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Massey Harris & Massey Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum
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Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver.

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Jim.UT

07-27-2005 09:05:43




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What's the story behind this? Can any of you historians shed some light on this? I posted a pic of a MH 55 down the page a little. The same guy that owns that also has a cluster of Oliver tractors all parked together. In among them is this MF98.
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I wondered why he would have it parked with 4 Olivers, but didn't think much of it. It's his tractor, he can park it wherever he wants.

On the other side of the tractor I found the ID tag which says it was built for Massey Ferguson by Oliver Corporation. That explains why the Oliver collector was interested in it. I'd like to know why MF had Oliver build this tractor instead of building it themselves. It's not a model I'm familiar with.
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Another interesting (to me) thing about the tractor was the presence of this serious looking GM blower on the side of the engine. Looks like you could get some serious horsepower out of this thing!
third party image

I'm going to post this on the Oliver board, too, and get their version of the story as well.

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Boss Hog

07-28-2005 04:38:31




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Jim.UT, 07-27-2005 09:05:43  
I believe the blower is on the side because it's a 2 cycle diesel engine.



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Tpost

07-27-2005 12:45:27




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Jim.UT, 07-27-2005 09:05:43  
I was also told that MM made the MF mod 85 as well is that correct? I had one and it was junk. Was told later they (85's) all were but the 65's and super 90's were suposedly good tractors. Just courious. Sory I asked a question and did not provide infomation. Thanks in advance for if anser back.



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JoeMN

07-27-2005 19:36:37




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Tpost, 07-27-2005 12:45:27  
Dad bought a MF 85 gas new in 1959. It had the 212 continental engine. He bought a 4-16 mtd plow,12' mtd disc,and hydraulic loader with it. That was our main tractor for 12 years,then just loader and smaller jobs until I sold it about 1990. This was a very good tractor and I would love to buy a new one like it. They are only junk if you make them junk.



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onefarmer

07-27-2005 16:07:45




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Tpost, 07-27-2005 12:45:27  
The 85 was a M-F tractor. First offered in 1959 according to a Massey book I have. It had a continental engine in 242 ci gas or diesel. I have diesel one and it has been in the family for over 30years. It has been a good tractor for us but the hyd pto clutch is a bit weak. Use to much HP through it and count on a new one soon.

The book says the 95 was a MM GBD dressed in MF Sheet metal. 426ci 63hp engine

The 97 was a MM G705 101hp
and the 98 was a Oliver Super 99GM and had a GM two cycle 3-71 diesel 213ci 78.74hp

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Bob N.Y.

07-31-2005 16:18:12




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to onefarmer, 07-27-2005 16:07:45  
A little clarification. The early 85 gas models had Continental 221 ci engines. Late gassers had Cont. 242 ci. All 85 diesels used the Cont. HD 277.



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Onefarmer

07-31-2005 19:35:31




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Bob N.Y., 07-31-2005 16:18:12  
Thanks for the detail Bob! The book was rather unclear about this. I thought the 85 diesel was a 277 but didnt want to go out to the barn and look at it. Don't know much about the gassers.



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Tpost

07-28-2005 06:00:49




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to onefarmer, 07-27-2005 16:07:45  
Thanks I had wondered if the guy was shoot-n me straight. Sounds like he was close just had the wrong numbers. Thanks for clearing that up for me.



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onefarmer

07-28-2005 10:45:31




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Tpost, 07-28-2005 06:00:49  
Just curious, What was wrong with your 85? And was it a gas or diesel?



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Tpost

07-28-2005 14:20:11




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to onefarmer, 07-28-2005 10:45:31  
It was a Diesel. Mostly hydrolic and trans problems oh and dont forget the injector pump. Always somthing with one of the two. Talked to people here about the problems and also had problems get-n parts. The tractor had only 2,800 actual hours and was well taken care of. It may have just been a lemon but there were others (at the time)said they were not one of the better MF. Took their advice and sold it. Man who ownes it now is still having problems. and the MF house could not fix the problems either....for long. I used the tractor very little. It spent more time in my shop or the MF shop or broken down than I used it. I did not abuse it either. Just dont know. Just one of those things I guess.

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onefarmer

07-28-2005 15:58:41




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Tpost, 07-28-2005 14:20:11  
Those problems are unheard of on mine (MF85). Had the injector pump rebuilt once and new fuel cells once. Other than don't overload the pto, is an good machine. Maybe I just had a peach out of a group of lemons. Model was only made for about 3 years.



