… but will this pristine fully updated and restored John Deere 6800 ever put its 120hp six-cylinder engine back into daily action? It would be a shame if it didn’t but equally a pity if it does. The tractor is finished to an exceptionally high standard, a few days of hard work no doubt spoiling its pristine finish. As it is, the tractor’s future will be determined over the coming months.
John Deere tractor purists will no doubt spot the odd ‘non-original’ change to the Lynx Engineering JD 6800. As outlined from the outset, the primary aim was to breathe new life into a 30-year-old tractor and show how sensible upgrades could bring it up to meet current demands. The quality of this rebuild, however, is exceptional and it is the high standard of finish that most remark upon when they see the tractor in the metal.
Front linkage
Working back, the new style Zuidberg front linkage, with a nominal capacity 2.8 tonne, is essentially much as it was when fitted, probably by Lynx boss Nick Ewbank, back in 1992. It is, however, a new linkage and fully up to date to allow a new 1,000 rpm front pto to be installed. This benefits from automatically modulated engagement that would not have been offered when the tractor was new. The linkage hydraulics are plumbed in to the number one rear service to be used to raise and lower the arms.
Front loader
Moving now to the loader, it is worth noting that the new Stoll ProfiLine FZ 43-27 would have been a significant upgrade to front loaders on offer back in 1992. Fitted with mechanical parallel lift and with a nominal lift capacity of up to 2,660kg, the loader benefits from modern proportional control, the in-cab electronic Pro Control joystick replacing what would have been a long lever working Bowden cables.
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