk to a passenger or make phone calls without raising my voice. The huge glass area provides exceptional visibility all around, but it’s a big area to keep cool. I opted for tinted glass and think that was worth having while the powerful air conditioning had no problems keeping the cab comfortable during warmer days last autumn.”

 

Controls right where needed

Rather than a traditional information display on the dashboard behind the steering column, the 8S cab has a large LED screen on the right-hand corner pillar. The screen is bright and easy to read, and Andrew said it gives him all the information he needs at a glance. He also likes the general control layout, with the main operating joystick comfortable to use and coming naturally to hand. “Both tractors are straightforward to operate, and set-up menus are easy to navigate. Anyone can get on either tractor and work safely and efficiently, with very little instruction.”

 

Asked about in-cab storage, Andrew said that there is plenty of space for everything he needs. “I can take a bag or box of parts with me and place it almost anywhere on the floor or around the seat – there is so much room available,” he confirmed.

 

During the past year, Andrew’s strong relationship with TNS also encouraged him to invest in additional AGCO machinery. His previous MF grass rake was due for updating and replaced by an updated version of the same brand, while a new Fendt rake – identical to that offered by Massey Ferguson, replaced a competitor brand. Both arrived in spring 2025, and apart from a minor issue identified and quickly rectified during PDI, both performed faultlessly through the season.