3pt hitch question

NorthCountry · Mar 6, 2009

First, I wanted to say that this is a great site! I am new to the site, and to tractors, and I have learned a bunch over the past couple weeks by reading through various posts.

Hopefully, this won't post twice. I just made a post but it seems to have disappeared and I am trying again.

I made an offer today (which was accepted) on a tractor that I have been looking at, I believe a Massey-Ferguson 3165 diesel, the industrial version of the 165. As I was giving it a final shake-down, I noticed that the 3pt hitch arms chatter slightly when raised. I was standing on them to provide some weight, and they raised and lowered fine other than that. Is this normal? If not, is it major? The dealer who is selling the machine suggested that the chatter may work itself out with use, as it has been sitting outside all winter here in northern VT. Is this likely, or just a line to close the sale?

Any thoughts?

Midsouth · Mar 6, 2009

I think if you change the oil and filters and use it some it will be ok. There is a member on here that is a good guy with MF tractors he posts under the name Farmwithjunk maybe he will see this and post. I think i have seen him answer this some where on here, a search might turn up the answer. And by the way welcome to TBN

AKfish · Mar 8, 2009

Farmwithjunk has mentioned the 3pt issues with some MF tractor models. I'd do a search for posts by (or including) Farmwithjunk and MF; 3pt, etc.

Should come up with some info.

Doesn't sound overly serious from your description, though. I have noted that many tractors (older, Ag type) can have uneven 3pt travel without a load.

If you have the same pausing, jerking or sagging with a load --- then you've got issues.

Best of luck.

AKfish