LeviR
New member
Hey guys, I just joined the forum, but have been visiting for awhile.
My name is Levi, I'm 21 years old, and have a love for anything old, rusty, and mechanical in nature. With that being said, I took on the project of getting my father's 1970 Massey 135 Perkins Gas tractor running again. The tractor has been sitting since 2001. We brought it with us when we moved from our farm, but had no real use for it, so dad parked it. It sat there, uncovered, in the woods, for 12 years, until I couldn't watch it rust any more. I pulled it into the garage, and got to work on her. I cleaned her up, cleaned/reset the points, rebuilt the carburetor, cleaned the gas tank out, replaced the sediment bowl, changed the water pump, changed the air filter, and then changed the oil after I squirted WD-40 into the cylinders. I put some gasoline in the tank, and hit the key. For the first time in 12 years, I heard the tractor run! I have many childhood memories with this old tractor, so this was very sentimental!
Although she ran, the tractor had some issues:
1. The key did NOT cut power to the ignition coil. You couldn't shut off the tractor with the key. To troubleshoot this, I checked the key switch to make sure it wasn't shorted out, and it tested out fine (multimeter with continuity function). I pulled the 3 wire connector from the back of the key switch, and checked the coil wire for power. I found that the coil wire has power at all times. I traced this wire, and found that it connects to the voltage regulator, with a lead that goes to the coil, and one that goes to the battery cable at the starter solenoid. I also tested for power with the voltage regulator unplugged, but because of the lead that goes to the solenoid, the coil wire is always hot. I found that I had to disconnect the wire from the starter solenoid + post. I then used the R lug as a convenient connector for the anti-deiseling solenoid...(see next point)
2. The Perkins gas models equipped with the Zenith carburetor have a special anti-deiseling solenoid that cuts fuel supply to the main jet when the key is switched off. On this tractor, the solenoid and wire lead is intact, but it was not hooked to anything. I knew the solenoid needed a switched 12v power source to work, but I saw no evidence as to where it was supposed to be connected. My dad used to have an alligator clip that he would connect to the alternator battery lug to engage the solenoid, and disconnect when he wanted to shut the tractor off. It then dawned on me as to why the factory had an extra hot wire in that area to begin with: It was for the anti-dieseling solenoid! Problem solved!
Lastly, I am planning on buying the AGCO/MF service manual, owner's manual, and parts manuals. I have been told (and have read in a post on here) that they are the most complete, and in some people's opinion, impossible to live without. Do they cover the Perkins Gas model tractor in good detail? Does it have the Perkins Gas specific wiring diagram? I recently bought a workshop manual CD off ebay, and was extremely disappointed. It made no mention of the Perkins Gas model at all.
I know this post was long winded, but I wanted to share my experience with the venerable Massey 135! By the way, I will post pics when I get back home.
My name is Levi, I'm 21 years old, and have a love for anything old, rusty, and mechanical in nature. With that being said, I took on the project of getting my father's 1970 Massey 135 Perkins Gas tractor running again. The tractor has been sitting since 2001. We brought it with us when we moved from our farm, but had no real use for it, so dad parked it. It sat there, uncovered, in the woods, for 12 years, until I couldn't watch it rust any more. I pulled it into the garage, and got to work on her. I cleaned her up, cleaned/reset the points, rebuilt the carburetor, cleaned the gas tank out, replaced the sediment bowl, changed the water pump, changed the air filter, and then changed the oil after I squirted WD-40 into the cylinders. I put some gasoline in the tank, and hit the key. For the first time in 12 years, I heard the tractor run! I have many childhood memories with this old tractor, so this was very sentimental!
Although she ran, the tractor had some issues:
1. The key did NOT cut power to the ignition coil. You couldn't shut off the tractor with the key. To troubleshoot this, I checked the key switch to make sure it wasn't shorted out, and it tested out fine (multimeter with continuity function). I pulled the 3 wire connector from the back of the key switch, and checked the coil wire for power. I found that the coil wire has power at all times. I traced this wire, and found that it connects to the voltage regulator, with a lead that goes to the coil, and one that goes to the battery cable at the starter solenoid. I also tested for power with the voltage regulator unplugged, but because of the lead that goes to the solenoid, the coil wire is always hot. I found that I had to disconnect the wire from the starter solenoid + post. I then used the R lug as a convenient connector for the anti-deiseling solenoid...(see next point)
2. The Perkins gas models equipped with the Zenith carburetor have a special anti-deiseling solenoid that cuts fuel supply to the main jet when the key is switched off. On this tractor, the solenoid and wire lead is intact, but it was not hooked to anything. I knew the solenoid needed a switched 12v power source to work, but I saw no evidence as to where it was supposed to be connected. My dad used to have an alligator clip that he would connect to the alternator battery lug to engage the solenoid, and disconnect when he wanted to shut the tractor off. It then dawned on me as to why the factory had an extra hot wire in that area to begin with: It was for the anti-dieseling solenoid! Problem solved!
Lastly, I am planning on buying the AGCO/MF service manual, owner's manual, and parts manuals. I have been told (and have read in a post on here) that they are the most complete, and in some people's opinion, impossible to live without. Do they cover the Perkins Gas model tractor in good detail? Does it have the Perkins Gas specific wiring diagram? I recently bought a workshop manual CD off ebay, and was extremely disappointed. It made no mention of the Perkins Gas model at all.
I know this post was long winded, but I wanted to share my experience with the venerable Massey 135! By the way, I will post pics when I get back home.
