Help Identify model/year of older MF tractor!

[truthsmiles]

Hi all! Brand new member here - I just 'acquired' this Massey last week and was hoping someone could help me identify it. I'm going to try and post a bunch of pictures below.

The back story for anyone who cares: The owner was selling a 3-point backhoe attachment for $1,500 which I bought for my brother as a gift. As part of the negotiation, I asked if he wanted to sell the non-running tractor sitting in the field with no front whees that the backhoe had once been attached to. Knowing it needed new front wheels and that it wasn't running, I offered $2,000 for the package and paid $1,500 on the spot, with the rest due upon pickup. Anyway, after a day of work I got the tractor running (SO much water in the fuel tank!) but unfortunately it seems the last person to add antifreeze decided to use water instead. Cracked head and cracked thermostat housing... crap. At that point, I told the owner I didn't want it anymore and I would just take the backhoe for the $1,500 paid. He then said I could have the tractor for free if I would just take it.

Ugh. I hate hoarding broken stuff but come on, it's a freaking free tractor! So, I ordered brand new wheels and tires for it, bought a new battery, went back out, and ran it just long enough to drive it onto my trailer, my son standing by with jugs of water to dump into the radiator. Now that it's home the current method of running it is to use the garden hose as an umbilicus flowing constantly while the engine is running. This seems to work well, and the engine otherwise starts and runs very nicely. No water in the oil! The next step is to remove the loader and (warning: look away now if you're a purist) use JB weld to repair the cracks in the thermostat housing and the head. I already attempted this as you can see from the photos but the access with the loader attachment was poor. Where I DID get it to adhere seems surprisingly well sealed! But, the new plan is to remove the injectors and manifold, clean everything off, and do a 'professional' job. Of course I know it's not ideal but I don't expect super high temps or pressures. Of course I will post pictures here once I've made the repairs so you guys can shake your heads disapprovingly

Anyway, to the point of this post... it was 'sold' to me as a 1975 Massey 135, but I'm pretty sure it isn't. My best guess right now is a 1979 245, but I'd really love know what you guys think. Yes, I've looked at all the supposed "serial number lookup" sites but they just list ranges and there is a lot of overlap, and are particularly unhelpful if you don't know the model, which I don't.

Any advice/tips/surprises, or insights anyone has is surely welcome. Thank you!

(PS - It appears the limit for images is 10 here, but I've uploaded more showing closeups and some serial numbers on imgur, but since I'm a new member I apparently can't post links. If you PM me I'll send the link. Or, if you're a skilled URL assembler, the gallery post ID is 0yoF8Nw )

 

[dalola]

I would tend to agree with your 200 series guess, based on the look of the front grille. Hopefully others with more expertise will weigh in.

 

[truthsmiles]

Thank you for looking! I suppose it doesn't matter THAT much, but especially when looking for body panel replacements it would be great to know what I have

 

[Working on Rust]

I would think 235 or 245. Definitely not a 135 or a 255. If you can find the engine block serial number that might help a bit.

 

[truthsmiles]

Here's a picture of the only placard I can find on the engine. Is there another location I should look for a serial number?

 

[Roadworthy]

I don't have any expertise but I do have access to Tractor Data: TractorData.com Massey Ferguson 235 tractor information Reading the information given and the data plate in the pictures shown I'm guessing a 1976 model 235.

 

[truthsmiles]

I don't have any expertise but I do have access to Tractor Data: TractorData.com Massey Ferguson 235 tractor information Reading the information given and the data plate in the pictures shown I'm guessing a 1976 model 235.

I was afraid of that (235s have a bad reputation). I agree that it's possible. However, my serial number (9A324326) seems to "fit" much better here between 1979 and 1980: TractorData.com Massey Ferguson 245 tractor information

The problem, of course, is that we don't know the model number, so it's hard to know for sure where it goes. Thanks for looking though!

 

[Agvg]

A 235 is just a 135 with different body work.

 

[truthsmiles]

A 235 is just a 135 with different body work.

...and really crappy power steering, from what I understand. I'm really hoping it's a 245

 

[Agvg]

How many cylinders have it? 3 or 4?

Have the old style center link system, the light rear axel with drum brakes and no reduction gear so its a rear end from a small MF, picture of the front axle? It might be a ******* made from different tractors.

