Loader Still in love ...mf65 and my loader

bsbrum · Apr 8, 2013

Put in a couple hundred feet of fencing this weekend, and the MF65 was there, helping carry everything out to the field.

My "hackenstein" pump hookup has been working smoothly, and the hydraulics hold just perfect.

So proud to be the custodian of this awesome piece of our farming and industrial heritage. Thanks to all who have helped me along the way!

Next steps with her:
1. I have a "new" left dogleg arriving today, to replace the one that a previous owner chopped a foot out of.
2. Injectors really need a rebuild.
3. Generator/regulator is not doing its job.

But she starts and runs!

Cheers!

Sbalak · Apr 23, 2013

Very nice. I have a 1976 Massey 230 that I'm interested in putting a loader on, which I don't think is all that different from your MF 65. Can you give some details on your loader? Is that from an industrial Massey? Can you take some closer up pics for how it bolts onto your 65? Did you ever consider putting the pump on the PTO?

Thanks,
Scott

bsbrum · Apr 29, 2013

Hey Scott - sorry for the delay, I travel a lot for work and this just kept getting deferred while I was out of town.

I posted a bunch of pictures here: MF65 FrontLoader - a set on Flickr

The guy I bought this from said it was pulled off of a Ford Jubilee tractor, and the MF65 adapter plates were welded up by a friend of his.

The whole front end bolts up to an adapter plate of 3/8" steel plate. It has two tabs that bolt up where the left and right sheetmetal doglegs bolt up on the sides, and then it bolts up to the front end of the tractor. The loader's front bracket bolts up to that adapter plate.

In the pix from the back, you can see the angle steel extensions welded on to extend the arms back to the rear axle bolt holes for the fenders.

This came with the front/crank-driven pump, and I wanted to use it. I understand that the internal hydraulics just don't have the flow rate that you need for the loader - and I didn't want to deal with a PTO pump, which would also turn quite a bit slower than the crank mounted one.

It's really a matter of personal choice. I had to do a lot of work machining my crank pulley to mate up the pump rod drive plate, but once I figured all that out, it was a breeze to bolt up. The pictures show the basic progression.

Good luck. I am not sure how much more detail you need. If you want any other specific pictures, let me know, and I'll do what I can.

--
Brian

Sbalak · Apr 29, 2013

Brian,

Thanks for all the pics! They really helped me out to understand how the loader attaches to the tractor frame. I had the basic idea of how the back bolts on, but it looks like the front involves some custom mounting brackets. I've been searching Craigslist for some used loaders. It looks like most of the loaders mount midway (off the transmission), but I never really see how they attach to the front holes. My 230 has a similar mounting holes near the front axle like your 65, but I noticed your 65 also has some holes behind axle in the main tractor body. Did you have to fab up the front mounts or did those come with the loader when you bought it? Is this an industrial loader? I think they're call 100 or 200?

Nice looking project and tractor. The video was a nice touch!

Was is tough to line up those pulleys?

Thanks,
Scott