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wjohn 
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Location: KS
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 Topic: Off-Color - Massey 165 Thoughts?
Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 1:26pm |
A friend of a friend has a Massey 165 that I recently asked about since I've noticed it sitting for years. Haven't looked at it in person yet but I have been told it was parked for needing wheels. I figure that could mean rear tires or rims or most likely both. Has a loader on it. Not sure if it's gas or diesel.
In general folks on the internet seem to be saying they are decent tractors, just watch out if the Multipower has issues.
Looks like it will need anywhere between $1200-$3000 depending on if it needs just tires or everything, so it would have to be cheap. Anybody on here have any experience with this model? Looks like there are some parts still available from AGCO and if diesel I presume I could still get Perkins parts.
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1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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Tbone95
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Location: Michigan
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Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 2:02pm |
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One of the very first tractors I drove at age 5. Maybe a little at age 4. So that tells you it’s easy to operate!
We didn’t have the best of luck with ours, but looking back and applying what I’ve learned over the years, I will say we expected too much from it and therefore we were hard on it. We owned it new from 1968-1986.
The one bad thing about them, make sure it has live PTO. The early ones like ours did not. Ours had like a two stage clutch, halfway down was ground transmission, all the way down for PTO. Was a weak poor design and that’s what gave us the most trouble. We never had a problem with the Multi Power. Dad said one year newer than ours had live PTO, though I can’t verify that exactly.
The design seems to make both clutches weak, so regardless of whether you are using it for PTO or not I would recommend live power.
Edited by Tbone95 - 04 Apr 2026 at 2:22pm
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thendrix
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Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 3:09pm |
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I've always been told to avoid a two wheel drive tractor that has a loader due to front end wear. That being said, pawpaw had a MF 235 when I was a kid and he never had a problem that I remember. That tractor was sold to his brother in Mississippi somewhere around 1990 and last I heard it's still there and still working.
Ford also used the 2 stage clutch. I dug post holes with a 3000 one time and I just wasn't a fan of it.
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"Farming is a business that makes a Las Vegas craps table look like a regular paycheck" Ronald Reagan
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Ed (Ont)
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Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 3:33pm |
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We had a 1974 165 diesel. Was a good tractor. It did not have multi power. I think that was optional. 😀😀
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DiyDave
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Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 3:34pm |
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IIRR, they also had a differential lock pedal, right heel...
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Jim.ME
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Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 6:42pm |
The MF 165 had two possible PTOs, Live or Independent.
Live PTO uses a two-stage clutch. Traction/transmission clutch disengages about halfway of pedal travel, the PTO disengages and engages in the second half of the pedal travel. This PTO had ground speed or engine speed options based on control handle position. That would be the PTO, Tbone95 described.
Independent PTO uses a separate hydraulic clutch to drive it, no need to use the foot clutch. The PTO shaft is driven by a splined coupling disc built in the pressure plate, so the PTO input shaft is driven all the time the engine is running. Engine speed only, no ground speed option. |
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BillinAlberta
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Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 8:25pm |
We had a 165 with a gas engine (Continental I think) permanently hooked to a manure dump wagon when I worked at a large pig farm.The old thing ran in the heat of summer and through many stretches of 40 below.5 miles there and back 3 times a day. Multi power took some getting used to and most of us didn't use it so wear wasn't obvious. Good tractor .Cheap to run and the heater was great.
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tbran
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Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 8:31pm |
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if you get it started, make sure the 3 point works first ..... if not familiar with the ferguson system it would take an engineer and instructor a semester to explain the workings and adjustments. The control valve has a 'jiggler' to keep it from sticking if that tell one anything. They sold a bunch of these, no bunches...
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When told "it's not the money,it's the principle", remember, it's always the money..
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wjohn
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Posted: 04 Apr 2026 at 9:35pm |
Wow, I definitely didn't expect this many guys on the AC forum to have had experience with these. I guess they really were pretty popular.
If it works out, I would mostly be using it for the loader - loading/unloading equipment, moving stuff around, etc. just in intermittent use. Not anything like a lot of dirt or manure work. It might do backup duty on some other small jobs if needed, so if the PTO and 3 point work without much trouble, great... If not, I might not spend too much effort trying to fix them.
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1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45
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Ed (Ont)
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Posted: 6 hours 34 minutes ago at 6:39pm |
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The Perkins diesel was extremely fuel efficient! And yes had diff lock pedal on rt side.
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PaulB
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Posted: 6 hours 16 minutes ago at 6:57pm |
 tbran wrote:
if you get it started, make sure the 3 point works first ..... if not familiar with the ferguson system it would take an engineer and instructor a semester to explain the workings and adjustments. The control valve has a 'jiggler' to keep it from sticking if that tell one anything. They sold a bunch of these, no bunches... |
I agree with tbran on the complexity of the MF hydraulic system. MF means more than Massey Ferguson for a reason. My experience with getting parts for MF has been terrible on good days. AS MF is a "World" tractor, even the dealer can't get the right parts when the serial number of the tractor and engine are known. The Perkins is a good engine used worldwide. Then there is the buyer beware factor of a used loader tractor of any color. Unless it has just had a new clutch, it will probably need one soon. And Reverse and the corresponding forward gear are most likely well worn.
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If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere.
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Ed (Ont)
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Posted: 5 hours 43 minutes ago at 7:30pm |
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Ed (Ont)
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Posted: 5 hours 42 minutes ago at 7:31pm |
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Ed (Ont)
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Posted: 5 hours 39 minutes ago at 7:34pm |
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Ed (Ont)
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Posted: 5 hours 36 minutes ago at 7:37pm |
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Ed (Ont)
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Posted: 5 hours 25 minutes ago at 7:48pm |
I am surprised at some of the responses. We had zero problems with our unit. But it was purchased new and we did not abuse it. It had an Allied loader on it - dealer installed. I did a bit of work on my friends MF175 about 4 yrs ago. Water pump and thermostat, some new belts and oil change. Got all parts from my Agco dealer in a couple days. Price was fair and parts correct.  😀
The engine for the MF165 was Perkins AD4.203 with 17.5:1 compression. It would start anytime without block heater but we did usually use the heater if possible.
Edited by Ed (Ont) - 5 hours 12 minutes ago at 8:01pm
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