MF 135 - Priced right or money pit?

WilliamBos · Aug 17, 2009

They usually have 2 filters side by side, primary & secondary. Easy to add another.

Like Flusher said, Grab it!!

dobiedisco said:
Where would the 2nd oil filter be? Maybe it's covered in gunk, too, ha! Here is a picture of the other side, in case it helps, along with the entire tractor. I think that's all the "inspecting" I'll let you boys do, sneaky ones!

If in the same condition and priced close, is the MF a better buy than the IH?

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g301/dobiedisco/MF135/MF5.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g301/dobiedisco/MF135/MF2.jpg

DieselnHooters · Aug 17, 2009

dobiedisco said:
If in the same condition and priced close, is the MF a better buy than the IH?[/FONT]

IH 384 is more recent, built in the late "70s and early '80s, just about the same HP but with POWER-STEERING !!! So yeah if in the same condition with good rubbers I'd go for the IH for $2000.

flusher · Aug 17, 2009

dobiedisco said:
Where would the 2nd oil filter be? Maybe it's covered in gunk, too, ha! Here is a picture of the other side, in case it helps, along with the entire tractor. I think that's all the "inspecting" I'll let you boys do, sneaky ones!

If in the same condition and priced close, is the MF a better buy than the IH?

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g301/dobiedisco/MF135/MF5.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g301/dobiedisco/MF135/MF2.jpg

There's one cartridge oil filter on the engine and two cartridge fuel filters. Here's what it looks like on my 135.

The white filter on the left that's hanging on the block is the oil filter. The two greasy filters aft of the engine are the fuel filters.

My 135 has "power-assisted" steering (you can see the PS pump and the two hoses under the alternator in this photo).

It's a pretty rudimentary PS, not true power steering. Even with it, I wouldn't want to muscle my 135 around my hayfield all day.

To answer your last question: unless you really want to own a 135, I'd go with the IH 384.

irvingj · Aug 18, 2009

Dobie-- I apologize. I had considered some sort of a tractor ever since we built our place in the woods 23 years ago; about 7 years ago I got quite serious, did some research into SCUTs; a year ago last Feb I decided I was just beating myself up too much taking care of a lot of snow removal with a 24" walk-behind blower and took the plunge.

It was a long time coming! It knocked my snow-blowing time down by 40 to 60%, and my lawnmowing time by at least 75%!! I was blessed with my mother's genes & so don't show my age much, but at 61 I'm beginning to feel it- the tractor's been a great help. Hope you get yours soon!

Farmwithjunk · Aug 18, 2009

That's a bargain, plain and simple. You could get double that for a simular 135 here. Doesn't appear to be any glaring issues.

The 384 IH is a bit LESS hp. a 484 would compare more directly with a 135 in performance.

All things equal, I'd rather have the 135.

dobiedisco · Aug 18, 2009

Seller isn't calling me back, so I don't know if he's just busy or if someone beat me to it. On the IH, the owner is running it off of the battery, said he has an alternator for it, but it needs wiring work, which means I would need to take it straight to a shop. Am going to try and go see it after work this week.

Does anyone have knowledge about the Leyland 235's? The tractor mechanic I initially spoke with on advice regarding any makes to stay away from included this and the Allis Chalmers in the list of "don't buy."

Guess I should have listened to my mother and married well when I was young and beautiful, then I could have a new tractor with a loader and all the gadgets!

dobiedisco · Aug 18, 2009

Irving, my mother is 70 and mows her place with an older Kubota L245H. Will have to pull her off kicking and screaming when the time comes...she loves piddling on her tractor.

ron2nc · Aug 20, 2009

go ahead and get you a new 2605. it is the same as the 135. i have one and my dad sears it is the 135 reborn. you can get one around 10,000-12,000

Poncho · Aug 20, 2009

That 135 is clean compared to what my 67 135 looks like and i paid about $3400 about 6-8 years ago. I snag it for $2k. It does look like there may be some fluid streak on the rear left wheel which may be indicative of a wheel seal leak. could be something else as the inside of that same wheel looked fairly clean.