 

[truthsmiles]

How many cylinders have it? 3 or 4?

It's a 3 cylinder Perkins diesel. I assume it's a 2.5 liter, but don't know for sure.

Have the old style center link system, the light rear axel with drum brakes and no reduction gear so its a rear end from a small MF, picture of the front axle? It might be a ******* made from different tractors.

Here are some poor night-time photos of the front axle:


Also, here's a link to my imgur post with a bunch more detailed pictures: Old Massey model/year? - Album on Imgur

Thank you!

 

[Agvg]

A brand new head for the engine doesn't cost much. But it looks like a small MF, don't think it has any heavy duty front axle.

 

[truthsmiles]

A brand new head for the engine doesn't cost much.

Yes I've seen them for about $400, but that's a lot for a free tractor haha! I think I'll try the JB weld first, and then solder or brazing if that doesn't work. I don't think the cracks are anywhere except the thermostat housing and one place on the head that looks like it might have been repaired previously.

But it looks like a small MF, don't think it has any heavy duty front axle.

What does this mean? Is it NOT a 245? If not, what is it?

 

[redman135]

The dash, bonnet, and front grill say 200 series, not 135. Also the photos didn't show the rev counter clearly, if it runs right to left(anti clockwise) then 200 series.
Good luck.

 

[Agvg]

You could just contact a dealer with the serial number and they will know whath it is, I do believe a 245 as the 145 has the HD rear axle with square axel housing and wet brakes, the same rear end as a 265 but with the AD3-152 engine.

 

[truthsmiles]

You could just contact a dealer with the serial number and they will know whath it is, I do believe a 245 as the 145 has the HD rear axle with square axel housing and wet brakes, the same rear end as a 265 but with the AD3-152 engine.

I contacted a few dealers today. Most wouldn't/couldn't help me, but one after telling me they couldn't look up by serial number, asked me to email photos, which I did. I haven't heard back yet.

 

[truthsmiles]

The dash, bonnet, and front grill say 200 series, not 135. Also the photos didn't show the rev counter clearly, if it runs right to left(anti clockwise) then 200 series.
Good luck.

The RPM gauge is definitely "backwards", so it seems pretty sure to be a 200 series. I guess the question now is whether it's a 235 or a 245 (or something else?)

 

[Working on Rust]

The grill is certainly a 200 series.
On the 236/248 four cylinder Perkins the block serial number is lightly stamped on a machined surface on the upper front left right below the exhaust manifold. It is always very dirty and hard to read. I am not sure about the 152 Perkins.

A image search show both 235 and 245 with both round and square fenders so that is of little help.
I cannot tell if your tractor has outboard drum brakes or if it has inboard brakes.

My understanding is that the 235 was the 200 series replacement for the 135 but had a bad front axle and was only made for a few years. It was replaced by the 245 with a much better front axle.
I also think that I read somewhere that it is possible to put a 245 front axle on a 235.

 

[truthsmiles]

The grill is certainly a 200 series.
On the 236/248 four cylinder Perkins the block serial number is lightly stamped on a machined surface on the upper front left right below the exhaust manifold. It is always very dirty and hard to read. I am not sure about the 152 Perkins.

Okay I just went and took a look but did not see anything. That's not to say there's nothing there. I still have the loader in the way, which I'm working on getting off. Once removed I plan to degrease and closely look over the engine. I'll let you know if I find anything.

A image search show both 235 and 245 with both round and square fenders so that is of little help.
I cannot tell if your tractor has outboard drum brakes or if it has inboard brakes.

Yes from my understanding the square vs round was a UK vs US thing.

My understanding is that the 235 was the 200 series replacement for the 135 but had a bad front axle and was only made for a few years. It was replaced by the 245 with a much better front axle.
I also think that I read somewhere that it is possible to put a 245 front axle on a 235.

Can you tell from my images whether I have the "good" front axle or the "bad" one?

 

[truthsmiles]

@Working on Rust - Here's a video of a guy doing maintenance on a 245. At 7:49 you get a pretty good look at his front axle. My eyes aren't trained to know, but it looks pretty identical to mine(?) Massey Ferguson 245 Maintenance, Paint and Fix up - YouTube