Oil & Fuel MF 231 Transmission/Hydraulic Oil

[Travis_R]

Fixing to change the trans/hydro oil in my 231. It currently has "Supertrac Universal" oil in it but I don't like it because to me, it makes the rear end noisy. I'm thinking about putting Amsoil synthetic in it. I use Amsoil in everything I own. Even the 3 cylinder Perkins diesel that's in the tractor has Amsoil synthetic.

Any advice/suggestions are welcomed. Thanks

Travis R

 

[Soundguy]

if it's a utf type oil.. it won't hurt it.. however I doubt it helps ANY with noises.

 

[Travis_R]

if it's a utf type oil.. it won't hurt it.. however I doubt it helps ANY with noises.

Thanks Soundguy. Are you suggesting that the rear end may be going out or something? It is noisy but I'm not having any trouble with it. It didn't start making the noise until I put the Universal Tractor Trans/Hydraulic fluid in it. And there were no metal shavings. This was done a couple years ago.
Thanks

 

[Masseywrench]

Before you go spending money on new fluid, I would try to isolate the noise.

First off - can you define the sound. Is it a squeal, grinding, howling, etc.
Location - When sitting in the seat where do you think its coming from - behind you, below you, center of machine, left side or right.

Do it change when you turn the PTO on and off?
Does it change when you raise or lower the 3pt hitch?
Do you have aux. valves on this unit?
Does it change in relation to engine RPM?
Does it change in relation to ground speed?
Is it the same in forward and reverse or more in one way and less in the other?

No sense in putting new fluid in if you are going to have to split it soon to repair something.

 

[Soundguy]

what oil did you have in it before the change to utf and noise?

and is it a howl or squeal?

 

[SDT]

Fixing to change the trans/hydro oil in my 231. It currently has "Supertrac Universal" oil in it but I don't like it because to me, it makes the rear end noisy. I'm thinking about putting Amsoil synthetic in it. I use Amsoil in everything I own. Even the 3 cylinder Perkins diesel that's in the tractor has Amsoil synthetic.

Any advice/suggestions are welcomed. Thanks

Travis R

Use the recommended MF Permatran or quality suitable equivalent.

If your "rear end" is noisy it has mechanical issues unrelated to oil type.

The 231 rear axle assembly is rugged, durable and rarely if ever causes issues absent lack of lubrication or abuse.

What kind of noise does yours exhibit?

SDT

 

[Travis_R]

The noise wasn't there until I changed out the old fluid and put in new universal trans/hydraulic oil. It isn't giving me any problems, just the 'sound'. It's not a howl or grinding noise. Maybe more like a 'whine' or like it's not the right oil/fluid for it (not getting the correct lubrication?). It is definitely from the rear end (behind me). Does it regardless if the PTO is on or off, but the tractor has to be moving.

I bought it used about 8 years ago with 480 hours. It now has 1,136 hours to date and has been the best tractor I've EVER owned. Sure has been bulletproof to me.

When I changed the trans/hydro fluid last year there were no metal shavings or anything in the trans. screen or in the oil. But there was some "sludge". Not a whole lot, but some. I'm not for sure but I don't believe the fluid had ever been changed since the tractor was new in '98.

Should I look into this farther before I change the fluid? Any inspection plates/covers to easily pull off and inspect? Or should I say "If it ain't broke don't fix it", because it has never gave me a problem.

Anyone considering a Massey Ferguson 231 tractor, I say buy it. You won't regret it.

Thanks!

 

[Jerry/MT]

The noise wasn't there until I changed out the old fluid and put in new universal trans/hydraulic oil. It isn't giving me any problems, just the 'sound'. It's not a howl or grinding noise. Maybe more like a 'whine' or like it's not the right oil/fluid for it (not getting the correct lubrication?). It is definitely from the rear end (behind me). Does it regardless if the PTO is on or off, but the tractor has to be moving.

I bought it used about 8 years ago with 480 hours. It now has 1,136 hours to date and has been the best tractor I've EVER owned. Sure has been bulletproof to me.

When I changed the trans/hydro fluid last year there were no metal shavings or anything in the trans. screen or in the oil. But there was some "sludge". Not a whole lot, but some. I'm not for sure but I don't believe the fluid had ever been changed since the tractor was new in '98.

Should I look into this farther before I change the fluid? Any inspection plates/covers to easily pull off and inspect? Or should I say "If it ain't broke don't fix it", because it has never gave me a problem.

Anyone considering a Massey Ferguson 231 tractor, I say buy it. You won't regret it.

Thanks!

You could have stirred up some crap and corruption when you changed the fluid and you may have a releif valve partially stuck open causing the noise you are hearing, If you have side plates that allow access to the hydraulic compartment ,pull them and check for noise and turbulence near the relief valve location.

 

[Travis_R]

You could have stirred up some crap and corruption when you changed the fluid and you may have a releif valve partially stuck open causing the noise you are hearing, If you have side plates that allow access to the hydraulic compartment ,pull them and check for noise and turbulence near the relief valve location.

? But to my knowledge, the hydraulics aren't giving me any trouble.

Once the position control lever is in the fully raised position, with the engine running, the lift arms will 'leak down' just a little after a short time but will quickly raise back up. Almost like a "jerking" action. It has done this since the day I've bought it. I'm sure it isn't supposed to do this but it's never affected the performance of the lift. The hydraulics are strong also. If I try to lift something too heavy (which is rare), the front of the tractor will go nose up! But if I kill the engine with the lift arms all the way up and a heavy attachment on the back, the attachment is usually on the ground within a short period of time. (+/- 10-15 minutes?)

 

[Masseywrench]

do you have remotes on the back where you plug hyd. lines in from something you are pulling