Vintage Tractor Engineer

The engine block is now re-assembled. The clutch plate has been replaced, has been bolted back to the flywheel and set-up. The engine block and clutch has been re-attached to the back end and painted. All the tappets have been properly adjusted and the first stages of the timing operation have been performed.

This final photograph below shows the gear selection information cast into the gearbox top. It is in remarkably good condition for a tractor of this age, as most are worn down by footfall over the top of the gearbox.

Read Engine Rebuild 5.

See the finished MF35 engine repair DVD video.

Two weeks ago we were leading muck with our 1990 MF3080. When tipping the 10 tonne trailer, the trailer drawbar came detached from the pick up hitch and came straight through the back window on the tractor. The driver squatted down out of the way to see the drawbar come to a halt about 6 inches away from the steering wheel, with hydraulic hoses and electric wires still attached to both tractor and trailer.

The glass was smashed and the frame had been buckled, so today’s job was to fit the new rear window frame and glass. The glass went easily together with the frame and after fastening it all back to the tractor all we had to do was fit the new lifter-mats. You can see the catches being held open with a screwdriver in the photo. The last job was to fit the wiper blade motor and then clean all the glass out of the cab.

Before the tractor is used again for trailer work it will need new pins and bushes in the pick up hitch as it would appear that they have become worn. With 9,700 hours on the clock, time has obviously taken its tole on the pick up hitch mechanism.