Massey Ferguson 135

larrystinescorner · Feb 23, 2013

Another tractor that my dad bought new,my brother still uses it,The weather took its toll on it ,but it still runs good,I ran this one a lot when I was young,used to brushog with it for customers in nj,and many other chores.It was a great tractor,Only problem I remember was once in a great while it would get stuck in 1st or reverse,Other than that it was great,Anyone have a MF 135 or stories of one?

John B. · Feb 23, 2013

My Uncle bought one years ago. He's been gone now for 17 years. It was his biggest tractor. The hills they lived in there were places he didn't even take it, he always had a pair of mules until he retired until 1976. His 5 sons still have it there on the farm but the youngest son is divorced and still lives there. He uses only to bush hog some spots. He called me down there a year and a half ago and had the transmission stuck in gear. I don't remember what gear.

larrystinescorner · Feb 23, 2013

Just to add to the story,my brother and I get along great,He was going to give me the 135 after my dad passed away,but I found my Ford tractor parked in the woods with all the attachments for 2000 dollars,it was not running ,my brother is a great mechanic,and he fixed the Ford for me ,spent many hours doing it. I felt the tractors my dad had should be his,because he always kept them running for my dad.My dad also had a Ford 3000 diesel ,and a few more tractors,I will show them later.

Dean · Feb 23, 2013

I once had a 135 with the 3 cylinder Perkins gasoline engine like the one pictured.

It was a good workhorse, and I liked the Perkins gasoline engine better than the Continental.

Dean

buickanddeere · Feb 23, 2013

For something in the price range of a Ford N series. The Massey 135 is a much handier,, safer and more useful tractor.
iirc the stuck in 1st gear problem can be limped along. By spinning off the pipe plug cover on the top front left of the transmission. And jiggle the shift fork with a long clean screw driver.

DoubleR · Feb 23, 2013

My son has a 2135 turf special. It looks about like yours only its yellow and has them real wide turf tires. Its been sitting in the weeds out here at my place fore a couple years now. He doesn't need it anymore in his landscape business. It has a Perkins gas engine. I have been playing with it all week to get it running again. A new ignition switch, fresh gas, some Sea-Foam and a little cussing and swearing at it out here in the cold I got it running pretty good for as old as it is and the lack of care it has received lately. I would like to sell it and get it out of here while its running good. There is not a big demand for something with them big wide turf tires though.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 23, 2013

Don't own one, have operated many 135's over the years. Best tractor in it's class that was ever built.

old harv · Feb 23, 2013

I drove one of those with the 3 cylinder diesel when I worked on a dairy farm in 78-79. It looked worse then than yours does now, but it was worked real hard. We used it every day to clean out the freestalls with a scraper made from an old V type snowblower. It was also the loader tractor. It never failed, about three loads of manure from the end of the pile the front hydraulic pump would break, usually right at milking time. The tractor was tough, just the add-on hydraulic for the loader gave trouble.

Eldon (WA) · Feb 23, 2013

I grew up on a '65 diesel with Multi-Power. My dad reluctantly bought it when the seller wouldn't split up the field chopper that he wanted. It became our favorite tractor. It was like new....I remember starting it up one cold winter when dad wasn't home. Loved the smell of that diesel smoke, and that tractor still had a "new" smell to it. Dad chewed my azz when he came home (I wasn't supposed to be running it)....quanset was still filled with smoke LOL! We used it to run a New Idea 10 ft sickle mower and to rake hay. We tried it on the roto-baler, but after one day my dad's knee gave out trying to use the 2 stage clutch for each bale.
We had 14.9 x 28" tires on it for awhile, and that tractor could scoot down the road, even faster when you kick the MP into low about half way down a hill

My brother still uses it on the farm, close to 10000 hours on it. It just runs a brushhog now. I always wanted one, but most are beat to death around here. I settled on this 35 diesel that I found last spring. It doesn't have M-P, but does what I wanted it for.

Erik Ks farmer · Feb 23, 2013

We have a 65, 35xx original hours, nice tractor for mowing and raking. We also have a couple 180's, big brother to the 135 that are great tractors.

BillinCentralMO · Feb 23, 2013

We have a 165 Gas and It's one of my favorites, It always starts. One morning it was 6 below. It started right up. No heater , no starting fluid. Turn the gas on , hit the choke and it fired right up.It never got stuck in gear so far.It's a handy size too. We can haul it on the flatbed and pull it with the Suburban.

