Talk me out of an MF 65...

Hi everyone , this is my first post here , happy to join the forum and lets start with my situation.

Let me start by saying that I am not a farmer myself but most my relatives are.

I have a 70 acres piece of land here in Canada near Montreal. about 25 acres are cleared , the rest is forest and I will not venture much in the forest with my future classic tractor. We have 4 building totalling roughly 10000sq ft

The cleared 25 acres are mostly flat or with a gentle slope. The soil is sandy/clay. With multiple gravel trails running around the property. The land has a dirt bike track and enventually a dirt oval track. The cleared area is hard packed , no mud pits or soft area.

I usually rent heavy machinery and skid steers when ever I need excavate and built obstacles. But I would like to own a vintage tractor. I somewhat made my choice and think I would be very happy with a Massey Ferguson 35 with a 3 cyl Perkins diesel.

I like the shape, size and simplicity of the 35, since I am not a heavy equipment mechanic and i would be open to buy a gasser 35 if real clean at the right price.

That said I find myself dreaming of a 35x for its locking diff , which is a fairly rare thing on a 35. A power steering would be nice but not a absolute necessity.

So finding myself trying to find a unicorn 35x with locking diff and power steering but no multi power...

Then I found a MF 65 tractor, has power steering, 3 cyl perkins diesel, and locking diff... its also bigger, tougher and heavier which is not necessary a bad thing for a tractor.

My mind was really set on a 35 but the 65 starts to grow on me , but I head stories about the expensive planetaries, expensive inboard brakes , and harder to work on a mf 65 compared to the simpler 35.

The work i plan to do is: grading my track and maintaining the gravel trails in the summer with a box blade and a rear blade. Plowing the drive (about 500 ft) , using the rear blade and may buy a PTO rear snowblower.

No ploughing , seeding for now , just maintenance, pulling trailers, blading, etc...

So talk me out of a 65 , should keep looking for my unicorn 35... what are your thoughts on both tractors for my needs...

Long first post...sorry
Peter...

Nothing wrong with a 65. You've got the basics. It's somewhat bigger and somewhat heavier than a 35.
Having said that, you might wish to consider a 135 or a 235.

I have a MF 165 Diesel without the Multipower. My
dad bought in new in the late 60’s. Third set of rear
tires. Has been garage or shed kept, but driven very
hard. Wonderful grader blade and bushhog
machine. Leaks oil at most orifices as most
Masseys do. Great Tractor. The 65 is in good
company. Don

I know the 135 is the natural evolution from the 35 but since Im a gentleman farmer I really like the vintage look of the 35 over the more "modern" 135....thats why I thought the 65 has all the cool options im looking for that are scarce in a 35

im just worried to get a tractor that might prove to be a little expensive to maintain vs the simpler 35...

Thanks
Peter

The early MF 65 diesel used the A4.203 Perkins indirect injected four cylinder engine, the late used the AD4.203 direct injected Perkins diesel. The later are better cold
starting tractors..

I am going to recommend the 65. I am currently rebuilding a 65 for my own use. I would also recommend a Ford 5000 or the last of the Fordson Super Majors made from 1961-1964. You want a tractor with 45-50 PTO hp. This lets you run a hay baler or brush hog with ease. Weight and traction is every thing. A 35 weighs roughly 3500 pounds. A 65 weighs roughly 4500. The 65 is a 35 with a fourth cylinder in the engine so a 35 is 75% of what a 65 is.

The 35 will do everything you need it to do but it will sometimes struggle and you will have to go slow. If you are skidding trees you will have to cut them in smaller sections. The 65 will almost never struggle.

I am going to recommend the 65. I am currently rebuilding a 65 for my own use. I would also recommend a Ford 5000 or the last of the Fordson Super Majors made from 1961-1964. You want a tractor with 45-50 PTO hp. This lets you run a hay baler or brush hog with ease. Weight and traction is every thing. A 35 weighs roughly 3500 pounds. A 65 weighs roughly 4500. The 65 is a 35 with a fourth cylinder in the engine so a 35 is 75% of what a 65 is.

