One of the quintessential stockman’s tractor built in the last 30 years was the Massey Ferguson 390. Built in the now defunct Banner Lane plant in Coventry, it appealed to many farmers because of its compact size, straightforward design and ease of use. Fitting a loader to these tractors was commonplace.

MF tractors have come a long way since then and the 5713 SL Dyna-4 Efficient Spec we tested is testament to that. The tractor is rated at 130hp which comes from a four-cylinder AGCO Power 4.4-litre engine. The transmission is a 16x16 Dyna-4 but an optional Dyna-6 gives a further eight gears in each direction. The tractor was fitted with a factory-installed FL.3819 front loader.

Three different specification levels are available on this tractor – Essential, Efficient and Panoramic. The Efficient Spec model had a high-visibility bonnet for better view of the front loader or front linkage where fitted. The engine RPM decreased automatically, saving fuel when the parking brake was engaged.

This tractor is a tidy package for 130hp. On first impression the loader seemed almost too big but the sloping red nose makes the tractor look deceptively small.

Thought has been put into the loader design, with the supporting crossbar very far forward and tapered to give the best view possible of the front attachment. In front of the bonnet are two stubby bull-bars to protect the grille. I had to wonder was this sufficient protection for the lights and grille considering how low down they are at the front of the tractor.

Opening the one-piece bonnet revealed the AGGO engine and all other components rested snugly around it. There is no doubt it’s a tight squeeze getting everything in here.

In saying that, serviceability was good and thought-out given the low nose and loader in place. The cable retaining the bonnet can be unhooked, leaving the bonnet to rise completely out of the way – definitely not recommended on a windy day.

Blowing out

The various coolers at the front of the tractor are placed right up against each other but getting in to blow them out after a day’s baling can be done with relative ease.

Unusually, in front of the coolers were two gas accumulator bottles for the front-axle suspension. On the right-hand side of the engine both the engine oil filler and dipstick can be reached with a little stretch over the mudguard without opening the bonnet.

Just behind these are battery terminals for jump-starting another machine. A transparent radiator expansion tank is on top of the engine, allowing for quick and easy inspection. Two fuel filters are on the left hand side just behind the engineered-to-last loader brackets.

Close to the cab on the same side, the cylindrical engine air filter can be pulled out very simply for inspection. All in all, a job well done by the MF designers.

Moving back towards the cab, we opened the cover attached to the top of three steps on the right-hand side to reveal the battery. Access is fair at best but, with the jumping terminals on the side of the engine, it doesn’t have to be any better.

Getting into the cab from this side was good as the loader controls are integrated into the armrest. The steps were angled slightly outwards to ease the ascent.

Around to the left to the more commonly accessed side, the three steps are partially shielded from dirt from the rear wheel by the moulded diesel tank. This is a simple but great way of reducing slipping on the steps. The diesel and Ad-Blue filler neck are at also positioned here at ground level.

A lunchbox-sized toolbox also had us scratching our heads as it was more or less full when the linkage-balls and clips were enclosed. Disappointing considering the tractor’s spec.

Into the cab

Climbing up into the bright cab through the wide door was easy. Sitting into the air seat, we could appreciate straight away this tractor was well thought-out with loader work in mind. The one-piece windscreen is a huge help, with glass from floor to roof line, and the sloping bonnet just disappears as you look forward.

The loader sits wide of the bonnet which has two benefits – great visibility forwards to the attachment and good access when it comes to servicing the engine.

At full reach sitting upright in the cab, visibility to the loader was definitely an issue. We had to strain to see it at its full 3.79m lift height but if a customer wants they can specify the Visio roof glass which should make this a lot easier. For normal day-to-day work the view forwards couldn’t be faulted.

The centre console is slim, clear and easy to read with vitals such as fuel level, engine temperature, RPM, and gear selected clearly visible. This tractor’s spec level meant most controls were on the right-hand armrest.

A stubby T-shaped lever controlled the 16x16 Dyna-4 gearbox which was simple to use, with four gears in each of the four ranges. A button on the left of it changed ranges.

Beside this an electronic multi-function joystick has a range of functionality with colour-coded buttons, loader control, forward/reverse shuttle and gear/range change. As with most other higher-specification tractors, headland management sequence, cruise control and pre-programming of gears are all within easy reach on the armrest.

A novel feature of this tractor is brake-activated transmission to neutral – which in layman’s terms means the tractor can be brought to a stop without clutching.

Speed matching between ranges also makes for a smooth driving experience. Control of the 5,200kg capacity rear linkage was straightforward, with clearly labelled buttons.

On the subject of linkage, a telescopic pickup hitch made attaching the dump trailer we used for our acceleration test easy and didn’t require a great amount of owl-like head turning.

Depending on the operator, direction and gear change can be made from the left-hand reverser or the joystick, which makes loader work a breeze.

Speaking of loader work, a button on the right-hand side increases oil flow from a steady 58l/min to a very impressive 100l/min when the two hydraulic pumps are diverted to the front loader. We actually found this too quick for some jobs but were assured by a representative from MF that with time and familiarity with the tractor, we would get used to it and make full use of it in repetitive jobs.

The electronic joystick had inch-perfect control for the loader. Beyond the right-hand armrest, two mechanical control levers and the PTO engagement switch are within easy reach.

On the B-pillar a schematic blister-pad means specific lights and the rotating beacon can be turned on and off depending on task. Below this are three dials for adjusting the rear linkage and the button for engaging the extra capacity oil pump for the front loader. For a tractor with such a well-laid out cab, storage space was sparse. There were few places for small items like a penknife or mobile phone and space for a tow-chain or sling would have to be under the driver’s feet. Not ideal, especially when the toolbox is so small also.

Moving outside to the rear of the tractor, implement attachment is straightforward. The hydraulic couplers are angled away from the middle of the tractor, making plugging in the implement hydraulic hoses easier. The top link is held in a substantial bracket when not in use, which is reassuringly safe.

On the outer edge of the mudguard on both sides are linkage lift and lower with PTO control on the near side – especially handy for jobs such as slurry spreading. Lighting on this tractor was particularly good as there were four work lights on the roof line which could be adjusted. Two more at the belt line could be turned outwards to save the front tyres from getting damaged in the darkness.

On the rear, we had no complaints either, with a total of six lights more than illuminating the work area behind the tractor.

Drive time

On the road towing a fully loaded tandem-axle 16.5t dump trailer, this tractor was comfortable, gutsy and a pleasant experience. The combination of cab, loader and front suspension worked well to give a comfortable spin. Moving up and down through the gears there was a bit of a jump between ranges when under load, but this was to be expected.

Conclusion

We were impressed with the Massey for a lot of reasons. It’s comfortable to drive, easy to service despite the loader and sloping bonnet, great for loader work and the cab is a nice place to spend a good few hours.

If we had any gripes, the lack of cab storage and toolbox size would be among them, along with the bright interior that would dirty easily. The loader was not just an “add-on” but designed for the tractor, with great visibility and cycle time thanks to the 100l/min hydraulic pump. All told, an impressively thought-out tractor with plenty of specification and comforts.