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Ford 801 diesel vs Massey 65 gas

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spayne67

Member
I am looking at two unrestored tractors, both look to be in good shape. One is a gas 1961 MF-65 for $1700 the other is a Ford Powermaster Diesel 801 for $3200. Looking for opinions on the pros and cons, please.
 
I've got a diesel MF 65 and i do not like it AT ALL! It's got quite a few issues though. If PS works on the ferguson, along with live hydros, PTO,and has power adjust rims, I would probably do it. Otherwise, I would take the Ford over the MF any day.
 
The 65 is heavier, has nearly 10 more HP and will use more fuel.

The Ford costs nearly twice as much.

What transmission is in the Ford?

Dean
 
(quoted from post at 16:11:29 08/03/16) I am looking at two unrestored tractors, both look to be in good shape. One is a gas 1961 MF-65 for $1700 the other is a Ford Powermaster Diesel 801 for $3200. Looking for opinions on the pros and cons, please.
Click to expand...

The Massey 65 was one of the most popular tractors they ever built. Lots of parts can still be had at reasonable prices and used parts are plentiful. The 65 gets my vote since they are in similar shape.
 

I have no experience with a MF 65, but I do have experience with the 800/900 series of Fords. Plenty of power in the Fords, but not nearly enough weight available to put that power to the ground. I won't own one.
 
NEVER a diesel for me so it would be the MF 65, very close to same size and power. Does the MF have the 28" rear wheels or the 38" rear wheels, Multi=power? The Ford does it have the common 4 speed tranny or the good 5 speed with the LPTO? Could also be 5 speed with out LPTO or a SOS. If that ford would be gas and 5 speed with LPTO that would be my choice. Ford will only have 28" rear wheels.
 

The 801 is a 4 cylinder diesel which is a modified gas engine. It did not have a good reputation locally. I was told that a Ford parts man showed someone the bearing inserts for a 4 cyl diesel and for a later 3 cylinder diesel. The 4 cylinder bearings would drop through the 3 cylinder bearings. AFIK no manufacturer had good luck converting a gas engine to diesel.

As it happens I saw a 801 diesel, very much unrestored, at a tractor dealership today while looking for Bush Hog parts. Before someone asks, I wanted 2 skid plates. They cost $38 each an were out of stock so I'm going to use the welder. If someone wants the 801 it is at Wilson Equipment in Newberry, SC.

KEH
 
I think either one would be good ,, I run a 65 diesel and 165 diesel,and they would cook you good on a hot humid day in the hay field ,, but they are nice in winter ,feeding chores with a heat houser, dependable,.never been on a 801 but my uncle lex had serveral variationsof 601-901 for chopping silage ,,. he loaded them with pie weights some 3 slices deep,. I would think the diesel would be more dependable than a gasser ,.. but personly I prefer diesel far more than gassers ,, they area lot less trouble free and deliver more uuumph ,.
 
If that Deere would be a row crop decent tractors, utility not so much. They did have good engines but verry expencive and hard to find parts for now. Also if row crop 36" rear wheels hard to find tires in that size. But way over priced by 2X.
 
BACK IN THE 3=CYL DEBUT DAYS, FORD DLRS LOVED 2 SHOW U THAT AN OLDER GAS PISTON WOULD FIT INTO THE BIG END OF THE CONNECTING ROD...YOURS TRULY, MF MAN
 
The Ford 801 for $3200 is priced high for what it is and the early Ford diesels where a gas engine converted so they had issues. The MF 65 gas is a better tractor for the money. The JD 2010 RUN RUN!!!!!!! There are one of the worst tractors JD ever built!!!!
 
I should have mentioned that it would mainly be used for bush hogging or using a finishing mower, post hole auger and moving a few round bales. I am sure the Ford is either an 841, 851, or 861. What about a John Deere 2010R?
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Massey would be good for what you want untill you get to the bales, unless the bale would be a 4'x4' bale, not enough tractor in any of them. For that you would need a spear cart like is used with horses to move round bales. I think Pioneer makes them but not cheap, would cost more than that MF 65
 

I own a 65 Massey gas, an 800 gas Ford and a 1010 JD which is the smaller brother to the 2010. My pick would be the 65 simply because it's a generation or 2 ahead of the Ford. The Ford 800 diesel isn't their greatest engine, and the 1010/2010 engine wasn't Deeres. A 2010 in good mechanical shape is a fine tractor, but if it needs engine work it's expensive, same as the Ford. That being said, the 2010 is also a generation, maybe 2 ahead of the Ford. The Fords were economy tractors in that period, light, kinda crude in ways, but reliable and far, far ahead of the N series predecessors. Of the 3 you list, the Ford and JD are way overpriced IMO.
 
That Deere engine is a Deere and same engine as used in combines and is a very good engine, both in the 115 that was used in the 1010 and 40 combine, the 145 the 2010 and earlier 45 combines and the 165 that I do not know if was used in a tractor or not, think might have been a 2510 but was also in mid range 45 combines. All the same except the deck plate and pistons. The deck plate could be put in your 1010 and give it a half more power and no one would ever be able to tell not orignal looking at it.
 
I bought the Massey 65. Sounds strong, no smoke, PTO and 3-point "seem" to work good, cosmetically sound but old 60+ year point. Excited for the project. Thanks everyone for the advice.
 
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