- Thread starter chuck t
- Start date
hardscrabble
Member
It's a shift-on-the-go 2-speed, similar to IH Torque Amplifier, and Oliver Hydra-Power. I haven't been around many MFs, but I've heard their Multi-power is kind of lightweight.
Gearhead210
Member
The multipower is a hydraulic wet clutch that when engaged (high) the tractor is in direct drive to the transmission. In low, runs through a planetary gear drive that has a ratchet on it, giving you not quite half a gear slower, and then you have no engine braking. It is the same principal as the Farmall TA's, but it has a wet clutch rather. The farmalls all ran a dry clutch on the TA's, which is why they were more common to fail without the oil cooling when being shifted alot. Multipowers are a very handy addition to a tractor for most tasks.
I love Multipower, it enables you to double up on your gear ratios. It gives you another "half" gear between each gear without using the clutch . The 2 main disadvantages are that for one thing, you cannot tow-start a multipower tractor and also if you are going down hill you need to be in high to obtain 'engine braking'. We had several multipower tractors, NONE of them gave us any transmission problems. However, the only IH we had with TA was a heap of trouble
DavidP, South Wales
Well-known Member
Hi,
Much of the mechanical side has been described below. If this is to become a front-line working tractor the following should be considered regarding not having 'engine braking' in low range MP.
Is it going to be used on hilly ground and perhaps by different or less experienced drivers? If no, then great!!! If it will be one or two experienced drivers on flattish ground then go for it.
Make sure the change-up is crisp and that the 'hill-hold' feature works. If facing down-hill and in reverse gear the tractor will not roll forward until the clutch is pressed fully and vice-versa. It is normal to have to press the pedal fully if on a slight incline to shift gear.
DavidP, South Wales
Much of the mechanical side has been described below. If this is to become a front-line working tractor the following should be considered regarding not having 'engine braking' in low range MP.
Is it going to be used on hilly ground and perhaps by different or less experienced drivers? If no, then great!!! If it will be one or two experienced drivers on flattish ground then go for it.
Make sure the change-up is crisp and that the 'hill-hold' feature works. If facing down-hill and in reverse gear the tractor will not roll forward until the clutch is pressed fully and vice-versa. It is normal to have to press the pedal fully if on a slight incline to shift gear.
DavidP, South Wales
this is going to be used for mowing mainly, and light discing, nothing heavy at all. We don"t need the multipower for that stuff. Just run it in high and we should be fine, correct? I understand it is expensive to fix; but if we keep it in high at all times will we even know if it is not working properly?
DavidP, South Wales
Well-known Member
Should work fine! If MP is used in Low for prolonged periods it should be shifted to High occasionally. Although immersed in oil it is possible for the clutch plates in the clutch housing to become 'dry' and wear prematurely.
Changing range occasionally keeps things moving.
I would have no qualms about buying a MP tractor.
Yes, they can be expensive to repair. MP is very useful for something like baling hay where a higher gear can be used for most of the time but when you do run into heavy crop you can cut your speed by 33% at the flick of a lever and then resume when the predominating crop condition returns.
DavidP
Changing range occasionally keeps things moving.
I would have no qualms about buying a MP tractor.
Yes, they can be expensive to repair. MP is very useful for something like baling hay where a higher gear can be used for most of the time but when you do run into heavy crop you can cut your speed by 33% at the flick of a lever and then resume when the predominating crop condition returns.
DavidP
caution:
new mp units were great, as long as they work properly.
but like all older hyd drive units, they tend to give problems as they get older.
my old mf dealer said he would never trade for a tractor with mp unless he could get it cheap enough, that he could afford to rebuild the mp unit.
about $800 years ago, who knows now.
just a word to the wise!!!!
check it out good, not just driving it around in the parking lot. needs to be warmed up and pulling a heavy load.
new mp units were great, as long as they work properly.
but like all older hyd drive units, they tend to give problems as they get older.
my old mf dealer said he would never trade for a tractor with mp unless he could get it cheap enough, that he could afford to rebuild the mp unit.
about $800 years ago, who knows now.
just a word to the wise!!!!
check it out good, not just driving it around in the parking lot. needs to be warmed up and pulling a heavy load.
Bob N.Y.
Well-known Member
- Location
- Norway, N.Y.
