Lynx Engineering is set to bring its award-winning, fully restored John Deere 6800 tractor to Cereals. Given a new lease of life by the project team of Greg Allen, Mark Purves and Sam Ewbank, the tractor garnered an excellent reaction when it debuted at Lamma, before going on to win the Best Restored Tractor award in the 1976-2000 class at the Tractor World Show.
The restoration was undertaken to mark Lynx Engineering’s 30th anniversary and demonstrated how an old, well-used tractor could be restored and re-equipped with new components to be suitable for modern farming.
A 6800 was an easy choice of machine. When the range was launched at Smithfield in 1994, Lynx had already taken the key measurements for a front linkage and PTO kit, enabling the company to offer dealers retrofit solutions.
When the 6800 arrived on site, it looked in reasonable condition. However, when it was stripped down to the chassis, underlying problems had to be addressed. The engine only ran on five cylinders, the turbo required a full rebuild and the gearbox was virtually replaced with the number of new parts added.
Work was needed on the front and rear axles, and there was much more cleaning, blasting and painting work than the company had originally planned for.
The tractor was completed in December 2022, finished with the latest Stoll Next Generation ProfiLine FZ43-27 front loader, in the same livery as would have been delivered back in 1994. This was equipped with the latest Pro Control electric joystick.
A new up-to-date Zuidberg front linkage system was also added, with a front PTO, while the rear Dromone pick-up was sent back to the company for a complete overhaul. Lynx Engineering also replaced the original viscous fan with a new Flexxairee reversing cooling/cleaning fan.
The tractor will take its place on the Lynx Engineering stand at this year’s Cereals Event, alongside the latest Stoll ProfiLine front loaders, Zuidberg front linkages and PTOs, Dromone pick-up hitches and couplers, a range of front-mounted weights and the company’s own Streamline front press.