MF 135 Aux hydraulics newbie question

[PerryW]

So, at the weekend it finally became time to bite the bullet and try hooking something up to the hydraulics of the old MF135 that was in the shed when we brought the farm.

It's a great, reliable little tractor and everything so far is working perfectly - there's plenty of fluid and the main hydraulics for the TPL are fine. A little tricky to adjust, but fine.

So we hitch up a post driver (henceforth referred to as the widow-maker), checked the condition of all the pipes and valves and fired it up... Nothing. There's a lever on the Moore valve that I assume controls the flow (see pic) but that didn't seem to do anything.

We tried another bit of kit - a log splitter. Nothing there either.

At this point I have to admit that I've never used hydraulic equipment before, none of it has any instructions and I'm at a bit of a loss.

I guess what I'm looking for here are some pointers on how to test the aux hydraulic system to find out if that, at least, is working.

 

[namyessam]

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the 135, so I will go through the basics and go on to the hydraulic hookup. You likely have a dual clutch on the tractor. Pressing down part way will disengage the transmission stoping movement of the tractor. Pressing down all the way to the floorboard disengages the PTO and the hydraulic pump in the differential housing. You should be able to feel a difference in the clutch pedal pressure between the different clutch disengagement points. You need to have the clutch at least part way up to run the pump so you have hydraulic flow.

The 135 pump flow is only 4.5 gallons a minute at maximum flow so your post driver may not operate properly without more flow. The "Moore" valve you speak of is most likely a dirverter valve that directs the hydraulic flow to either the three point hitch or the auxiliary hydraulic circuit. You should not be able to run both at the same time. Try operating the three point hitch in one position then try the same thing with the valve in the second position. Which ever does not allow the three point hitch to operate should be divirting the hydraulic flow to the auxiliary circuit.

On the right side of the seat are two levers that operate the three point hitch. The outer lever is the draft lever and is used to control soil engaging implements such as plows and cultivators. The inner lever is the position lever that is used to control back blades, carry alls, round bale carriers, etc. The position lever has a stop at the top of the quadrant that is the transport position. Pulled back past this stop to another stop is the constant pumping position. This is the position the lever has to be in to supply hydraulic flow to the auxiliary circuit. The draft lever need to be pulled back all the way also for this to work. I hope this helps getting the attachments to work for you.

namyessam

 

[PerryW]

Thanks for that - that helps a huge amount

It's that 'Constant Pumping' mode that I was missing

So, here's what the controls look like on my model (circa 1968)

View attachment 359559

Actually, that's not what it looks like at all - if it was then I might have guessed what to do - the writing is almost completely worn away, this picture is after a lot of fiddling in photoshop to bring out the words, So, move the lever over the stops into the constant pumping area and then use it to (if necessary) adjust the pressure. That makes sense

I'm going to have a play now, I'll let you know how it goes

 

[PerryW]

Hmmm, still no joy - it just doesn't seem to be diverting. I'll keep playing

 

[namyessam]

Hmmm, still no joy - it just doesn't seem to be diverting. I'll keep playing

The only thing I can think of at this point is to disconnect the hose at the post driver and put it in a clean bucket and start the tractor at idle and turn the Moore valve and see if you can find the position you are getting flow. Then you can return the oil to the differential. Where does the return line from the post driver connect to the tractor?

namyessam

 

[namyessam]

The only thing I can think of at this point is to disconnect the hose at the post driver and put it in a clean bucket and start the tractor at idle and turn the Moore valve and see if you can find the position you are getting flow. Then you can return the oil to the differential. Where does the return line from the post driver connect to the tractor?

namyessam

You said in your first post that the three point hitch operates fine. Have you lifted something heavy with it? If you have the Moore valve in the correct position and the flow is slow, you may need to drain off about 4 to 5 gallons minimum of the differential fluid and clean the hydraulic filter. Remove the PTO lever cover and down below is a round screen filter with a cover and base. Cut the retaining wire and unscrew the top off the filter and lift the whole assemby out. be carefull that you do not dump the base back into the differential since it catches a lot of dirt. clean the filter screen with a suitable cleaner and assemble it back on the pump. There is an o-ring that needs to be under the filter to seal it from the pump. secure the top with a retaining wire. It must be secured, one poster once found it unscrewed and it was jamming the PTO from engaging. It may be a good time to drain all the fluid and rinse the whole differenital case with diesel fluid if it is real dirty. replace the pto cover making sure the lever is engaging the sliding gear properly. Good Luck

namyessam

 

[shona13]

G'day Perry W.
Set the three point linkage so , Draft lever all the way UP or to the rear of the tractor and leave it there.
Set the position control lever ,the one nearest the seat to the Transport Position the word transport is Stamped into the metal control quadrant just where the quadrant changes its shape ,if you look at the quadrant there is an adjustable position stop ,this can be used if you want to operate the hydraulics a lot just set the height you want the linkage to be and loosen and slide the stop into contact with the lever and tighten it up this will then when you use the lever bring the linkage to the exact preset height without fiddling with the lever .

Next is to check that the RESPONSE control lever is either in the midway position or towards the FAST response position, the response lever controls the RATE that the linkage lowers examlpe if you have something heavy on the linkage and you want to lower it gently ,put the response lever in the SLOW position and lower the linkage ,if it does not drop quick enough slowly move it to the fast position till you reach the desired rate of lowering .
The lever is located next to the transmission dipstick ,right hand side next to your right heel.

To operate the Moore Hydraulics diverter valve and offer external hydraulic supply .
Set the linkage height to where you want the post Driver to be but Not all the way up, then Push the selector valve knob in , then move the position control lever Past the transport position , Forward into the CONSTANT PUMPING Position, again this position is Stamped into the quadrant ,by moving the Position control lever slowly Forward the Hydraulic pressure will drop till you get to the lowest point on the quadrant which if the hydraulics are properly adjusted will give you 150 P.S.I. and by moving the lever back up to the CONSTANT PUMPING position will give maximum( relief valve) Hydraulic pressure , when moving the lever into the constant pumping position carefully listen ,you will hear the engine slow down a bit and you should hear the hydraulic relief valve hissing.:thumbsup:
Happy Days.
Hutch.