[AT] MF 1135

[Al Jones]

Somebody was mentioning a couple posts back about sabotage at the factory
with MF.  I wonder if that's what happened to a neighbor back in the 80's. 
He bought a big Massey,  I forget the model but it was a big one.  Blew
pistions out the side of the block going down the road in high gear.

I guess I sound harsh on Massey and I don't mean to as there are a lot of
80 HP and below MF's around here that have been on the job a long time and
seldom miss a beat.  Plus, we have an excellent hometown MF dealer close
by.  However,  I have heard my dad say when he made the switch from IH to
JD (I don't know if I would call it that big of a "Switch" as it was his
second new tractor) that a friend who ran mostly MF told him that they were
ok, but the JD's would "hold their grease in" (meaning not leak as much) a
lot better and he'd be happier with the JD's in the long run.  He was
considering a 285 MF or a 2940 JD and the JD is what he went with and he
has not regretted it. If I was looking for a field tractor, MF would be at
the very bottom of the list, just below New Holland/Ford.

That said, I can recall back in 1991 standing on our high school football
field, as a graduation Marshall for my school, watching the biggest farmer
in our area who runs mostly JD's and caseIH, cultivating cotton with two MF
285's.  I had much rather been on one of those tractors than at that
graduation ceremony!

Al


> [Original Message]
> From: charliehill <charliehill at embarqmail.com>
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Date: 12/13/2008 4:46:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] MF 1135
>
> Ralph I think I'm somewhere between you and Al on the MF tractors.  I
don't 
> have a problem with them from the ones I have experience with.  I've
never 
> run the big ones.  I just know their reputation in this area and I'll
have 
> to say Al agrees with the majority opinon in eastern NC when it comes to
big 
> MF tractors.  I really don't know.
>
> Now as for the NEW MF tractors.  Being an AC man I have to kind of fall
in 
> line with them because they belong to AGCO now.    I think the new MF 
> tractors might be a mix of different brands.  Some made my MF, some made
by 
> AGCO and some maybe hybrid.  AGCO has been changing things around so much
in 
> the last couple of years it's hard to keep up.  Now before the AGCO bad 
> mouthing starts, let me remind all of you that they are the LARGEST Ag 
> equipment manufacturer on the planet.  And, getting back to the MF angle,
a 
> large part of their business is outside the US and a lot of that business
is 
> MF.
>
> I'm not sure where the "behind in engineering" came from.  I don't think
I 
> said that.  When I said they won't take a lot of abuse I could have 
> re-worded that to say they are built strong enough to do what they are 
> designed to do.  That typically indicates pretty good engineering.
> The reason being that if you don't know exactly how to build something
you 
> tend to over build it.
>
> I suspect that if I were in the market for a new tractor to farm with
today 
> my choices would be between AGCO/MF and Case-IH (I guess Case-IH is still 
> the company name.  It's hard to tell these days.  things change so fast). 
> If you come down here to coastal NC about all you see is JD and I guess
all 
> of those guys can't be totally wrong but I think a lot of that has to do 
> with finacing and dealer support.  IF I bought JD it would be because I 
> convienced myself they were the most bang for the buck.  Right now I
don't 
> believe that (no offense to the JD guys).
>
> Charlie
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ralph Goff" <alfg at sasktel.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 4:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] MF 1135
>
>
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Cecil Bearden" <crbearden at copper.net>
> > To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
> > <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 8:49 AM
> > Subject: Re: [AT] MF 1135
> >
> >
> >> Ralph:
> >> You can take that little side mounted pump off and take it apart and
> >> machine off the wear on the sides with a surface grinder.
> >
> > Thanks for that tip Cecil. If I can ever stop using this Massey long 
> > enough
> > to remove the pump I might try that. Right now I need it every few days
to
> > put hay bales out for the cattle.
> > I'd have to disagree with Charlie and Al about Massey being behind in 
> > their
> > engineering and not able to take abuse. When I compare my Super 90 to
the
> > 730 Case which is the same vintage, I don't see where the Case has any
> > engineering advantages over the Massey, at least for the work I do. And 
> > far
> > as take abuse, this Massey has certainly seen it's share from previous
> > owners . Although I try not to, I have done my share of gear grinding,
> > burning the clutch and trying to dig rocks that were way too big. It
just
> > keeps on working for me.
> > I have nothing but respect for the Perkins diesel engines, never heard
of
> > any inherent weaknesses in them. The old Buda six gas engines in the
> > Cockshutts  had a very short lifespan when my Dad used them for heavy 
> > field
> > work but they do fine for light duty chores and belt work. Low oil 
> > pressure
> > and leaking valves were commonplace. Maybe today's better oils and gas 
> > make
> > a difference too.
> > Ralph in Sask.
> >
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