Massey ferguson 65 diesel tractor pre-air cleaner ?

I just purchased a Massey Ferguson 65 diesel tractor. I've been pulling some maintenance on it like oil change, lube, and air filter. What I found in the pre-cleaner assembly instead of the common course steel mesh, was steel wool packed into the canister. I attempted to open the canister to remove it and I can't see how it comes apart. Does it come apart? It's kind of dinged up around the edges like someone has attempted to pry it open. I did manage to pull it all out thru the pie shaped holes.
How do I replace the steel pre filter mesh, and where is it available? I'm sure I will have more questions on various topics as I work thru thus tractor. I did download a copy of the original Owners manual. The serial number is 680404. I haven't been able to locate the engine serial number, really can't find the area on the engine that the manual shoes of the location.
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Every MF 65 I have been around was equipped with an oil bath air cleaner, no filter or pre-cleaner. That steel wool type stuff is NOT supposed to be taken out. It can be flushed with some kind of solvent. The cup on the bottom should be thoroughly cleaned and filled to the indicated level with clean motor oil.

(quoted from post at 18:33:08 04/26/15) Every MF 65 I have been around was equipped with an oil bath air cleaner, no filter or pre-cleaner. That steel wool type stuff is NOT supposed to be taken out. It can be flushed with some kind of solvent. The cup on the bottom should be thoroughly cleaned and filled to the indicated level with clean motor oil.

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What I was trying to convey is that the PO had used actual steel wool, like maybe 0000. I found the replacement steel mesh online that is like a 72" length x 3". But I was wondering if the canister will pull apart so that the steel mesh can be replaced.
I'm hoping that none of the steel wool pieces found their way thru the intake.
Thanks for the reply

If I remember correctly, the top and bottom pieces of the air cleaner housing are spot welded to the cylindrical outside housing. You will probably have to separate the welds somehow.

(quoted from post at 00:13:27 04/27/15) If I remember correctly, the top and bottom pieces of the air cleaner housing are spot welded to the cylindrical outside housing. You will probably have to separate the welds somehow.

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Hey Bob, I'm not sure about spot welds, could be. But, do you know how some things that slip together like this have a nubb or bump on one piece, and an indentation on the other piece for the two to slip together and stay? It seems like that is how the round canister is where the pie piece shaped metal bars are that hold the steel mesh in. I think I'm going to just order the mesh replacement piece and carefully try to separate the canister housing. If I can't separate it, then try and pack the mesh thru the pie piece shaped holes. I've even considered trying to adapt to a K&N filter and do away with the oil bath all together. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Thanks again for your input.

I'd toss the oil bath for a filter housing that uses conventional air filters. You will gain some power over the old oil bath filter setup (plus you don't have the mess the oil bath brings with it).

(quoted from post at 06:30:03 04/27/15) I'd toss the oil bath for a filter housing that uses conventional air filters. You will gain some power over the old oil bath filter setup (plus you don't have the mess the oil bath brings with it).

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That sounds like a great idea.
Is there any specific one that you know of that would be a good replacement? It would be great if someone manufactured a replacement that would fit on the tractor in the same way.

I don't know of specific one, I just find one that can fit in the space allowed that's common (off a fork lift, or tractor in a salvage yard). Then make any necessary brackets to mount it.

This is what I've come up with. A 3" street 90° and a 3"x2" pvc bushing which I will paint flat black, and a Spectre Blue Performance filter. The 90° street L will allow me to drop the filter right down in behind the grill where the oil bath previously sat.

Due to the length of the filter, I needed to change the position and direction the filter faces. It was too long to drop into the cavity where the oil bath was. So, I did it horizontally like this.

That should work pretty good.

(quoted from post at 21:32:05 04/28/15) That should work pretty good.

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May I respectfully disagree.

Those pod type filters are quite poor peformers when it comes to finer particulate.

They may remove the larger debrits, and flow reasonable amount of air, and are often used in high peformance, or race applications, but perform rather poorly when it comes to filtering the air well.

When you consider the environment that most tractors operate, there is fine bull dust, dirt, normal dust etc, which these types of filters dont remove well compared to other filters designed for this type of environment.

not trying to cause an argument, nor put down peoples opinions, however, I have found in my experience that these filters do not filter the air that well, even when oil infused, or treated with their preferred treatment.
Infact in high air volume applications I have come across the filter media dissintergrating, leaving large voids in the filter media.

yes, it might make an acceptable pre filter to the normal air filter system, (I would suggest a cyclonic round type as found on some landcruisers as an example etc) but I would not rely on it as the only filter for a tractor system

Respectfully

Trains

Just to finish, yes that is a neat application of the filter in that picture.