The Massey Ferguson 35 was replaced by the 35x towards the end of 1962 at serial number 302413. Many people will say that one of the differences between the 35 and the 35x is that the ‘x’ had differential lock fitted. However, here at VintageTractorEngineer we purchased a brand new ‘35 in 1962. We were given the option of diff-lock when we bought the tractor from Bruce Clayton of Gilberdyke, and so it is fitted to the tractor (which we still use on the farm today).
This video is of a tractor that was sold at auction for £3,400. It is a 35x according to the serial number, but has the incorrect engine fitted. The 35’s were fitted with a Perkins 3.152 indirect injection engine (with pre-combustion chambers), whereas the ‘35x had the direct injection A3.152 engine. We suspect that the 35x in the video had simply had a replacement engine for some reason.
Before the auction of this tractor a potential purchaser came to talk to VintageTractorEngineer to discuss some bubbling in the radiator. It looked like the symptoms of either a blown head gasket or a cracked block. The gentleman was eventually successful in buying the tractor, so a head gasket repair on this engine may be the next job for us (hopefully not a cracked block). £3,000 was the buyers limit, buthe just couldn’t help himself and wanted to add the tractor to his collection!
If you know of any other differences between the Massey Ferguson 35 and 35x, then please leave a comment.