What is the flail width that you are running, must be 6ft, maybe more? Does the MF 135 have any issues powering the cutter/mower? Is it a stock 135 (less the turf tyres)? Thanks
The flail mower was made by Twose and it has a 2 metre wide cut ( 6ft 6inches ) and weighs just under one ton. The MF 135 tractor came as new with a MF 165 diesel engine which produced 65 hp. It was a main dealer option in the UK for Hop growers which also meant that it came with a semi narrow back axle. With 10 inch wide rear tyres it is only 4ft 6 inches wide and thus can work between the hop rows. A plus point is that with 2ft wide grass tyres fitted, it is still not over width for most other work. The engine is a Perkins 4203 four cylinder version of the Perkins 3152 that is fitted to UK MF135 s. It has very high torque and a long stroke and is very reliable, quite happy to run all day long running flat out working a 1.5 metre Van Dale woodland mulcher through an additional creep box. The Perkins 4203 was also available as a road going commercial vehicle engine. I put one into my 1961 Landrover series 2, it was a much better alternative engine, geared up it would do 37 mpg.
@megapowerchannelsunc Well I'll start with the latter comment about the Series 2... amazed at the MPG with the engine conversion. I have a 2.25l diesel Series 3 and it is struggling these days. Appreciate the gen with regards to the MF 135. I'm on the hunt for a tractor that has the capability to run a wider cutter (large area), but there are sections that are tight, so a smaller tractor is needed. Appreciate the simplicity of the older, and lack of electronic tractors. Have you had to perform any major maintenance on the MF? P.s. I'm also UK based (Wales). Thanks.
@@97darosasg3 Regarding the Series 2 and it's Perkins engine, one has to acknowledge that a golden age has come to an end. In the mid 1970s there was a lack of regulations which today would involve lots of restrictions. That apart, then there was a lot of cheap engines available. A secondhand 4203 taken from a Commer Walkthrough at £100 and a Philips joining ring for not much more. I knew two other Series 2s that had been converted and they were both reported to do 37 mpg once they had been geared up with Range rover diffs. I once came back at night from Scotland towing a dive boat. After filling up the 8 gallon tank at Arden by Loch Lomond I reached Birdlip six hours later on the A417 staying in top gear with overdrive engaged the whole way even over Shap. Ear muffs were a must ! In town traffic, right up to third gear the throttle wasn't needed. Never broke a half shaft. As for the MF135, it does have some issues, the much shorter radiator is one, leading us to fit an 8 bladed fan and a Modine marine water cooled system for the engine oil. The pto is on the low side which means setting the flail up so that the drive shaft is kept as straight as possible for the UJs. Surprisingly the rear linkage lifts the heavy grass flail with no trouble. I know a local who used to have a Lamborghini narrow vineyard tractor that ran a 78hp non turbo engine. It would have been a better option for us. My Land rover 90 has a Mazda 3.5 litre four cylinder licence built version of the Perkins 4 185 which was fitted 34 yrs ago. Apart from tappet adjustment and filters it has never needed anything done to it. I wish I still had the Series 2 though.
@megapowerchannelsunc Many thanks for the comprehensive response! Unfortunately in the two weeks to respond I managed to break a half shaft... Now up and running again after getting the hands dirty thankfully. Interesting about the 135, some food for thought! :)
Great video, I like tractors!
What is the flail width that you are running, must be 6ft, maybe more?
Does the MF 135 have any issues powering the cutter/mower? Is it a stock 135 (less the turf tyres)?
Thanks
The flail mower was made by Twose and it has a 2 metre wide cut ( 6ft 6inches ) and weighs just under one ton.
The MF 135 tractor came as new with a MF 165 diesel engine which produced 65 hp. It was a main dealer option in the UK for Hop growers which also meant that it came with a semi narrow back axle. With 10 inch wide rear tyres it is only 4ft 6 inches wide and thus can work between the hop rows.
A plus point is that with 2ft wide grass tyres fitted, it is still not over width for most other work.
The engine is a Perkins 4203 four cylinder version of the Perkins 3152 that is fitted to UK MF135 s.
It has very high torque and a long stroke and is very reliable, quite happy to run all day long running flat out working a 1.5 metre Van Dale woodland mulcher through an additional creep box. The Perkins 4203 was also available as a road going commercial vehicle engine. I put one into my 1961 Landrover series 2, it was a much better alternative engine, geared up it would do 37 mpg.
@megapowerchannelsunc Well I'll start with the latter comment about the Series 2... amazed at the MPG with the engine conversion. I have a 2.25l diesel Series 3 and it is struggling these days.
Appreciate the gen with regards to the MF 135. I'm on the hunt for a tractor that has the capability to run a wider cutter (large area), but there are sections that are tight, so a smaller tractor is needed. Appreciate the simplicity of the older, and lack of electronic tractors. Have you had to perform any major maintenance on the MF?
P.s. I'm also UK based (Wales).
Thanks.
@@97darosasg3 Regarding the Series 2 and it's Perkins engine, one has to acknowledge that a golden age has come to an end. In the mid 1970s there was a lack of regulations which today would involve lots of restrictions. That apart, then there was a lot of cheap engines available.
A secondhand 4203 taken from a Commer Walkthrough at £100 and a Philips joining ring for not much more. I knew two other Series 2s that had been converted and they were both reported to do 37 mpg once they had been geared up with Range rover diffs.
I once came back at night from Scotland towing a dive boat. After filling up the 8 gallon tank at Arden by Loch Lomond I reached Birdlip six hours later on the A417 staying in top gear with overdrive engaged the whole way even over Shap. Ear muffs were a must !
In town traffic, right up to third gear the throttle wasn't needed. Never broke a half shaft. As for the MF135, it does have some issues, the much shorter radiator is one, leading us to fit an 8 bladed fan and a Modine marine water cooled system for the engine oil. The pto is on the low side which means setting the flail up so that the drive shaft is kept as straight as possible for the UJs. Surprisingly the rear linkage lifts the heavy grass flail with no trouble. I know a local who used to have a Lamborghini narrow vineyard tractor that ran a 78hp non turbo engine. It would have been a better option for us. My Land rover 90 has a Mazda 3.5 litre four cylinder licence built version of the Perkins 4 185 which was fitted 34 yrs ago. Apart from tappet adjustment and filters it has never needed anything done to it. I wish I still had the Series 2 though.
@megapowerchannelsunc Many thanks for the comprehensive response! Unfortunately in the two weeks to respond I managed to break a half shaft... Now up and running again after getting the hands dirty thankfully. Interesting about the 135, some food for thought! :)