NEW! / old Massey Ferguson M35 diesel.. Could use a little help. Rear rims rusted out and other fun things

[Gulkana]

I just got this old M35 Massey Ferguson diesel from a good friend. My plan is to get it up and going and spruce it up. I had to order a new ignition switch for it. The old one is froze up. A good cleaning and an oil filter and change and I'll try to fire it up.
The biggest issues are the rear wheels (outer rims). They are completely shot. Rusted out and won't hold a tire. Can someone help me out how to go about finding these rims and wheels? We don't have any used tractor places anywhere near where I live and I'll probably have to order on line. Any other advice or info on this old tractor would be great!
Below are a few photos..

 

[Farmer495]

Try A&I parts site, they list generic rims and fit by model.

 

[redman135]

The rims appear to be P.A.V.T. type rims. The standard rim on an MF 35 is a 2 piece rim to allow track width adjustment. If you go for standard rims you will need 3ph ballast to compensate for the lighter rims.
Can you add a picture of right side of the dash that shows the silver lever? It is obsured in #2 picture. I suspect it is a multipower gearbox.
Are you changing the gearbox oil, the filler cap (beside the gear stick)is off.

 

[Gulkana]

Here are a few more photos..

 

[SCOOBIEGUY]

If you look at your local facebook marketplace, kijiji or craiglist you will often find used tires and rims as a set for cheaper than new rims and tires look for Ford 8n Massey 35, 50, 135 202 rims they should all fit.

I would get the tractor running good before investing into rims and new tires.
If you are good with a welder you can also weld a patch where the valve is and drill a new hole.
Careful when removing the calcium if they are loaded it will burn your skin.

Anyone else noticed the huge cat in the picture I thought it was a dog. What do you feed that thing Gulkana.

 

[Gulkana]

! That is the magnificent Morsel! I have 4 cats and I feed them all the same amount. For some reason he is big. I watch to make sure he doesn't steel everyone else's food.
I am a welder Tig and Mig. I thought of maybe patching that rim. You are correct. I am waiting on an ignition switch to get this thing fired up. I am reluctant at this point to buy anything else for it until I hear it running. I got this rig from a friend. I have heard it run not long ago and it ran great! The main reason I got it. For now I am trying to figure out the wheel situation in hopes everything else is working..

 

[Gulkana]

"Ford 8n Massey 35, 50, 135 202 rims they should all fit".
That is good to know!!! Thank you!

 

[redman135]

States multipower on the silver lever. Multipower splits stick gears.
MF mechanic tip to extend multipower life, pull diff dipstick and measure 1/2" above "max" mark and file new "max" mark. Multipowers love oil and when on hillsides, or using a FEL can be starved of oil with expensive consequences. Did this with a MF178 in hill country and never had a problem.
Operating multipower, shift up or down on the move, no clutch needed.
TRAPS for newby's: Decending any hill = HIGH multipower,have engine braking. Low multipower = freewheel or "gearbox full of neutral" If you forget to upshift going downhill, DON'T hit the brakes, UPSHIFT multipower,( NOT gearstick) THEN brake as required. If you start to go sideways drop the attatchment to drag you straight.
On an upgrade(in forward gear) you stop and go to shift into neutral, but the gearstick is JAMMED,wtf??? . NO it is not jammed, that is the hill hold brake doing it's job. ( It lets you start off on a hill without rolling backward) HAND brake ON and shift into LOW multipower to disengage hill hold brake. NOTE use foot brakes to stop. DON'T use hill hold brake to stop, it is not designed to stop, only hold. Is the same in reverse.
The front axle pivot was hard to grease so check for wear there. Get the remote mounted grease zerk of the MF 240 to fix grease gun access problems. There are 2 grease zerks on the 135 and 240 front axles..

 

[Gulkana]

Got it going!! The tractor sat in a barn/shed for years. The owner didnt start it for at least 6 years, probably more. I drained the oil and changed out the filters and fuel, cleaned the fuel system and added fresh fluids. I put a new switch in and the tractor literally fired on the 3rd crank! It turns out this motor was rebuilt less than 100 hours ago. The owner has all the rebuild receipts.
The new issue is I am not sure if this is a "double clutch system"? The PTO is not working when I engage it up or down on the lever. Not sure what is going on? I understand there is an adjustment? My ford 3400 doesn't have a PTO adjustment so this a little strange for me. I also may need to adjust the clutch. My research on these possible adjustments is not going well. Any help would be appreciated. Also, the pump for the loader is not pumping. I assume it is shot? Not sure exactly how it works but if it is connected to the crank I assume it should be spewing HF everywhere. I pulled the loader off. In one of the photos you can see the in and return line to the loader. Now that the pump is off do I need to block these ports? NO fluid is coming out.

 

[redman135]

Rebuilt only 100 hours ago, GREAT SCORE.
Clutch, press down to floor. If it is a 2 stage (gearbox and pto) clutch you will find that about 1/2 - 2/3 of the way down the clutch gets noticeably harder. The "soft" stage is to make gearshifts(stick) and the "hard" section is to engage/disengage the PTO.
Note ,if the clutch pedal preassure is constant to the floor you have a single stage clutch.
Adjustment, look around for clutch adjustment for 135. It is mostly an update of the MF35. I have run across threads to adjust on TBN. I have never needed to do it myself.

Hydraulic pump, check if it is connected to the crankshaft. Check your fan belt condition. If it is NOT in new condition AND the hydraulic pump is disconnected from the crankshaft CHANGE the fan belt while you can, THEN connect the hydraulic pump to the crankshaft.
If you are asked what speed pump it is SPECIFY it runs directly off the crankshaft. The diff oil pump runs at a lower speed and will deliver half or less of the flow of a crankshaft pump.

PTO lever, Forward position: ground speed, ie 1 rear wheel revolution = 1 revolution of pto shaft.
Middle position = neutral
Rear position = 540 rpm ( marked on rev counter).
Have a look on youtube to see some examples of ground speed trailers on MF tractors in action.

Personally I would cap the ends for now as you have just changed the oil, and for peace of mind to keep crap out.

Good Luck