OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Ride On Massey Ferguson

I have been given a Massey Ferguson with a 16hp V twin Briggs fitted but the hydro drive has apparently failed. Not sure what to do with it, it fires but carby needs a clean out but it sounds ok, no smoke. Do these have the same bolt pattern as the smaller Briggs

I never have checked but I think are the same as the 14.5+ OHV singles.

Now as the engine running just be aware that v-twins can run perfectly good one cylinder until loaded so when you get the carburetor straighten out test that both cylinders are operating and fairly balanced power wise. Otherwords they the rpm drop when one is not working should be nearly the same as the other when swap the firing cylinder.

As for the hydro most fail due pump failure (center section). It usually very costly to repair and replacement is about the only cost effective option as you may be able to get a good used unit as a replacement for a reasonable cost.
As for being a Massey I haven't seen their setup so it might be repairable but check the costs first.

It also just might be a bad axle seal that leaked out all the hydraulic fluid.

Thanks AVB, I remember when this machine had a new hydro fitted at great expense ($1800 from memory) about 15 years ago. It has been parked up for at least 5 years. I don't really want it but my mate insists I need another project ( I know I don't ) so my only thoughts would be to wreck it and sell off the motor. I can see it being dumped here before the weekend and with 2 flat front tyres that is the last thing I need at the moment. I promised my wife I would get rid of a mower every week for 12 months and that would reduce the mountain here, this doesn't help.

I just imagine you with an Emu egg size lump on your head from your wife's iron skillet if you on't live up to your promise. Good luck on clearing the lot.

That was a good chunk of change anywhere for a hydro. I replaced a hydro on a John Deere Z925A last year and with my labor it was $2500. It had an internal bearing failure that sent metal every where plus a golf ball size hole in the housing. The customer had winch the ZTR on to his trailer as this particular ZTR has a shared hydro oil system.

BTW One of my Emus raised a lump on my lower leg nearly that big and yes I have seen the eggs. The saying is "I going to raise a goose egg on your egg if don't do what I said." and was one mother favorites plus had a large selection of iron skillets to choose from. I still go them all though I only use three them regularly here cooking.

Which is better in this case, shared system or not? A friend's Daihatsu automatic transaxle failed on the freeway because the oil supply for the differential component was separate, so had been forgotten about while the gearbox part had been maintained as normal.
Makes me glad my car's has a shared supply.

AVB, from what I remember they paid a good chunk of coin for this mower in the first place because it was a "Massey Ferguson" so $1800 to repair the transmission on it was just an annoyance, compared to the many millions wasted by the kids fighting over the will over the last 4 years. Lawyers have had a field day

Hi AVB,do you know how to unlock the hydro on these, there is a lever in the left hand corner that says to move it to disengage the transmission but it doesn't seem to do much. I just want to be able to move it around

Do you know the model of the Massey or the hydro? I might be able to look it up see hydro was used.

Hi AVB, don't go to any trouble, just thought you might have had some trick up your sleve it is a 2616H I haven't looked at it, it was dumped here on Sat and I want to be able to move it around if I have to. I think it will probably just get the motor removed and the rest can go to the scrap bin which is a pity because the rest seems to be in fairly good condition. I don't know if they were a ride on worth fixing

After 4 years of sitting here I finally got pressured into looking at this machine and have now rebuilt the deck and got this machine ready to return to service. Been a lot of work (always is on any ride on) New carby I got was Chinese junk (can't buy anything else these days) just running miles too rich and nothing I could do with it. Ended up fitting a PZ30 motorbike carby to it and it runs beautifully now. Wasted a lot of time trying to sort the other carby, wish I had just gone for the PZ30 so much better. As for the transmission being locked up after all these years my so discovered the park brake was locked on. What me belief is the drive belt had come off the PO put the brake on and just left the mower sit. When it came to move it (probably a year later he had forgotten he had put the brake on so he ended up dragging it up onto the trailer with his car. Then we had a big task getting it off the trailer at my place as I was on crutches waiting for a hip replacement. After all these years it is a very good machine once again