Gale Hawkins
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2009
- Messages
- 11,798
- Location
- Murray, KY
- Tractor
- 1948 Allis Chambers Model B 1976 265 MF / 1983 JD 310B Backhoe / 1966 Ford 3000 Diesel / 1980 3600 Diesel
Looks to me like a MF35 with a davis loader, looks like dual cylinders added to the bucket, Why do you think you have a 12 speed trans? looks like a 3 speed with Hi/lo for 6 speeds total. Do you have dual clutch/live pto. They made the 35 in several flavors. looks like a Industrial model by the front axle. Post you engine numbers and someone can help id it.
I agree it started out as an industrial model from the photos. Davis was a common FEL of that era when I was looking for a used one for our MF a few years ago. While it does have a ton of welding done over the decades. Clearly the 3PH has been worked hard and beefed up over the years .
Like Brad states if an old machine will start, run well and do the tasks it was designed to do that is about as good as it gets.
Not sure the brand but will look this evening on the mid 70's MF 245 FEL. It just works off of the tractor 3 remotes with the lift arms being single action but double action bucket. In the 35 era single action cylinders were common and many buckets had no cylinders with single action lift on the loader arms.
Also in that era OEM tractor engines were common where it was on a hay baler, farris wheel, tilt-a-whirl, generator, etc so putting a low hour generator engine into a tractor could be a great option. Most likely for the first 20 years that tractor was worked very hard because it was a major investment for that area.
I do think it looks quite nice. If you have seals leaking but not poring I have found the Lucas Hydraulic Oil Booster additive helpful on our 310B JD backhoe and 265 MF farm tractor. It had a bad leak at the PTO even when my FIL was alive and using it but it only has 1300 hours on it today. The brakes were grabbing very bad the first several uses each time I got out on the tractor. The Lucas Booster additive really helped with that. I know my FIL had changed the fluids at one point and I need to and even have the filters and fluid but dumped in one quart of the Lucas that did seem to renew the additive package in the UTF.
Keep us posted. I think a failing starter is the number one reason old iron gets parked. One day they do not start and then they just set on the side line until scrapped.