Rolling back the years: More from the Maxxum

The main change was the cab and a longer wheelbase which improved driving comfort and stability; more so on the road and when transporting ploughs and heavy equipment. The gearbox was the 16x12 four-range power-shift from the old 5100 series.

With larger doors and more glass which improved visibility, the cab was considerably quieter than the old models. Electronic facilities were fitted to the four-wheel drive and diff-lock whereby they would engage or disengage by the steering wheel angle and by sensing draft load.

Hydraulic capacity was 5800kg but could be boosted up to 6600kg with assister rams.

1998 new additions

Five new models were introduced, three with four-cylinder and two with six-cylinder engines.

The Perkins four-cylinder engines were all turbocharged and these tractors were called the MX ‘c’ models, with the ‘c’ standing for Compact.

They were the MX100c 100hp, the MX90c 90hp and the MX80c giving 80hp.

These shared a lot of components from the six-cylinder MX models including the gearbox, back-end hydraulics and cab.

Case IH also had the lightweight CX range of tractors which replaced 4200 series, although the power was the same. For instance the MX100c and the CX100 both produced 100hp from their four-cylinder turbocharged engines. The MX ‘c’ range of tractors was more heavy duty than the CX and more capable at heavy work such as ploughing.

The two six-cylinder models were the MX150/170 models with 150/170hp power. These were big heavy duty tractors with a longer wheelbase than the smaller six-cylinders, stronger rear axles and extra hydraulic power. Transmission was beefed up to take the extra power, a 40kmh gearbox was fitted and dual-speed PTO.

Options included two-wheel drive on certain models and independent front suspension on later versions. A special edition model called the Extra was produced in 2001 based on the 135/170 with a red chassis and various options.

More changes

Following the merger with New Holland/Fiat in 1999, it took a couple of years before changes started to take place.

The biggest of these was that Case IH was forced to sell its Doncaster production plant and the rights to the Case IH models C, CX, MXC and MX Maxxum tractors to ARGO subsidiary McCormick.

The old range was still made and sold as Case IH but the new McCormicks , first seen in 2001, used the old MX design and models fitted with Perkins engines to become the MTX range.

The Case IH MX135 became the McCormick MTX140, which was based on the old MX design. This was incorporated into all the MTX models including the MC four-cylinders and these models continued to be built in Doncaster. The first new McCormick was made in 2001; the six-cylinder tractors appeared in late 2001 starting at 118hp with the MTX110 to the large MTX175 with 175hp, all using a Perkins six-cylinder engine.

A new flagship four-cylinder model was the MC115 producing 115hp. Its gearbox was based on the Case IH power-shift 16/12.

There were two interesting additions in 2003, the MC6 models built around a four- cylinder MC chassis but fitted with a six-cylinder engine to give 115hp from the MC120 and 135hp from the MC135; these had a low-profile cab option too.

The Case IH new models or replacement range came from New Holland’s TM series which was improved in 2002. The Case IH tractors mirrored the TMs, the Case MX135 was replaced by the Case IH MXM Maxxum 140 which was a NH TM140. All six models used six-cylinder turbocharged engines and ranged from 120hp to 190hp.