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Off-Color - Massey 165 Thoughts?
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Les Kerf View Drop Down
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Joined: 08 May 2020
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Points: 1891 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Les Kerf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2026 at 2:37pm
Assuming the bolt pattern is correct, if the wheel pilot hole is too large the studs/bolts will suffice for temporary loading and hauling, and if the wheel pilot is too small then longer bolts/studs would still hold the tractor up for transport.
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wjohn View Drop Down
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Points: 2598 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2026 at 10:15pm
Originally posted by Les Kerf Les Kerf wrote:

Assuming the bolt pattern is correct, if the wheel pilot hole is too large the studs/bolts will suffice for temporary loading and hauling, and if the wheel pilot is too small then longer bolts/studs would still hold the tractor up for transport.

True. For loading and unloading that is a good point... It should be fine even if the pilot doesn't fit or is too small.

Figured someone on here has probably stolen MF wheels for their AC, or vice-versa, and may know for sure...
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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Points: 295 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ac-mike Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2026 at 9:29am
My experience with trying to put MF wheels on a WD 45 was that the lug bolts are a different size. MF 165 was a good tractor except the multipower was difficult to keep operating and the power steering was not very good. P/S was expensive to repair and somewhat complicated, especially if you did not have experience working on it.
D-12III, 200D, 170G, HD-3, D19D 3pt, D17D High Crop, WD45G p/s, D15IID, D15IIG, D15G IND, 655, (3)WD45D p/s, 700, 816
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Les Kerf View Drop Down
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Points: 1891 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Les Kerf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2026 at 10:44am
Originally posted by ac-mike ac-mike wrote:

My experience with trying to put MF wheels on a WD 45 was that the lug bolts are a different size...

Hmmm... if the MF bolts are bigger it may not be possible to mount WD45 wheels even for transport Cry
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wjohn View Drop Down
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Points: 2598 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2026 at 7:02pm
Originally posted by ac-mike ac-mike wrote:

My experience with trying to put MF wheels on a WD 45 was that the lug bolts are a different size. MF 165 was a good tractor except the multipower was difficult to keep operating and the power steering was not very good. P/S was expensive to repair and somewhat complicated, especially if you did not have experience working on it.

Thanks for calling that to my attention. I looked at the AGCO parts catalog and those are interesting... piloted (?) lug nuts. Not sure what the correct name is. It says the studs are 5/8 UNF... The WD wheels I have appear to be 5/8" holes, and use 9/16" lug bolts, so I wonder if it would just barely work if I get some normal tapered lug nuts and don't use the piloted MF ones. I guess things would have to be perfectly lined up. Probably shouldn't count on this plan as I think more about it. I may be just winching it up onto the trailer on the wheel hub.
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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wjohn View Drop Down
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Points: 2598 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2026 at 12:04pm
To close the loop on this - I wound up just winching the tractor up on the rotten rim and it just barely held up long enough to get it on and off the trailer. I will try to remember to take some pictures of the wheel nuts and the bolt hole diameter in the hubs when I find some rims for this tractor and get to work on it.

Long story short I believe you would need to swap wheel centers between AC and MF. That probably explains the set of AC centers the seller had that he got with it when he bought the tractor... The guy he bought from probably found a set of complete wheels/tires from an AC tractor and then put the rims/tires on the MF, and had the centers leftover. Hopefully that helps some MF/AC guys in the future if they find this thread.

This tractor has the Perkins diesel and the Multipower transmission. The engine is loose. The serial number on the dash is out of the 165 SN range, and into the 265, so I can only guess someone swapped a dash/instrument panel over from a 265? Anyway, if it doesn't need an engine rebuild, there's a good chance I'll get to it before either of my 170s w/ loaders.
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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What is the serial number?  It looks like the 1975 MF 165 and MF 265 tractors had the same starting serial number range.  If it is prior to 9A232539 (the first 1976 265 serial number) it would be a 1975 MF 165.

I would get the right rims and keep the cast centers they mount on.
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Points: 174 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dp7000 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2026 at 3:40pm
Hope you get it running. First tractor I I owned by myself. Perkins engine was the best part of it. Had trouble keeping brakes on it and 2-stage clutch was a nightmare trying to cut hay with a sickle mower. If you just thought about depressing the clutch the pto would stop, clogging mower and tripping. My main advice is to be careful going over a hill with the multi power. In high or low… can’t remember which one tractor will freewheel. I took a terrible ride down a steep hill once. It was just like it was out a gear. Only took once to learn but almost died. First chance I got I traded to a Ford 4600. Which was a really good tractor.
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Points: 2598 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2026 at 9:25pm
Originally posted by Jim.ME Jim.ME wrote:

What is the serial number?  It looks like the 1975 MF 165 and MF 265 tractors had the same starting serial number range.  If it is prior to 9A232539 (the first 1976 265 serial number) it would be a 1975 MF 165.

I would get the right rims and keep the cast centers they mount on.

This is 9A227731. I was confused because all of the sources online currently show that the first 265 was 9A202190 in 1974, but your info indicates this is a case where the internet is wrong. This would make a lot more sense if mine were a very late 165.

Where did you find the more accurate SN info? The MF manuals I got with the tractor were probably printed before the 265 came out so they don't have that info.

I will definitely be keeping those heavy cast centers on it.
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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Points: 2598 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2026 at 9:32pm
Originally posted by dp7000 dp7000 wrote:

Hope you get it running. First tractor I I owned by myself. Perkins engine was the best part of it. Had trouble keeping brakes on it and 2-stage clutch was a nightmare trying to cut hay with a sickle mower. If you just thought about depressing the clutch the pto would stop, clogging mower and tripping. My main advice is to be careful going over a hill with the multi power. In high or low… can’t remember which one tractor will freewheel. I took a terrible ride down a steep hill once. It was just like it was out a gear. Only took once to learn but almost died. First chance I got I traded to a Ford 4600. Which was a really good tractor.

Back in high school I worked for a guy that had a MF 235 with that 2-stage clutch. That's the only tractor I've ever run with that setup and I didn't do any PTO work with it, so thanks for the heads-up. I'm not sure I would do much PTO work with this tractor either but who knows. Maybe I'll pick up a 3 point brush mower and then the clutch is probably less of an issue, maybe actually a help if it doesn't backdrive the tractor wheels. Since they are able to be powered separately I believe it shouldn't have that issue.

All the slopes on my land are pretty gradual, but if I were to go a couple miles down the road either direction to help a neighbor, they get pretty steep. Thanks for the heads-up!
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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Points: 1007 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jim.ME Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Aug 2026 at 7:14am
I have some Massey Fergusons.  I looked at Tractor Data for the MF 165 and MF 265 serial number ranges.  MF used a starting number for a year, and that starting number was the same for a number of models.  They did not give each model its own individual range of serial numbers.  Thus, the early MF265 serial numbers run along with the late MF 165s.

Multipower will free wheel (no engine hold back) in low.  High will hold back; you learn to get into high multi-power heading down hill.  Headed up hill in high if you push the clutch, it will not roll back.  Shifting into Low multi-power will generally allow for easier shifting of gears.

Proper clutch adjustment is a major factor with two stage clutches.  That means linkage/pedal adjustment and the release bolts of the second (PTO) stage pressure plate release bolts adjustment.


Edited by Jim.ME - 31 Aug 2026 at 7:15am
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wjohn View Drop Down
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Points: 2598 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Aug 2026 at 8:42pm
Well thank you very much sir for that information!
1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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