MF 65 Hi Arch Gas

I've been watching the auction listings for a
utility tractor, and came across this 1961 MF 65
Hi Arch with a gas engine, no Multi Power. I'm
new to Masseys and have a few questions for the
experts. I'm looking for something to blade snow,
bush hog, spray weeds, etc.

How's the Continental gas engine? I've heard good
things about the Perkins diesels, but I'm not
opposed to a gasser. I should add the tractor has
2200 hours.

Can I do without the Multi Power? Is the "hi
arch" version rare? Could I convert it
to a standard version by replacing rear wheels and
the front end? Did they adjust the gear ratio to
account for larger rear wheels?

Anything common problems to watch out for with
this model?

Would this tractor lift large round hay bales with
a 3-point fork? Any guesses as to value? I'm
located in central Kansas. A month ago a 65 Diesel
in good shape with 4,000 hours brought $3200, but
I couldn't get there on sale day.

I bought a MF65 gas hi-clearance five years ago with 2100 hours on it (1961 model just like the one you are looking at). The Continental engine has run great for me; the only thing I have had to do since I owned it was rebuild the carb and adjust the valve lash. I have found it to have enough power to run a large loader (and it can pick up a bucket of wet sand), push snow, bale hay, and run a bush hog. It doesn't burn any oil at all. I ended up converting mine to a low profile because a lot of the mowing I do is on hilly trails through the woods; the hi clearance was just a bit too tipsy for this. I picked up a set of smaller wheels for the rearend off of an old combine at an auction. These are a great source of wheels since they never have fluid in them. Thus, the rims are rarely rusty, and the tires usually have minimal wear on them (and the combines usually sell for only a few bucks for scrap metal). For the front end of the tractor, I kept the same long spindles and just put a smaller set of tires and rims that I picked up at a wreckers (it took a little while to find these). This ended up being a much cheaper solution than a new front end.

Pat

If you get the tractor go ahead and add an eight or ten inch step on both sides! If you get on and off alot, say with yard work you'll be glad you did! I say both sides because I added a step on my 255 and now when I'm on the ground I always seem to be on the off side when I want to get back on the tractor! It's not hard to get on and off as a young man but as age creeps up those steps will be a great investment!

My tractor is a diesel and that's what I prefer, but I believe the 65 was and is still a good if not great size tractor!

Good luck!

T'less Dan shouldn't have much trouble with tree limbs as the unit pictured has what appears to be a belly muffler and exhaust system. Tree limbs can be and are a problem with my tractor that has its muffler over the hood!

The MF65 does have a belly muffler, I was worried about the limbs knocking me off the tractor.

I use my MF 65 to pull a 6 foot snow blade in the winter. Sometimes the snow here in Kansas City gets real deep and I have never had any pulling problems. I also cut about 4 acres of grass on hilly land with a 6' brush hog during the summer months. It always seems to have plenty of power. According to the manual it is rated at approximately 50 hp.

Mine has about 2,700 hours on the engine. It doesnt burn hardly any oil.

I paid about $2,600 for it. It is in good shape except the sheet metal has some dings in it.

Hope this helps you out. If you have any questions let me know.

Mike in KC