Massey Ferguson MF 1140 reverse problem - need assistance

Rich Kas · Oct 27, 2015

Hello All,

This is my first post and I'm hoping to find someone experienced with MF/Iseki compact tractors can give me some advice. Sorry if I am long winded, but I want to give as much detail as possible to help diagnose the problem.

I bought my 1991-1993 MF 1140 tractor a few months back, 4x4 with a 1246 loader and was working on cosmetic items before I really used it. It has 1500 hours and seemed to function well. I ran it up and down hills thru all the gears just testing it out and had no problems, but the first time I used it for actual work with a load (moving sandstone and fill dirt), I seem to have broken something with reverse gear.

It has 4 gears, 4 ranges and a shuttle shift. While pulling a large sandstone block in reverse, the rear tires began to slip (had it in 4wd) and I errantly stepped on the dif lock thinking that would stop the slip... I have been made aware of my error. It didn't seem to cause issues at the time and I was able to pull the stone block back, but a few minutes later I had the front wheels cut to one side while backing up and it jumped a bit making a click-click-click sound. I took it out of 4wd thinking that a front joint was binding, straightened the wheels and it backed up with no problem. Again a few minutes later I was backing over a curb and it did the same thing in 2wd. I had to move 15yds of fill dirt from my driveway that night, could not stop and as my night progressed the problem got worse. as soon as I would hit resistance in reverse it would start to jump or stop and click like a gear was not fully engaged. It didn't seem to be just one bad spot on a gear and did not matter what transmission gear I was in, same thing. Forward is still fine and if I am in forward, no noise no problems... with the exception of going down hill. Now if I am going up hill or I am on flat ground I have no problems, but If I'm going down hill in forward, it will click-click-click a bit jumping forward... makes since with the reverse issue. My thought is that the I have a shuttle shift issue. I do not have a service manual and do not want to pull anything apart without having a good idea what's wrong while the machine is still mobile. Any advice would help as I am 50+ miles from the closest MF dealer and live in an area without many repair options. I need to get this machine working before winter as it my only means to clear snow.

Thanks,
Rich

Harry in Ky · Oct 27, 2015

What you're describing here sounds like it could well be a synchronizer that's about to give up on you. If so, there's no easy fix. What happens, if anything, to the handle/lever for the shuttle while said "clicking and jumping" is going on? Does it move, jump, rattle, vibrate or anything noticeable? If so, that would be a good indication the synchro may be involved. No mention yet of how the shuttle "feels" when shifted in and out of both directions. It feels like a positive shift, with a solid detent? No attempts yet to jump out of reverse and into neutral? There should be a cable from the shuttle lever going down to a horizontal shaft through a side cover on the left side of the front case. Disconnecting the cable down there and rotating the shaft with the cable off might offer a different feel should the cable or external linkage be any part of the problem.

Rich Kas · Oct 28, 2015

Thanks for the reply! The shuttle feels fine to me... no jumping or movement in forward or reverse. It has a very positive shift and makes no attempt to jump into neutral. I actually disconnected the linkage and manually switched shuttle gears. The lever is straight up for forward and turns clockwise pointing towards the rear of the tractor for reverse. The adjustment on the linkage linkage is fully extended when in the reverse position and the noise seems to be coming from the rear end of the tractor by the pto.

Harry in Ky · Oct 28, 2015

I was into a 1250 some time back that broke the bolts holding the ring gear to the differential carrier. The 1100 series is a bit older than the 1200 series, but pretty much the same tractor. I wonder if it's possible that you have some similar type bolt issue that comes into play when backing up? The 1250 I mentioned has since sheared those bolts again, and the jury is still out as to whether or not it will get fixed again. I believe it made some popping noises back there just prior to giving up.

Rich Kas · Oct 29, 2015

The problem seems more simple than that, but if I knew I guess posting the question wouldn't have been necessary. I was thinking something like a shift fork on the shuttle shift because like I said, reverse still works. It just seems like the gear is not fully engaged when I shift it in reverse. Anyone have a shop manual for one of these? I would love to see what I'm working with and there's virtually no info on the web for these.