MF 165 MK3

[Mike NL]

I have been trying to find out how to identify a MK3 MF165.
I always thought the MK3 had a square axle, wet disk brakes and a 4:236 engine. Thus pretty much as a 168.
Today I acquired an origioneel parts book for the MF165 MK3 and much to my surprise it shows a round axle, drum brakes and a 4:212 engine.
I have in the past noticed that almost every MF165 for sale in France has a MK3 sticker and round axles and assumed the stickers had been added later.
My own 165 is from 1971, has a square axle with dry disk brakes, 4:212 engine and power steering, which is better than in the book.
Does the MF165 MK3 really exist, or is it just a (french) marketing trick.

 

[MF148]

I thought that mark two tractors had the perkins 212, with round axle and dry brakes
All the uk built 100 series were updated in late 1971 and thats when i understand the mark three was launched
The mark three had square axle, wet brakes and also fitted with the 212 rated at 62hp,also was fitted with heavy duty linkage
I dont think the uk built 165 ever had a 236 engine fitted but south american and spanish tractors seem to have that option, but did they have the 168 model? with the 236 engine
David p is an 165 expert so he can tell us more

 

[Anonymous-0]

French made MF tractors resembled UK and US tractors, mostly in the model numbers. They seemed to have varied wildly all over the tractor including where the model number was posted.

Gerald J.

 

[Anonymous-0]

According to my MF book, The Mk III(France and Mexico)did use the 212 engine. It looks like from as early as 1968 up to 1976. I don't know if the tractors were made in Mexico but that's the source of the information for the MF world wide catalogues. Dave

 

[DavidP,South Wales]

Hi,
And you know what they say about experts!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would agree largely with what MF148 has said.
The 'Mark 1' and 'Mark 2' designations are not normally used in the UK with more frequent reference being made to a '203' or '212' 165.
If they are taken by changes of generation then the 'Mark 1' would have the AD4.203 engine and dry brakes with the '203' fitted up to 1967. The '212' dry brake was in production up to approx 1971 and the '212' 'wet brake' in production up to 1975 thus making it the 'Mark 3'
Aside from the petrol versions no MF model sold in the UK, Europe and the US had the '236' engine as far as I am aware.
The drum brake kit was available in the UK as a secondary brake system kit but I believe that most tractors in Germany will have the drum brakes as standard fitment.
DavidP

 

[DavidP,South Wales]

This superb 165 belonged to my friend Roland Desoye in Germany and has drum brakes fitted as standard. Note the different bonnet, side lights and steering drag link from what we would consider to be a 'standard' 165 in the UK.
DavidP

 

[Mike NL]

Thanks for all your replies. This confirms that this model evolved quite a lot during it's life.
A summary as I understand it:-
The very first models had the high steering rod like the MF65 and the old tinwork. Then came the 203 with the standard 165 tinwork. Followed by the 212, first with round axle & drum brakes then square axle & dry disks and finally wet disks and improved link arms + ??.
Was IPTO also introduced at the same time as the wet brakes or was this an optional extra?

This also confirms my suspicions about the French!

Does anybody know anything about this MF177 tractor?

 

[Mike NL]

Photo did'nt stick first time

 

[MF148]

(reply to post at 00:10:12 03/23/10)

Its built for the german market
It looks very similar to a uk built mf 175 but was built in the uk for the german market.
I read they didnt like the number 175 in germany so changed them to MF177
David p is reserching these unusal modles so would be intrested in this one