Massey Ferguson 255 Specs ( 1975-1981 )
Overview
The Massey Ferguson 255 is a farm tractor produced between 1975 and 1981 in Detroit, Michigan, available in standard, row-crop, and low-profile versions. It was offered with three engine configurations including two Perkins diesel options and one gasoline option, with a tested PTO power range between 50.01 hp and 52.68 hp depending on the engine and transmission setup.
Ideal Applications
Engine and Power Output:
The tractor features multiple power plants including a 3.9L 4-cylinder diesel engine and a 3.5L 4-cylinder gasoline engine, with Nebraska Test 1250 recording a maximum drawbar pull of 5,591 lbs for the 236 diesel variant.
Transmission and Mechanical Configuration:
Equipped with either an 8-speed gear or a 12-speed Multi-Power partial power shift transmission, the 2WD mechanical system includes power steering, differential dry disc brakes, and a mechanical rear differential lock.
Hydraulic and Hitch Capacity:
The system provides a total flow of 19.5 gpm with a 10 gpm pump flow and 5 gpm steering flow, supporting a Rear Type II/I hitch with a listed rear lift capacity of 3,800 lbs.
Production
| Description | Row-Crop tractor / Built in Detroit, Michigan, USA / Original price was $8,100 in 1981 / The 255 was available in three versions: standard, row-crop, and low-profile. No information currently available on the turbocharged 255T variant. It may have been built in Turkey by Uzel and possibly in India. |
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| Manufacturer | Massey Ferguson |
Engine
| Air cleaner | paper and felt |
|---|---|
| Bore/Stroke | 3.875x5.00 inches (98 x 127 mm) / 3.60x5.00 inches (91 x 127 mm) / 3.875x4.50 inches (98 x 114 mm) |
| Compression | 16:1 / 18.5:1 / 7:1 |
| Coolant capacity | 11 qts (10.4 L) / 11 qts (10.4 L) |
| Description | Perkins / diesel / 4-cylinder / liquid-cooled / Perkins AD4.203 / diesel / 4-cylinder / liquid-cooled / Perkins AG4.212 / gasoline / 4-cylinder / liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 236 ci (3.9 L) / 203 ci (3.3 L) / 212 ci (3.5 L) |
| Oil capacity | 8.5 qts (8.0 L) / 6 qts (5.7 L) |
| Rated RPM | 2000 / 2000 / 2000 |
| Starter volts | 12 / 12 / 12 |
| Engine type | Perkins 3.9L 4-cyl diesel / Perkins 3.3L 4-cyl diesel / Perkins 3.5L 4-cyl gasoline |
| Engine type | Perkins 3.9L 4-cyl diesel / Perkins 3.3L 4-cyl diesel / Perkins 3.5L 4-cyl gasoline |
| Drawbar (claimed) | 42 hp (31.3 kW) |
| Drawbar (tested) | 43.49 hp (32.4 kW) |
| PTO (claimed) | 50 hp (37.3 kW) |
| PTO (tested) | 52.68 hp (39.3 kW) |
Transmission
| Description | Three speeds in two ranges plus two-speed power shift. |
|---|---|
| Gears | 8 forward and 2 reverse / 12 forward and 4 reverse |
| Transmission | Multi-Power |
| Type | gear / partial power shift |
| Transmission type | 8-speed gear / 12-speed partial power shift |
| Transmission type | 8-speed gear / 12-speed partial power shift |
Mechanical
| Description | Power steering / Differential dry disc brakes / Two-post ROPS. Canopy optional. |
|---|---|
| Differential lock | mechanical rear |
| Drive type | Two-wheel drive |
Capacity
| Fuel | 18.5 gal (70.0 L) |
|---|---|
| Hydraulic system | 8 gal (30.3 L) |
Hydraulics
| Capacity | 8 gal (30.3 L) |
|---|---|
| Pressure | 2300 psi (158.6 bar) |
| Pump flow | 10 gpm (37.9 lpm) |
| Steering flow | 5 gpm (18.9 lpm) |
| Total flow | 19.5 gpm (73.8 lpm) |
| Valves | 0 to 2 |
Hitch
| Rear lift | 3800 lbs (1723 kg) |
|---|---|
| Rear Type | II/I |
PTO
| Engine RPM | 540@1683 |
|---|---|
| Rear PTO | live (two-stage clutch) |
| Rear PTO Type | 540 (1.375) |
Electrical
| Battery AH | 95 |
|---|---|
| Battery volts | 12 |
| Charging amps | 37 |
| Charging system | alternator |
