Massey Discussion Forums > Massey Talk > tractor design faults
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RE:tractor design faults

Further to this business of the draft and position control levers, I've been working a lot with my MF 165 recently but then last Saturday I took my MH 50 with attached MH 30 sprayer down to our local agricultural show.

Confusion set in with my right hand again when I nearly poked the sprayer booms through the shed roof.  It then dawned on me that there is a difference between the MF165 and MH50 levers.

On the 165 the draft control lever has a round knob and the 50 has a square knob.
On the 165 the position control lever has a square knob and the 50 a round knob.

Further, on the 165 the draft control lever is lowered to lift the implement whereas on the 50 one raises it to lift the implement.

Maybe JB can fill us in on any other idiosynchrasies of the bigger MFs?

Confusing indeed when one jumps from one tractor to the other!!!

The first pic shows the 165 levers and the second the 50 levers

Were the engineers really out to confuse and trick us, possibly with nasty consequences??

John
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RE:tractor design faults

Yes I have come across another design fault!!

This afternoon I replaced the choke cable on my MH 201 tractor.  the outer case of the cable is held on the carburettor end with a small clamp which is tightened with a small screw.  However this screw faces into the engine necessitating the taking of of the carburettor to tighten or loosen it.  It could have quite easily been located to face the outside instead.

I rest my case again!!

John

RE:tractor design faults

That's another job off your "tractor improvement to do list" John

I am sure those design engineers of the time did not even consider or give any thought for the dealer or mechanic having to repair these tractors with an anxious farmer looking over their shoulder wondering why the job was taking so long when he wanted to get the wheels turning in the field.

Had the design team just a little more "field practical" experience I am sure they would of come up with some easier solutions for the fixes in the field or workshop.

its just the same today with all this computer aided technology and diagnostics taking over from people actually thinking, the same occurs when it comes to repairs and what could of been a simple fix turns into a lengthy process due to the original design.

What's next on your "to do list"??

Malcolm.


RE:tractor design faults

Malcolm,

The next job on the to do list is to fix the brakes on our two MH No 2 tractors.  Both barely function and on our slopes here not a healthy proposition.  It's been on my mind for a couple of years but needed a bit of thinking through as one has to appoach the job lying on one's back twisting, writhing and reaching up - not a hobby for the aged. 

Anyway am now half way through the first one with the assistance of an able bodied local young mecahnic who has proved up to the task.

First I pulled it up on two railway sleepers which raised it about eight inches to give much improeved access.  Then the large half moon sump covering the double drive gear, brake drum and brake band was undone - easy just studs - and dropped down.
Then it took my mechanic only about 10 minutes to get the brake band out.  All in all mercifully easy.  The brake lining on the band was finished - down to the rivets and I have now had it re-lined ready to re-install.  It has a wet lining type as it runs in oil showered down from the gears.  A local firm arranged for this.  Now awaiting the mechanic to return as his wife has had an operation to her hand and he is on with child minding duties.

So all in all no DESIGN FAULTS here!!!!!!  Perhaps the main design fault is my shed not having a pit or hydraulic ramp......

John

RE:tractor design faults

Today I had cause to get my Pacer started and out of the shed to get at an old MF  finger bar mower out that was stored behind it.

It is 3 years since I last started it and of course that has taken me into my seventies with all the growing lack of agility that goes with it.  Today it dawned on me how high it is to mount this tractor, and how generally difficult.  It's so awkward getting one's booted foot up on to the platform and around the clutch pedal.  It is so high - quite a trouser splitting excercise really - and I am tall.  Mine has no step to assist the climb - was there ever one fitted as standard? or maybe there never was one.  If NOT then a definite design fault!

John







RE:tractor design faults

John 
I have the same trouble with my 44 and 333. I am only a short chap so I have welded an extra step onto both tractors.

I think M-H's thinking was once you had got onto the tractor at 6 o'clock in the morning there was no need to get off it again until 10 o'clock at night so the need to get on and off wasn't of paramount importance to them !!!!!

Alan



RE:tractor design faults

Alan,

This is the step I had my blacksmith make to fit on my MH 55 Riceland diesel - Hi Arch western type.  It is a 28 inch step up to the lower rear platform so a real trouser splitter

John
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RE:tractor design faults

This time it's my snowmobile - a Whirlwind that is giving me not inconsiderable aggravation.  I am renewing the fuel lines on it.  They are all plastic and have gone brittle and are breaking up.

One pipe takes the excess fuel from the carburettor to the bottom and side of the engine.  The pipes are push fit on to nipples.  This one is nigh on impossible to get at to pare off the remnant "collar" of the pipe on the nipple.  I have struggled for about two hours without luck to try and get at it but no luck.  It really is in an impossible place.

Did the designers think one would never have to renew a fuel pipe, when, after all, they are simply push fit?

John

RE:tractor design faults

Back again to tractors.

On the 12/20s, green 25, green PA and CH  MH fitted magnetos which were driven by a felxible hose from the impulse unit.  Then on the following red tractors they fitted close coupled magnetos.  So there are no timing problems with the latter when refitting a magneto.  One has to ask why they didn't fit close coupled magnetos to the earlier tractors.  Cost cutting??  They were certainly available as even the MH Nos. 1,2 and 3 were fitted with them.  Food for hought......

John

RE:tractor design faults

I've been checking through the magneto timings of some of my U framw MH tractors.

This afternoon I was doing my MH and Wallis 12-20s.   To do the check you need reference to the timing mark on the lower pulley.

On the slightly older tractor, the MH 12-20, I found the timing mark.  It is just a slight mark on the front face of the pulley - not easily detected but nevertheless present.  However on the younger Wallis 12-20 there is absolutely no mark present.  One wonders how one is to time them exactly without the mark becaues it is referred to in the instruction book with a diagram for the timing setting procedure.

I had a word with Malcolm about this.  He too has had 12-20s that lack the mark and had formed the opinion that theye were replacement pulleys that had never been marked.  But it does beg the question why were some replacement pulleys fitted - if that is the case?

John