New member and mf50

Nathan1989

New User
Hey, new member here I'll start with a little about me, I'm 29 an electrician by trade I live in central oklahoma on 4 acres I enjoy tinkering on trucks and other equipment, welding/fabricating, woodworking, riding 4 wheelers, and camping.
Recently bought a 1958 massey ferguson 50, got it for $500 which I think was a pretty good deal. It's in usable condition (I'll post some pics later) so far I have replaced the water pump, ignition coil, fuel bowl,1 front tire, rebuilt the carb, and changed the engine oil/filter.
Next project is the hydraulics, it has some type of red fluid in it now which I assume is some type of newer trans/Hydro fluid, I bought 8 gallons of 90w mineral oil for it but after using it some and researching I think I'm going to have to rebuild the pump.
The lift arms fall down within a minute of shutting it down with no load and surge when lifting or even holding a load and have to raise the rpms quite a bit to get it to lift even a few hundred pounds. From what I have researched it is most likely bad rings/seals on one or more of the pump pistons.
So how bad is it to rebuild the pump myself? From the kits I have seen it doesn't look bad. What else should I replace while I'm in there, already planning on the pto seal.
Thanks
 
1st things 1st. if you do not have a manual for the machine get one.

I have a MF 50 and use the 90W mineral oil. I cant help you with the pump but you may want to check the "O" rings on the stand pipe as they fail with age.


can't help much with the pump as I have never rebuilt one but the guys here are very helpful.

here is a pic of my 50.

my email is open or email me at [email protected]. I something useful regarding your pump.

welcome to the club.
cvphoto15929.jpg

Untitled URL Link
 
A new aftermarket pump can be bought on
ebay. That's the route I would take. By
the time you buy the parts you haven't
saved much.
 
Thanks, Nice looking tractor, might try to get mine all straightened up and painted after a while, but I really just bought it to run a brush hog and other chores around the house.
 
brendon,

them clutch "pulses" when i push the pedal all then way down. (SGM model) might it be out of adjustment ?
 
Welcome to "YT"...

I always purchase a SERVICE MANUAL, as well as an OPERATORS MANUAL be fore I ever start any work on a Tractor. I personally do not have enough $$$$$ to afford
costly mistakes and oversights.
Info that may assist you:
Info from my MF FE 35 X......Pretty much the same HYDRAULIC SYSTEM:

I would NOT disassemble any components until you have ran diagnostic testing,as per pictures:

When I check the HYD. PSI on my MF FE 35 X I secure lift arms down...see picture:

Install HYD. PSI GAUGE as per picture:

Here's a picture of a lift cover that failed..."YT" Archives....probably due to lift travel out of adjustment,and or relief valve faulty:If gauge indicates a HIGHER PSI than specified as per service manual....I would NOT operate HYDRAULIC system until problem rectified:


Bob...Owner MF FE 35 X
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https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto15954.jpg"

<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto15956.jpg

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Awesome info and pictures, I will get a gauge on to check, any idea on the thread size of that plug, looks like 3/8 npt.
Service manual is on order already.
Here's a pic of the rust bucket...
mvphoto32675.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 03:44:06 03/11/19) Awesome info and pictures, I will get a gauge on to check, any idea on the thread size of that plug, looks like 3/8 npt.
Service manual is on order already.
Here's a pic of the rust bucket...
mvphoto32675.jpg
The first words of John Deere D's post are it in a nutshell. Got to have- and read- the manuals. As Steve said, the O-rings in the cylinder sound like half you problems, btw, it was designed to leak down in a minute- a safety measure. And to lift without an implement load back there is not a good idea. I would not tear into the pump unless you are sure there is some thing wrong with it. Usually it is -something else. I have two MH50's down in Hugo, and they both make tapping noises at times, but work- do the job I need done- well. Lots of Harry Ferguson people went to pouring plain 10w-40 - or whatever you use in the engine, into the tranny, and no one has wrecked one yet.
 
What size rear tires are on your tractor? It appears to have the tall spindles for a high arch, but the back tires don't look tall enough. The 50 high arch usually came with 12.4 x 38 tires.
 
Rear tires are a 13.6 x something, can't remember exactly but I did notice they are not the stock size listed on tractor data. I haven't heard of a high arch model. And it is a MF50 per the data plate.
mvphoto32683.jpg
 
I see what you are talking about now, the sheet metal is pressed in where the massey ferguson 50 decal is, looking at other 50s it's pressed out... did some research on the serial number identification and if the info is correct, mine was sold as a utility chassis with an LP engine. And can confirm the engine as it has the ZB-134 not the Z-134
That being said it was obviously converted to gasoline and they probably changed the sheet metal with a ferguson 40 when they converted it.
 
I have a MF50 diesel and it has been a very good tractor. The lift arms on mine were slow to raise, but quickly discovered there was a remote diverter
valve on the top of the transmission, right side at the seat corner that was partically blocking the flow to the lift arms. I took that off and replaced with
the correct blank plate and my lift arms worked like a champ. Also, before you tear into anything, there is a mesh screen, I think behind a plate on the
right or left side, round, off to the side of the seat. One was full of debris.

Good luck with the tractor.

Bill
 
No. The oil isn't going to flow thru that pipe unless something is connected to the coupler, and then only after the lift arms are all the way up, unless they are chained down.
 
I don't think so - the top plate would need to have a valve on it, at least that is how mine was.
 
I would get the parts manual as well. It helps to figure out exactly what you need. This site, for example, will show a part and then list the part number it replaces. Good information.
 
Update,
Gauge came in today, installed it and chained the lift arms. 1500 psi was the highest it would go. And the psi pulsed just like the lift arms do.
 
Steve, have you checked to see if your 50 has a hydraulic filter on the pump? I bought a 50 that the lift was very slow and the filter was just about completely plugged up.

Dan
 

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