1971 MF 165 that has 3 pt hitch weakness

[denchen]

I have no documentation of these MF165 breaking it was a long time ago. I was brought up on my fathers small farm, with other small farmers around. Grey Fergusons, MF35, them MF65 then the 135s and 165s came and were fairly common along with lots of other makes. My father had various David Browns and a Ford Dextas. I, as a young lad and man spent a lot of time keeping some of these, often elderly tractors running. Even now though, I remember there was 2 if not three of the early MF breaking in half near us, why I do not know, but they would break I was told at the clutch bell housing. Because of this many farmers locally avoided them.

 

[tjlutz]

JWR, thanks so much for your post! However, I can't open any of the photo links you sent. I get the suggestion for the FEL but in our situation, the pasture gates, etc make it much more difficult to use the FEL but using the 3 pt bale spear will make life much easier! I don't know if the links can be sent in any other fashion but I would certainly like to see what you're speaking about. Thanks again!

 

[JWR]

I have no documentation of these MF165 breaking it was a long time ago. I was brought up on my fathers small farm, with other small farmers around. Grey Fergusons, MF35, them MF65 then the 135s and 165s came and were fairly common along with lots of other makes. My father had various David Browns and a Ford Dextas. I, as a young lad and man spent a lot of time keeping some of these, often elderly tractors running. Even now though, I remember there was 2 if not three of the early MF breaking in half near us, why I do not know, but they would break I was told at the clutch bell housing. Because of this many farmers locally avoided them.

Well then Denchen you've got the experience. Regardless, TJ needs to make the 165 as useful as he can and I am confident of what the 3pt lift limitation was/is. He might want to check tightness of the bolts around the clutch housing area but what he is trying to do does not sound to me like a tractor breaker.

 

[JWR]

JWR, thanks so much for your post! However, I can't open any of the photo links you sent. I get the suggestion for the FEL but in our situation, the pasture gates, etc make it much more difficult to use the FEL but using the 3 pt bale spear will make life much easier! I don't know if the links can be sent in any other fashion but I would certainly like to see what you're speaking about. Thanks again!

TJ: I do not know why the pictures won't show for you. I'll try again to insert them here. If this fails, email me at billrymer@IEEE.ORG and I will email them to you.

Again oneof the pictures shows before the bypass and ne after the bypass.

 

[tjlutz]

JWR, I see what you're talking about with the master control spring being bypassed. And so by doing the bypass, the power will be restored to the 3 pt? I'm supposed to have 3594 lbs lifting capacity.

 

[LouNY]

Are you aware that the different positions for the top link will also effect the draft,
the lowest pin positioning will allow the most lift strength.

 

[tjlutz]

Hi Lou! Thanks for that but I was aware of the mechanical advantage with the pin in the lowest hole of the column.

 

[JWR]

JWR, I see what you're talking about with the master control spring being bypassed. And so by doing the bypass, the power will be restored to the 3 pt? I'm supposed to have 3594 lbs lifting capacity.

That's correct. The whole problem is that with a fairly heavy weight on the 3pt hitch (like a 1500lb bale) it overcomes the desensitized Draft Control mode you thought you had taken out of the situation by having the Draft lever all the way up. Basically just puts your 3 pt back into Draft Control rather than position Control. Then you can't lift your bale much. I'll email you in just a few minutes.

 

[tjlutz]

Continuing with the MF 165, I'm trying to pull the hydraulic lift pump to change the pressure relief valve and the hydraulic filter. Am I able to perform these functions: 1) by only taking the top cover off? (already did) or 2) pulling the PTO shaft? (next choice) or lastly 3) splitting the tractor?

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Drain oil from box .Loosen PTO shaft and pull out about 10 cm.
Remove gearbox dipstick cover end remove roller from pumpfork.
Remove threepoint cover.
Remove splitpin from driveshaftsleeve.
Put hi gearlever in hi and remove sleeve.
Remove locaterpins on outside of box.
Slide pump back and remove from box .