The 35 will do everything you need it to do but it will sometimes struggle and you will have to go slow. If you are skidding trees you will have to cut them in smaller sections. The 65 will almost never struggle.

Whatever your choice I recommend power steering. Spent a little time on a
35 in my 20s and wrestled it each time I used it.

Thanks for all the comments so far , does anyone have first hand experience with replacing brakes, clutch, planetaries or engine work on a 65? Seems like there are lots of articles and posts on 35s but not much on 65s...

If it actually has a 3 cylinder diesel its not a 65, maybe a MF 50 which looks a lot like a 65. I prefer a 65 or 50 to a 35. They are just more tractor. I have two diesel 65s one standard and a high arch both with power steering. Parts for the MF 65 and the MF 165 are readily available and the Perkins diesel is not too hard to rebuild. Go with the 65 you won't regret it.

massey is not the only red tractor out there, there is international's also. there i tryed talking you out of it.

(quoted from post at 17:20:45 09/30/20) massey is not the only red tractor out there, there is international's also. there i tryed talking you out of it.

Click to expand...

🤣🤣🤣

Would be hard to talk someone out of more
HP, power steering, and locking diff. If
you can afford it, call the man and have it
delivered tomorrow.

Is there a MF dealer near you?? The 65 MF was a
decent tractor, but the 165 was better. I have spent
many hours operating a 165 doing hay as a
teenager. MF tractors of this size changed little over
the many years they were built, and parts shouldn’t
be any issue. One thing to remember is these older
tractors came with low volume hydraulic systems,
and many of the older tractors didn’t have a remote
outlet. Low gpm hydraulics can mean if you want to
run things like a wood splitter it may be very slow,
or weak. Same with front end loaders.

Hello Peter. I grew up in Glengarry county. Now live on an island in the Pacific. The M-F are good tractors
but not the only ones. An I_H 300/350 utility, or a Farmall 300/350 should also work real well for your needs
So would an Oliver 550 (Fiat) David Brown also made an excellent tractor in your range. (bought out by Case)
which also made some real good tractors. 400 range utilities.
A Cockshutt 550 utility would also work well.
If you get something that needs parts. Fawcett tractors in St. Mary's Ont has a large recycle yard.
AT one time worked with Bell tel and we used a Massy Ferguson 202 work bull. basically a mf35.
had a backhoe, which worked ok, but the case would dig circles around it.
Perish the thought, John Deere had some good stuff as well.
If you have found a GOOD M-F and like it, go for it.
Blessings, Kris

We have a 65 that has been in the family for over 50 years that I know of. Father-in-law had it when I first started
dating my wife. Now owned by my son, his grand-son. Still running strong, useful. Recently added a FEL to it's
collection of implements. Good solid tractor.

you will be sorry , lol. if your not tractor inclined.

We took a few of those in trade in the 60's and 70's seemed to be a pretty solid offering, we also took a few 35's in I myself would take a 65 over 35 any day,, but all depends on how big you want,,

Remember he's in Canada so don't forget Cockshutt too lol

Awesome ! I did consider an Oliver 550 before , just the parts availability and heavy steering planted doubt in my mind.

As for my knowledge about tractors, have admit that I know pretty much nothing about farm tractors. That said I have owned a race car and motorcycles fabrication shop for the last 25 years...so fixing, welding and using a BF hammer is like a second nature for me...

I really appreciate the input guys thanks...
Peter

Hi, glad someone has mentioned that a 3-cyl 65 does not exist. If this one has an AD4.203 engine you will have a good one. The only real downside to this tractor here in the U.K. was the disc brakes. When the ‘dry’ as opposed to ‘wet’ oil immersed brakes on later tractors wear badly they have a habit of jamming ‘on’ . On bad examples it is not uncommon to have to change direction to free them. Before buying the 65 check the brake operation thoroughly. Any sign of grabbing and you should factor a rebuild into what you might pay.
DavidP,South Wales

Always good to welcome a fellow Canadian to the site! I think you would do well
with a 35, 50 or 65. All old tractors will need some repair eventually, so buy on
condition. You cannot go wrong with any of those models, but the extra power in a
65 might come in handy.A Ford 3000 or 4000 of the same vintage are as good of a
tractor as a Massey. Have fun with the purchase!

