1971 MF 135

[Wesley S]

Would you guys give me some advice on getting a tractor ready to paint. I'm not looking for a show tractor but I would at least like to paint it back to its original colors. What do you do to get it ready do you have to sand blast it, just pressure wash it, use some kind of chemical or cleaner. Do you take the sheet metal off first. I want to do a good job but is does not have to be show quality?

Also where can I get a picture to know what it looked like when it was new. If it had head lights, where they were mounted etc..

This project keeps getting bigger, I've never done anything like this before.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Post on the MF Board, there are lots of restorers of these tractors that hang out there. Good luck. Tom

 

[DAVID in WALES]

This is my 1966 MF 135 in off farm condition, looked better than it mechanically was!
David

 

[DAVID in WALES]

Stripped off the tinwork, and did all the mechanical jobs. Re-bushed front axle & kingpins.
Overhauled clutch, brakes & hydraulics, re-wired and new guages & light units.
Made sure everything was working perfectly. Then sand blasted to get rid of old paint, rust and crud.

 

[DAVID in WALES]

Re-srayed and rebuilt, I spent more time restoring original parts and only bought a few aftermarket parts where neccessary because I wanted to keep it as original as possible.
This is the correct colour sceme for a 1966 model, yours will have all silver painted wheel centres & rims; and your US fenders will be different style.
It is the best 45HP tractor ever made (and thats praise from a die-hard Fordson & Ford man! LoL)
David

 

[BobReeves]

"It is the best 45HP tractor ever made (and thats praise from a die-hard Fordson & Ford man! LoL)"

I would laugh also... My neighbor has a 135 that I used the first year we were on the property, mowing, box blade etc.. Then I bought my Ford 3000, in my opinion, no compairson, I wouldn't trade my Ford for two 135's

 

[David, Surrey UK]

That last photo looks pretty much like my newly acquired 1965 MF135.

However mine doesn't have red wheels, which I've already been told is wrong. Actually I prefer them in silver! Also it has a black exhaust, and there are probably some other anachronisms. But it's going to be a working tractor, not a showpiece.

David

 

[sbin]

Nice work David!
I am in a situation similar to Wesley.Just bought a 75 MF135 diesel for work and want to go over the mechanicals,clean it up and paint it.Here is the first before pic.

 

[David, Surrey UK]

That last photo looks pretty much like my newly acquired 1965 MF135.

...and here's a picture of it.

David