One year on, MF550

[hair bear]

Yes, it's been a year already since the 550 arrived - so what have we achieved this far?
The list of completed jobs keeps growing but none of it could be classed as difficult (Henry Cole would call it fettling), and mostly just Saturday afternoons and odd evenings so not a huge amount of time involved. Some of that time may also have been used for working or playing, or going for a 'test drive' when required.
For me the most stressful bit was probably the V5, it took from April to August to get it. Having bought from a reputable dealer I wasn't overly worried there was a problem but until you've got it you never know. Most expensive part so far, cab window glass, 2nd hand, £65.
Anyhow, if you're new to this sort of thing and wonder what may be involved, or you can't sleep tonight, you can have a read through this rambling.
Enjoy.

Admin
Apply for V5c
Change tax class

Outside/left
Remove excess stickers
Cap holes in left wheel arch
Adjust left mirror arm
Repair screw hole in cab roof
Replace door key x3
Refit door
Replace door hinge split pin
Straighten, rotate and refit exhaust
Drain/flush fuel tank and system (Derv)
Change fuel filter
Replace left front wheel stud
Remove old tax disc holder

Outside/front
Repair front pin ring
Repair front grille
Replace front grille latch
Replace horn fuse
Replace headlights
Replace headlight wiring
Replace broken bonnet bolts
Paint grille badge
Check battery
Replace battery clamp
Drain/flush/replace coolant
Paint front wheels
Test charging circuit

Outside/right
Repair wiring above starter
Clean/refit alternator terminals
Clean/refit starter terminals
Clean out tool box
Fit tool box lock
Replace lower right side glass

Outside/rear
Remove mudflaps
Repair right rear light earth
Replace right outer check chain
Repair hitch release lever
Replace Position Control roll pin
Repair top link tail
Repair inner clevis plates
Replace inner clevis pins
Replace lower link ball retainers
Test / reset Position Control
Test / reset Draft Control
Replace right rear panel bolt
Rewire/refit plough lamp
Test fit hitch hook
Repair hitch lift rods
Remove redundant right arm bracket
Test trailer pipe
Fit pto cap cover
Repair pto guard
Adjust/fit Cat2 balls
Fit linchpin keeper rings
Fit derv marking
Reset rear wheel track
Repair outer roof vent
Replace top link hook
Replace top link
Replace numberplate light
Repair number plate light wiring
Replace number plate bolts
Fit/test 7n socket
Fit/test 7s socket
Fit beacon
Test/fit 50mm ball
Replace 2 rear window hinge bolts
Replace upper rear window seals
Replace lower rear window seals
Repair lower rear window hinge
Repair lower rear window frame
Refit lower rear window glass
Fit lower rear window hinge seal
Clean cab air filter

Inside
Remove redundant rear bracket
Scrub cab interior
Fit interior mirrors
Repair seat cover
Repair seat adjuster
Repair heater control valve
Clean/repair cab vent panel
Repair cab light
Replace brake light switch
Repair door stay
Realign gear stick tops
Repair side window handle
Replace broken dash bolts
Replace screw in vent panel
Replace quadrant markings
Mark pto selector plate
Replace broken ceiling panel bolts
Replace 2 door stay bolts
Replace dash warning light bulbs
Check dash backlights
Repair osf indicator wiring
Fit indicator chime unit
Replace handle end on rear window
Replace rear window gas struts
Clean cab ceiling
Tape cab lining
Cap wiper hole in rear window
Repair heater valve
Replace heater control knob
Test heater matrix
Replace heater pipes
Test heater
Fit cab roof noise panel
Clean out cab vent system
Repair/refit third hand
Clean/secure fuse box contacts
Remove old radio speakers
Replace gear position sticker
Replace heater sticker
Fit 12v socket
Fit clock

Plough
Fit disc stem collars
Fit board tails
Release disc stems
Release/repair cross shaft adjuster
Replace cross shaft lever spring
Polish boards
Replace wheel scraper
Refurbish marker poles

And there you go, there's always something to do, just make sure even a small step is forwards.
Rob.

[Jeremy Rowland]

Time well spent some pictures would be nice.

Jeremy

[hair bear]

I honestly don't know how you guys manage to photo and document things like you do! I've often got home and thought I should have taken some before and after pics - I even set out on a couple of occasions armed with the camera instead of the phone specifically to do some documenting and immediately got so buried in what I was doing completely forgot to take anything.
Hoping to get some grass cut next week so there may be an opportunity to some get pics out in the fields to compare with the 'as sold' originals.
A link to the original 'walkaround' vid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdWPjfH4be0

[essexpete]

Rob that looks like a catch up on 40 years worth of maintenance.

[hair bear]

Good point, I hadn't looked at it like that.