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I have a bit of a different story to tell. I bought a 135 at an auction recently. It looked GREAT, all painted up, it looked like brand new. Once I got it home I found out that whom ever had it previously used parts from all the different series of MF tractors. They hydraulics were completely messed up and I ended up having to replace the entire top plate. The rubber boots on both shifter were missing and the case was full of water. The rear main seal leaked, there were bolts missing that held the front end together, the PTO wouldn't work, the draft setting didn't work (see note above on having to replace the entire top plate). I ended up dumping as much into this tractor, or more, than what I paid for it. I got taken because, although I'm pretty good with wrench when it comes to cars and trucks, tractors are different and I didn't take a tractor SME with me before I bid on the stupid thing. This machine is a CONSTANT maintenance nightmare. Two days ago the front tire was flat so I just replaced it yesterday. Putting it on, I noticed the exhaust pipe is cracked where it bolts up to the manifold. If its not one thing, its another. The list goes on and on and on and on. My advice is get a VERY knowledgeable tractor SME to go with you and don't be afraid to scrutinize everything. Don't fall for the old "It's an old tractor, there are things that bound not work". That seems Ok until you're the one that gets it home and finds out it's going to take another 3-4 thousand dollars just to get it to do what it should. I should point out that I don't desparage the MF 135 for all these problems, but rather the previous owner who intentionally passed this turd off to myself. In reality, I was the one dumb enough to buy it based on looks alone. I'm sure that with another couple of thousand dollars, I'll have a tractor that is every bit as decent as any other "average" 135. But for right now, I'm paying a huge price. It's not just he cost, but the frustration of having invested all the money and not being able to do anything with it. In the meantime, stuff keeps growing that needs to be cut, and all those other tractor tasks keep building up, while you continue to dump time and money into an old tractor. Thankfuly, I found a man who was extremely well qualified to fix all my problems for me, but he, like anyone else out there, doesn't work for free. Someday, I'll end up selling this tractor, and someone else will have the opposite experience. I'll definately lose money on it. But at least I'll have the satisfaction of knowing someone else out there will not have to go through what I have. Good Luck!!!
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