Thread: Anyone know Massey Fergusons?

Thanks everyone (and the Mod for moving my thread to where it belongs).
I went and had a look at the MF135 and took it for a bit of a drive around the car-park. The hydraulics all work, no signs of leaking or corrosion on the shafts, ran through all the gears in both ratios, brakes were good both sides, Perkins Diesel engine ran like a dream, everything was very clean and tidy although obviously not yet cleaned for sale (only just got traded on a new tractor), last owner for 6 years, no cracks at any bearing, pivot or load points that I could see, fairly faded paint (except for brand new battery compartment cover) but no cracks or dents anywhere in the bonnet or guards. It has obviously been very well looked after.

The only problems were a dicky FEL control lever box, the lighting was a bit iffy and one front tyre is looking dodgy. They will rebuild the control box (there's a kit they rebuild them with) and I'm pretty sure the wiring issues are just poor earth connections. All the lights worked but were intermittent and sometimes just glowed dimly, other times full bright. I'll sort the electrics out. They are also throwing in a second hand carry-all and agreed to give the whole tractor and hydraulics a full service. Finally they offered to deliver it - all without moving from the price of $10,950.

Now I need to sell a couple of Land Rovers and the 6x4 off-road trailer unfortunately. DeeDee the S2a will have to depart and I'll get the '55 S1 going so it can move on too. Then I'll have the D90 and the '50 S1 to play with.

When I get the tractor I'll post a few piccies to close this thread out.

Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

Parts are cheap as chips.

Check that both stages of the clutch are working well and if it is a pressure control model the relief valve should be heard to be working if you place the position control lever briefly in the constant pumping position.
Have a look for any oil coming out of the brake drums, the wheel bearings will need to be pressed off in a workshop equipped with a large press then they can fit new seals.

The wiring loom looses the cloth coating especially were it passes under the battery carrier, that bituminous impregnated cloth insulation tape I find is the best to re wrap it with.

Thanks Arthur. Both stages of the clutch worked fine, although the gearbox clutch (top travel) was quite late in engaging (the lever travels quite well up before the engagement happens).
I never heard anything odd from the hydraulic selector in any of the three positions, so not sure on that one. I'll learn more when it arrives then.
There wasn't any oil obvious from either of the braked wheels.
The cloth coating could be the root cause of the issues I noticed, so thanks for that little gem of info.

Originally Posted by mick88

PS......I forgot to mention that if it has the "multipower" transmissionget someone who really knows Fergs to check it out for you...say a MF mechanic, as these can require some expensive parts if they are faulty.

Cheers, Mick.

Hmmm. Not sure whether it was "multipower" transmission. I know it was 3 speed plus reverse, all "crash box" (no synchromesh) and dual range. Changed gear easily enough (drove the non-synchro S2a there for practice) so I don't think there'll be any issues. Is there a way to tell if it's multipower? (Sounds a bit advanced for this old thing).

WHY do you need a tractor to do the firebreaks????
Surely a quick thrash of the Husky several times a week will keep the firebreaks maintained And if you cant steer the Husky at 90deg turns at speed perhaps you need to re-think your Dakar goal
ENJOY
Andrew

Believe me Andy, the thought has crossed my mind many times! (Except with my stable of KTM's). I'll bet my neighbours are very glad I've never actually put the thoughts into action!


I have elderly neighbours and look forward to offering to slash their paddock and do their firebreak boundary next year. They have looked after our place over the years if we've been away and been very understanding and patient when our trees have fallen across the boundary fence. (Why is it always our trees that fall to their side, never their trees falling to our side??). It'll be nice to do something useful in return. (Aside from the multiple trailer loads of cut firewood I have delivered to them over the years).

To check if the multipower works, drive it up a rise with the lever up in high, then put your foot on the clutch. If the multi power works the tractor will not roll backwards and will be hard to get out of gear. If it is crook the tractor will not lock up and will roll backwards and be easy to get out of gear.
If it locks up push the lever down into low and it will then roll backwards.
Beware that with multipower you have no engine braking in low and if you are going downhill it will roll as if it is in neutral. Only drive down hill in high multi.
I have had one since new in 1974 still have it done over 10000 hours motor done up once very cheap and simple to do , clutch and gearbox not touched,
Don't take too much notice of those who talk of the tea 20 , the 135 has better hydralics live pto with a dual clutch. With the tea 20 when you put your foot on the clutch the pto and hydralics will cease to work and will be a pain to operate.
I have an owners manaul if you want some pages scanned. PM me.
Lindsay

With reference to post 13 if its a multi power unit it will have a lever on the dash to select high or low multi power.
It's the lever to the right of the steering wheel on the vertical face of the dash


Regards,
Tote

My new toy got delivered today. I spent an hour or so "playing" in the paddock and already we have completed our first job together. There was an ugly pile of sand/dirt mounded over a small log in the middle of the paddock. Quickly lifted the log into the bucket and dropped it on top of the fire pile then scraped flat the remainder of the sand. Even scooped some up to fill a hole elsewhere and spread that out. Very happy with it. Used all the hydraulics and gears and dual range. The only bit I haven't used is the diff lock (although came close to needing it on the firebreak) and the PTO.

Anyway, here she is (crappy photo's due to crappy weather and phone camera):




Also decided to get them to deliver a new slasher with it:


I'll find a few other interesting things on it in the weekend and play a bit more. All seems good so far. Especially looking forward to trying the slasher, although my paddocks are all nice a short due to the wife paying someone to slash them with a tractor a few weeks ago. Might have to do the council's bit and slash the road verge.

The repair kit the seller fitted is great and improved the FEL operation considerably. The new oil filters all have new dates and "158 hours" written on them to match the dash tractormeter.

Looks good. Enjoy your new " toy" Should last you a long long time