Massey Ferguson Lift Help

fishingbucks · Dec 8, 2018

I have a MF 135 with cont. gas engine. The lift isn't working with either lever but I can manually move lever going down to the pump in the belly of the tractor with side plate removed. The lever isn't in constant contact with adjustment screw which I believe its supposed to. I've got a good source that says it's one of three possibilities but didn't say how to fix it. 1.) Spring on the lever for draft return broken 2.) control draft plunger sticking in pump 3.) rollers broken on control valve plunger at bottom. Please watch the attached video and help me figure this out if anyone has any helpful knowledge. Thanks in advance. Youtube Link: December 8, 2018 - YouTube

WilliamTO-35 · Mar 1, 2019

Since you can manually , with your finger, make the lift function, my experience with my tractor is not the answer. However, your hydraulic fluid appears to have a lot of water in it. My TO-35 3 point hitch lift started working erratically , and I found that my transmission fluid had a lot of water in it. I drained the fluid ( two drain plugs) , put in some fresh fluid, and the lift started working again. I ran the lift up and down several times, and drained and filled the transmission a second time. I've since fixed all of the several places where water was getting into the hydraulic system , and I've had no further problems. Now, what to do with all those gallons of universal hydraulic fluid ?

shaeff · Mar 1, 2019

Yikes, I agree with William, get that fluid out of there. Also, don’t let the arms go all the way up until the relief valve opens (the hissing and squirting you hear and see) that’s no good for the pump or the lift cylinder.

Once you’ve got the lift working, make sure you set all your stops correctly. True or not, I’ve read stories of poorly adjusted pumps/control valves forcing the lift arms up so hard that it snaps the tractor in half!

I just looked up the pump, it’s very similar to the 35 but looks to be adjusted differently.

Edit- have you had the large, heavy top cover plate (where the seat is mounted) off? I’m fairly certain your two levers are not adjusted properly to contact the roller on the control valve.

jaxs · Mar 1, 2019

shaeff said:
Yikes, I agree with William, get that fluid out of there.

Edit- have you had the large, heavy top cover plate (where the seat is mounted) off? I’m fairly certain your two levers are not adjusted properly to contact the roller on the control valve.

I agree the fluid need's to be changed and fingers adjusted. If you don't have a shop manual,those at tractor supply include finger adjustment procedure.