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Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable

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Will

03-07-2000 19:02:08




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I'm in the market for an older tractor and there is a Massey Ferguson 35 (Diesel) available nearby. Looks like it has everything I need (3pt, PTO, hydraulics) to drill holes for fencing, operate brush-hog, etc. I'm new to tractors and heard elsewhere that Massey Ferguson's were not very dependable and wanted to get an opinon from this forum. Any thoughts? Thanks!




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Dave in Mo

03-23-2000 09:31:54




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
Will, I think all you need to do is look around and see how many MF's there are. There is a reason for this. They are excellent machines with a very good dealer network. Harry Ferguson was a brilliant man and it's a testamony to genius that just about every tractor that leaves a factory today has some form of his 3 point hitch on it.



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Bob (OH)

03-17-2000 06:28:51




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
It looks like you got some loyal MF guy attention. I have owned only Massey's and do not plan to buy any other color, especially green and yellow. They are as dependable as any other color.



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Daniel Coates

03-10-2000 14:01:38




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
I have a 4 cylinder mf 35 RED/GREY and if you have a new heater plug in it and have all the fuel supply piped up to the heater plug she should only require the heater putting on for 5 seconds and then turn the engine over she should start straight away!
I completely over hauled my engine on mine though:
New Pistons
New Rings
New Liners
New Valves
New Valve Guides
And all regrinding
And get all you the injecters and injector pump overhauled and she will start evertime, like mine!!!

PS. Never every be tempted to use easystart, it will ruin your engine, they get addicted to it.


Dan

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Louis

03-10-2000 12:38:20




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
Well? Did you like what you saw, did you get it? Do we have another brother in red? Inquireing minds want to know.



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MARK in CT

03-09-2000 18:33:11




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  

With all these Re: on this subject, it's like taking a stick to a hornets nest. Really got the bees buzzzzzing!!!!



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DANNY RAY

03-09-2000 05:06:59




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
I HAVE 630 /430/320 J.D.BUT MY TOP OF LINE TRACTOR
IS A 135 MF. MAYBE THEY GOT A LEMON. I USE TO BE ALL GREEN BUT NOW I LOOK FOR MF



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Will

03-09-2000 08:01:40




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 Re: Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to DANNY RAY, 03-09-2000 05:06:59  
You guys are great! Thanks for all the feedback -
I'm going to go and have a look at it this afternoon. I'll ask him about the maintenance, of
course and then come back here and let you know what I found out. This helps me out alot because I really need a tractor but must confess I don't know a whole lot about them. Thanks again!



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Tyler(WA)

03-09-2000 10:35:06




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 Re: Re: Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-09-2000 08:01:40  
My first tractor is a MF-2135 and I am spoiled rotten. I was very fortunate to have found this one and future tractors will have to be judged by it. It's hard to find a purchase that survives buyer's remorse. That's where you find a bunch of "better deals" that you could have had if you'd waited a little longer. I've never found a better deal than my good ol' yeller tractor (MF industrial.)



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Clarence Carhill

03-08-2000 19:46:15




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
Will... Don't believe a word of it... I have a 1948 TE20 that I bought new and it's still going strong... I have owned a dozen Fergies and M-F's over the years and very little trouble.... Nothing the others don't have... And they are so nice to drive and opperate....

Their best features have been copied by ALL the others....



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Robert B

03-08-2000 13:14:24




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
Everyone has made good points. If I can add anything it is that the individual unit is key in any make or model. Start there. The MF can have weak rear ends in that the pinion gear is located high and not in an oil bath on the models I am famiiar with. But models of other tractors will have other deficiencies. To me the best point is that their sheer popularity made for continued availablity of expertise and parts and this is like a guarantee from a tractor dealer if you look at it right. I have two old Masseys and would not trade either of them with similar vintage competitors simply out of sheer reliablity and power to weight ratios. Good luck

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Chip

03-08-2000 10:18:20




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
They are uninformed, if that tractor has the 3 cylinder Perkins in it, it should be a great unit. But everything depends on how well it's been maintained. I think I would pass on the Standard (4 cylinder) diesel though, they are hard starters.



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B.C.

03-08-2000 05:52:52




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
Ummm...look at it this way. The 35 and 50 sizes had live pto (most of them did anyway), 3 pt hitch, power rims (most of them)and wide front ends with motion stops before the other people did. The other paint colors were several years trying to catch up, and some of us think that they never quite did.

The only rock I'd throw at the general design is that eventually the transmission can lock in gear. But it doesn't happen very often and it's not hard to avoid or correct when it does happen. There have been a bunch of posts on that.

I've been to tractor shows off and on, and I have yet to see a Ferguson TO series or MF on display. They are all still out working. Let me know if you can find one for less than 2000 bucks. That should tell you something.

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Chip S.

03-08-2000 05:27:39




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
I bought a 65 last year, and with the help of Jack in NB and Big Dean, have got the wrinkles out of her. She's worked every day for the past 4 months, pulling a spreader, drilling fence holes and discing. Never a hiccup.

Notice at the tractor shows, you see very few red tractors. That's cause they're still out workin'!



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Jack in NB

03-08-2000 04:17:07




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
The folks below have clearly indicated how dependable they are. We run 9 or 10 of the old girls, and I can't see any other colour now!!

More plusses:

Because there are so many around, there are lots of aftermarket repair parts available, often half the price of similar green, blue or orange parts.

And the Perkins diesel is still one of the most fuel-efficient around. The A3 was over 15 hp-hr per gal. and the later AD3 was 17 or so in the Nebraska tests.

As with any older unit, you may have some teething problems, but once you get them fixed, you'll definitely have a keeper!

If you have any questions once you look at her more closely, post them. There are some great people here on the site who have most answers.

Good luck!

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Louis

03-08-2000 02:33:34




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
Tom,
You can't beat a MF for a hard working , dependable tractor. Granted, all makes have had a lemon or two come out of the factory, MF, JD, IH, etc., but if you keep oil in her, and good clean fuel, she will never let you down. Mine is 35 years old, and runs like new. Good luck chosing one.



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Tom from Ontario

03-07-2000 19:25:01




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 Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Will, 03-07-2000 19:02:08  
Given decent maintenance and sane operation, there have been very few tractors built that are more dependable than an MF 35. Don't know who told you and none of my business, but if he says the sun rises in the east, I'd look west. Good Luck, whatever you get. Tom



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Alberta Mike

03-07-2000 20:04:09




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 Re: Re: Looking for a tractor; I heard MF not very dependable in reply to Tom from Ontario, 03-07-2000 19:25:01  
Yup, and if you check under that guys fingernails, you'll probably find a bit of green and yellow paint. Some guys are like the Harley riders when it comes to knowing what really works and what doesn't.



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