MF135

[Cowabunga]

yes there was a 355

What's the difference between a 355 and a 360 then? Wet brakes?

 

[MF-ANDY]

not entirely sure but iirc the 355 was the early red cab ones and the 360 was the later silver cabbed ones. i dont think they were sold at the same time. all 300 series had wet brakes with different amount of discs identified by the number of notches on the trumpet housing. all except the 342, had outer epicyclic reduction hubs, standard duty upto 390t and heavy duty on 398 and 399.

 

[multi power]

not entirely sure but iirc the 355 was the early red cab ones and the 360 was the later silver cabbed ones. i dont think they were sold at the same time. all 300 series had wet brakes with different amount of discs identified by the number of notches on the trumpet housing. all except the 342, had outer epicyclic reduction hubs, standard duty upto 390t and heavy duty on 398 and 399.

I can remember a neighbour having a 355 it was an early red cab model.3 cylinder turbo 8 speed box

 

[blackbob]

By 1994 there were the '300 series' (365 to 399) and the '302 series'
And back to the 135: (June 1975 price list)

 

[Mursal]

The boys in MF HQ will be well impressed .......................

 

[colhonk]

Interesting looking at the 1200 prices,mine looks to of been a standard one, pity I had to sell it a few years ago to put towards another combine.
Whomever bought my 148 new saved £150 with 8 speed gearbox, should have got the power steering with the saving.
Notice on both the 135 and 148 FLAT top fenders are specifically mentioned,seems as though there must have been an option.ie round ones.

 

[kernowcluck]

I have a 1958 MF35 that's been in my family from new. It's had hardly anything done to it and will work from dawn to dusk on fumes. There's not much it won't tackle within reason although heavy silage bales do make it rear up a bit if I haven't got weights on the front. I love the old girl - we've grown up together but undoubtedly her bodywork is in better nick than mine. We had two until recently and the other one had water filled rear tyres for dodgy jobs. We did also have a FE35 the old grey/gold and that was a good little workhorse too. We graduated onto 135s and onwards but I think the old 35 takes a lot of beating.

Incidentally when my late husband left school his first job was to bury all the horse harness as they took ownership of a Minneapolis Moline an ugly great yellow creature that was gods gift to farming at the time. Of course they wish they had kept the harness when the good quality old stuff became scarce.

I wonder how many other old tractors are still in daily use.

 

[kernowcluck]

out of intrest was any other tractor ever built in anywhere near the numbers as 135s were, apart from the grey fergie

There were around 517,000 TE20s and 140,000 TO20s manufactured, 380,000 MF35s between 1957 and 1964 and 350,000 MF 135s manufactured since 1965.

 

[multi power]

There were around 517,000 TE20s and 140,000 TO20s manufactured, 380,000 MF35s between 1957 and 1964 and 350,000 MF 135s manufactured since 1965.

Was there not more grey Fergusons than that? I'm pretty sure I seen a photo of Harry Ferguson on his million th tractor n it was grey. That would have been in Colin Frasers book Harry Ferguson, inventor and pioneer

 

[smcapstick]

Was there not more grey Fergusons than that? I'm pretty sure I seen a photo of Harry Ferguson on his million th tractor n it was grey. That would have been in Colin Frasers book Harry Ferguson, inventor and pioneer

I love 'facts'.

 

[multi power]

I love 'facts'.

I will get the book from dad next time I get him in the right mood

 

[blackbob]

Was there not more grey Fergusons than that? I'm pretty sure I seen a photo of Harry Ferguson on his million th tractor n it was grey. That would have been in Colin Frasers book Harry Ferguson, inventor and pioneer

No that is probably correct multi, ours is no 440656, March 1955, with a Massey-Harris-Ferguson plate.
Not got that photo in my copy

 

[multi power]

No that is probably correct multi, ours is no 440656, March 1955, with a Massey-Harris-Ferguson plate.
Not got that photo in my copy

So I must be thinking about a different book. Dad must have thousands of them. Pretty sure it's the same book that shows Harry driving his tractor down the stairs in claridages

 

[kernowcluck]

The last T20 was produced in 1956 and I think there were a total of 657,000 TE20s andTO20s made. But I could be wrong.

 

[blackbob]

So I must be thinking about a different book. Dad must have thousands of them. Pretty sure it's the same book that shows Harry driving his tractor down the stairs in claridages

 

[DrWazzock]

Starters failed again on ours. does it get to the point where the thrust bearing behind the flywheel on the engine wears down to such a point that the starter won't engage but just whirrs? I reckon that could be happening now. We have had a run of replacement starters recently.

Might be time for a winter strip down, if lambing wasn't imminent.

 

[multi power]

The last T20 was produced in 1956 and I think there were a total of 657,000 TE20s andTO20s made. But I could be wrong.

I too could be wrong. It certainly wouldn't be the first time!

 

[multi power]

View attachment 109304

the reason for driving the tractor down the stairs was that somebody said it was awkward n clumsy. Or words to that effect

 

[kernowcluck]

I think the Massey Harris Ferguson production history is complicated with the different models, some of them being manufactured concurrently and with the different engines. I don't think you can beat the Perkins 3cyl, the Standard had it's problems. What an interesting chap Harry Ferguson was, really revolutionised farming. Does anyone use traction engines on the forum and if so what and what for.

 

[Mursal]

@DrWazzock no nothing as drastic as the thrust washers.
Down on voltage across the starter, clean all terminals
Jump across switch on gearbox (if its a T20) with a black spanner, make sure its out of gear.
New earth strap using a jump lead
New supply lead using a jump lead
Charge battery/disconnect overnight
Bad spot on the ring gear, rock engine forward onto a new bit
See how you get on ...........................