A slight correction. Multi-Power does NOT involve a planetary in any model up through the 1080. It uses 2 separate gear sets. High is engaged by a hydraulic clutch pack. Low is driven through a sprag clutch which over runs going down hill.
Mike Lucas
Member
I had a MF65 diesel w/ multipower [late model] before I traded it in, I had spent more repairing the multipower than I initially payed for the tractor. When it left the farm, the multipower still badly leaked transmission fluid when you put it in high range.
note of caution:
if you are going to have younger drivers (kids) driving this tractor,
be sure the brakes are in top working condition
as in the low range you may not have any brakeing or hold back,
my neighbor sold his mf 165 with mp, because his girls had to drive the tractor while they oiled tobacco, who knew when it was going to take off
they just couldnot control it.
mp was not working on the old tractor
if you are going to have younger drivers (kids) driving this tractor,
be sure the brakes are in top working condition
as in the low range you may not have any brakeing or hold back,
my neighbor sold his mf 165 with mp, because his girls had to drive the tractor while they oiled tobacco, who knew when it was going to take off
they just couldnot control it.
mp was not working on the old tractor
lonestarjeff
Well-known Member
We've never had any trouble w/ ours since we got it in 1980. MP is a very handy feature to have.
Jeff
Jeff
The multipower is quite reliable, but it needs to have correct maintenance and usage for long life.
Our 168 that's been in the farm since -72 also has never given any MP trouble, with some 9000hrs on the clock now. Regular maintenance and sensible use of the MP help to prolong its life.
Some owners always seem to have more trouble on their equipment than others do, for those the multipower or any similar "high tech" is a bad buy... Or a bad idea to buy from.
Our 168 that's been in the farm since -72 also has never given any MP trouble, with some 9000hrs on the clock now. Regular maintenance and sensible use of the MP help to prolong its life.
Some owners always seem to have more trouble on their equipment than others do, for those the multipower or any similar "high tech" is a bad buy... Or a bad idea to buy from.
If you'll notice, about half of the comments on MultiPower come in the form of 2nd hand info where someones brothers 3rd cousins next door neighbors twin sister married someone who once knew a guy who saw a friend work on one....a long time ago....Most of those sorts are the ones with negative opinions.
Those who've actually used MultiPower tractors generally like them. Of course, as was already mentioned, it pays to take good care of any MP tractor. Get one that's been gutted and you will spend money by the bucket full. Get one that's been properly cared for, take the time to learn how to PROPERLY use it, and you can join the happy MultiPower Owners Club. It's AT LEAST as durable as any other shift-on-the-fly Hi/Lo of it's era, maybe more so. And MP is absolutely WONDERFUL to use while plowing!
Those who've actually used MultiPower tractors generally like them. Of course, as was already mentioned, it pays to take good care of any MP tractor. Get one that's been gutted and you will spend money by the bucket full. Get one that's been properly cared for, take the time to learn how to PROPERLY use it, and you can join the happy MultiPower Owners Club. It's AT LEAST as durable as any other shift-on-the-fly Hi/Lo of it's era, maybe more so. And MP is absolutely WONDERFUL to use while plowing!
chuck,
just for your information,
the 165 model was a great tractor
near the end of the run they made a 165 model with a 4 speed trans with the hi/lo range.
no mp.
That would be the one to buy, if you can find one.
wrote this just so you would know they did correct the mp issue by offering the 4 speed trans with hi/lo trans.
this trans offering eliminated the hyd drive
and the problems many users had with it.
note: when 50% of the users have problems, it is a item to stay away from or at least be heads up when you buy.
just ask a Case tractor owner that had one with the (case-O-matic) transmissison, same type hyd transmission.
good luck on your purchase.
just for your information,
the 165 model was a great tractor
near the end of the run they made a 165 model with a 4 speed trans with the hi/lo range.
no mp.
That would be the one to buy, if you can find one.
wrote this just so you would know they did correct the mp issue by offering the 4 speed trans with hi/lo trans.
this trans offering eliminated the hyd drive
and the problems many users had with it.
note: when 50% of the users have problems, it is a item to stay away from or at least be heads up when you buy.
just ask a Case tractor owner that had one with the (case-O-matic) transmissison, same type hyd transmission.
good luck on your purchase.
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