The Massey Ferguson 165 was the most popular model at the top of the 100 range. The Mark III version appeared in 1968 with a new engine giving one horsepower more than the original, and more than 21,000 were built in France and Britain before 1973.
Massey Ferguson 165 at a glance
| Maker | Massey Ferguson |
|---|---|
| Model | 165; Mark III from 1968 |
| Production | Mark III built 1968–1973 |
| Built at | Beauvais, France; Coventry, England |
| Engine | Perkins four-cylinder in-line diesel, direct injection |
| Bore × stroke | 98.4 × 114.3 mm |
| Displacement | 2,475 cm³ |
| Power | 60 ch DIN at 2,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6 forward and 2 reverse with Multi-Power, or 8 and 4 |
| Power take-off | 540 rpm |
| Drive | Two-wheel drive, with a few converted 4WD examples |
| Built | More than 21,000 Mark III |
Based on one source: the French Wikipedia article on the 165 Mark III. English Wikipedia has no article on this model.
History of the Massey Ferguson 165
Top of the 100 range
Massey Ferguson presented the 100 range in the mid-1960s as a single, complete family of seven tractors, and the 165 was the most wanted model in its upper half. To answer Ford in the same power class, Massey Ferguson modified it with a new engine — a larger bore and a shorter stroke for one horsepower more — and a few technical improvements. The result was the 165 Mark III, whose silhouette was almost identical to that of its predecessor.
Mark III and its equipment
The Mark III was built in France and Britain from 1968 to 1973 in more than 21,000 examples. It was a two-wheel-drive tractor; the few four-wheel-drive versions were converted by their owners with front axles taken from American vehicles left in Europe after the Second World War. The dynamo charging the battery was gradually replaced by an alternator, and the mechanical PTO control of the first cars gave way to a hydraulic one that proved less than progressive and caused trouble with mounted implements. The interior kept the layout of the other 100-series tractors, ergonomic faults included.
Design and features
- Perkins four-cylinder: 2,475 cc and 60 ch DIN at 2,000 rpm, with direct injection.
- Two gearboxes: the familiar six-speed with Multi-Power, or a new eight-speed with four reverse ratios.
- 540 rpm PTO: mechanical at first, hydraulic later.
- Massey Ferguson linkage: the company’s well-regarded hydraulic lift, although trailer equipment was not standard.
- Familiar body: identical outside to the other tractors of the 100 range.
Massey Ferguson 165 versions
- 165 (mid-1960s): the original model of the 100 range.
- 165 Mark III (1968–1973): new engine, 60 ch DIN, more than 21,000 built.
- Two- and four-wheel drive: 4WD only as an owner conversion.
- Late cars: alternator instead of dynamo and hydraulic PTO control.
The 165 was the larger sister of the 135 and the smaller one of the 178. More tractors are in the Massey Ferguson collection.
Video: Massey Ferguson 165 working in Turkey
Video by kenan gül on YouTube.
Sources
- Massey Ferguson 165 Mark III, French Wikipedia: production, engine, gearboxes, PTO
