Massey Ferguson 165

[NCcountryman]

Does anyone know if there is another way to identify this tractor? The nameplate is missing and the model # plaque is to degraded to read. It was sold to me as a 1972 MF 165 but I cant tell if this is correct. The decals are missing and so are the plaques. Is there another way to identify this tractor?

 

[Bob N.Y.]

165 agricultural tractors usually came with adjustable front axles, flat top fenders and cast centers in the rear wheels. This tractor appears to have a non-adjustable front axle, clam shell fenders and stamped steel rear wheel centers. It is probably a 3165 which is an industrial version of the 165. There is a lot of similarity otherwise.

 

[NCcountryman]

Definitely not a 3165. Those are all colored yellow and usually came with front loader and or back hoe. Your right that all the 165's I've seen have the flat top fenders though options for tractors come with the clam shell style. I did notice that the dash for the 3165 is similar to this one though the oil filter canister and other components are different. Do you know if there is another plaque on the underside of the Cowell? Some MF's have that feature.

 

[ptfarmer]

(quoted from post at 15:35:01 10/30/19) 165 agricultural tractors usually came with adjustable front axles, flat top fenders and cast centers in the rear wheels. This tractor appears to have a non-adjustable front axle, clam shell fenders and stamped steel rear wheel centers. It is probably a 3165 which is an industrial version of the 165. There is a lot of similarity otherwise.

X2^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If the front axle is not adjustable in width it is a 3165 industrial made from tractor serial number 9A19585 and later.

 

[NCcountryman]

Can you tell me more about the 3165's??? This front axel isn't adjustable on this. And all the one's Ive seen of the 165's are adjustable front axels. Is there a way I can figure out exactly what this one is without the plaques? Will the engine stamp help with this? I do know that the stamps on the engine that are protruding are just the block ID's. The engine motor serial # is stamped on the block. Do you know if the 165's and the 3165's used the same engine?

 

[NCcountryman]

[I see that the 3165's have a 6 speed and 2 reverse but this has 8 speeds with 2 reverse.

 

[NCcountryman]

I cant see where they made a 8 speed 3165. This is an 8 speed.

 

[ptfarmer]

(quoted from post at 17:00:43 10/30/19) I cant see where they made a 8 speed 3165. This is an 8 speed.

That makes it a model 30 industrial then with the 8 speed.

 

[Dieseltech]

Very LATE 100 series did have the eight speed transmission option, my brother has an eight speed 175 diesel..

 

[ptfarmer]

MF30
Years Built: 1970 - 1975
Engine: AD4-203 Diesel, AG4-212 Gas, G176-4 Continental Gas
Transmissions: 8x2, 6x2 Manual Shuttle, Instant Reverse
Serial Numbers:
Years: Starting NO.
1970--9A 87325
1971--9A 107519
1972--9A 128141
1973--9A 152025
1974--9A 182761
1975--9A 207681

 

[NCcountryman]

Thank you for your insight on this. Now just makes me wonder what I bought and why they would remove the name plate from it. Tough the 30 model industrial gives it more HP than I thought just makes finding the correct info for this tractor a lot harder than I realized it would. Your insight helps and I thank you for that.

 

[ptfarmer]

(quoted from post at 17:15:23 10/30/19) Very LATE 100 series did have the eight speed transmission option, my brother has an eight speed 175 diesel..

Wouldn't that be the wrong engine for a 175!

 

[ptfarmer]

(quoted from post at 17:37:21 10/30/19) Thank you for your insight on this. Now just makes me wonder what I bought and why they would remove the name plate from it. Tough the 30 model industrial gives it more HP than I thought just makes finding the correct info for this tractor a lot harder than I realized it would. Your insight helps and I thank you for that.

Sometimes the name plate get's removed for repainting then never get put back on, or for who knows what, it happens a lot on these tractors.

 

[Dieseltech]

He has the Perkins AD4.203, like the 165 used. The 175 and 180 used either the Continental G206 gas, Perkins A4.236 diesel, or late gas used the Perkins AG4.236. Dealer I worked for we used to service some eight speed 135, 165, and 175 models that were an option in the 70s, when guys were buying for price as they were less than the Multi-Power tractors were.

 

[ptfarmer]

The model 30 is still related to the older 3165 pretty much except for transmission options.

 

[nashranch]

I wish the 165 i was looking was that pretty

 

[NCcountryman]

The serial # on the engine is 20311A77077D. I've been looking for a site that will tell me how to decipher this but having issues with that in that the web takes me to sites I'm not looking for.

 

[NCcountryman]

The engine stamped # is 20311A77077D. What website can I use to decipher this?

 

[NCcountryman]

I'm being told this is not a 165 because the front axel is not adjustable on this. The 165's have adjustable front axels.

 

[DavidP, South Wales]

Hi, certainly looks like an AD4.203.
No-one has mentioned it so far;
A = built by Perkins to MF specification
D = direct injection
4 = number of cylinders
203 = engine capacity in cubic inches

DavidP, South Wales

 

[NCcountryman]

The problem I'm having is there aren't any plaques showing the model# or serial #. I do have the engine serial number that is stamped on the block. Serial # 20311A77077D. Been trying to find a web site that will tell me how to decipher this but, no luck...

 

[ptfarmer]

(quoted from post at 15:49:26 10/31/19) The problem I'm having is there aren't any plaques showing the model# or serial #. I do have the engine serial number that is stamped on the block. Serial # 20311A77077D. Been trying to find a web site that will tell me how to decipher this but, no luck...

DavidP has it pretty much deciphered your engine serial number, there isn't a way to tell what year it was built. I can tell you by the engine serial number that your engine is used in early production model 30 industrial tractors. The parts book doesn't provide what year is early, and late production. That engine serial number however will get you the right parts for the engine should you need to repair, or rebuild it. I would guess the person you got the tractor from is probably correct as it being a 1972 year model. In 1978 Perkins did change the serial numbers on engines in 1978, and later years to include the year of manufacture.