MF165 Project

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Originally Posted by INter674

Be very carefull with the multi power..they have a nasty reputation and require proper operation to prevent accidents eg going into neutral on a steep hill snd running away. A neighbour had this happen and it nearly did him in. He sold it fir a JD the next week 😐

A mate also has one and commented that you need to know how to drive them otherwise they can bite you hard.

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Usually due to inexperience with this system by the operator, not a fault of the unit. It doesn’t go into neutral but on overrun will provide no engine braking so it feels like that’s what’s happened. There is no engine braking when in low range multi - see the below explanation. This can catch out the unaware, but isn’t hard to work around when you know - if it starts to overrun the first thing the operator must do is flick the multi power off.

Best way is for an inexperienced operator to leave the multi power alone. With it off the gearbox acts the way you think it would in both low and high - coupled straight through to the engine unless the operator is standing on the clutch. 👍

If the multi power fails, it defaults to the off position by its design so can’t catch you out if it fails or slips (which they do as the get on a bit)

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Originally Posted by Shortshank

Hi all, I’ve spent hundreds of hours on these MFs. My understanding with the MultiPower is that you don’t have engine braking in I think High range mult-power? Hence the tendency to run away down hills. Very useful ‘half’ gear when working under load in the right circumstances as these machines have no synchromesh.

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No engine braking in low range multi. 👍

“ When in low multi the hydraulic clutch is dissengaged and the drive goes through a pair of gears into a ratchet clutch which takes the drive to the gearbox. There is no engine breaking in low multi because of the ratchet clutch. When you move the transmission to high multi it locks up the hydraulic clutch and the hydraulic clutch gear drives another gear. Because the drive is now turning faster than through the low-multi ratchet clutch, this now becomes a free-wheeling device. It is for this reason that there is engine braking in high multi power, but no engine braking in low multi power.

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Originally Posted by Old Farang

Gee, some nostalgia right there! The metal work is in amazing condition considering it's age. I had the same one from new, but not multi-power. Was a big step up from a 135! :BigThumb:

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Thanks, yep it’s very straight and should scrub up ok. The grill is cracked but I’ve already ordered a new one, along with all new lights, etc. It should look quite good once degreased, a few leaks fixed and a coat of paint. 👍

Got the new brake parts today so can get back to it this weekend maybe. 👍

Thanks for the explanation. I used the vernacular to describe the effect ie it goes effectively into neutral..no retardation.

My mate with one has no issues as he knows what can happen with multi power...unfortunately it has caused too many operators grief..hence the bad rap. At clearnce sales you will hear blokes saying..had one of those. ..they run away on you on hills...blah blah. ..

Then again my modern massey will do the same on very steep hills when the tranny oil runs away from the pump pick up causing the clutch to disengage and the steering to cease operating. Fortunately the brakes are on a separate circuit but without 4wd the tractor will lock the rears and toboggan down the slope. Ask how I know. .I ended up in a dam needing a dozer to pull me out😐

Solution .fill the tranny with and extra 30 litres of oil ...Massey dealers actually filed a new fill mark on the dip stick. .a good inch above the factory fill mark! !

Or back down really steep stuff☺

Yeah certainly something that needs to be looked out for but not sure if they had that much of a bad rap - in continuously production from 5 plants worldwide for 11 years. 👍

Ok, part arrived, so back to it. In our last exciting instalment there was several decades of crud to remove before the new parts could be fitted. That actually didn’t take too long and before I knew it, things were clean and ready to back together - intermediate plate not shown here, that got a new seal and a clean before it all went back together.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6167bf01_h.jpgBA8318D8-DE6C-4BF3-90C6-5FE0BA1A5B48 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Mmmm, new DRY brakes, just the way MF intended. 👍
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...61181819_h.jpgFE4FC68C-6171-4043-9268-48511EA3459C by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Next came the Dulux reco.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...29490db0_h.jpgF1B50B6C-3DA0-47E5-A4AA-8AED062C34AC by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Pretty. All adjusted up, this side now has brakes.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...202e7c52_h.jpgD82F2DFA-C6A4-41D2-94E9-A469C7F5EFEC by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And back on its wheels. Ready to turn around and do the other side - which won’t take as long - the hardest bit of all this was getting everything off so you can get to the trumpets.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d428fc7b_h.jpgAC8153A7-029A-463D-9A35-B8342C6BEC1A by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Have also got a pile of new lights, new grill, stop cable, indicator switch, new roll bar and some gaskets to fix a couple of leaks on the engine. All that fun stuff to come. 👍

Until next time boys and girls.

What's the story with extra hydraulic control valve mount where the PTO lever lives? Some external attachment I guess? I am talking about around 1970, so a bit of a grey area, but for sure I recall welding an extension on to the ridiculous original lever. I extended it up to just under the seat for easy use. As far as I can recall the extension was the gearbox lever out of a scrapped Simpson washing machine! Had a nice round knob on the end as well! Cheers

It’s a hydraulic remote, option from the factory on the 165. Modern tractors run like 6 of them or something. Would run something like a log splitter or rear mounted pallet fork, etc.

I like the idea of extending the PTO lever - it’s in a silly spot and hard to reach. Might do that. 👍

Yes, I realise it is a remote hydraulic control valve. Should have been more clear in my question! Are you sure it is am original option? It is where it is mounted that raised the question. Seems to be plonked on the footplate without any thought of where to mount it.
On one farm that I worked on for one seeding season both and a Fordson Power Major, and a David Brown had remote hydraulics for use with a trailing disc plough.

Actually, I have just had another look and on one of your photos there appears to be a control knob behind the hydraulic block. Cheers

I believe this setup is factory - Given that the bracket for the connections bolts to the top LH trumpet bolts - and these 2 studs are longer than the others to allow for this, also the valve bracket is quite complicated and fits very well to the mounting bolts it’s attached with so it’s certainly not a backyard job, so assuming it’s original. Also, a old cow cocky was looking at it this morning while his truck was repaired and he was letting me know quite a bit of info on them as he had 2 of them some years ago. He mentioned ‘The factory remote’ in his conversation so everything points this way however I don’t definitively know this - it could be an aftermarket kit, there’s plenty of those about. It’s actually in quite a good location and I wouldn’t have mounted it anywhere else - it’s not in the way and easy to reach.

Ok, thanks. Do you know anything about the hydraulic pump? What type it is? Is there a separate pump for the Multi Power? Never had mine long enough to ever have problems with any part of it, but have worked on several old TE 20's, and 35,s including the Scotch Yoke pump.