Thought I would share some photos of my newly acquired vineyard Dexta.
There was a post recently on the forum from someone trying to sell a Dexta Narrow on behalf of a friend in France. I now live in France so I enquired about the tractor and where it was, and would you believe it was about 3kms from where I now live. I arranged with the owner to go and have a look at the tractor and she told me it came with the house when they bought it about 5 years ago and the tractor has been sitting outside since then doing nothing and the previous owner hadn't used it either. I checked that the engine wasn't seized and made her an offer which was accepted, she later said that if no one was going to buy it she was going to turn it into a planter
Picked it up next day and trailered it home. The nameplate on the bonnet says "Narrow" so I assume this was a trade name of whoever converted it to a vineyard tractor. The tinwork is all good although very little paint remains on it, tyres not good but they are all holding air, underswept exhaust which is very common round here on all tractors, just about chokes you to death when you are trying to hook something up on the back.
I repaired the fuel pump and pipework, took the starter to pieces and cleaned up all the starter cabling as the starter was very lazy. Then disconnected all the wiring, which was more insulating tape and twisted joins than wiring and connected up just enough wiring to get it started. No manifold heater at the moment so a little squirt of easy start and it fired up very easily and runs well, no bottom end noises. Took it for a run round and everything working except right hand brake and TPL not raising.
Since then I have had the top cover off and found the hydraulic intake filter was lying horizontally within the rear axle and the oil level was low so I assume it was drawing air instead of oil - well I say oil but it was an emulsified gunge really. I have cleaned it all up and put every thing back and now waiting for a delivery of SAE30 oil so that I can try it out.
Once I get it to a stage where I can use it without spending any more time or money that will have to suffice for the meantime, the wife has a list of more pressing items that need doing
You can see in the pictures the difference between my original Dexta (set at 56") and the vineyard Dexta.
I will post more updates in the future as time allows.
Bob
I see your back tyres were mounted round the wrong way, in Scotland where I used to live they would turn the wheels round like that when they were using a rear mounted muck loader to get traction in reverse. Have you made any progress with your Major ?