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Tpost

07-29-2005 07:46:09




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to onefarmer, 07-28-2005 15:58:41  
Watch out for that PTO. I noticed that was the begining of my hydrolic problems. Just got weaker and weaker. Finally got to where I could not even turn the thing. Hydrolic pump was the answer but the used one I got (only one I could find) was not very good either. Hope you dont have any problems with yours its a pain! I liked the tractor over all when it was working properly. Good luck with it.

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Gary123456789

08-02-2005 15:52:45




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Tpost, 07-29-2005 07:46:09  
I have an 85 and except for the three point it has been a die hard. I replaced the pump with a 95 but it is still very slow, adjusted my head off. It was the only one I could find also. Parts are hard to find because I am looking to redo the whole thing this winter. I think it is a nice looking tractor.



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Tpost

08-03-2005 06:40:19




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Gary123456789, 08-02-2005 15:52:45  
I was told parts were hard to find because it was not as popular as the 35 & 65. Good luck with it.



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Lou

07-27-2005 09:13:04




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Jim.UT, 07-27-2005 09:05:43  
Very interesting, I remember reading that MF got there first 100 HP tractor from Mineapolis Moline. That would be close to the 98??? Right or wrong?? Lou



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James2

07-27-2005 10:32:27




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Lou, 07-27-2005 09:13:04  
i don't believe there was much if any overlap of the MF Olivers and MMs. The MF offered the Oliver first which was 80 hp MF 98. It was a Oliver Super 99 which later became the 990, with MF sheet metal . MF later offered the MM G VI in MF skin, which was also 80 hp. I'm not sure if the MF 98 overlapped with the G VI version. But I thought that MF dropped the Oliver version when they went to MM. The G VI replacement, the 100 hp MM 704, then the 705, 706 and later the 707 and 708 were built and re-badeged for MF. I don't remember all the MF model numbers for the MM produced tractors, but "97" was used to designate at least one of these tractors. Someone please jump in and correct me if I'm wrong.

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Danny Tabor

07-27-2005 09:29:05




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Lou, 07-27-2005 09:13:04  
The story as I understand it is that Massey's big tractor plant had a fire and thus they couldn't build a large tractor. So they contracted Oliver and Minneapolis Moline to build their large tractors. M.M. built the Massey 97 and Oliver built the Massey 98 which is a 99 in Massey skin.

Thanks for the photo's.

Danny Tabor



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stefan

07-27-2005 11:07:33




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Danny Tabor, 07-27-2005 09:29:05  
Mf 98 is an oliver 990
Mf 95 is a mm GBD
mf super 95 is a mm GVI or MM704
mF 97 is a mm 705 706 707 708



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David

07-27-2005 15:27:13




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to stefan, 07-27-2005 11:07:33  
Just one correction, the MM G707 and G708 were never offered in MF sheetmetal. The MF 97 were either G705's (two wheel drive) or G706 (front wheel assist).



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cadet trooper

07-27-2005 15:25:31




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to stefan, 07-27-2005 11:07:33  
As I understand it MH and MF never built an engine of there own much the same as a few others and as tractor size demands increased faster than P&D they were forced to seek outside developers and since MF became a Canadian Company when aquisitioned by the Carling Brewery Co. They first looked at Cockshutt which became a part of White which as we know is MM and Oliver the rest is history. This seems like a twisted fairy tale but it is purely a matter of dollars and cents the end result is the same thing that has happened to AC, Ford tractor,CaseIH and a host of others, look at all the steam engines made in the early part of the century. What product loyalty? Who cares? $$$$

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cadet trooper

07-27-2005 15:24:50




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to stefan, 07-27-2005 11:07:33  
As I understand it MH and MF never built an engine of there own much the same as a few others and as tractor size demands increased faster than P&D they were forced to seek outside developers and since MF became a Canadian Company when aquisitioned by the Carling Brewery Co. They first looked at Cockshutt which became a part of White which as we know is MM and Oliver the rest is history. This seems like a twisted fairy tale but it is purely a matter of dollars and cents the end result is the same thing that has happened to AC, Ford tractor,CaseIH and a host of others, look at all the steam engines made in the early part of the century. What product loyalty? Who cares? $$$$

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James2

07-27-2005 12:30:54




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to stefan, 07-27-2005 11:07:33  
This is the first time that I've seen all the MF model designations. A few questions: 1) Was the Oliver Super 99 also sold as a MF 98, or only the Oliver 990? 2) I didn't realize the GBD was sold in a MF version, was it offered at the same time as the MF 98? 3) Was the 98 still offered when the Super 97 was being sold? 4) What was the last year they offered the 98? Thanks



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Lou

07-27-2005 09:41:46




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 Re: Massey Ferguson 98 built by Oliver. in reply to Danny Tabor, 07-27-2005 09:29:05  
Thanks Dan, Its nice to be at least partialy right some of the time. Lou



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