MF 175, 180 or look for a 200 series

Thanks for all the help. It sounds like I want to look for a 200 series to get away from the dry brakes and Multi-Power.... that free wheeling in low range and sorry brakes sounds really dangerous. The theory sounds great but we got major hills.

Will all the 200 series have live power, wet brakes and still have the Perkins engine? Any major weak spots in the 200 series? Any particular models to stay away from?

Bill

Hi Bill,
I am actually writing an article on the MF 200 series for a UK magazine at this moment. If you have a lot of hills then avoiding MP is wise. Not for any reason that there is anything wrong with it but it is usually the operator using it incorrectly that causes problems. Going downhill it should ALWAYS be in HIGH range. Your model numbers in the US may be different to the UK ones and I presume that most of yours are footstep not cabbed tractors. Our 265 has the bombproof Perkins 60HP DIN A4.236 engine. Very reliable and econonic. Transmission-wise if you can find one with 3 gear levers this has the 12 speed ZF synchromesh transmission and is referred to over here as having a '3-stick box'.
If you want to go one bigger there is the 77 HP DIN A4.248S engined 290. Again, another solid tractor or the 298 with the A4.3182 engine at 88HP DIN.
No particular problems that I'm aware of. You have not mentioned if you are looking at 2 or 4 WD. If 4WD check the front axle drive joints closely for general wear.
If there was a weak point on the UK 200s it was the paintwork. I believe that it was MFs first venture using powder coat paint. The finish faded quite quickly and in many cases began to flake off.......maybe it was all our rain over here!!!!!!!
Hope this helps
DavidP, South Wales

The paint on the 200 series in the US also seemed like they faded kind of quick also. If you want to see the differences between the 100 & 200 series this will give some idea http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/tractor-brands/massferg/massferg-tractors.html

Be careful, not all square axle 200 series built in America had wet brakes!....look for a rubber boot around the brake actuator rod where it goes into the rear axle...only the wet brakes had this....The 8speed gearbox is great but the 12 speed 3 stick is brilliant as David has said, but they are mostly French built and may be hard to find in America. the 265,275 and 285/290 are the best of these tractors...298 had some engine issues and was a bit 'dead'....Only real weakness was if a bad operator kept disengaging the wet PTO clutch at high revs he could burn out the PTO brake....Look for a tractor with the PTO stopping or a dual clutch tractor.
All the best....Sam

the way to tell if a 200 series MF has wet brakes is to look at the rear axle center plates. Wet brakes have 5 half circles notched in the center plates. Dry disc are smooth or one notch. 200 series have much better hydraulics than 100 series, and 200 series engines run smoother. I have a 165D and a 265, use them for haying rounds and squares, mowing, and 265 for loader work. Only way I'd sell either is if I ever moved off the farm. I put wet brakes on the 165 years ago (has square axles)and much better hay work on my hills. See pic below. Good luck.