Vintage Massey Ferguson 135 .com

Everything about Massey Ferguson 135 tractors

Massey Ferguson 135 Engine Kit

Posted by The 135 Webmaster on January 5, 2010

Many, many MF135’s are now in need of an engine rebuild, as most of these engines have now clocked up between 6,000 and 15,000 hours – some even more! In our experience there is no point in only half-doing an engine. If you are going to go to all the trouble of a complete engine strip-down then it makes sense to replace all of the worn components.

The most economical way to do this is to buy a full engine kitwhich will include everything you need.

The Perkins AD3.152 engine was fitted to the 135, 148 and 240 tractors and kits contain pistons, rings, all gaskets, valves kit, liners, big small and main bearings, oil pump assembly, etc.

If you are looking for some guidance on how to asess an engine for wear and serviceabliity, then the MF35 Engine Rebuild DVD is useful – with a trailer video and photos of the engine rebuild.

Care and attention is probably the most important thing when doing a full rebuild.  You may need to label lots if different containers with the nuts and bolts that belong to a certain component.  If you lay them all out in the order you dismantled then the rebuild process will be much easier.  Another tip is to take photographs as you go along to remind yourself of what goes where.

When assessing all the components it is vital to take your time.  You will need some feeler gauges, a vernier, micrometers (of different sizes)  and preferably a dial test indicator to measure the liner standout above the top of the block.

The 3 cylinder AD3.152 developed 45.5Hp from a 3.6″ (91.4mm) bore and 5″ (127mm) stroke.  The engine is probably the major factor that made the 135 such a great tractor and we can all recoginse the sound of a MF135 as it trips along the road, down a farm track or is working in the field.  Music to my ears if the engine is in good condition.

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Massey Ferguson 135 Wiring Loom

Posted by The 135 Webmaster on December 22, 2009

The protective insulation often gets worn through on the wiring loom of 135 tractors.  This usually happens after years of vibration, the wires rubbing against the engine. It is also quite common for rats to chew through wiring looms!  The result is at best an inoperative electrical system, but it is not unusual for an electrical fire to start – particularly if there is oil stuck to the side of the engine.

Prices for a wiring loom are around the £25-£30 mark, and you can compare prices here.

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Massey Ferguson 135 Restoration DVD Review

Posted by The 135 Webmaster on December 18, 2009

Here at Vintage Massey Ferguson 135 .com we’ve been watching the new Reborn Tractor Massey Ferguson 135 Restoration DVD.

In fact we haven’t been able to put it down!!!

So what is it that’s keeping us glued to the TV?  Well there’s 210 minutes of footage on 2 discs – more than enough to annoy the wife when she’s trying to see the next episode of her favourite programme!!

The film goes through some of the common mechanical  issues and problems that need repairing on an old 135 and shows how to do these jobs.

The real value in this DVD is showing how to do the restoration work. What do I mean?  Well we all have to make decisions when doing a tractor restoration, and that can be any make of tractor restoration – the principle is the same.  In this case the film obviously follows a MF135, and goes into details for this particular model.

We are talked through the decisions of buying new body panels or renovating the old ones.  Buying new panels is probalby the cheapest option (and certainly the easiest); that said renovating your old bonnet (OK, hood if you are across the Atlantic) and wings can be less expensive than buying new if you are doing the job yourself.  It is the labour requirement that costs all the money.  The paint and materials are a smaller part of the cost.

Take a look at the 2 minute DVD trailer, to see some of what is in the film.

The result of the discussion on body panel renovation or renewal is basically down to personal preference.  It depends what you want from your tractor.  Do you just want to tidy up the machine for use around your own place?  Or do you want originality and to win shows with your tractor.  With poplular tractors like the ‘135 it is easy to get new replacement bonnets and wings, but this option is not available for some less common models.  In this situation you will have to renovate the old parts.

Renovating Body Panels

Showing us how to renovate the body panels is, in our opinion, the real value in this DVD.  It shows…

  • Sandblasting
  • Sodablasting and aluminium oxide blasting air pressures
  • Cutting out rusted and rotten pieces of metal
  • Welding in new metal to preserve the original look and maintain authenticity
  • Smoothing the joints so they can’t be seen

We are then taken through the process of panel beating, filling any holes and sanding, before looking at the painting processs.

Before the sand blasting process on the engine and castings the experts show how to cover any parts than need protecting from the abrasive blasting process.  How to cover threads and stud holes, port holes and which products to use that will offer this protection.

Vintage Massey Ferguson 135 .com would give this DVD a Five Star Rating ***** and FULLY RECOMMEND that you add it to your restoration resources.  It is a really well made production, well presented and calls on the experience of different tractor restoration experts for each of the processes.  We intended to watch the first hour of the film but we were glued to the TV until we had watched both discs!!!!

It is a resource that we have already revisited to replay sections of when we wanted to remember how to do something.

