Mf135 RESTORATION

[Basil P]

I purchased this 1973 MF 135 in December 2013 and commenced the restoration on Xmas day.
I finished it yesterday 19/03 /2014 working on it most days. The engine, transmission and hydraulics were all fine so it was just a matter of replacing worn steering and front end parts, removing all bolt on gear, sand blasting and painting. I did all the grey, but sent the panels to a professional paint shop.
I had no idea there were so mant parts to these simple little machines, but they are magnificently engineered so that one can't really make a mistake in reassembling them. I'm very impressed with the simplicity and functuality of these little work horses. It's so pretty now that I'm loathe to put it to work!
Here are a few photos which may be of interest.

 

[travlitt]

Beautiful work...Good job on the details.
I restored a 720 John Deere a couple of years ago. If I can find some of the pictures, I will post them.

 

[TomSeller]

Very Nice. Great restoration.

 

[sd455dan]

Excellent work- That Massey it is a great looking tractor

Congratulations on a job well done :thumbsup:

 

[Diamondpilot]

Looks better than new. Nice job. You are right about these machines. I have done a non running IH Cub 154 that was a basket case. All wiring, bearings, switches, tires, clutch, pto, Woods belly mower, hydraulic system, ect.

Chris

 

[todd walker]

Looks great can you post a before photo???

 

[flusher]

Excellent resto effort. Congrats.

My 1964 MF135 diesel is in my shop right now for oil seals (engine, pto). Nothing like tearing into one of these old beauties to get a sense of accomplishment when the job is done.

 

[Tompet]

Really, really nice job and great tractor! The new tires really set it off.

 

[HCJtractor]

wow, thats too pretty to use!! Very nice job!! I did a Massey 240 several years ago. You should be proud of your effort!

 

[Basil P]

Thanks all for the accolades, much appreciated.

Todd, I am chasing some before photos from the previous owner. You wouldn't believe it - my wife takes photos of everything and anything and I had just presumed she had some photos. My Grandson jumped the gun a bit and started pulling bits off on Xmas day 2013. For the next 2 weeks before he went home I was concentrating on keeping an eye on him strewing parts all over my workshop.
The previous owner advertised the tractor along with photos on Gumtree ( a web site in Australia ) so with any luck he will still have them. I'll post them when I get them.

 

[FreshRouteFarm]

A job to be proud of. Looks great!

 

[mikefromnh]

Very nice!


I have no real need for one, but their is something about the mf 135's that makes me want to drag one out of a field to restore.

 

[wmonroe]

Very nice job, the attention to detail is obvious.

 

[TomSeller]

Very nice!

I have no real need for one, but their is something about the mf 135's that makes me want to drag one out of a field to restore.

Oh, come on. Drag one out of a field and restore it. You will not regret it.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Very nice!


I have no real need for one, but their is something about the mf 135's that makes me want to drag one out of a field to restore.

Good luck finding on abandoned in a field... these ol tractors keep workin... they never die!

OP... nice work... something to be proud of!

 

[mikefromnh]

Oh, come on. Drag one out of a field and restore it. You will not regret it.

I got the wife's permission, just got to find one now

 

[chim]

Basil, great job on the MF135! I looked at one about two years ago and even had a trailer along to haul it home. The poor thing was beat and broken beyond what I wanted to deal with. The MF135 has more appeal to me than most any other tractor and I can't explain why.

 

[Basil P]

Thanks Chim. Yes the MF 135s are a great little tractor and Perkins AD3 152 diesels are legendary. I originally was chasing a MF 148; do you have those in the US? They are basically identical to the 135s but they have an extra 6" in length created by a spacer between the gearbox and the motor. They bumped the HP up to 49 Hp by opening up the pump, but they are still the Perkins AD3 152 motor. The extra length makes it a bit more comfortable to get onto the tractor and also for leg room, but I don't know why they added in the extra 6". Long wheel base vehicles are much more comfortable to ride in then shorter wheel base, so that may be the reason. I have a 2010 Ford F150 Platinum which was imported from the US and converted to RH drive. I bought it brand new and it cost me a bomb, but very, very comfortable largely because of the long wheel base. You guys don't know you are alive - you can buy one of these in the US for around $50,000 USD. Mine cost me $120,000 AUD. There was about $40,000 worth of conversion though and it is spot on. I'm digressing I know but you guys produce excellent vehicles at a very competitive price.

 

[chim]

I'm not very familiar with the various models. Tractordata.com shows a 150(?). Some years ago the in-laws had a couple smaller MF's on their farm and if I recall they were a 165 and a 265.

That's really interesting about the Ford. WOW! that's some price tag.