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First tractor mf35 question

J

Johnson16

New User
Good evening gents. I suspect this has been asked many times over but I haven't figured out how to search forum And its my first post......so I just got my first tractor to tend to my 10 acre property. 1963 mf35 deluxe gas. Has a FEL and loaded rears but still a bear to steer. Albeit I have gotten pretty used to it. It seems they don't make a power steering kit and I need to swap out from a parts tractor. Also been told by two people it's just not worth The money. THat I should just sell and look for 35 with PS or 135. Thing is this tractor has grown on me. Newer clutch and newer rubber too. It was very well taken care of. That said even if it's not worth it any advise on how to find parts? Should I look for a used power steering box assy (or whatever it's called) or try to piece together? Not even sure everything i need yet. Thanks in advance

Seth
 

Have you tried putting a much higher air pressure in the front tyres ? I have a FE35 with a Ferguson 735 loader on front , it was difficult to steer as well until I pumped the tyres up to 36 psi . Still heavy but far more manageable .
 
As was said higher pressure in front tires,
Also might try new tires with tri ribs, many times people put heavy duty old truck tires on the front, these wide tires make it harder to turn,
Also, teach yourself to only turn the steering wheel as you are moving forward/backwards
Add weight to rear of tractor example: box blade with tractor weights hanging to the box blade

My friend has a MF35 with loader, he finally just took it off, just too hard to steer,
He is an older guy, but has a bigger John Deere with loader
 
I have a to 35 with factory ps and a loader which I took off on account of it being hard to steer even with a very heavy 6 ft. blade. I would suggest getting all you need done with fel, take
it off and use the 3 point for the rest of your chores as its not that big of a job taking it off an on with a chain fall and a big red oak.
a168642.jpg

a168644.jpg
 

Thanks for all the feedback so fast. I have included a pic so you can see what I am working with. Checked the tire pressure and am at 40 on one front and 30 on the other so I will bring that to 40 too. It's tolerable and as I learned the manueverbbetter I am doing things at speed more so making it easier. I have thought of adding a pulley to ceiling in pole barn to take FEL on and off. Using tractor mostly for brush hogging lately so the FEL has been a must on making new trails. Removing small trees etc. Once trails are cut I may be able to remove. Haven't decided if I will keep it on for snow removal or not. Makes the back end a little lighter but rear tires are loaded.
mvphoto1841.jpg
 
I now own a 1963 MF FE 35 X, Differential Lock,3 cylinder Perkins Diesel, Manual steering.

The poor little bugger was condemned to a loader that had to do the work that a 65 +> tractor should have been doing.

The previous owner had no mercy as to how heavy of loads were handled, eventually the Steering Colum failed! Then one of the front Steering spindles failed! Then finally the front center axel pivot and the bore of the front axel had to be replaced! The Tractor had 10 ply 16" Truck tires on the front at 80 PSI.

The tractor is now totally overhauled and the Loader was removed!

The previous owner dismantled the steering mechanism and WELDED everything SOLID!.

These MF 35's are a great Tractor and yes they handle a loader with consideration of their limits.
a168650.jpg

a168651.jpg

a168653.jpg
 
About 1/2 ton on the 3PH as far back as possible will help. If you can find an old steel 55 gal drum and make up a hitch with the pins and top link bracket it is just about 1/2 ton when filled with cement. I've done it and it works good. Also easy to put on and take off.
 
Sometimes it is better to subtract than to add. I have same problem, a 35X with loader but no power steering. I built a frame in a lean-to
shed out of 8 foot rough cut 2x6 lumber from an old granary and a come-along puller to lift loader up. Two vertical, one horizontal at the
top with a base and some OSB at corners to keep it in position. Oak trees aren't always conveniently located. With my 10 acres I only need
loader ocasionally and put it on when I need it. Have fun.
 
A very neat alternative to a 55 gal drum full of cement (and yes, I've done that too) is to use an 'old style' fergie drawbar (the crossways one with the line of holes - maybe that's the one you already have with your '35?) and hang a few tractor front weights from it. Works great as a counterbalance for a FEL.

Jim
 
(quoted from post at 06:14:40 08/13/17) A very neat alternative to a 55 gal drum full of cement (and yes, I've done that too) is to use an 'old style' fergie drawbar (the crossways one with the line of holes - maybe that's the one you already have with your '35?) and hang a few tractor front weights from it. Works great as a counterbalance for a FEL.

Jim
Click to expand...

This is actually something I considered. Trying to figure out a way to add weight but still have 3 pt available to run brush hog.

In other news it seems the tractor got stuck in first gear last night. I searched online and found "dans" post about using a lever of some type to move the big gear under transmission plug. Doesn't seem to be working. Hate to force it to hard. Any thoughts? Hate to create a new thread if I don't have too.
 
I own a MF FE 35 X. Last month the transmission was stuck in 1 St Gear:

I placed the Range selector lever in Neutral:

Then Item # 2 was moved up to Gear Shift Knob:

Item # 4 was removed:

Gear shifter Item # 1 was then lifted vertical and then placed back into the SHIFTER RAIL SLOT:
a168806.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 15:18:53 08/13/17) I should have added, the Gear shifter, Item # 1, had become disengaged from the SHIFTER RAIL SLOT:
Click to expand...

I tried your fix just for fun even though it doesn't seem to be disengaged. No dice. Not sure how hard to pry in this big gear. Oh yeah and of course the key fell into trans plug hole. :)....long magnet rescued it.
 
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