The latest news is that the DVD has been selling all over the world, with particularly strong demand in  Sweden, Jersey, Ireland and Wales.  Vintage Massey Ferguson 135 .com got hold of one of the first copies – I wander if there’s any chance it will become a collectors item in a few years time?  Just like the MF135 itself.

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Reborn Tractor, Massey Ferguson 135 DVD

Posted by The 135 Webmaster on November 27, 2009

MF 135 Restoration DVD

The new DVD from Reborn Tractor on the restoration of a barn-find Massey Ferguson 135 is now completed and for sale.  The DVD has been eagerly awaited by the MF135 enthusiasts community and there has been over 15,000 views of the DVD preview photos before the release of the film.

Producer Stephen, is a tractor enthusiast himself and so he knows the process people go through when they renovate their own tractor, what original features are important to people, but also that we all have to watch the spiralling cost of renovating a tractor.  The whole DVD is centred around the desire to keep the tractor original.  We all know that there are several after-market parts manufacturers, some of whome produce very good quality parts, but if you are able to renovate the old body panels, wheel rims etc. then it is not only more satisfying but also increases the value of the tractor.

The whole process has taken so much time and effort that Stephen has found it difficult to get all the necesary information onto a single DVD.  In fact there was so much information to get over to the viewer that the film has filled two DVD’s!  Although the content of the film is based around the Massey Ferguson 135, the principles are the same for any make of tractor.  It’s a must for anyone who is involved with tractor restoration.  In our opinion it’s the best general tractor restoration DVD released to date.

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Massey Ferguson 135 Safety Start Switch

Posted by The 135 Webmaster on November 24, 2009

If your tractor won’t start and you can’t find what is wrong then it is often the safety start switch that has gone wrong. These are cheap and easy to replace, as they are easily accessible on top of the transmission housing, just in front of the gear lever.

Buy the safety start switch here.

The high/low range selecting gear lever has to be in the ‘start’ position for the electrical circuit to allow the ignition switch to start the engine. This part can be fitted in just a few minutes and you will soon have your tractor up and running again.

massey ferguson 135, ferguson 135, MF135, safety start switch

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Massey Ferguson 135 Steering Box

Posted by The 135 Webmaster on November 24, 2009

The steering box on the MF135 are generally very reliable and rugged, and develop very few problems – unlike the steering box on the Fordson Dexta which is notorious for wearing (well I suppose it serves them right for buying a blue tractor!!!).

The good news is that all the parts for the steering box are available seperately.

The most common problem is simply oil leaking out of the steering box, and so it is simply a case of replacing the gasket for a couple of pounds or the shaft seals for about £6. While you have it in bits you may as well take a look at the shaft bushes and replace if they are worn (about £10). It is rare to have to replace one of the shafts, but if you do then expect to pay £80-£100 each.

This photo below shows a steering box from a MF65 tractor that has the patch of oil beneath it.

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Massey Ferguson 135 Steering Wheel

Posted by The 135 Webmaster on November 24, 2009

There are several different manufacturers of steering wheel to fit the 135, with slightly varying different prices. Some have a comfort ‘soft grip’ to them which you may find comfortable to use, but which is very different to the original wheel that was fitted.

Really it just depends what you want. Do you just want to use the tractor, in that case you want a practical steering wheel that is going to be both durable and comfortable to handle. If, on the other hand, you wish to retain the originality of your tractor then you will be looking for a replacement which is as true to the original as possible. You may find a second hand wheel from eBay that is in good condition.

View the different Massey Ferguson 135 steering wheels for sale.

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Welcom To The New Massey Ferguson 135 Website

Posted by The 135 Webmaster on November 23, 2009

This is the first ever entry on the MasseyFerguson135.com website.  We have started this website because we believe such an iconic classic tractor deserves its own domain name and website!

In fact surveys tell us that the 135 is the most popular classic tractor ever built.  There is so much interest in these tractors it is unreal, but not unbelievable.  Anyone who has driven a Massey 135 will understand why.  They are just a joy to drive, much lighter on the steering than the larger 165, or 175, nimble in the steering lock yet capable of performing most tasks on the farm in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  In fact many of them are still in use on farms today.

They are just that bit more comfortable than the Massey Ferguson 35 was, with a slightly higher driving position meaning that the clutch is at a more comfortable angle – particularly as many of these tractors were fitted with a fore-end loader.

An issue of a tractor magazine does not seem to be published by the likes of Tractor and Machinery, Classic Tractor, Tractor Magazine or Classic Massey without there been an article included about these tractors.  Then of course there are sites such as Vintage Tractor Engineer where there are just hundreds of questions, answers and articles on how to repair your 135.

If you have any information about these tractors to share with us, then please leave a comment for everyone to read.  It is the contribution of the readers that makes this site what it is.  Most of the articles and information have come from owners of these tractors.

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