Early Massey Ferguson 35 tractors were lovely, smooth running little tractors.
However, they were cursed with starting problems. These were resolved when the four-cylinder standard engine was replaced with the Perkins A3.152 engine.
From that moment, the MF 35 became a resounding success and became one of our nation’s most popular tractors. Not only were the starting problems overcome with the introduction of the Perkins engine, but this new engine also offered more torque and slightly more horsepower.
Just as word had gotten around that the four-cylinder model was a poor starter, the word also soon spread about how great these new Perkins-powered tractors were. Soon, the popularity of these tractors resulted in delays at the factory as the company struggled to meet demand. It’s safe to say that without the introduction of the Perkins engine, the MF 35 would not be the popular tractor that it is today.
We all know what a resounding success the three-cylinder Massey Ferguson 35 was with farmers. It is easy to think of all the classic examples we see today as being ex-farm tractors, but some of the best surviving examples of these tractors are those that were owned by other
