Getting my new to me MF 255 today!

[canoetrpr]

Finally it is being delivered today! Looking forward to my second tractor.

I've only driven a manual tractor once before. The owners manual is on the way in the mail. If someone can give me a few pointers on the basics I'd appreciate it!

I expect:
- Clutch to start
- Select gear
- Release clutch
- I can throttle up/down as it is moving. Don't know if there is foot operated throttle or not.
- Complete stop before I change gears.
- Complete stop before I shift the multi power lever.
- Complete stop and clutch before I engage the PTO.

Any other things I should be aware of?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Finally it is being delivered today! Looking forward to my second tractor.

I've only driven a manual tractor once before. The owners manual is on the way in the mail. If someone can give me a few pointers on the basics I'd appreciate it!

I expect:
- Clutch to start
- Select gear
- Release clutch
- I can throttle up/down as it is moving. Don't know if there is foot operated throttle or not.
- Complete stop before I change gears.
- Complete stop before I shift the multi power lever.
- Complete stop and clutch before I engage the PTO.

Any other things I should be aware of?

None of the255's I've ever been around have foot throttles. MF has parts to install foot throttle....They'll actually be for industrial models, but will work.
With a little practice, you can upshift gears on the move. (1/2/3) A matter of timing....Just don't try to shift range lever while rolling.....
MultiPower is shift-on-the-fly....Don't try to use it as a downshift for braking....Won't happen....Operate in high range mostly, using low when you hit a hard pull. Don't try to use low when on a hill....again, no compression braking...

 

[canoetrpr]

None of the255's I've ever been around have foot throttles. MF has parts to install foot throttle....They'll actually be for industrial models, but will work.
With a little practice, you can upshift gears on the move. (1/2/3) A matter of timing....Just don't try to shift range lever while rolling.....
MultiPower is shift-on-the-fly....Don't try to use it as a downshift for braking....Won't happen....Operate in high range mostly, using low when you hit a hard pull. Don't try to use low when on a hill....again, no compression braking...

Thanks a bunch FwJ. A few questions for clarification.

I guess I was under the impression that there were two levers that impacted how the transmission behaved - one selected the gear and the other was the multipower lever that selected the "range". Based on your comments it sounds like there are three - gear, multipower and range? I say this because you suggested that multipower is shift in the fly and with experience I will be able to shift gears while moving too but not range.

In general what I take from your comments is never dowshift while moving. Correct?

Don't quite understand the comment about not using low range on a hill. I imagine you are talking about going downhill? I imagine low going uphill under load is the appropriate way to use low?

Sorry that these are somewhat basic questions. Normally I read owners manuals but I won't have the patience to let my new toy sit around while it arrives in the mail!

 

[sweep]

Finally it is being delivered today! Looking forward to my second tractor.

I've only driven a manual tractor once before. The owners manual is on the way in the mail. If someone can give me a few pointers on the basics I'd appreciate it!

I expect:
- Clutch to start
- Select gear
- Release clutch
- I can throttle up/down as it is moving. Don't know if there is foot operated throttle or not.
- Complete stop before I change gears.
- Complete stop before I shift the multi power lever.
- Complete stop and clutch before I engage the PTO.

Any other things I should be aware of?

Push in the clutch before braking at slow speeds or low throttle-and just about anytime as a matter of fact. Can't tell you how many times my wife would stall my TC45A because she would stomp the brake first but she had never driven anything with a cluth in her life.


I can shift on the go when going between gears but the tractor must be stopped when shifting from low to mid to high range.

I love my gear tractor. It's a piece of cake to run and you will find that out.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Thanks a bunch FwJ. A few questions for clarification.

I guess I was under the impression that there were two levers that impacted how the transmission behaved - one selected the gear and the other was the multipower lever that selected the "range". Based on your comments it sounds like there are three - gear, multipower and range? I say this because you suggested that multipower is shift in the fly and with experience I will be able to shift gears while moving too but not range.

In general what I take from your comments is never dowshift while moving. Correct?

Don't quite understand the comment about not using low range on a hill. I imagine you are talking about going downhill? I imagine low going uphill under load is the appropriate way to use low?

Sorry that these are somewhat basic questions. Normally I read owners manuals but I won't have the patience to let my new toy sit around while it arrives in the mail!

3 shift "functions".....1st, 2nd, 3rd, reverse on one lever. Hi/Low range on another right next to 1/2/3/r. MultiPower shifter is on the dash.

You can upshift or downshift on the fly, just don't downshift MultiPower like you would a car/truck tranny to slow down the tractor at road speeds. It's best for using in hard pulling situations. Downshift when you encounter a hard pull, the shift back up when you pass through the hard pull. (Such as when plowing and you hit hard ground, or when you're pulling a loaded manure spreader and hit an uphill...downshift to ease the load on the engine, then once you reach level ground, shift back up....)

Correct with the assumption on "no MP low on downhills"....

 

[flusher]

My 1964 MF 135 diesel deluxe with multipower is like yours.
There's a 4-position gear shift (3F/1R), a high/low shift lever nearby (6F/2R) and the multipower lever on the dashboard- high/low (12F/4R).

Multipower is an option that operates off the tractors hydraulics so you can shift on the fly without using the foot clutch. When driving downhill, you can shift to multipower high range for engine braking.

Multipower has a "hill holding" feature--when pulling uphill in multipower high range, depress the clutch through the first stage only and the hill hold feature will prevent the tractor from rolling backwards. Hill holding applies to forward and reverse gears but only with the engine running.

Also, a tractor with multipower cannot be started by pushing or towing, according to the user guide.

I'm not that good, so I stop the tractor when shifting with the regular 4-position gear shift.

 

[canoetrpr]

Darn! Found out that the delivery is not happening today after all. The truck is held up somewhere. Will have to wait till tomorrow to play

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Darn! Found out that the delivery is not happening today after all. The truck is held up somewhere. Will have to wait till tomorrow to play

Well, tomorrow is now today.....I bet you're happy now.:thumbsup:

 

[canoetrpr]

Estatic! Got confirmation that it is on its way today. Looking forward to playing.

One thing I missed asking. How does one pre-heat the glow plugs? Is there a knob for it or a special position to put the key in.

 

[canoetrpr]

My new used tractor is here! I will attach some pictures to this thread.

My first thought was "Oh my gosh ... this thing is huge!. Did they deliver me the right tractor!"

It started right up and I got to playing with it. Everything seems to work nicely so far. I tried all the gears, high/low range and multi power. I found I had to get it into low range otherwise it had too much speed to maneuver around with.

To some extent, I am amazed that I could pick up such a solid piece of machinery at the price I paid for it ($6500) - particularly when I compare what new tractors sell for. It has got many years ahead of it and if I do ever sell it, it will probably be for not much less than I paid for it.

Few things that I could not figure out, I'll be posting some questions about with pictures.