Massey Feguson TO-35

Jacewd

New User
Hello new to the forums, I have a TO-35 that belonged to my grandfather. I have been using it for the last 10 years and now I am getting around to cleaning it up and fixing the problems.
1st my Tach starting spinning wildly while blowing snow this past winter not sure if the problem is in the gauge, cable or the gear drive. and the tach stopped counting hours about 15 years ago
2nd problem is the generator has never charged the battery as far as I know. regulator problem?
3rd problem is the tractor keep burning up condensers at about 1 per 15-20 hours.
Few pictures to appease those who can never get enough of looking at these machines.

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Welcome!! I have a TO 35 SN 187525, but mine's the Standard diesel. Problem #1, sound like the tach head is shot, that's how they act when dying. # 2, Quick check of the generator and regulator with a known good ammeter, at a fast idle ground the Field terminal at the generator, if it charges then the regulator is not working. Next remove the fan belt, with a jumper wire to the battery hot post energize the Ammeter post on the generator, it should turn like a motor. If not try cleaning and freeing up the brushes, that may get it working again. If it will motor and charge with the field grounded try cleaning the point sets under the regulator cover. Mine worked fine after a lite filling. Problem #3 may be simple as the point gap set wrong, or wrong condenser for the application. Points should be .020 if I remember right.
 
I had a similiar problem with mine. It was totally dead. (bought it that way) Got some help here I'll pass on to you.. disconnect cable at generator end and make sure the gear is not broke. If okay try to spin cable end at generator and see if needle moves smoothly if it doesn't gears might be shot at generator end. reconnect cable at generator and disconnect cable at tractormeter end. Easiest way is to remove battery so you can get your hand in there. Start tractor and see if cable spins. Try to hold cable between fingers to see if it stops (it shouldn't).
If okay Shut tractor. At the rear of the tractormeter where the cable connects, try to spin the fitting where the cable would go into it... Spin it counter clockwise...at the same time watch the needle on the meter, it should move smoothly. The needle should move and drop back down. If it dosen't gears in meter are no good. Also check both ends of cable. I was able to slide cable out of casing and clean and lube it but on some cables it cannot be removed. Mine was frayed at the meter end and I was able to snip off the frayed ones without shorting the cable and it started working again. ( so far for 2 weeks) and mine is original with 5,136 hours on it. Hope this helps
 
as far as the generator goes if you have a good old school electrical shop nearby I would have them rebuild it. there is a guy near me who does it for 60/80 bucks a pop. if that does not work go from there but at least you can be sure the generator is okay.

as far as the tach. what the others said.
 
Once you get the charging system working, the ignition problems will be lessened.

Might also consider an electronic conversion, be rid of the points and condenser problems for good! The quality of the new points and condensers is just not there anymore.
 
Jack,

Be careful and do not let someone just exchange generators with you, yours has a special
shaft with gears on one end to drive the tachometer cable,

It worth more than a regular generator, try to get it repaired, if that is your charging
problem. I have almost the same tractor, 1957 model, I have been through a number of
voltage regulators, overseas made, just not the quality of the old original parts.
 
Well I took the belt off and tried to energize the generator, nothing. Now the generator and regulator are at the shop for testing and probably rebuilding, I took the gear drive off and checked the teeth and
movement looked good, the cable spins freely and it does spin up the tach so I put a 1200 rpm drill on the cable and the tach read a steady 2400.(could someone confirm if that is normal) One more thing when I
took the generator off and cleaned the oily dirty hay seed/grass away I noticed 2 oil cups one for the gear drive and one on the front of the generator, so ya those have not seen any oil for the last 15 years
or 3000+ hours maybe longer.
 
Couple of drops of oil in generator cups from time to time.

Note to file: when you get that generator back, Do Not, get the fan belt too tight.
Reason, it will wear out the rear shaft bushing in the generator!!!!!!!!

Front bearing is a roller bearing, but rear is a bushing on my generator, again you can not run the belt too tight, it will wear out the rear bushing, may need to buy new fan belt.

I used powder graphite to lube the tachometer cable, grease in the gear box.

Also can lube the front axle pivot bushing with powdered graphite.
 
(quoted from post at 19:37:21 06/03/15)
3rd problem is the tractor keep burning up condensers at about 1 per 15-20 hours.

Unless you want to keep everything original you might consider switching to an electronic ignition system. It really doesn't change the look of it and it's very easy to switch back to points if you like later on, no permanent modifications necessary. I have it on one of my tractors (a 202, same engine) and I plan to change it on my 35. It made a world of difference on the 202 , no more messing with points and haven't changed out a fouled plug in probably 4 years or more.

That is a really nice looking tractor you have, looks like it's been well cared for. And a superb looking guard dog for it! Welcome to YT!
 

Jacewd

I have serial number 196917 we got her 2 years ago and we have some of the same problems. Put a new tach cable and tach in to-day and nothing working. Generator has never worked.
Put a new temp. gauge in and that works.
 

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