Massey Ferguson MF255, MF265, MF270, MF275 & MF290 Tractor 1975–1983 Shop Manual OEM

• Covers Massey-Ferguson MF255, MF265, MF270, MF275, and MF290 tractors with the engine and driveline variants separated by model: MF255 with Perkins AG4.212 gasoline, AD4.203 diesel, or A4.236 diesel; MF265 with AG4.236 gasoline or A4.236 diesel; MF270 with A4.236 diesel; and MF275/MF290 with A4.248 diesel
• The 109-page PDF uses both Metric (SI) and U.S. Customary dimensions and includes condensed service-data tables for engine clearances, capacities, tune-up settings, and tightening torques
• Covers the 8-speed transmission and Multi-Power system, live and independent PTO arrangements, dry and wet disc brakes, hydrostatic power steering, rear planetary final drives, and pressure/nonpressure-control hydraulic lift systems

Component and System Documentation

The Massey-Ferguson MF255–MF290 shop manual separates engine data by the actual Perkins installation rather than treating all five tractors alike. Engine sections cover cylinder head service, valves and rocker gear, timing gears, camshaft, pistons and sleeves, connecting rods, crankshaft and bearings, oil pump, cooling system, and engine balancer where fitted. The diesel fuel section covers filter bleeding, lift pump, injector nozzle testing, injection pump removal, and static pump timing. Gasoline models receive carburetor, distributor, ignition-timing, and tune-up data.

Several build differences matter before parts are ordered or a repair is started. The manual identifies the tractor serial-number plate at the instrument console and the engine serial number on the cylinder block. On A4.236/A4.248 diesels, engines with an "L" suffix in the engine serial number use a one-piece lip-type rear crankshaft seal, while earlier engines without the "L" use a two-piece rope seal. It also distinguishes early fire-ring cylinder sleeves from later non-fire-ring sleeves and specifically warns against intermixing the two styles.

The driveline section goes well beyond routine adjustment. It covers tractor front and rear splitting, complete transmission removal, the eight-speed gearbox, Multi-Power shift valve and clutch, main/output shaft, countershaft, PTO input and lower drive shafts, reverse idler, and high/low planetary components. The standard gear-change transmission provides eight forward and two reverse speeds; the Multi-Power version combines a six-forward/two-reverse gearbox with a hydraulically operated high/low unit for 12 forward and four reverse speeds.

PTO coverage includes live PTO with the dual-stage clutch and independent PTO with the flywheel-mounted split-torque clutch and hydraulic multiple-disc PTO clutch. A 540-rpm independent PTO is covered across the model range, while MF270 and MF290 sections also document the two-speed 540/1000-rpm setup. Rear axle material includes differential overhaul, differential lock, bevel-pinion and ring-gear work, wheel axle and planetary final drive, carrier-bearing and planet-carrier preload, axle seals, and complete final-drive/axle-housing removal.

Workshop Procedures, Testing, and Special Tools

The manual documents repair work that commonly requires shop equipment: engine/transmission splitting, clutch removal and release-lever setting, transmission and Multi-Power overhaul, differential and planetary final-drive repair, brake-disc and actuator service, hydraulic lift-cover and pump removal, internal three-point linkage calibration, power-steering pump and hand-pump overhaul, injector testing, injection-pump timing, and hydraulic pressure/flow diagnosis.

Hydraulic test data is unusually specific. Three-point lift maximum pressure is listed at 20,340–21,375 kPa (2,950–3,100 psi). Auxiliary high-pressure relief is 15,860–17,925 kPa (2,300–2,600 psi) on MF255/MF265/MF275 and 17,240–19,305 kPa (2,500–2,800 psi) on MF270/MF290. Multi-Power operating pressure is 1,585–1,860 kPa (230–270 psi), and independent PTO clutch pressure is specified separately for single- and two-speed units. Power-steering coverage includes Parker-Hannifin, Sundstrand, and Aero-Quip pumps, with a recommended relief setting of 10,345–11,030 kPa (1,500–1,600 psi).

Special-tool references show the intended repair depth: MFN753 for clutch alignment, MFN202C/MFN202D and tool 6179 for release-lever height, MFN850/MFN850A for PTO-input-shaft bearing and seal installation, MFN458 for transmission mainshaft installation, MFN265 with MFN764-3 for planet-carrier removal, and MFN970/MFN1080D gauges with Nuday bushings for internal hydraulic lift-linkage adjustment.

A few assembly details can prevent expensive repeat work. When timing gears are partly removed, the rocker gear must be taken off before the camshaft or crankshaft is turned independently to avoid piston or valve-train damage. On the dual clutch, retaining pins must not be driven completely out while the unit is still spring-loaded because the Belleville spring can be damaged. During Multi-Power transmission assembly, the manual calls for a seal protector over the input-shaft splines to keep the PTO input-shaft oil seal from being cut.

For major splits or axle-housing removal, the tractor sections call for proper stands or jacks and front-axle wedges to prevent tipping; hydraulic pressure checks require correctly rated gauges and fittings.

Specification Highlights

The condensed tables make clear why engine identification matters. Cylinder-head torque is 122–129 N-m (90–95 ft-lb) for the AG4.212/AG4.236 gasoline installations, 95–102 N-m (70–75 ft-lb) for the MF255 AD4.203 diesel, and 135 N-m (100 ft-lb) for the A4.236/A4.248 diesel installations. Crankshaft main-journal diameter is 76.162–76.175 mm (2.9985–2.9990 in.) on the AG4.212, AG4.236, A4.236, and A4.248 engines, but 69.81–69.82 mm (2.7485–2.7490 in.) on the AD4.203.

Transmission/differential/hydraulic capacity is 37.8 L (10 U.S. gal) for dry-brake configurations and 41.6 L (11 U.S. gal) for wet-brake configurations; each rear axle planetary holds 1.4 L (1.5 U.S. qt). The MF255 AD4.203 thermostat starts opening at 75–78° C (167–173° F), while the other covered engine installations start at 80–84° C (177–183° F).

Representative technical illustrations include Fig. 208, Multi-Power clutch cross-sectional view; Fig. 239, wet-type disc brake components; Fig. 258, pressure-control three-point lift test and adjustment locations; Fig. 272, special gage block MFN970 for position-control linkage; and Figs. 310–312, wiring diagrams covering the gasoline MF255/MF265, diesel MF255/MF265/MF275, and MF270/MF290 configurations.