DavidP, South Wales
Well-known Member
Hi, one for the repairers here. Should have completed a major repair to the hydraulic system and brakes on a 135 today.
About two weeks ago I rebuilt the hydraulic cover after rectifying a problem not come across before...the main cross-shaft was almost seized solid in the cover. Rebuilt the cover and now all free. Fitted it to the tractor on site and then found that I could only lift the 3-point up about half way by hand before it hit something solid. Investigation revealed that the new ram arm on the shaft was fouling one of the webs in the centre casing. The supplier suggested grinding metal off the ram arm which I did. Took a bit off the point of contact on the web as well. Problem sorted. Got the tractor running today and cautiously operated the linkage. At nearly full lift the tractor started to move backwards one to two inches. It did this every time I tried it....very strange!!!
Looking into it the only thing that it can be is the new ram arm fouling the crownwheel and causing it to turn slightly and thus moving the tractor. It was very fortunate I think that the handbrake was not applied and that I did not operate the 3-point when I was driving the tractor otherwise the possibility of taking a tooth off the crownwheel would have been very real.
Has anyone encountered these problems with spurious parts namely the ram arm in this case before? There can't be much clearance between the ram arm and crownwheel but obviously enough on the genuine MF ones. This is all down to poor dimensional and quality control. Do they just guess the dimensions or carry out any testing afterwards to ensure that the items will fit???? Another problem was the handbrake rod on the 135 (do you have HBs in the US or just foot latches?)(see below) The clevis was much much bigger than the original preventing it fitting without major metal removal. In order to get it to fit it is now severely weakened and will have to be changed.
DavidP, South Wales
About two weeks ago I rebuilt the hydraulic cover after rectifying a problem not come across before...the main cross-shaft was almost seized solid in the cover. Rebuilt the cover and now all free. Fitted it to the tractor on site and then found that I could only lift the 3-point up about half way by hand before it hit something solid. Investigation revealed that the new ram arm on the shaft was fouling one of the webs in the centre casing. The supplier suggested grinding metal off the ram arm which I did. Took a bit off the point of contact on the web as well. Problem sorted. Got the tractor running today and cautiously operated the linkage. At nearly full lift the tractor started to move backwards one to two inches. It did this every time I tried it....very strange!!!
Looking into it the only thing that it can be is the new ram arm fouling the crownwheel and causing it to turn slightly and thus moving the tractor. It was very fortunate I think that the handbrake was not applied and that I did not operate the 3-point when I was driving the tractor otherwise the possibility of taking a tooth off the crownwheel would have been very real.
Has anyone encountered these problems with spurious parts namely the ram arm in this case before? There can't be much clearance between the ram arm and crownwheel but obviously enough on the genuine MF ones. This is all down to poor dimensional and quality control. Do they just guess the dimensions or carry out any testing afterwards to ensure that the items will fit???? Another problem was the handbrake rod on the 135 (do you have HBs in the US or just foot latches?)(see below) The clevis was much much bigger than the original preventing it fitting without major metal removal. In order to get it to fit it is now severely weakened and will have to be changed.
DavidP, South Wales