Off-Color : Massey 1105, The Good, Bad, and Ugly

So we’ve been looking for a loader tractor for a long time. I bought a bale grapple for our straw bale business, so the need for a loader tractor went up a lot. I needed something with a heavy loader, and two remotes to run the grapple, so it would have to have power beyond. Well, I lucked out- a Massey 1105 with a Koyker K5 on it came up for auction fairly close, so I bought it. It’s this tractor to be precise: https://www.bigiron.com/Lots/1977MasseyFerguson11052WDTractorwGrappleLoader

I know a fair amount with the Perkins engine- we have it in our White 2-105. I just don’t know a lot about the rest of the tractor. I know it’s not an Allis (and I wish it was), but as you all know, finding anything these days is almost impossible. So, what should I know about these tractors? Also, a stupid question that I should be able to find an answer to, but can’t: Do these tractors have a wet clutch like our Allis 7040, or a dry clutch like our White 2-105?

I have a Massey 1100, the generation before the 1105, it's been a great tractor.

The parking prall info is spot on as my Massey doesn't have a working park. Otherwise enjoy a machine that was a bit ahead of its time.

K-5 Koyker loader ?? It better have brackets going all the way to the rear axle. That loader breaks tractors in half.

Yeah, the neighbor and I are already planning to reinforce the heck out of the loader to the back end. While not a Massey, his father had a loader on a Case 730 that wasn't reinforced to the back. That was before my time, but it didn't end well.

I think MF's shift on the go was Multipower. 

Years ago I was looking at a 1175 Massey, inquired on another forum about them. Consensus was that the 1100 series Massey was solely responsible for the demise of MF. Hope you have good luck.

Play Farmer wrote: Tbone95 wrote: Years ago I was looking at a 1175 Massey, inquired on another forum about them. Consensus was that the 1100 series Massey was solely responsible for the demise of MF. Hope you have good luck. Ha, the value of the internet. When I was looking at my 1100 I found 90% were saying it was a solid tractor. Mine sure has been good, I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

Yeppers! That’s why I said good luck, because I sure don’t know.

The one we looked at was a V8. Beast of a tractor, was kind of interested. Scared me away, coupled with the bad luck we had with our only other Massey. Proof you have to live it yourself I guess.

In my opinion the 1100, 1130, 1150 and the later 1105, 1135, 1155 were good tractors in their day. I spent a couple years at a MF dealer in mid 70's. The biggest issues I remember I listed in earlier post. The draft control drawbar on early 1100 & 1130 was fun to use on discs & field cultivators, if kept in working order. Also the SIMM's pump on the Perkins 540 V8 used in the 50 & 55 tractors were expensive to work on and at time not many places serviced them. I've always liked the tin styling of the 1100 & 1130, I've bid on several but have never gotten 1 bought. Maybe someday/ like my wanting an 8010 to 8070.

WF owner wrote: I think MF's shift on the go was Multipower.  I have never driven a tractor with Multipower, but I know the IH TA (torque amplifier) free wheeled in low.

I know all about the the free wheeling and MF multi-power. I was unloading a MF 255 with mult-power from my gooseneck trailer, backing it off and I could not remember which one ( high/low ) free wheels and which one held it back. I was in low and that was quite a ride going down those ramps.

The 2000 series had maybe 4 models?

Ky.Allis wrote: The 2000 series had maybe 4 models? 2705,2745,2775 and 2805 maybe? These models may be wrong. (long time ago) Had a neighbor that bought a new one and it was in the dealer's shop 80% of the time. He said it was the worst piece of junk ever built. I was always told the 2000 series put the final nails in Massey's coffin.

From everything I found when looking, yes, the series after the 1100 versions was problematic. If I remember right transmissions were an issue, I could very well be wrong on that part.

Many years ago my neighbors bought an 1100 when it was only 2 years old.  2 Years later they traded it on an older JD 4020.  They still have the 4020 to this day, but they never had anything good to say about that 1100.  Funny thing, they only used Massey tractors before they got that 1100.

So the tractor arrived yesterday. Someone ordered a backhoe on the same auction who was a half hour away so the trucker hauling that gave me a deal on hauling it. Saved me the trip so I’m happy. Anyways, the tractor runs and drives nicely. The gear shift levers are pretty stiff though. I’m sure there’s a way to lube them up so they move more smoothly, I just have to figure out where to grease or oil them. But the tractor seems to be in pretty good shape for the age