Found a MF 175

I've posted on this a week ago. I found a 175 Diesel with a MF loader that I'm pretty interested in. It has 3800 hours and could be bought for around $5500. It seems to be in pretty good condition but the owner couldn't find the serial number under the instrument panel. It doesn't have the square axle. How important is that? What years did they build the square axle tractors? The left side axle has a light oil leak around the wheel location.

i think the sq axle models had the 4 speed trans with hi/lo, no multi-power. That is the model that you want.

the others had 3 speed trans with or with/out multi power.

some love multi power others not so much,

if M/P is out or not working, then you have no motor braking in either low or high range or maybe none, i just do not remember for sure.

many folks would not let kids drive these tractors as they can be squirrly with no engine braking.

brakes must be in class one condition and with oil leaking at the axle, that brake probably has oil soaked brake linings.

be sure to ask others before you buy the tractor, i drove them but never owned one,

However, i liked the m/p shift, the tractors i drove, most of them, this fuction worked.

If you're just using it around the house, to keep the yard, plow the drive way, mow and look after the garden it's probably more than heavy enough, even without the square rear axle. The square axle is a fair bit heavier but, are you going to earn your pay with it? Those round axles, with outboard drum brakes were used for many years in earlier industrial versions and did just fine. One thing, if the brakes need redoing, which many older tractors need, they'll be a h#^l of a lot easier than the inboard disc brakes of the square axle. The tractor looks in OK shape and if the engine starts and runs well, no major leaks, the steering works fine and with what looks to be pretty good tires, around here that would be running towards the high end of a good price range. Make sure it starts up well when cold, (not prewarmed by owner) and operate it. Put a load in the bucket, see if the cylinders hold and nothing drops (bucket/boom), make sure steering works fine with the load, make sure PTO works and put some weight on the 3pt if possible and make sure it's working OK. It looks like that loader is powered by the intermal pump in the trans. Check to see if you can live with the speed it lifts at. It may be slow. If it has an auxiliary pump mounted on the front of the engine crankshaft, the loader should work fairly quick with no lack of power for that small bucket. Is it gas or diesel? The ser # plate might be on the left side, below the dashboard cowling, on the frame that supports the battery and dash, in front of the steering gearbox. That's where it is on our MF35.

Square axle's were the first to have the 8 speed trans. It also possible to have a sq ax with a 12 sp multi power trans.

Looks like a very good deal for $5500 complete with MF loader. Might need some brake pads and/or axle seals but if everything else works as good as it looks, I wouldn't hesitate too long or someone else will buy it. 3800 hours (if it's accurate) isn't a lot and the tractor could last your lifetime.

We've got a 165 with the same round axels. They are dry inboard brakes, just like the square axels are inboard also, but are wet brakes. Dry brakes CAN be a problem if there is an oil leak soaking the discs.

We have had some issues in the past with the multi-power on our 165, but it was well worth the cost to fix it, instead of locking it out. I don't get why people are so afraid of the Multi-Power transmission, as it is far more reliable than IH's TA.

Donovan from Wisconsin

How hard is it to find a front mounted pump and bracket if I choose to mount one to speed up the loader operation?
Thanks All!

The 175 NEVER had outboard drum brakes. Most had dry disc brakes which worked unless the seal from the differential started leaking and the oil got to them. Late models had wet disc brakes. An oil leak around the wheel would be from the planetary final drive and may not affect the brake.