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1935 Massey GP

I am now the 3rd generation owner of my grandfather’s GP, which my father found after years of it being out of the family.  It's serial # 302808 and was confirmed as being my grandfathers by my uncle who still has the business books from the farm/dealership. My grandfather, a farmer also sold Massey Harris equipment and had two with his dealership.  He kept one and sold the other.

My father did quite a bit of work on it and painted it the original green.  He also but the rubber treads on it.

It has sat for much of the last several years and as I check fluids, etc. I am confused on the oil level for the gearbox. I have looked at the manual but still can’t figure out how to tell the proper level of oil in the forward gearbox by looking in the 3x5 access hole (17, plate 1) from the rear box as explained in the 60 day lubrication section, page 5, of the manual. That refers to an oil level of just under the sliding shaft bearing retainer (1, plate 28). My confusion is that the bearing plate referred to in plate 1, plate 28 (I think) is on the front of the gearbox and can't be seen through the access hole at the rear of the gearbox? I filled my gearbox so that oil would go in and be even with the 1.5 dia. or so hole next to the bearing towards the top at the back of the gearbox (from the front box to the rear box). But now I have a full (to the top) engine oil pan. (and probably a leaky rear engine seal). It also does not appear that these two boxes are self leveling as the front gear box was initially quite a bit lower than the rear box.

Any help is much appreciated.
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RE:1935 Massey GP

Kevin,
This has been a question asked over and over again. This was a design fault in my opinion, they later fixed it when they came out with the overhead valve tractors. They drilled a plug hole just to the right and above the belt pulley housing where it bolts on the right side of the transmition. You can take this plug out and fill with oil through the 4x6" cover just under your knee when sitting on the seat until the oil runs out then it is to the correct leval.

I believe I have one or two of the earlier flathead GPs that have been drilled out and tapped a 1/2" plug into the side of the transmition to make it easier to get the correct oil leval.

If you have the transmition compleatly empty it should hold 4 gal and 1 quart of oil same as used in the engine as they can flow back and fourth as there isn't really a rear main seal on the crankshaft. 
If you haven't dropped the lower pan off the bottom of the transmition I suggest you do so as you will find you may need a putty knife to scrape out the gunk hanging on the ledge in the transmition case, usually enough to fill a dog dish in there.
Here is a picture of the pipe plug location on an overhead valve tractor.
Joe
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RE:1935 Massey GP

Joe,
Thanks for the quick response. It very much appreciated as a newbie getting familiar with this GP.

A couple more questions if OK.

I have attached a sketch of what I understand the makeup of the driveline.  I have pulled the ¼ “ plug (“A”) on the bottom of the chamber where the clutch and flywheel are, and emptied it.  This seems to be separate from the gearbox, even though its cast together.  It there suppose to be oil in here?  If so, does it affect the clutch? 

You mention that the oil will go back and forth between the gear box and the engine oil pan.  My father has said the same thing.  It seems that the oil level in the gearbox is maybe higher than in the engine?  How does the oil move back and forth and are there certain situations that make it happen?  How much should there be in the clutch and flywheel chamber, or should it be kept drained?

I don’t see a drain plug on the rear box, but there is a low cover plate on the left side.  How much oil should be in there?  Right now, it is full up to the shaft bearing as I was filling everything in sight without knowing what I was doing……..

If it's not to much trouble, do you have horizontal and verteical measurements off some reference point where I should drill to put in a plug for the gearbox?

Thanks for all of your insight.
Kevin
 

RE:1935 Massey GP

Kevin,

The 1/4" drain plug straight down below the center of the clutch area should be cracked open once a week just to drain off any water condensation, when oil starts comming tighten it back up. The clutch on the GPs is an oil bath clutch and is always submerged in oil. When the engine starts and is running the teeth on the flywheel pick up the oil and throw it at the differental and over the wall in the lower transmission box and back into where the gears are located. I will post a picture with yellow arrows to show where the oil goes.
If I where you I would pull the lower pan off the transmission, it is only 8 bolts there is a drain plug just to the left side of this pan to drain the oil out. If this pan has not been off for years you will find alot of gunk in there, clean this out as it will eventually end up in your engine bearings if left in there. If you compleatly drain the transmition take out the 1/4 inch plug below the clutch and drain that too. Once compleatly drained and new gasket is made put the pan back on and fill with 4 gal &1 qt of regular engine oil. 
If you have this pan off and opened up it would be a good time to drill and tap a 1/2" plug hole so you know when it is full. This plug is 1' above the housing where the PTO bolts on and 13 1/2"  down from the top of the transmission. I know this is alot to digest but I hope it helps
Joe
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RE:1935 Massey GP

Thanks again for being so willing to share information.

Draining the gearbox and cleaning it out is next on the agenda, as well as installing an oil level plug.  The engine and clutch section are already open and drained.

The “back” section with the access hole and linkages has oil in it that I believe also needs draining to some level.  How much oil should be in there?

My father was relating that this tractor replaced an “old” Case and was the only tractor on the farm until my Grandfather bought a Massey 81 some years later.  My grandfather not only used it on his farm but would drive to his father-in-laws farm some 5 miles away.
 

RE:1935 Massey GP

Well, it’s been a few weeks, but I have drained the engine, flywheel/clutch, and gearbox.  Opened up the gearbox, which I found to be amazingly clean.  My father said that the person he bought it from had re-built the engine, so they must have also opened up the gearbox and cleaned it.  My father did not recall doing it.  After getting everything drained and checked for sludge, I drilled and tapped a 1/2" plug at the location Joe P. indicated above.  Then filled the gearbox/flywheel and clutch with 4 gallons and 1 quart of the same oil as I am using in the engine (15w40 diesel).  Interestingly, the oil level with that amount of oil is about 7/8"-1" below the plug.  Still a good reference/overflow point.  Looking in from the "back access" by the right brake, the oil level is just over the second tooth from the top of the belt PTO when turned counterclockwise to take up the backlash.  Anyway, it's back together with proper fluids and fluid levels.  Kind of a bizarre learning lesson, but now I know..........
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RE:1935 Massey GP

Kevin,

Looks great looks like you got the Plug spot on to me. I am shocked at how clean your gear box is! must have been apart in the past and cleaned. Usually find several quarts of tar/gunk with mouse chewings, wallnuts, acorns and what not in there... Looks like you have a very nice tractor there and I'm sure you will have alot of fun playing with it in the future, thanks for posting for all to see it. It is fun working with these old girls and am always learning about them. Glad to help you out.
Joe