A common problem with the hydraulic lift on the Massey Ferguson 165 is when the lift arms begin to judder.  Common symptoms are the need for high engine revs to get the tractor to lift and the normally smooth action of the lift arms becomes a shake or judder.  This shaking occurs both when the lift arms are raising and also when the lift arms are held at any point by the position control.  Jewel has this problem with his tractor…

You have a very interesting web site on these tractors, I am having problems with the hydraulic three point lift. Within the last 20 hours of use, the implements have began jumping up and down when carrying also using high rpm’s to clear the ground with implement.. I have done most of my own repairs but on this one I’ll need direction. I not trying to tell you what is wrong but merely the things I have tried so far. Checked the fluid ( hyd.,trans., and final drive seem to use the same reservoir) Hydraulics acting like it’s starving for fluid?

With or without implement the lift arms jump. To lift implement off ground RPM’s must be above 1500. Pressure gauge test: gauge jumps from 1500psi to 1800psi at 2000rpm’s with both quadrant levers in up position.

Thank You for any advise.
Jewel Watts

 Hi Jewel,

It sounds like you have one or more of your pump cylinders pulsating.  This is most likely due to a broken ring or a stuck valve.  When one of the cylinders is not pumping efficiently it gives the symptoms of the linkage juddering up and down.  Obviously this reduces the overall pressure in the system and hence your pressure guage reading of 1500 - 1800psi.  The pressure in the system should be somewhere between 2100 - 2400psi.

You will need to remove the top cover, access the pump and then strip it to
find the problem.

 You do not need to split the tractor to access the hydraulic pump.  It only
takes about 40 minutes to remove the pump.  Here’s what you need to do….

Drain oil.

Remove seat. (we want to remove the top cover, which is the large piece
under the seat that bolts to the transmission housing and has the lift arms
connected to it.

Remove the circular plate (side cover) on right hand side of tractor that
has the dipstick in it.

Remove any external hydraulic pipes from underneath the seat.

Remove ‘cap’ (2 studs) from front right hand side of top cover.  There will
be a stand pipe underneath it, which may withdraw with the cap.

Disconnect lift arms.

Undo all bolts that hold top cover down (note where they come from as they
are all different lengths).

You will now need 2 people to lift the top cover off (or a pulley, engine
hoist etc.) as it is heavy.

Look inside the tractor and the first thing you can see is the drive shaft
which powers the rear wheels.  Remove the split pin, slide back the collar
and then this shaft can be removed.

Next you need to remove the dowels which prevent the pump from rotating.
These are bolted through either side of the transmission housing (2 studs in
each one).

Next remove pto shaft.  There are 3 bolts to undo at back of tractor and
then give the shaft a sharp pull to remove it.

Move the pto lever into the ground speed position and then the pump will
simply lift out.

That’s it the pump is now out.

Obviously you should check the filter (and probably replace it) and o’rings within the system.  A leaking o’ring, split in the stand pipe, worn/scratched lift cylinder etc. would cause a reduction in pressure, but the juddering symptoms strongly suggest a problem with one of the two pistons/valves in the pump which would mean that only 50% of the pump is working at full pressure.

Take a look at these photos taken when we filmed our MF35 Hydraulics DVD. 

It may be difficult to see, but the piston ring is broken in this photo.

Massey Ferguson 35 Broken Hydraulic Pump Piston Ring

Fitting a new valve block to the piston pump.

Fitting a new valve block.

The internal components of the valve.

Hydraulic Vavle Components

Note the worn ridge from years of use, on this close up of the valve.  This will result in a poor seal and a loss of hydraulic efficiency.  If you look carefully you can also see a vertical score in the vavle sealing surface, this will have been caused by trapped debris and highlights the need for regular oil/filter changes and extreme cleanliness when servicing hydraulic systems.

Hydraulic vavle, 35 tractor hydraulic pump

Hope that helps with your diagnosis.
Steve

Drained fluid down just below right side ( dipstick cover) opening, ran tractor thru positions, No leaks were evident, removed top cover (valve body), filter is clean, 1st pic shows the peices found in the bottom of case( the 2 pieces on the right are very small, if size is necessary I can mike, I would say 5/16″ at base with taper upward and 1/16″ hole thru center) , 2nd pic shows some type of arm, which I have no idea if anything attaches to it.

Massey Ferguson 165 hydraulic components

Massey Ferguson 165 hydraulic control valve actuating lever

When you lift the top cover then the components will ‘fall to bits’ and you will get the parts that you have in your photo.  There should also be a tiny little spindle which fits through the two little cone shaped rollers.

The control valve actuating lever attaches to the control valve with a spindle through those two little cone shaped rollers that are in your first picture.  If you look at the top of the second picture at the lever you can see a little slot in it, at the back side of that is where the two cone shaped rollers go - you may be able to see where they have been wearing.

Therefore these ‘loose’ components you have found are not the cause of your problem, but fall of each time the top cover is taken off (and difficult to put back on!).

I still thinks it will be one (or more) of the valves in the pump that is causing your problem.  Or (less likely) one of the piston rings.  So keep on taking the pump out and have a look at it.