Dimensions & Tires
| Front tread | 48 to 72 inches (121 to 182 cm) / 52 to 76 inches (row-crop) (132 to 193 cm) |
|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 10.4 inches (low-profile) (26 cm) |
| Height (hood) | 57.6 inches (low-profile) (146 cm) |
| Rear tread | 56 to 90 inches (142 to 228 cm) / 55 to 87 inches (low-profile) (139 to 220 cm) |
| Wheelbase | 82 inches (208 cm) |
| Front tire | 6.00-16 |
| Rear tire | 16.9-24 |
| Weight | 5600 to 6415 pounds |
| Wheelbase | 82 inches (208 cm) |
| Ag front | 6.00-16 / 5.50-16 (row-crop) |
| Ag rear | 16.9-24 / 14.9-38 (row-crop) |
255 Serial Numbers
| 1974 | 9A202190 |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 9A207681 |
| 1976 | 9A232539 |
| 1977 | 9A254045 |
| 1978 | 9A276935 |
| 1979 | 9A296946 |
| 1980 | 9A326169 |
| 1981 | 9A339343 |
| 1982 | 9A350584 |
| 1983 | 9A354679 |
| Description | FAQ: How to read a serial number table. |
| Location: | Below instrument panel |
Massey Ferguson 255 Weight
| Ballasted | 7310 lbs (3315 kg) |
|---|---|
| Diesel Operating | 6415 lbs (2909 kg) |
| Diesel Shipping | 5850 lbs (2653 kg) |
| Gas Operating | 6140 lbs (2785 kg) |
| Gas Shipping | 5600 lbs (2540 kg) |
Massey Ferguson 255 attachments
| Description | front-end loader |
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Nebraska Tractor Test 1189
| Description | 203 diesel 12-speed 2WDSeptember 4 - 24, 1975Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 1189 file / PTO performance / Drawbar performance / Gear 1HL used for power test. / Gear 2LH used for pull test. |
|---|---|
| Fuel use | 3.2 gal/hour (12.1 l/hour) / 2.9 gal/hour (11.0 l/hour) / 3.1 gal/hour (11.7 l/hour) |
| Max power | 42.07 hp (31.4 kW) |
| Max pull | 5,257 lbs (2384 kg) |
| Power at rated engine speed | 50.69 hp (37.8 kW) |
| Power at rated PTO speed | 45.55 hp (34.0 kW) |
Nebraska Tractor Test 1190
| Description | Gasoline 12-speed 2WDSeptember 4 - 25, 1975Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 1190 file / PTO performance / Drawbar performance / Gear 1HL used for power test. / Gear 2LH used for pull test. |
|---|---|
| Fuel use | 4.7 gal/hour (17.8 l/hour) / 4.3 gal/hour (16.3 l/hour) / 4.9 gal/hour (18.5 l/hour) |
| Max power | 42.22 hp (31.5 kW) |
| Max pull | 5,668 lbs (2571 kg) |
| Power at rated engine speed | 50.01 hp (37.3 kW) |
| Power at rated PTO speed | 47.14 hp (35.2 kW) |
Nebraska Tractor Test 1250
| Description | 236 diesel 12-speed 2WDAugust 23 - September 1, 1977Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 1250 file / PTO performance / Drawbar performance / Gear 1HL used for power test. / Gear 2LH used for pull test. |
|---|---|
| Fuel use | 3.3 gal/hour (12.5 l/hour) / 2.9 gal/hour (11.0 l/hour) / 3.3 gal/hour (12.5 l/hour) |
| Max power | 43.49 hp (32.4 kW) |
| Max pull | 5,591 lbs (2536 kg) |
| Power at rated engine speed | 52.68 hp (39.3 kW) |
| Power at rated PTO speed | 48.37 hp (36.1 kW) |
References
| Description | Loaders and Spreaders published in 1979, by Massey Ferguson / MF 255/265/275 Tractors published in 1975, by Massey Ferguson / MF 34-81HP Tractors published in 1980, by Massey Ferguson / MF 200 Series Tractors published in 1982, by Massey Ferguson / Complete Farm Machinery Guide published in 1976, by Massey Ferguson |
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Speeds
| Description | With 14.9-28 rear tires. / With 14.9-28 rear tires. |
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Tractor Tests
| Description | NTTL 1189: 203 diesel 12-speed 2WD / NTTL 1190: gasoline 12-speed 2WD / NTTL 1250: 236 diesel 12-speed 2WD |
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Variants
| 255T | turbocharged engine |
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