Ben

(quoted from post at 20:41:02 09/30/20)
I know the 135 is the natural evolution from the 35 but since Im a gentleman farmer I really like the vintage look of the 35 over the more "modern" 135....thats why I thought the 65 has all the cool options im looking for that are scarce in a 35

im just worried to get a tractor that might prove to be a little expensive to maintain vs the simpler 35...

Thanks
Peter

Click to expand...

The cost difference in repairs, if they even exist which I doubt, may well be a non-issue if you get the heavier, more powerful and refined 65 instead of abusing a 35. Do yourself a favor and don't get hung up on looks. Get the tractor that suits your needs best, in the best shape you can afford.

If you're west of the city, there's a guy near Glen Robertson Ont. that has a bunch of 35s along with IH 434s, 414s, 275s that he parts out. Runs an ad on Kijiji. I like my FE35 for the light stuff. Used to do all the work here with it. Been looking casually for a 35 with power steering and diff lock but not many around here for less than a king's ransom.

Greetings to Mr. Jenson from your home turf.

I have a 1964 Massey 65. I really like it and think its about as easy to work on as tractors get. I use it for road scraping and bush hogging with a 6 ft cutter, no problems at all.

I did all repairs mine required which was actually pretty minimal, just a bunch of little stuff with the help of guys here. A good thing is about all parts are available all over the place. Mine has about 2839 known hours on it as the tach hour meter did not work when I got it. That is the sum of the current working hour meter and the old one. Little to no blow by. Starts instantly.
There's not many of them around my area that I know of. Theres mostly massey 35s and 135s with a smattering of 245s.

Depending on what you're going to do with it I would recommend it. They are pretty tough and have some oompf to them.
Mine has done everything asked of it. I really like it.

Personally, I would look for a 165.
They are the most sought after tractor in the world according to what I have read.
I know the one I got for the State Ag Museum is one heck of a tractor.
Richard in NW SC

Have to show these photos again of the day I delivered it and the museum workers practiced driving it around.

My story:
Went to an auction, estate sale, last Tues afternoon in the rain. There was a MF 65 up for bid--only tractor with the homeliest dozer blade on it, diesel and power steer. Not much interest in it, so it is now in my shop. Went back Wed figured how to get started, and just like that, started to fall in love with it. Some woodchucks were using a forklift to load a trailer and got stuck on the wet grass/mud. My tractor was put to use and dragged that beast some 100 feet to pavement. By then, I knew this was a really nice tractor. It is definitely a step up from 8N-TO35 and even MF35-ford 800. Try it, see how it works for you. Unless it is beat up/abused, it should hold its value.

Rebuilding the brakes is not too bad of a job but you will need some kind of over head hoist as the trumpet has to be removed. With the tire removed it is not that heavy and I suppose it could be handled by hand. I prefer an over head chain hoist. Once exposed no issue, change the grease seal. The Massey board on this forum has some real experts on the subject of Massy Ferguson tractors and they are forth coming with excellent advice. They literally know it all, we did lose Big Dean, but others have stepped up.

Thanks for all the replies, tips and valuable infos .

To answer some here when I saw the 65 pictures that the owner sent me he said it was diesel and saw the exhaust on the left side so I thought it was a perkins 3 cyl like in the 35. Since a 35 with a standard 4 cyl diesel has the exhaust on the right. The 65 is a 1960 so I doubt its a direct injected perkins.

Again just want to say thank you to all of you who yook the time to reply and will keep educating myself about old tractors and shopping wisely.

Peter.

I helped a neighbor bale hay with a MF 65 gas for lots of years Good solid tractor, handled a baler easily and had very few problems. It ran for many
years without any engine work, then an ordinary overhaul woke it right back up.