Vintage Tractor Engineer

January 22nd, 2007

MF35 Engine Rebuild - Assessment

The Massey Ferguson 35 engine itself was dismantled today. The cylinder head was removed before the engine was lifted from the rest of the tractor, and then the block and associated parts were lowered onto the bench with the engine hoist.

Unrestored MF35 Engine

We found several problems which would need some attention. The hard facing on the camshaft was beginning to wear through and one end was particularly scored. It was beyond repair and so replacement was the only option. The step-out of the liners above the surface of the block was measured using a dial test indicator and each one was found to be out of specification, each liner also protruding from the block by a different amount. One of the liners had shims underneath its’ shoulder but it was still incorrect.

Some of the parts are shown in the photograph below as they were laid on the bench.

MF35 Engine Parts

There was going to be a lot of work to be done at the engine machine shop. We sourced a second hand camshaft that was in good condition but that would need new bushes fitted to the block and reamed to fit. The head and block would be to skim, new pistons to machine down accordingly, the step-out of the liners would also need to be corrected. The crankshaft was measured with the micrometer (see specifications) and found to have been previously reground, but since had worn no further and was in good condition. We would just need to order the correct sized big end shells. The shells were not in bad condtion, but whilst the engine was stripped down it seems sensible to replace them considering the little amount of money that they cost.

Read Engine Rebuild 4

See the engine rebuild DVD

January 18th, 2007

MF35 Engine Rebuild - Strip Down

The engine rebuild got off to a brisk start with most of the ancillaries being removed in just a few hours and then the engine was hoisted off the bell housing successfully. That revealed that an incorrect clutch plate had been fitted previously. It was a flat plate, when a dished centre should have been fitted. This had resulted in the rivets at the centre of the clutch plate catching on the flywheel fixing bolts.

Then we started to strip down the engine itself. Removal of the cylinder head revealed that the head gasket had been fitted upside down. If such elementry mistakes had been made, we were quite concerned about how much attention to detail had been exercised with the rest of the engine set-up.

MF35 Rear Transmission

The photograph shows what was remaining of the tractor after we had finnished that day. The owner began to competely strip down the rear end and prepare the castings for painting. That should keep him busy while the engine goes to the engine remanufacturing shop for some work. Without going into too much detail, we found a whole manner of things wrong with the engine that needed rectifying. Thankfully for the owner the brakes were in good order and required little work. New skins were sourced for the mudguards, new wheel dishes and rims fitted and the handle on the levelling box was re-chromed - otherwise it was just a case of repainting the rear end.

Read ENGINE REBUILD 3

See the engine rebuild DVD