Why I love the Massey Ferguson 135

Aug 04, 2016

The Massey Ferguson 135 is one of the best values around in the 30-40 horsepower range.

IN THE SHOP with Rachel
By Rachel Gingell
Farms.com

I'm not the only one who thinks that the Massey Ferguson 135 is an excellent tractor - e ven the BBC recently wrote about how the Massey Ferguson models 135 and 165 are arguably the world's most popular second-hand tractors.

What makes the MF 135 such a popular tractor? It's the perfect mix of functionality, dependability, and affordability.

The Massey Ferguson 135 was produced from 1964 to 1975. The tractor was very modern for the time, and over 40 years later it still has the features today's farmers need. It's loaded with options, including live power, hi-lo transmission, power steering, live two-stage clutch, and spin-out rims. The beefy 45.5 horsepower engine has plenty of power for everyday farm chores.

In addition, the MF 135 is incredibly dependable. This is especially true of tractors with the gas or diesel Perkins engine, which I prefer to the gas Continental engine that was also offered in this model. These tractors are popular worldwide because of their simple, straightforward design - which makes them easy to repair with common shop tools.

Massey Ferguson 135
Photo: TractorData.com

If you're looking for a modern tractor in the 30 to 40 horsepower range, the MF 135 offers a great value for the price. When these tractors were new in 1975, they sold for $4,385. Today, they are still an affordable buy - even inexpensive enough that they are disassembled and shipped around the world! Replacement parts are easy and inexpensive to source. When you buy parts, be sure you check which motor you have (Perkins or Continental) and order accordingly.

My dad has such respect for the Massey Ferguson 135 that he became a dealer for the company. One year, my dad's dealership even won a contest for selling the most compact MF tractors in the region! While the new MF tractors are great, I have a particular affection for these older models. The MF 135 might be more than 40 years old, but it's still relevant and useful for farmers today.

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