Adding an aux. hydraulic pump to a MF 245?

Elkins45 · Oct 9, 2011

I have a MF 245 with the Perkins diesel and a Bush Hog brand loader. The loader is plumbed off the remote valves, which are controlled by a valve under the seat. This means I have to choose between running the loader and the 3 point lift. I'm used to a tractor that allows both to run at the same time.

My uncles came to visit yesterday. Both are in their 70's and have been around farm and heavy industrial machinery their whole lives, and both own MF tractors of similar vintage. They both seem to think I can just buy an auxiliary hydraulic pump that mounts to the front of the engine somehow that will power the loader independently of the rear lift.

Are they correct? If they are is one of these the part I need?
1686766M91 Massey Ferguson Auxiliary Hydraulic Pump - Discounted Massey Ferguson Tractor Parts Catalog

How difficult is a job like this? It seems like it would be as simple as bolting on the pump and redoing the hose routing, except I can't figure out where the reservoir for the fluid would be. Does the pump draw from the common sump or does it work with just the fluid in the hoses and cylinders?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

flusher · Oct 9, 2011

You need to be careful. I have a 1964 MF-135 diesel that I bought in July06. I'm the 3rd owner. The previous owner said that the original owner put a hydraulic pump on the front of the engine to run an FEL. Result: broke the crankshaft where it goes through the front main bearing. The 2nd owner got an good deal because of that. He replaced the craknkshaft and installed the engine rebuild kit. This happened at 3100 hours on the clock. The 135 has about 4650 hours now.

Don't know if this was a fluke or if it's something that happens with regularity.

WilliamBos · Oct 10, 2011

That is how the industrial loader are. Bought the pulley/shaft with part numbers from a 202.

JoeBuyer · Dec 11, 2011

I have a MF 245 with a factory FEL and front mount factory hydraulic pump. A number of years ago the main pulley off of the crankshaft broke (or there was an adapter plate on the pulley, can't recall exactly). This is where the factory front mount pump reverse threads into the pulley. Long story short..... MF's factory pump mount was NOT lined up with the crankshaft correctly and the only way to get the pump on was to force it on which stressed the shaft. I want to say it was 3/8" off of center and the "rubber bushing coupler" they sold could not take up that much mis-alignment. Longer story shorter.... we bought a 3rd party mount and had to notch out the front trim a little. It has been working fine for years now.
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JoeBuyer · Dec 11, 2011

Correction. This is where the front mount pump's SHAFT reverse threads into the main pulley.

JerryG · Dec 19, 2011

The only time there is a problem with the front mount pump is when the front axle pivot isn't greased properly and the bushings wear out. When that happens it puts stress on the pump drive shaft.

JoeBuyer · Dec 24, 2011

In my case it was clearly was a MF manufacturing problem, even the MF dealer that fixed it admitted such. It was not a matter of greasing.

jeepcj7 · Jan 6, 2012

To answer your original question - yes, you can still install a front mounted hyd pump but you will need a seperate resevoir - typically the reservoir was built into the actual loader.

Aqualize · Jan 8, 2012

The pump you linked to is NOT made for the front of the engine but instead in the transmission housing. Assuming it is similar to the MF 135 there are a few cases: you don't have multi power and no extra pump or you may have the multipower pump which is not useful for anything else or you have the auxiliary double pump you posted a link to. It can be used for auxiliary hydraulics and the outlets are on the side where the PTO lever comes out.

The double pump works as long as the clutch is not pressed to the bottom.

I have no idea how hard it is to retrofit a auxiliary pump if the tractor was not delivered with one from the beginning.

Here you have a picture from a MF 180 where the auxiliary pump is shown. It mount on top of the main pump and all that is in the transmission housing below your seat.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...1324471519-hydraulic-pump-mf-180-dsc01323.jpg