The Classic Machinery Network

Ah ha, thanks due to Essexpete. That version with the new design of cab, AFAIK wasn't introduced until second half of 1989, earliest I've seen was on a 'G' registration. The original 555 had the same style of cab as the earlier 550.

The machine may be newer than you think. Ford launched the 555 as a replacement for the 550 circa 1985, new model looked almost the same, other than cab on the 555 was black as opposed to yellow on the 550, and a few other tweaks. The 555 kept the 3 cylinder Ford engine. Shortly afterwards, Ford lau...

If it's anything like the MF 450D I has misfortune to come across, the controls are opposite way round, totally confusing and rather dangerous.....

Good Akerman pics there, thankyou! Do I spy a Dresser machine in one of the photo's?

Some of the (earlier?) Ford 550's and MF 50B's had 4 lever control for the backhoes, not that it ever seemed to faze any of the drivers I saw working the machines! I think 2 lever controls were an option on the Mk 2 50B, not sure when Ford swapped over from 4 to 2 levers.

Got similar problems. No money and no space.

Few women understand the finer points of a good machine. Perhaps you could be looking after a duck for a mate?

Can never have enough machinery, have you thought of trading in the wife against a duck? :lol: My first experience was on a Liebherr 902. Had a blade on one end, although regular driver rarely used it, did rock about a bit but you got used to it and learned to drive the machine accordingly. The boss...

May interest you to know Gavin, although this type of roller is a recent venture for JCB, they did make a compactor version of the JCB 428 some years ago for landfill/soil compaction duties. Local landfill had one (and a Cat 953) when the County Council operated the site. (Gone a bit bigger now, wit...

I think this Akerman still going strong at 40 would be an interesting article for Nick Drew's 'Digger Blog'? (How many Japanese machines would still be working at that age, not many I suspect!) As an aside, I recall an Akerman H7, seemed an early version (to track you operated a control which swappe...