FE-35 low oil pressure

Our MH50 Z134 had that kind of symptoms one winter before the pump just plain gave out.

What happened, the drive gear of the oil pump is driven from the pump driveshaft by a set screw. This set screw had backed out and eventually fractured, causing the pump to leak and then stop pumping.

Since this was in the middle of winter, and the nearest dealer was 50 miles away, I got to be pump rebuilder. There are rebuild kits available, and of course just rebuilt pumps. I had to have the pump sideplate reground. But it's been fine ever since. Other Massey posts have told occaisionally some similar tales.

Overall I think that Z134 is a fine little engine but they did some funny things in a couple places, and that's one of them.

Good luck, and watch them wombats down there.

Ours would drop to 20 lb or so (about 20% of gauge), after some hot work, at idle.

If yours carries this pressure, it should be ok. If you have less than half gauge hot at 1400, you may have bearing or pump problems.

You didn't mention bearing replacement at overhaul. Sometimes a top overhaul will increase bearing wear on old bearings, because of the stresses introduced with higher power levels from higher compression. Can lead to bearing failure.

I'd watch and listen carefully when operating - if the pressure drops further over 50 hours of hard work, or any unusual noises occur, I'd investigate further. If it's stable, it will probably run for a long time!

An oil sample, if available, taken now, and again in 100 hours, may also give you some indication of accelerated bearing wear.

Hope everything works out ok for you.

As an afterthought, I notice from your address that you live "down under". Could it be that the tractor doesn't have an inverted oil system? (BIG grin)!