Multi power - what to look for?

[chas036]

I will be looking at a MF 180 diesel with multi power. I have never owned a Massey before, so I don't know how to know if the multi power is working good or not. What kind of tests can I do when I drive it, to check out the multi power.?

Is multi power pretty reliable , or do they break down a lot?

Can they be fixed easily or does the tractor need to be split?

Also where can I buy sheet metal body parts for a 180 like the front nose and grill? Is there aslavage yard somewhere that has a lot of Massey parts.

 

[Dieseltech]

Start with the MP lever in low, transmission in high range and first gear, about 1000 RPM. While moving with clutch pedal up shift MP to high, you SHOULD feel tractor speed increase and slow down again when shifted back to low MP. Always have MP in low for easier main transmission shifting. A correctly working MP also has a hill hold feature, test by going uphill in any gear. With MP in high press down clutch pedal just enough to stop tractor, the tractor WILL NOT roll backward if MP clutch is working right, and WILL roll back when MP shifted back to low. What kills most MP clutch pack is running low on hydraulic/rear end oil. It's also NORMAL to coast downhill with MP in low, it must be in high for engine braking.

 

[DavidP,South Wales]

Spot on as always. Just one thing to add and that’s that you can’t tow them to start them. I wouldn’t have any reservations in buying one. Make sure that if anyone else drives it that they understand ho MP works
DavidP, South Wales

 

[Boowah]

(quoted from post at 08:07:11 11/25/20) I will be looking at a MF 180 diesel with multi power. I have never owned a Massey before, so I don't know how to know if the multi power is working good or not. What kind of tests can I do when I drive it, to check out the multi power.?

Is multi power pretty reliable , or do they break down a lot?

Can they be fixed easily or does the tractor need to be split?

Also where can I buy sheet metal body parts for a 180 like the front nose and grill? Is there aslavage yard somewhere that has a lot of Massey parts.

Save your self a lot of money and trouble by not buying one with the expensive Multi-power. I own a 135, and a 165, and neither one of these fine tractors have multi-$$$$$ power!!! It is a really poorly designed, and very short lived option. I was driving these Multi-power wonders when they were all new with the plastic still on the seats. Chances are you can find a trouble-free 165-175 without Multi$$$power, instead of that trouble-son 180 that was always in the shop with or without Multi-power. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Joe Ferguson]

We have a 135 and 165 with Multi-Power both 1966.
For many years now... we don't shift it "on the go" we shift it as needed but the tractor stopped
It avoid wear and stress on the cluthes and MP components. No problems with MP to date.

 

[ptfarmer]

We have a MF150 with multi-power that we bought used back in 1975, to this day we never had a problem with it. As long as it's taken care of (not run low on fluid, or had the wrong fluid in it, or just wasn't used properly) the multi-power is nice to have.

 

[Boowah]

(quoted from post at 08:01:49 11/27/20) We have a 135 and 165 with Multi-Power both 1966.
For many years now... we don't shift it "on the go" we shift it as needed but the tractor stopped
It avoid wear and stress on the cluthes and MP components. No problems with MP to date.

I know people that still have theirs with the MP. Just like you said if you baby them they will last forever. Also helps not to let anyone else ever drive or borrow them. I would never buy a used one with MP unless it was someone I really knew and trusted.

 

[Boowah]

I remember a neighbors like new 150 with Multi Power. When he traded for it the MF dealer gave him a Multi Power lecture. He always babied it and it never had anything done to the MP. The ones that always had problems was the ones on the farms with different drivers. They just didn't care since they didn't pay for it I guess. As for as this post, my 2 cents worth would be don't buy a used MP unless you know the man and the tractor.

 

[ptfarmer]

(quoted from post at 13:21:52 11/27/20)
The ones that always had problems was the ones on the farms with different drivers. They just didn't care since they didn't pay for it I guess. As for as this post, my 2 cents worth would be don't buy a used MP unless you know the man and the tractor.

That pretty much sums it up!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[FarmerJones]

I have a '74 175 and a '66 165 both with MP. Both diesels. I rarely use the MP on the 175, but use it on the 165 when using the haybine or the sickle mower. Never shift on the fly as said above. Always declutch and lower the RPMs, then engage and go. Bought both used 25 years and 15 years ago respectively and never a problem. Like any piece of equipment: don't abuse it, maintain it and should last a long time.

 

[Dieseltech]

Growing up with Ferguson, Massey-Harris, and Massey Ferguson tractors on the farm, and working for the local MF dealer a few years, I'll add my two cents. Dad's 65, 180, 165, 1100, 1130, and 1150 tractors, all with MP are STILL working on my brothers farm now, the ONLY one I did repair the MP clutch on once was the 180 at about 3,000 hours, AFTER it was run awhile low on oil do to a blown hydraulic hose. Tractor now had 8,000 plus hours, and MP works FINE. NONE of the 1100 series have ever been apart, and dad's 1100 he bought new has over 7,000 hours, MP STILL works FINE.
Far as using the main clutch during MP shifting? I say BULLFEATHERS!!! The MP is DESIGNED to be SHIFTED ON THE GO WITHOUT THE FOOT CLUTCH!! All you are doing when using the foot clutch is causing UNNEEDED wear on the release bearing, pressure plate levers, shoe sole and your knee joint. The NUMBER ONE cause of killing the MP clutch pack is LOW hydraulic oil level. The next big NO NO is coasting downhill at a faster speed than tractor would be in Hi, with MP in Lo, then shifting to HI.
BUT, what do I know, I specialize in repairing injector pumps...

 

[DavidP,South Wales]

Hi, your use of MP is very laudable to save wear but in doing so you are causing further wear on the main clutch plate. MP was designed as a ‘change on the move’ when you encountered heavier conditions when baling or ploughing for example. When using a MP tractor I have always lifted the throttle slightly a split second before
MP shifting so that engagement takes place in what is a slight over-run situation before the loading is resumed. MP should not be operated in ‘Low’ for prolonged periods as this can cause the plates to overheat within the clutch drum.
DavidP,South Wales

 

[jamstra]

Dieseltech and DavidP are completely correct in all they say. I ran a MF550 with multipower, on quite a hilly farm, for many years, and all I would add are two comments -
1) Be especially careful if you have any hills on your farm (ie DO NOT turn downhill with the MP in low - there is no engine braking in low, and you are in trouble in a flash!) and
2) don't let anyone who has not used MP just jump on and drive it!

Jim

 

[504]

It seems like everytime we had a tractor at the dealer with a MP problem, it had the wrong oil in it. Mineral oil must have been cheep.