The new Massey Ferguson 5M range is the love child of the 5700 and 6700 global Series tractors, sitting snugly in the sweet spot for mid-sized tractors
Engine
Under the hood, the Massey Ferguson 5M 95 is packing a four-cylinder AGCO Power engine that delivers 95 brawny horses. Think of those feisty racing ponies from the Ellerslie Boxing Day races combined with a torque curve flatter than the Canterbury Plains – giving you grunt at low revs – very low revs, 1500 rpm actually – how good?
Transmission
For those who appreciate the joys of driving a stick shift, the tactile engagement of shifting gears is hard to beat. The MF 5M’s manual transmission gives you direct control over power delivery. Each gear change is a reminder of the tractor’s mechanical heart and your role in coaxing out its best performance (or in my case, trying not to re-mould the synchros). Simplicity is key: high and low ranges, 6 on the stick, 12 forward and 12 reverse. There is some sophistication however with a declutch button on the front of the lever. The Power Control shuttle lever is well placed for F/R shuttling while the Comfort Control dial allows shuttle aggression adjustment from smooth through to rapid. And rounding out a nifty little package is the brake-to-neutral function with a engage/disengage switch, conveniently located under the steering wheel.
Operator Station
Right: The machine offers wide step-through access, a flat deck, and well-positioned controls
Climb aboard the 5M as this ROPS is all about simplicity and visibility. With wide step-through access, a flat deck, and controls that remain well-positioned, the MF 5M Series offers ease of use and comfort, particularly for loader work. This is supplied from factory as loader ready for the Massey Ferguson-branded (Quicke) 3717X loader in this case.
The steering is light, and the turning circle is tight – 4.6 metres to be exact, even with the chunky 440/65R24s up front and 540/65R34s on the rear. Thanks to the pivoting front guards for loader work it remains nimble, yet sure footed.
Linkage
Right: Buttons on both rear mudguards allow for easy external implement hitching
Electronic linkage control is maybe something you don’t expect from a machine this size, but the little Massey has just that, even equipped with buttons on both rear mudguards for easy external implement hitching. Boasting an impressive lift capacity of 4300kg from the Cat 2 hook ends means the mounted implements we threw at it during our ROPS Showcase provided no match for the muscle.
Hydraulics
The open centre hydraulic system is powered by two gear pumps. One provides 42 litres/min to all the internal services, and the auxiliary spool valves, (2 valves as standard, 3rd as an option) while another delivers 58 litres/min to the rear linkage. With the simple flick of a switch, you can combine the two pumps to deliver 100L/min for loader work or heavy rear hydraulic demands, or you can just leave it linked all the time and have your cake and eat it too.
PTO
The 5M comes standard on the 12×12 models with two seed 540/540E PTO. Control is via an electro-hydraulically switch with a nice gentle soft start ‘eases’ the engagement. You can upgrade to 3-speed if you like, but either way, you get electronic speed selection. Electronic PTO and linkage functionality on a machine this size is ahead of the curve.
Summary
The Massey Ferguson 5M Series packs big-tractor brains and brawn into a compact, nimble frame. With its roomy, user-friendly operator station, electronic linkage controls, powerful hydraulics, and tech-savvy PTO, this little red workhorse makes heavy lifting and loader work a breeze. The 300 series MF tractors laid the foundation for these machines in the New Zealand market, the Global series picked up the ball and ran with it and now the 5M is continuing that legacy – proving that great things truly do come in small red packages.
Massey Ferguson 5M 95 specifications
| Engine | ACGO 4.4L, 4 Cylinder, Tier 3 |
|---|---|
| Max Engine | 95hp |
| Transmission | 12x12 |
| Rear lift capacity | 4300kg |
| Hydraulic capacity | 58L/min + 42L/min can be linked =100L/min |
| Tyre size | Front 440/65R24 Rear 540/65R34 |