MF 231

[Ruff]

I was raking hay with my 231 over the summer when there was a loud pop could t tell where it came from but I lost low range. I’ve take the cover off the hydraulic pump and it you can watch it shift and that appears normal. I’ve jacked up the rearend and spun the tires and shifted into low range and it engages but once the tractor is running it just sits there motor doesnt act like it’s under load just nothing. High range works as it should as well as the pto. I’m assuming it’s in the synchromesh located in the rear of the transmission. Any advice would be appreciated thanks

 

[used red MN]

I was raking hay with my 231 over the summer when there was a loud pop could t tell where it came from but I lost low range. I’ve take the cover off the hydraulic pump and it you can watch it shift and that appears normal. I’ve jacked up the rearend and spun the tires and shifted into low range and it engages but once the tractor is running it just sits there motor doesnt act like it’s under load just nothing. High range works as it should as well as the pto. I’m assuming it’s in the synchromesh located in the rear of the transmission. Any advice would be appreciated thanks

Hello Ruff, welcome to YT! For one you have placed this in the wrong forum. Harry Ferguson models were the predecessor to Massey Ferguson, see the explanation in this link. Ferguson tractors
As said in that brief overview Massey Ferguson tractors came to be after Ferguson was bought out by Massey Harris. You should have posted this in the Massey Harris and Massey Ferguson forum. Not that it is a huge problem just the fact that there is less viewing traffic on this forum and less knowledge about your tractor.
Not a Ferguson expert but by looking at the parts book for you tractor it looks like the “low range” gear selections drive through a planetary gear set for the additional reduction (slow down). So just about anything breaking in the planetary gear set will cause the low range gears to be inoperable. Here is a link to the parts book diagram I am looking at. AGCO MF 231 trans diagram Number 45 in that diagram appears to be the collar that shifts the planetary into action. If you arrow left, to the shifter diagram Fork no. 42 operates it. In my opinion you may as well pull off the transmission shifter top to see if you can pinpoint the problem. It is very likely the tractor will need to be split to repair this unless a simple shifter problem is found.
You can use the “Contact Us” button to connect with a moderator and request them to move your thread into the M-H and Massey Ferguson forum or just repost this there.

 

[jvin248]

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See the YouTube channel "Bundy Bears" an nice knowledgeable Australian has a whole series on the trans disassembly of a MF65 that is the same as you have. I used that to rebuild my 55 TO35, and I have a 58 MF35 that makes a tunk tunk tunk noise in first gear and reverse so I'll be back.