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Massey Harris & Massey Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum
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MF 285 engine problems

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Bloo

06-23-2005 08:22:36




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are there any problems associated with a 285? weve blown 3 head gaskets now, one three years ago, one three weeks ago, and one yesterday.... i believe the block is the problem, as the head has been checked twice now... is there anything i should know about tearing down this tractor? will i need any special tools? i have been told i need a "splitting stand"
thanks




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mhmalcolm

06-25-2005 20:01:39




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 Re: MF 285 engine problems in reply to Bloo, 06-23-2005 08:22:36  
When I worked for a Massey dealer as a technician in the early to mid 80's, the head gasket was improved two or three times, the head bolts replaced with studs and nuts, increased head nut torque, and new cylinder sleeves with an improved top flange. Re-torquing after initial warm-up to operating temperature was extremely important. I used to rig up a small engine fuel tank to warm up the engine so I didn't have to install and remove the fuel tank to do the re-torque. Not only would these head gaskets leak around the coolant and oil passages, but they would blow between cylinders. We had one 285 that had gotten a groove cut between number 2 and number 3 cylinder sleeves, including the block. Had to install the new style cylinder sleeves and filled the groove cut in the block with Liquid Steel. These improvements were made over a period of 4-5 years and we had a few tractors with multiple head gasket failures and the latest fix was used each time they failed until all the updated parts had been installed. My Dad bought a new MF 298 in 1983, which was the last Massey to use the 318, and even though this engine was built with all the updates, it still had one head gasket failure (coolant leak) at about 1500 hrs. This last version of the engine also had other serious problem: the oil pump was driven by the engine balancer by two set screws. The set screws would loosen, causing the oil pump to stop driving, resulting in main/connecting rod bearing seizures. These had an idiot light for the oil pressure and in the sunlight of day, you couldn't tell the light had come on until it was too late. All the 298's we sold eventually had this happen, including my Dad's. This engine was also used in the 698. If you are doing repairs, get the parts from a Massey or a Perkins dealer to make sure they are the latest spec and get the latest head fastener torque specs.

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Big Dean

06-23-2005 09:39:10




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 Re: MF 285 engine problems in reply to Bloo, 06-23-2005 08:22:36  
The AD4-318 engine used in the MF285 did have some head gasket problems in the late 1970. Massey came with a repair for that in about 1978 maybe early 1879 it was a new head gasket new head bolts and higher torque specs if I remember right. I know we changed all of them we had sold. A lot of dealer never changed them unless they had a problem from them. There was a service bulletin sent to all of the MF dealers with what to order. Before AGCO bought MF we could call the service department and get that Information. I don't know if AGCO still offers that to the dealers or not. This is not shown in the service manual and I am not sure but it may not be in the parts manual either. Before I removed the engine I would use a straight edge (I used a carpenters square for this) to look for any low spots. You slide it across the surface of the block from the front to the back and from side to side. If you can see any daylight between the straight edge and the surface of the block any where the engine needs to be removed and disassembled and the top surfaced. If I can be of further help email me.

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Don-Wi

06-23-2005 20:00:35




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 Re: MF 285 engine problems in reply to Big Dean, 06-23-2005 09:39:10  
That makes me wonder.... On our 285, it leaks oil down the side of the block and it looks like it's coming from between the head and the block. would this be realted? It's been this way for a few years but we've never had any other problems with it, so we never got it fixed. I'm not sure what year it is, but I think it could be a 78-79. Our 285 just rolled 6000 hrs 2 weeks ago.
Donovan from Wisconsin

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Bloo

07-11-2005 11:23:01




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 Re: MF 285 engine problems in reply to Don-Wi, 06-23-2005 20:00:35  
well, we finally have it torn down.. i found a kit on this site i was going to order, but i was told to make sure it had a "firewall" on the sleeves.. when the tractor owner called the person she talked to had no idea what that was, and neither did "their mechanic"... is that the wrong terminology? thats what i was told the ring of the sleeve that sticks up above the block was, and that it had to be there.

we did check the block with the straight edge, and it was clean.. what happened this time was the edge of the gasket was sitting on the edge of the sleeve, making it not seal down right.. i told the owner not to let that guy work on it

thanks for the replys everyone

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