Iron Mule

[Sberry]

I one in pretty good shape local. It's made from Massy 135 tractor with litte Perk engine in it. I will have to fix a pic if I can find it

 

[Welder Dave]

Not sure what an iron mule is but an MF135 with a 3 cylinder Perkins is one of the most desirable tractors on the planet.

 

[Sberry]

I bought it. Has the front end removed, a blade on it, has a bracket with swivel mounted on the back and another rear end making it 4x4 with a bunk and clam.
Looks simpler than Deere, looks like lots parts for it.

 

[Sberry]

1987 Iron Mule 5000 Forwarder - Item# 124526

1987 Iron Mule 5000 Forwarder located for sale in Manton, MI

www.lumbermenonline.com

That isn't the one but it has the Perk instead of the Ford.

 

[DDoug]

Here's one:

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[Sberry]

I see after I bought this I get every add within 500 miles of me with one,, ha This has the improved grapple i wanted. If I had some extra juice sitting around would buy 2, fix both and sell one. Right now I have some use for it as the help is getting too elderly to wrestle big wood blocks.

 

[DDoug]

My old neighbor bought something similar a few years back, old model
with a screaming 3-53.
Don't follow these things, don't know what brand/model

Whole reason for this model ?
You don't climb up to a seat, you step in and drive it standing up.

Helps us old timers having to chase chokers all the time he says.

 

[Welder Dave]

MF Industrial built similar machines back in the 60's and early 70's. The MF203 Forwarder and the MF2200 Treever. Not sure if they continued them on newer tractor platforms.They were very similar and used the Perkins 3-152 engine.

 

[Sberry]

I need to see what eng is in it. I never owed a Massy so feel free to enlighten me. I want to pull the inj pump and check it. Anyone with a shot of eng manual I would be interested.

 

[Welder Dave]

If it's 3 cylinder it's a Perkins. They came in gas (AG3-152) and diesel versions (AD3-152), the diesel being the most popular. HP and torque are very similar between the gas and diesel versions. I read somewhere the AD3-152 was the most popular engine ever put in a tractor. Not hard to believe considering there were at least 340,000 135's built and the engine was in many other models as well. Arguably the best small diesel ever built. An MF150 set the Nebraska fuel economy record for many years. An MF135 with the same power train was a very close 2nd best.

 

[Sberry]

Good to know. I looked and a lot of parts for it and priced right. We were looking at being good on fuel for working at idle in the woods lot. I am going to work on it some today.
Going to pull some shields and the belly pan and steam it.
It has good rubber. Any welding wasn't horrible. Going to clean it up and run it thru the paint booth.

 

[Sberry]

I saw one with some rear bunk extensions, might add a short version of that. Hoses look good and has a new/modified clam and 360 rotation. Clam has bypass and will grab small about like a baseball bat.

 

[Sberry]

We will picture it later today. I might service the pump. We did one a while back on a trouble shoot. If nothing wrong right back together and then it's known.

 

[skyking1]

cool unit

 

[DDoug]

cool unit

Yabutt....if you pull back on the wheel....nothing happens....

 

[cuttin edge]

Here, we would call that a porter. One time everyone and his dog had an old skidder, and some had porters. There is an old one just up the road from where I live. Most of them had detroits.

 

[Sberry]

I will get a picture. Had 2 women scrape grease for most of the day, took the shields and the pans off. Used a shovel to scrape them off and not sure how long it had been. It took about hr and a half or so to wash it up pretty respectable. Most of the active oil leaks are simple loose hose clamps.
I might change the oil as it has 15/40 and I am a 5/40 fan, worth the few extra bucks juice to start out with new juice. Its like giving batteries and starter a little boost.

 

[Sberry]

I figured a lot had Detroits. I paid a little extra here for a couple things I wanted and econo is one of them and I like this dainty 4 stroke engine.
I want to fix a leak on the pump. I do not have a manual yet. I havnt looked for timing marks but could use instructions.
Let me look for ser nos etc.
I am at work yet, when I go in will d a current picture so stay tuned for news at 10

 

[Sberry]

We poked around it with putty knives and scooped it up then I washed it. I didn't do it paint ready but so it can be worked on and can tighten a hose clamp without swimming in grease.
The paint always looks so nasty on this type of stuff it's kind of hard to tell the good from the bad.

 

[Sberry]

I found a couple 3 cracks and only 1 important bolt loose. Got to make a couple covers for weather. I have a couple minor linkage holes to fix.