MF 185 How make it Faster

[MF100]

Hi guys,
Im from Germany for the first excuse my english its not the best one. My question is, i have a massey ferguson 185 with an 8/2 gear. the end speed is 25kmh , how can i make them faster? to 30-40 kmh
Please help me thanks

 

[Cowabunga]

Father bought a new 165 in spring 1971 with dry brakes .both sides were replaced when the oil seals failed about 3years old.a neighbour bought a new one just a month letter than ours and had wet brakes.dry brakes definitely not safe at high speeds they were either off or on with a clunk.bought a new ford 5000 in 1975 and not knowing about wet brake oil he just topped it up with ordinary multiuse oil.brake on one side has never recovered it doesn’t like being adjusted but we have never been into it for a look but still works probably just a bit too much travel. father wasn’t in the habit of changeing rear axle oil said nobody does that.

The 5000 had two transmission oil reservoirs of course. The rear diff and brakes were separate from the main gearbox with an oil seal between. The front box has a dipstick on the filler plug. The rear has a level plug to the side of the PTO/diff housing. Yes, brakes requires friction modified oil like SUTO or UTTO and so does the PTO clutch. My favourite oil back then was Castrol Multi Purpose SUTO. I did have one barrel that was substandard though, which caused the brakes of both Ford and MF tractors to ‘squawk’ like crazy after a fresh oil change. That put me off Castrol forever.

 

[ford 7810]

The 5000 had two transmission oil reservoirs of course. The rear diff and brakes were separate from the main gearbox with an oil seal between. The front box has a dipstick on the filler plug. The rear has a level plug to the side of the PTO/diff housing. Yes, brakes requires friction modified oil like SUTO or UTTO and so does the PTO clutch. My favourite oil back then was Castrol Multi Purpose SUTO. I did have one barrel that was substandard though, which caused the brakes of both Ford and MF tractors to ‘squawk’ like crazy after a fresh oil change. That put me off Castrol forever.

Agricastrol we used HDD20 in ford engines and multiuse in everything else MF and ford . 5000 was the first tractor with wet brakes that’s when MP came in.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Just remove the solar gear and weld up the planetary gears, make it direct drive in each halfshaft, this will double the forward speed,
Now scream if you want to go faster, hold on to your hat, tally-ho

 

[Lazy Sod]

All the OP has to do is change the ratio of the drive to the clock. If he does it correctly, he'll go faster and be just as safe as he is now.

 

[Oliveau]

Our neighbour had a185 and exchanged for a188 because the 185 was drinking oil it wasn’t long until the 188 was the same . What the hEll he did with them I didn’t know

My aforementioned 188 used to drink oil as well. when my 7000 arrived the188 was passed down to 'the boy', who seized it up within a month because he didn't dip the oil every morning.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

on the 30 series tractors (3080 etc), there was an epicyclic gearbox, you just swapped two of the gears to get a higher road speed. No idea how much faster it was, or for that matter if it was even legal.

 

[Cowabunga]

on the 30 series tractors (3080 etc), there was an epicyclic gearbox, you just swapped two of the gears to get a higher road speed. No idea how much faster it was, or for that matter if it was even legal.

Wasn’t that to convert 30kph tractors to become 40kph tractors? These were some of the first 40kph capable tractors with automatic front axle engagement when braking. This was fairly novel if not unique in 1986 when launched.

 

[feilding]

on the 30 series tractors (3080 etc), there was an epicyclic gearbox, you just swapped two of the gears to get a higher road speed. No idea how much faster it was, or for that matter if it was even legal.

30k or 40k. Mine delivered with 30k. Dealer changed gears around. Yes faster. But better ratios in lower gears. Later models came from factory at 40k standard.

 

[Celtic Driver]

100 series from 1971 for the 185 and 1972 for 165 to 188 have five plate brakes each side running in oil, situated on the high speed shaft inboard next to the differential with outboard planetary reduction hubs next to the wheels.

The 135 and 148 [and 550] had those dreadful drum brakes running on the axle ends on slow shafts, because there was no final reduction gearing beyond the differential.

Out of interest, Ford only fitted three plates each side on their Ford 5000. Same brand and general concept of brakes, with expanding actuating plates by means of ramps turning on ball bearings being turned in opposite direction by a mechanical pull rod linked to the pedals.

Were the brakes a lot better on the MFs due to the extra linings compared to the Ford 5000 .

 

[Cowabunga]

Were the brakes a lot better on the MFs due to the extra linings compared to the Ford 5000 .

Not really. The pedals did feel a bit firmer on the MF but that was probably down to linkage geometry. These brakes were and are excellent and a giant leap forward compared to what came before or indeed since. They were supplied by Girling.
Later in the very early 21stC the lining material was changed and during running-in and possibly later, they shed a lot of black shït into the oil, contaminating both oil and filters badly. Not sure whether that coincided with the elimination of asbestos in friction linings or whether the off-patent parts were sourced from someone who could supply them for 10p less each.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Not really. The pedals did feel a bit firmer on the MF but that was probably down to linkage geometry. These brakes were and are excellent and a giant leap forward compared to what came before or indeed since. They were supplied by Girling.
Later in the very early 21stC the lining material was changed and during running-in and possibly later, they shed a lot of black shït into the oil, contaminating both oil and filters badly. Not sure whether that coincided with the elimination of asbestos in friction linings or whether the off-patent parts were sourced from someone who could supply them for 10p less each.

Seems bit pointless removing asbestos from wet brakes as there will be no dust

 

[ollie989898]

That’s nearly 65kph. Ridiculous and with only drum brakes that are hardly up to the job of stopping a 25kph MF35. I seriously doubt whether that tractor at that speed would even be drivable.

Such a party-pooper. Anything is driveable. Once.

 

[MF-ANDY]

Wasn’t that to convert 30kph tractors to become 40kph tractors? These were some of the first 40kph capable tractors with automatic front axle engagement when braking. This was fairly novel if not unique in 1986 when launched.

Correct. Done loads. 3080 3090 ok. Anything smaller hadn't enough power to reach 40k with a load.

 

[Cowabunga]

Seems bit pointless removing asbestos from wet brakes as there will be no dust

Think of the people that manufacture the things.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Think of the people that manufacture the things.

True

 

[Audi90]

Not really. The pedals did feel a bit firmer on the MF but that was probably down to linkage geometry. These brakes were and are excellent and a giant leap forward compared to what came before or indeed since. They were supplied by Girling.
Later in the very early 21stC the lining material was changed and during running-in and possibly later, they shed a lot of black shït into the oil, contaminating both oil and filters badly. Not sure whether that coincided with the elimination of asbestos in friction linings or whether the off-patent parts were sourced from someone who could supply them for 10p less each.

I think this happened on the 4300 series where they replaced the bronze material with paper to eliminate squawk. It used to block the pencil filter on power shuttle models something terrible.

 

[Oliveau]

5000 brakes well maintained - you always knew you could stop. 188 brakes OK but not as good IMHO.