Massey 20e

1968massey135

Hi, has anybody any experience of a MF 20e? I know they are basically a 135 with a 165 backend but wondered would they be much better than the 135?

270WIN

Lovely little tractor. I had one for years and sorry i ever sold it. Yellow industrial uk council tractor. Backend very strong and would lift any round bale.

1968massey135

The one I'm going to view has a Sankey cab and power steering. Good rear tyres but wheels look smallish, maybe 12.4x 28. Are they nippy enough on the road?

emaherx

1968massey135 wrote: »

The one I'm going to view has a Sankey cab and power steering. Good rear tyres but wheels look smallish, maybe 12.4x 28. Are they nippy enough on the road?

12.4 x 28 sounds about right size for the 20e, it won't be as nippy as a 135 on the road as the rear axle has reduction hubs same as the 165 but with small wheels like the 135.

Tractor will have better lift than 135 also more stable when fitted with loader as its wider as well as heavier at the back. Front axle is also stronger than the 135.

1968massey135

I think 12.4 looks a bit small on them, hopefully they would take a 14.9.

1968massey135

270WIN wrote: »

Lovely little tractor. I had one for years and sorry i ever sold it. Yellow industrial uk council tractor. Backend very strong and would lift any round bale.

270WIN this sounds the same as the one as i am going to look at. Looking for an upgrade on the 135 for a small holding and fancied a more comfortable cab and power steering and the heavier backend would also be useful!

What sort of mph do you get on the road?
There is no pick up hitch on this one, would a puh from a 165 for instance fit okay?
Are the rear hubs the same size as those on a 165?
Do they have independent pto or dual stage clutch?

Thanks

270WIN

It was the same as a 135 on the road..same gears id say.
Mine had its own pick up hitch so im not sure if it would match a 165 but probably would.
I cant remember if it had ind pto but as far as i know it did not have. I rarely used it anyway.

My neighbour still has one which he got resprayed to red colour and still going strong after he got it 25 yrs ago

emaherx

270WIN wrote: »

It was the same as a 135 on the road..same gears id say.
Mine had its own pick up hitch so im not sure if it would match a 165 but probably would.
I cant remember if it had ind pto but as far as i know it did not have. I rarely used it anyway.

My neighbour still has one which he got resprayed to red colour and still going strong after he got it 25 yrs ago

20e has a reduction planetry gear in each rear hub (same as 165) so gearing is not the same as 135. (Most likely same gear box as 165 or it would be dog slow but still slower than 165 as it has smaller wheels.

Yes same pickup hitch as 165 as back end is from 165.

1968massey135

emaherx wrote: »

20e has a reduction planetry gear in each rear hub (same as 165) so gearing is not the same as 135. (Most likely same gear box as 165 or it would be dog slow but still slower than 165 as it has smaller wheels.

Yes same pickup hitch as 165 as back end is from 165.

18mph is plenty on the roads around here. No harm in looking at this one anyway sure and if a pick up hitch and a set of bigger rears could be picked up for handy money it would do me the best.

kk.man

the thought of going more than 18mph in a Massey of that vintage sends shivers down my back. Twenty years ago I did it for fun but not anymore for any money!

TheFarrier

kk.man wrote: »

the thought of going more than 18mph in a Massey of that vintage sends shivers down my back. Twenty years ago I did it for fun but not anymore for any money!

At the start of the summer I was sent to the coop (4/5 miles away) with a 165 and a 12 foot flat trailer to collect a 1/2 ton bag of fert.
At 4:40pm.
Passing down the hill into the village my tiny little brain decided that my best bet to get there in time was to put in the clutch.
Away she went boy.
Warp speed.
Which was fine until I met a tipper truck on a bend.

All’s well that ends well but I wouldn’t do it again.
My poor trousers never fully recovered either, and I’m sure the truck driver took her handy for a few miles after that

Albert Johnson

TheFarrier wrote: »

At the start of the summer I was sent to the coop (4/5 miles away) with a 165 and a 12 foot flat trailer to collect a 1/2 ton bag of fert.
At 4:40pm.
Passing down the hill into the village my tiny little brain decided that my best bet to get there in time was to put in the clutch.
Away she went boy.
Warp speed.
Which was fine until I met a tipper truck on a bend.

All’s well that ends well but I wouldn’t do it again.
My poor trousers never fully recovered either, and I’m sure the truck driver took her handy for a few miles after that

I started my driving career with a 35 and progressed rapidly to a zetor 6211. Both of them were reliable workhorses but there braking capacity left lots to be desired. As above all's well that ends well but a few hairy experiences have left me with a life long skepticism of the most modern braking systems. I always aim to be able to stop within the clear road visible and use the gears as much as the brakes to hold back going down hill. Applying the brakes and feeling the vehicle gaining momentum is fair from the nicest of experiences.

1968massey135

So i went to see a 250 (well a painted 20e to be fair) and it was rough enough.
Hydraulics and pto didnt work, owner reckons its only a matter of cleaning the filter?

Steering was very heavy and lots of play infact i couldnt keep it under control at high speed. Is there much to overhauling the steering?

Bottom of one door rotten, is this the same cab doors as the 265/290 sankey cab?

Cheers

hopeso

1968massey135 wrote: »

So i went to see a 250 (well a painted 20e to be fair) and it was rough enough.
Hydraulics and pto didnt work, owner reckons its only a matter of cleaning the filter?

Steering was very heavy and lots of play infact i couldnt keep it under control at high speed. Is there much to overhauling the steering?

Bottom of one door rotten, is this the same cab doors as the 265/290 sankey cab?

Cheers

I don't know....but to me it sounds like one to walk away from. I wouldn't buy the dirty filter story anyway...

Track9

Steering can be done using ordinary DIY tools & arms etc are reasoable price.
As rule of thumb , the mechanical parts for Massey are reasoable , however if its pumps etc to be replaced the parts can be pricey .
The fact that there are various items in poor repair signals that little to no maintenance was done. I would leave it unless the price is very right for you .

emaherx

Track9 wrote: »

I would leave it unless the price is very right for you .

Unless the price is right and you want a project!

Also apart from heavier backend and better brakes it's not much of an upgrade from the 135 you already have. I have a 135 and a 205 (205 is similar to the 20e) unless there is a loader fitted there is little advantage to the heavy backend as front of tractor is too light without a lot of weight added. Mine is fitted with an industrial loader which really makes use of the heavier back end.

wrangler

emaherx wrote: »

Unless the price is right and you want a project!

Also apart from heavier backend and better brakes it's not much of an upgrade from the 135 you already have. I have a 135 and a 205 (205 is similar to the 20e) unless there is a loader fitted there is little advantage to the heavy backend as front of tractor is too light without a lot of weight added. Mine is fitted with an industrial loader which really makes use of the heavier back end.

A neighbour had a 20e, but it had a high top gear.....wouldn't pull much but it was nice for driving around, nice speed at low revs, it'd do the 18 mph at 1500 revs