MF 135 Gas 4 cylinder

[mynarcsa]

I'm a first time tractor buyer and currently looking at a MF 135 with 700 hrs. It's a 4 cylinder gas motor. Reading a previous post. which discussed exhaust pipes, the pipe is located on right side, running along the bottom of the main tractor frame. Thinking it is a Continental engine. Priced at $3950, I wonder if it's a good price or something wrong.

What should I examine before purchasing?

Thank you!

 

[murphy1244]

I'm a first time tractor buyer and currently looking at a MF 135 with 700 hrs. It's a 4 cylinder gas motor. Reading a previous post. which discussed exhaust pipes, the pipe is located on right side, running along the bottom of the main tractor frame. Thinking it is a Continental engine. Priced at $3950, I wonder if it's a good price or something wrong.

What should I examine before purchasing?

Thank you!

Any pictures? live PTO? power steering/?

 

[Mike476]

Prices are regional to a certain extent. I have a Continental Z134 as well, great tractor with lots of pull. I paid $4K for mine, it had a lot of work done to it and it was the best bang for the buck in my area at the time. It did come with a 7 foot Massey Ferguson back blade worth probably $750.

Ask the seller all the same questions you would buying any vehicle (receipts for repairs, look for obvious signs of poor maintenance or abuse etc). Also ask how the tractor was used, 700 hours seems WAY low for a 40ish year old tractor but don't worry too much about it, a tractor abused for 700 hours will be worthless compared to one well maintained for 2000 hours.

If you haven't been around tractors but have friends who have, bring one who is mechanically inclined along.

Look at rubber, tires are expensive. They will rot long before they wear out.

You'll want to make sure the hydraulics are working well, PTO is working, lots of clutch, electrical looks in reasonable shape.

 

[murphy1244]

I have a 1967 Diesel deluxe with power steering and 2 stage clutch with 5200 hours and I paid 2575.00 delivered.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I'm a first time tractor buyer and currently looking at a MF 135 with 700 hrs. It's a 4 cylinder gas motor. Reading a previous post. which discussed exhaust pipes, the pipe is located on right side, running along the bottom of the main tractor frame. Thinking it is a Continental engine. Priced at $3950, I wonder if it's a good price or something wrong.

What should I examine before purchasing?

Thank you!

Check to see if the tach is working...If not, the 700 hrs is not real...look on the left side of the engine for the Continental engine series/plate. If it says Z145 you have a two stage clutch..also see if there is a small lever on the lower dash on the right side, if yes it has Multi Power ( a sort of "half gear" shift on the go thingy...this may or may not be a plus as the low side has a tendency to go out if it has been used a bunch...let us know with pics what you got...good luck. BobG in VA

 

[Soundguy]

700 hours I too think is questionable.

however. what is it's condition and options. tires new?

it may well be a good price even for the gasser. all depends on your local market too.

in general.. they make a fine tractor.. that.. coming from a ford guy..

 

[flusher]

I'm a first time tractor buyer and currently looking at a MF 135 with 700 hrs. It's a 4 cylinder gas motor. Reading a previous post. which discussed exhaust pipes, the pipe is located on right side, running along the bottom of the main tractor frame. Thinking it is a Continental engine. Priced at $3950, I wonder if it's a good price or something wrong.

What should I examine before purchasing?

Thank you!

There's a weep hole on the bottom of the clutch housing. Usually there's a loose fitting cotter pin in that hole to keep dirt out of the housing. Sometimes the cotter pin is missing. If so, you can ream the dirt out of the hole and see if you get any fluid leakage out of the hole. A few drops is no big deal. More flow may mean that the rear main engine seal or the front transmission seal is leaking.

Look for exhaust smoke that persists after the engine is warmed up. Blue smoke means the engine is burning oil (rings, valves, cracked head or block, head gasket), black smoke means a fuel system problem, white smoke means coolant is getting into the cylinders (head gasket, cracked block).

Check out the hydraulics to be sure the 3pt hitch is working OK. Also check out the pto to be sure the 2-stage clutch is working correctly.

The 135 is a bear to steer. The so-called power steering is really power assisted steering provided by a dinky hydraulic gismo on the steering column. True power steering uses a hydraulic cylinder (ram) attached to the steering arms on the front axle. Drive the tractor around to get a feel for the steering.

I paid $3600 for my 1964 MF135 diesel Deluxe with multipower and 4600 hours showing on the meter.
The Deluxe model has 5 dashboard gauges (oil pressure, ammeter, water temperature, tachometer, fuel gauge). The Standard model has water temperature and oil pressure gauges only.

Multipower adds gears (from 6F/2R to 12F/4R) and has two ranges High/Low selected by a lever on the lower right part of the dashboard. If your tractor doesn't have multipower, there will be an empty slot where the lever would go. Multipower is operated by a hydraulic clutch in the tranny. If that clutch fails, multipower will only have the low range available (like a non-multipower 135).

If you buy that 135, get the manuals (operator, parts, service).

Good luck.

 

[SDT]

The MF 135 is a very good small utility tractor if somewhat dated. Yes, the 4 cylinder gasoline engines were made by Continental.

Most 135s were equipped with the 3X2 sliding gear (non synchronized) crash box transmission which is very rugged but certainly not modern. The latest versions had the 4X2 version of the same transmission, a bit of an upgrade. As mentioned below, Multi-Power (limited power shift) was an option providing versatility but many of these units have failed and repair is very expensive. If multi power equipped, verify that it pulls properly in both ranges when the oil is FULLY UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE.

If equipped with power steering, verify proper operation of the system WHEN THE OIL IS FULLY UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. The PS system used on the 35/135 is also very expensive to repair. (If you buy it, flush the PS system oil and replace the filter.)

Ignore the 700 hours as this is not believeable.

If the tractor has good tires and everything operates as it should, the asking price is reasonable in my area.

SDT

 

[laptop1]

SDT, years ago i had a 135 with what i thought was a 4cyl gas perkins? That was a great little tractor i might add. Cheers, Scotty

 

[SDT]

SDT, years ago i had a 135 with what i thought was a 4cyl gas perkins? That was a great little tractor i might add. Cheers, Scotty

135s were sold with a 3 cylinder Perkins gasoline engine. All 4 cylinder gasoline engines were made by Continental.

SDT