Comparing MF 1635 to a MF1736

Mosby2015 · Aug 28, 2018

So I recently bought 5 acres and a barn. I built a small two bedroom apartment in that my wife and I are using for a weekend place, and a workshop for me, as well as winter storage for my boat. While I was building it the previous owner left his small Kubota tractor with a FEL , not sure of the model, (I would guess around a mid 80's 25hp, but not one of the sub compact models) he let me use it until he finished his new barn. I was impressed by how handy it was to have around, especially the FEL. I grew up in the area and had used bigger tractors for bush hogging, hay etc, but we never had one with a FEL

So now I have decided I need a tractor!! So it starts. lol

I have been reading a lot of threads here lately and looking at tractors on line and visited a few dealers. I had decided on a new Massey Ferguson 1736, but that purchase is a few years away. I came across the 1635, which can be had used obviously and at a price I could make my purchase a lot sooner.

What I can't seem to find out, but what I suspect is that they are basically the same tractor but the 1736 is an emissions controlled motor. But I can't find anything on line to support my theory. Can anyone tell me if I am right?

Is the 1635 considered a good tractor, or did they change it because it had a lot of problems? The engines are different makes, and the older doesn't seem to be turbo charged from what I can tell(haven't seen a 1635 in person). In trucks a non turbo diesel is a dog of a vehicle. Is it the same with tractors? How did they get the same HP in a non turbo diesel that they got in a turbo charged diesel that is almost the same displacement?

I plan on using it to bush hog about 4 mostly flat acres a few times a year, use the FEL to clear snow on about a 200ft driveway a few times a year, do some landscaping projects, and general handyman type usage, I am sure I will come up with other chores for it to do more and more. The land also has a small orchard with apple, and peach trees.

Bigpuddie · Aug 28, 2018

Emissions systems are here to stay. We might as well get used to them. I dont know those models well, but I can suggest that you get the larger of the 2. No one ever complained that their tractor is too powerful.its expensive to trade up when you make a mistake. Get the one that will definitely cover all your bases for a long time. Massey makes good tractors.

billwleod · Aug 28, 2018

I have a 1736 for the last 2 plus years. I only wish I had made the decision to buy a tractor 20 years earlier. I haven’t had any issues with the tier 4 emissions. I had a couple of backhoe issues and Massey took care of them. It is a labor saver and I am always finding new tasks for it. Moving dirt, snow, rocks, lumber, stumps, digging trenches and building roads.

Mosby2015 · Aug 29, 2018

Bigpuddie said:
Emissions systems are here to stay. We might as well get used to them. I dont know those models well, but I can suggest that you get the larger of the 2. No one ever complained that their tractor is too powerful.its expensive to trade up when you make a mistake. Get the one that will definitely cover all your bases for a long time. Massey makes good tractors.

Not trying to avoid emissions, that wasn't the basis for my question. The 1635 is rated at 35.7 hp and the 1736 is 36.2, close enough I am guessing to not make huge difference in power.

Bigpuddie · Aug 29, 2018

After horsepower, the next most important thing is weight. Heavy is good

Mosby2015 said:
Not trying to avoid emissions, that wasn't the basis for my question. The 1635 is rated at 35.7 hp and the 1736 is 36.2, close enough I am guessing to not make huge difference in power.

stevem5215 · Aug 29, 2018

My brother in law just got a new MF 1739e It's pretty awesome tractor actually. No loader though as he is using it to replace the FarmPro2420 we had there to cut grass. Massey makes a good machine IMO. If you were to buy a new one you'd be happy if you buy a good condition used one you'll be happy too. They last for many years.

Steve

onionfmr · Aug 29, 2018

MF 1635 is not Tier IV. I had a MF 1643. Is the MF 1635 a hydro tractor? I'm not saying that this is an across the board issue. However, my dealer said that the 1600 series hydro tractors were really noisy, above normal hydro levels and he recommended that I not buy a 1600 series hydro tractor back when I was looking.

I would drive the MF 1635 and the MF 1736 and see how they feel and work. Is the MF 1635 at a dealer? My dealer will let me test tractors on my property prior to purchase. Of course, he has known me for years. Depending on your situation and how bad the seller want to sell the MF 1635. Maybe, you can get the dealer and/or individual to drop the used MF 1635 off at your property for a trial run or use it at the individual's property? You'd have a good idea then how it works.

I wouldn't buy a used tractor without thoroughly testing it out.

Mosby2015 · Aug 29, 2018

I hadn't settled on a specific tractor to buy, just looking at the models. Good info on the 1600's having noisy Hydro's. I was still going back and forth between getting a shuttle or a Hydro trans. All of my experience operating tractors has been with regular clutch style transmissions. I've driven Hydro type trans in smaller equipment, so no real learning curve there. I have no first hand experience with a shuttle shift, but I am sure I would have no trouble with it.

So if I do start looking at 1635's more closely I'll limit my search to shuttle shift trans models.