Massey QD Cab query

massey135 · Nov 26, 2015

Hi, new to the forum. I have a 1968 135 with sekura cab and purchased a later QD cab hoping it would be a fairly straight forward swap. I have since found out that it will take a lot of work to make it fit, most notably the difference in height of the bonnet (13" grille to 14" grille) leaving the dashboard rubber matting sitting very high and the threaded holes around the clutch housing required to carry the cab.

If I was to buy any later straight axle model with threaded holes in the housing could I assume that the QD cab will fit directly?
Would it need the horizontal dry air filter or does this matter?
Does the bonnet sit higher on all straight axle models?
I have also seen an MF20 for sale that has all of the above, would it be an option?

Many thanks

agrimax · Nov 26, 2015

Don't know anything about the cabs but the bonnet height is the same on both late and early models. The grille is just longer towards the ground.

Blue. · Nov 26, 2015

massey135 said:
Hi, new to the forum. I have a 1968 135 with sekura cab and purchased a later QD cab hoping it would be a fairly straight forward swap. I have since found out that it will take a lot of work to make it fit, most notably the difference in height of the bonnet (13" grille to 14" grille) leaving the dashboard rubber matting sitting very high and the threaded holes around the clutch housing required to carry the cab.

If I was to buy any later straight axle model with threaded holes in the housing could I assume that the QD cab will fit directly?
Would it need the horizontal dry air filter or does this matter?
Does the bonnet sit higher on all straight axle models?
I have also seen an MF20 for sale that has all of the above, would it be an option?

Many thanks

My straight axle hasn't got the holes in the clutch housing, :scratchhead:

I'm fairly sure my bonnet is a 13" type.

MF-ANDY · Nov 26, 2015

agrimax said:
Don't know anything about the cabs but the bonnet height is the same on both late and early models. The grille is just longer towards the ground.

I thought tbe later ones had a higher bonnet to accommodate the larger fuel tank. I'm sure ive swapped a duncan cab off a high bonnet 135 to a low bonnet one and had to make a plate to fill the gap.

Pennine Ploughing · Nov 26, 2015

This is

MF-ANDY said:
I thought tbe later ones had a higher bonnet to accommodate the larger fuel tank. I'm sure ive swapped a duncan cab off a high bonnet 135 to a low bonnet one and had to make a plate to fill the gap.

this is true, bigger fuel tank

massey135 · Nov 26, 2015

Hi thanks for the replies. The rubber matting definitely does not fit the older massey, it sits about 1 1/2" higher than it should when set in place. Could I assume that all straight axle types have the larger fuel tank and therefore a higher point at the dashboard and higher steering wheel?

The distance between the gear lever casting to edge of the dash on the older massey is approx 14 1/2". From the gear lever casting to the top of the steering wheel nut is approx 20".

two-cylinder · Nov 26, 2015

Not all straight axle types have the bigger tank.
Straight axle introduced in 1969, but bigger tank one of the mods introduced when the 135 was modernised in 1971.

IIRC early models with small tank etc ended at serial 162200 mid '71
Modernised models introduced at serial 400001, mid '71

Keep the Secura it's not a bad cab.

massey135 · Nov 26, 2015

Thanks for the advice on the serial numbers. Think i'll still fit the qd cab, i remember a neighbour having one years ago and the difference in noise inside the cab was so much better than the sekura.
Do you know anything about the MF20? Apart from the power steering and heavier looking rear brake drums, the one I was looking at seems to be identical to the later type 135?

agrimax · Nov 26, 2015

My bad then lads. Didn't realise there was a larger fuel tank later on.I've a bonnet of a square axled 135 on my 68 bent axle and it fits as the original,but the fuel tank is still the smaller original.Hence no difference in height.

multi power · Nov 28, 2015

massey135 said:
Thanks for the advice on the serial numbers. Think i'll still fit the qd cab, i remember a neighbour having one years ago and the difference in noise inside the cab was so much better than the sekura.
Do you know anything about the MF20? Apart from the power steering and heavier looking rear brake drums, the one I was looking at seems to be identical to the later type 135?

Mf 20 is industrial 135. Maybe dual brakes? But won't be too different really. Qd cab is good but I always thought they spoilt forward visibility

two-cylinder · Nov 28, 2015

I agree the wind screen is too high, because of the need for the fold up flap/window beneath to access the battery.
The 240 QD is much better.

massey135 · Nov 28, 2015

did they move the battery on the early qd 240? ive seen later cabs on 240s with the battery to the left of the seat

MF-ANDY · Nov 28, 2015

massey135 said:
did they move the battery on the early qd 240? ive seen later cabs on 240s with the battery to the left of the seat

Battery on side came in when they changed to the duncan D870 cab along with different clutch and brake pedals. 240 with qd cab had a maintainence free battery as there wasn't a removable strut to give space to remove the battery as there was on the 135 qd cab

two-cylinder · Nov 28, 2015

Do you have to lift off the cab to remove the battery on a 240QD ?

MF-ANDY · Nov 28, 2015

two-cylinder said:
Do you have to lift off the cab to remove the battery on a 240QD ?

yes see above

two-cylinder · Nov 28, 2015

That's not very handy!

I'm glad our 265 QD has the battery in the front

blower driver · Dec 1, 2015

agrimax said:
My bad then lads. Didn't realise there was a larger fuel tank later on.I've a bonnet of a square axled 135 on my 68 bent axle and it fits as the original,but the fuel tank is still the smaller original.Hence no difference in height.

It's only the front grill that is longer 14 inch instead of 13 inch. Bonnet is the same

MF-ANDY · Dec 1, 2015

blower driver said:
It's only the front grill that is longer 14 inch instead of 13 inch. Bonnet is the same

Yes so as said the longer grill moves the bonnet up to clear the bigger fuel tank

DeeGee · Dec 2, 2015

As someone has said there are definitely straight axled 135's still with the lower bonnet (I have a J regd model) from 1970; the higher bonnet and deeper grille for the bigger fuel tank came in about 1971 along with the dry air cleaner?
The MF20 has dual drum brakes for highway use and a speedometer on the dash; could have one or two other differences (brake lights and indicators?) that other people might recall better than I.

Campbell · Dec 2, 2015

massey135 said:
Hi, new to the forum. I have a 1968 135 with sekura cab and purchased a later QD cab hoping it would be a fairly straight forward swap. I have since found out that it will take a lot of work to make it fit, most notably the difference in height of the bonnet (13" grille to 14" grille) leaving the dashboard rubber matting sitting very high and the threaded holes around the clutch housing required to carry the cab.

If I was to buy any later straight axle model with threaded holes in the housing could I assume that the QD cab will fit directly?
Would it need the horizontal dry air filter or does this matter?
Does the bonnet sit higher on all straight axle models?
I have also seen an MF20 for sale that has all of the above, would it be an option?

Many thanks

For sale. A set of front brackets for a 135 QD cab, 1977 straight axle. Interested?

Massey QD Cab query

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