IH 150 Track Loader Help

My neighbors father in law has the 150 with power shift . He used it about 2 months ago and said it started making a rattling or clanking noise in the transmission like something came loose. He took it back to the barn and parked it. He went out today to try to move it and said it would not go in gear? He thinks a linkage may have come loose? He has sold his house and needs it gone, he knows I am in the process of buying 10.5 wooded Acres that I will need to clear and has offered it to me for free but I would have to pay someone to haul it 250 miles. I am going to look at it in a couple weeks but i know nothing about how the power shift / gears even works. I have look on the internet for information but came up empty. Is there a shifter in the center of the operators legs that would select H L N R that a linkage may have come loose? He says it runs good and in good shape with a couple hydro lines dripping. Free is not always good, I just don't want to pay hauling then have to sink a fortune in it to get it running.
Are they good machines? It also has a 4 in 1 bucket on it. I know its not a lot of information to work with but all I have for now. Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated.

For free it is worth paying an experienced mechanic to repair , you say motor, undercarriage , 4&1 bucket is all good . I would make her run .

Life time of international experience. Hard to know with the limited information. Your failure could be something simple but linkage probably would not cause the sound you describe, most likely would just not move. That unit does have a power reverser which in simple terms is a hydraulic clutch pack to select forward and reverse. The 150 was or is not one of the better loaders. They use a ih d282 engine which is know for cracked heads. I would not haul or pay for the haul of one 250 miles for it realizing it is a 60 year old unit if I were expecting a return on my effort. Now if it is just something you want to do go for it. They are VERY difficult to work on in the area you are experiencing problems with.

JM- Thanks for the information, its very helpful. That was my concern, dumping a boat load of money in a so..so machine and ending up with just the anchor.
I will look for one local to me. Any recommendations on a loader about the same size?
Thanks Tim

(quoted from post at 06:18:38 01/23/16) JM- Thanks for the information, its very helpful. That was my concern, dumping a boat load of money in a so..so machine and ending up with just the anchor.
I will look for one local to me. Any recommendations on a loader about the same size?
Thanks Tim

Click to expand...

Hey Tim , I would be interested in talking to the gentleman about the 150 , I am not interested in a free deal , the 150 is not a real popular machine but it will get the job done . I have operated one before , not much fun . Could you provide me with phone # of your friend ?

I have no problem with the NEWEER IH loader like the little 125 c or e model or even the 175 b or c. Case 450/ b or c along with the JD 450 series. Just something on up in the direct start, power shift area. On up in the 20 year old stuff. That 150 is just too old. For what you want to do you need a 4 and one bucket and after that about any thing will work. Small cat loaders like the 955 ect most of the times did not have 4&1 buckets. You should be able to spend something like % 8,500 and find something that will work and might get out a little less with good shopping. Auctions and craig list, are where you start then watch tie trader papers.

JM - Thanks again for all your help.