A couple of questions: MF85

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This is a MF85 that belonged to my dad before he passed. I am not sure of the year, I have been cleaning up some of the briars and weeds from around it, but have not looked at the serial number yet. It has a gas engine. I used to drive it as a teen hauling firewood. It has not been started in years and has been sitting. I am sure the pistons are seized from sitting. I have had ATF soaking in the pistons for months now. Gas tank is clean inside, and the exhaust has been covered since it was parked. Soon I plan to pull it out of the weeds where i can work on it. I hope to put a battery on , new plugs and wires, and fresh fluids and see if it will crank over. My hope is the pistons will free up. I don't have any info on the engine or trans and wondered if anyone here could tell me the capacities of the engine oil and transmission fluid? I wish I could provide more details but I haven't had a chance to get a good look at model numbers or anything.
 
Nice project, nice tractor, hope you have an enjoyable time. I think a person is supposed to make sure the engine will actually move and turn over, before hitting the starter motor. Can do damage if that's not done correctly. I think. Could be wrong.
 
Great project to honor your father:

If motor is stuck, you might try filling cylinders
with a 50/50 mixture of acetone and automatic
transmission fluid. Let it soak a few days, the
solution might allow the motor to free up.

Good luck with the project.

If it's not stuck, but has been sitting a while you
might want to pull the plugs and place a small
amount of motor oil in the cylinders, turn the motor
over a few times to insure the rings are lubed (with plugs out).

The procedure you follow to revive the engine is
critical, you do not want to ruin the motor by
getting in to big of hurry trying to start the
engine.

Am sure others on here are much better mechanics
than me and can give more in-depth advice on
starting a engine that has been silent for a long
while.
 
Trans will take about 11 gallons, original oil was ATF, unless it has been changed to something else if what is drained is not red. If I remember right the engine will take about 2 gallons. Remove the starter and try a pry bar carefully on the ring gear when you are ready to see if it will turn over. Early gas was 223 cubes, later had 242 engine like the Super 90 had. 223 is 3 13/16 bore, 4 7/8 stroke. 242 is 3 7/8 bore, 5 1/8 stroke. Bad thing about the 85 is parts avaiability, does not have the support like the 35, 50, and 65 tractors do.
 
Don't get ahead of yourself with the tranny oil change until you address the stuck motor.Once you get one running there's plenty of expenses ahead.
 
Thanks for the replies. I am planning to attempt to free the engine before trying to crank it over. I recently worked on a 1940 Farmall B that was heavily seized. I had to pull the head and remove sleeves, pistons, and all. Like I said, I have had ATF soaking in the cylinders for months, figuring the engine was seized. I hope to get it pulled out of the weeds this weekend so I can have a look at the serial # and determine what year and engine size. This is a project for the future, I am just trying to see what I am facing here as far as getting the old girl going.

I am still in the process of getting my grandad's Farmall running before I can get too involved with the Massey. Like everyone, I'm sure, $$$$ and time are a factor. And, I am concerned about finding any parts for the Massey. If anyone knows a good source let me know.
 
Here"s my list of mid-USA MF salvage yards, from some time ago.

. Massey-Ferguson Salvage Yards .
Mike’s Butler KS. 620-543-2535
Cook’s Clinton MO. 660-885-2287 800-769-5823
Abilene Solomon KS. 785-655-9455
Garrett’s Auburn KS. 785-256-2372
Shockley Hiawatha KS. 785-742-7491
Kuhns 888-462-0070
Buening 217-844-2383
Rock Valley IOWA 800-831-8543
Mac’s Tractor Salvage, Siloam Springs, Ark., Specializing in Massey-Ferguson parts, 918-422-5514
800-882-4742
Nolt’s Newville PA. 717-776-6242
Spring River Salvage
Verona MO. 417-235-2233
www.Robertstractor.com
 
(quoted from post at 10:53:46 07/11/14) Here"s my list of mid-USA MF salvage yards, from some time ago.

. Massey-Ferguson Salvage Yards .
Mike’s Butler KS. 620-543-2535
Cook’s Clinton MO. 660-885-2287 800-769-5823
Abilene Solomon KS. 785-655-9455
Garrett’s Auburn KS. 785-256-2372
Shockley Hiawatha KS. 785-742-7491
Kuhns 888-462-0070
Buening 217-844-2383
Rock Valley IOWA 800-831-8543
Mac’s Tractor Salvage, Siloam Springs, Ark., Specializing in Massey-Ferguson parts, 918-422-5514
800-882-4742
Nolt’s Newville PA. 717-776-6242
Spring River Salvage
Verona MO. 417-235-2233
www.Robertstractor.com

Thanks very much...this info will definitely come in handy!
 
Always gotta wonder why anyone would park something like this in the weeds and leave it. Rear tires have lots of tread.
 
Often the engine will be loose in the cylinders but will have one or more stuck valves. So people will turn the engine over with the starter or by pulling it. This can break or bend pushrods.

Good luck with the tractor. I have a MF Super 90 I use a lot, but it needs a valve job, when I find a gasket set!
 

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