Vintage Tractor Engineer isn’t an expert on the styling of the MF135.  However I do recall reading an article in Classic Massey magazine about a 135 serial number 106 (they started at 101).  The article is on page 68 of the May 2010 issue.  There isn’t a lot of info in this article, but it does say that it is quite original condition other than the rear fenders have been replaced.

The current owner of the tractor is a cider producer and the website is Ralph’s Cider And Perry.  I can’t see any photos of the MF on Ralph’s website, although I did see a David Brown and Ralph has some great photos of vintage cider making equipment.  An old horse driven stone cider mill has been sourced and is now in operation.

Vintage Tractor Engineer can feel a visit to Ralph’s farm coming on next time he is over in Wales.

If you have any information, photos or details of early MF135 tractors please leave a comment below.  I’m sure Christian will appreciate any information he can take back to Sweden for his restoration.

MF135 Restoration DVD

£24.95

Get some jealously-guarded secrets from top tractor restoring experts…

“Learn how to turn a tired old

tractor

into a show condition machine”

Watch the full restoration of a Massey Ferguson 135 tractor, from barn find to show stopper!

If you are interested in restoring tractors then this DVD shows you all the steps that you need to go through.  Learn how to do many of the common mechanical repairs as well as the body panel renovations and painting.  Although based around a Massey Ferguson 135, the restoration process shown can be applied to any model of tractor.  It explains the decisions to be made when trying to preserve originality and how this can effect the value of the tractor. What you get…

• full restoration process
• decision to replace or restore body panels – keeping authenticity
• techniques to cut out and replace rusted parts of body panels
• panel beating
• shot blasting techniques, including working pressures
• using filler
• sanding techniques
• painting
• adding decals
• replacing oil seals on half shafts
• removing and fitting new bearings on rear axle
• easy method to remove steering wheel
• removing and refitting hydraulic top cover
• replacing cross shaft and bushes (keeping it authentic of course!)
• splitting tractor to replace rear crankshaft rope oil seal
• re-bushing knuckle joints on linkage
• bleeding fuel system

This DVD is the best general tractor restoration film that Vintage Tractor Engineer has ever seen.  The programme runs for 3.5 hours and covers all the issues facing a restorer.  It shows the full restoration from start to finish and discusses the issues that a restorer faces such as the decision to repair/restore original parts or replace with new parts.  We are shown how to do all the tasks listed above in more than sufficient detail to undertake the tasks proficiently. +++++   Highly Recommended +++++ The Vintage Tractor Engineer Team

The Massey Ferguson 135 is one of the most desirable tractors for an enthusiast to have in his/her collection. This DVD from Reborn Tractor show all the MF135 specific information such as looking for the correct Butler lamps, wheel rims etc. that is needed to keep your tractor as original and authentic as possible. The DVD is a must for any 135 restorer. The DVD is suitable for any tractor enthusiast who is interested in restoration.

£24.95

Year    Serial Numbers

1965    101-30282

1966 30283-67596

1967 67597-93304

1968 93305-117428

1969 117429-141425

1970 141426-162114

1971 162115-179501

1971 400001-403517

1972 403518-419582

1973 419583-432708

1974 432709-445601

1975 445602-457865

1976 457866-469334

1977 469335-479191

1978 479192-487349

1979 487350-490714

The 100 series tractors replaced the MF35x and MF65 tractors, retaining many of the much loved features of the 35 but with some added equipment.  The hydraulic system was slightly redesigned, lifting 3,150lbs at the lower links and incorporating an integral pick-up hitch.  The more squared look of the body work gives that classic look, and with self cleaning foot pedals, a larger fuel tank and comfort seat, the tractor was well received by farmers for 14 years.

Want to know MF135 serial number information?

The hydraulics on the 135 provided position and draft control, as previously available on the MF35.  The hydraulics system also came with the option of “pressure control”.  Pressure control was a function which could be used to transfer the weight of a trailed implement onto the drive wheels to increase traction.  A special pressure coupler attached between the lower links and the drawbar of the implement.  When traction was good the position control lever could be set on “Low Pressure” (which provides a low pressure of hydraulic fluid into the lift cylinder), but if traction deteriorated then the position control lever could be moved to increase the pressure, increase the weight on the drive wheels and hence increase traction.  Pressure control couplers were not well used on farm, which was a shame as the full traction ability of the tractor was often not realised.

Tractors were fitted with similar front axles as the 35 up to 1969, at which point they changed to a straight beam axle.

Many MF135 tractors are still been used on farms today.   Vintage Tractor Engineer visits many farms with large modern tractors and materials handlers, then somewhere around a corner, in an old cart shed, maybe powering a mill or a sawbench, lifting bales into cattle yards…. is a 135 – still in daily work after leaving the factory over 40 years ago.

One place to be sure to find one of these manoevrable little machines is on a dairy farm, scraping up slurry – the brakes may not be that effective and the bodywork and wheel rims rotting, but they are still hard at work, starting up every cold winter’s morning without any complaint.

I thought this video typified what many people are doing with these Massey 135 tractors, taking them home to their workshops, dismantling, painting, replacing parts and then taking them to a show.  Here the tractor is taken on its first outing with the new paint job to Inniscarra Agricultural Show, where we see the line up of tractors, old machines, seats, a steam engine threshing, then animals and the people enjoying the sunshine.

All these small agricultural shows are a great day out to meet friends from the rural communities and watch the farming traditions.  Vintage Tractor Engineer likes to get to 4 or 5 shows each year if time allows, and nowadays there is often a vintage tractor show incorporated as well.

In recent years the classic tractors have begun to get involved, standing in line against the Grey Fergies, Dexta’s, Cropmasters, Allis Chalmers, Field Marshalls and Standard Fordsons.  We are getting all sorts of tractors on display, but quite a few Ford 2000,3000,4000,5000 and lots of MF135’s. 

For some reason the Ferguson 135 is so popular.  But why?  It would seem they have more followers than the 165 or 168, so is it the manoevrability and the brilliant 3 cylinder Perkins AD3-152 engine?

Please let us know what it is you like about the Ferguson 135, we are interested to know what it is about these tractors.  Leave a comment in the box below.

Well known author John Farnworth has written A Worldwide Guide To Massey Ferguson 100 And 1000 Tractors 1964-1988.  At over 300 pages it is an extensive guide to this era at Massey Ferguson and includes chapters written by Massey Ferguson employees, photos and specifications of all the models.