MJ in the UK · Feb 23, 2013

If any of you have done a lot of clutch work with a MF 65 or 165 tractors how many times has your foot slipped of the clutch pedal and took the skin of the inside of your ankle. That is why you will notice on all the promotional leaflets the MF tractor drivers are weaering wellington boots. MJ

MJ in the UK · Feb 23, 2013

Waiting fo Sam 40s comments, Ha Ha MJ

Tony Vidlak · Feb 23, 2013

Larry, Does your brother farm?
Tony

MJ in the UK · Feb 23, 2013

Waiting for Sam40s comments Ha Ha MJ

da.bees · Feb 23, 2013

No question about it,all those old "MFs" in that period are tough ones. I've had 2 and both wound up stuck in gear when anyone besides me operated it.
The 65 I have now has not stuck on me for 10 years but I delibertly move the stick through the shift pattern,if that makes sense. I belive it became secound nature for me to be carful while shifting when the 40s and early 50s Chevys did the gear hang up thing because of worn shift tube and worn fingers that moved the synconizers. Not funny when you have to hop out,raise the hood and move the shifter arms or worse still,crawl underneath to remove tranny cover to free the syncronizers,,,,,,,,while your date patiently waited in the passenger seat contiplating how much better off she would have been going out with the kid who's dad bought him a new car. I about wore my teeth out and the hair off under my arms as a teen thinking I had bad odors. Come to find out girls don't view getting grease on them same as farm boys do.

Jiles · Feb 23, 2013

For years we have had a daily radio program called "Party-Line" You can call in items for sale.
One morning MANY years ago, a gentleman advertised a MF 135 Diesel for sale. I called and he stated it had been broken for about two years and he was saving his money to by another tractor he had found. I drove the short distance and discovered the man was in his 70s and in poor health.
We got in my truck and drove to a field where the tractor had been setting for about two years, partially covered.
After fighting off the wasps he told me that the transmission was locked up.
I asked him if I could do a little checking, which he agreed, so I did my checks.
I told him that I could fix the tractor for him and he stated that another man had told him it would cost too much.
With further discussion and a little prep, we boosted the tractor off. I had already unlocked the gears so I got on the tractor and it operated.
He was very disappointed because he had agreeded to sell me the MF for $1500!!
I was not raised to take advantage of people so I refused to buy or to accept any money. He demanded that I take $40.00 or I would have to "whip his a**"
I took the $40.00 and the blessing of knowing I did the right thing.
And yes, I showed him how to unlock the gears when it happened again.

BigMarv1085 · Feb 23, 2013

I have one that I bought from the neighbor. Its all I use in the winter since its pretty good on fuel.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 23, 2013

Anyone have a 135? In it's era, the 135 was the most popular tractor in the world. What's sad is going to a tractor wrecker and seeing they have 4 or so scrapped 135's. Other than being in a fire, I think most things would be fixable on 135 and still be worth it.

Dean · Feb 23, 2013

I once owned an FE-35 diesel like this one too.

I liked it even better than the 135 with Perkins 3 cylinder gasoline engine.

Dean

Rick Kr · Feb 23, 2013

No stories, looks like you have some pretty new "sneakers" on the back. Nothing wrong with keeping a tractor in its work clothes.

Rick

larrystinescorner · Feb 23, 2013

He has the small farm in nj that we grew up on. He raises some goats a few hogs and and a few steers. He puts up some hay too.

larrystinescorner · Feb 23, 2013

My too nephews are 24 and 25,they help a lot.

ray hofstetter · Feb 23, 2013

Larry, I ran a brand new 135 my first paying job in high school, probably 1972 or '73. Paid me $2.00/hr to mow with 6' flail mower, awesome tractor......

samn40 · Feb 23, 2013

What can I say....here are some of them at my place earlier this week...best tractor ever built, small tractor big heart!
Sam

larrystinescorner · Feb 23, 2013

How many tractors do you have? I have to ask,I lost count! lol

samn40 · Feb 23, 2013

Sssssshhhhhh Larry ...my wife might get suspicious and start counting also!!!!!!
Sam

Massey Ferguson 135

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