If you could.......

oldtanker · Oct 5, 2012

If you could make any changes to a Farmall M to make it more usable today what would they be? Think like money was a consideration.

I'm not going to commnet as I think most of you guys know what I think is wrong with the M for todays needs.

Rick

F-Dean · Oct 5, 2012

Live hydraulics, power steering & 3-point -- all standard

wisbaker · Oct 5, 2012

Live/independent PTO, live hydraulics, 3 point,
power steering and differential lock.

BigTone · Oct 5, 2012

Power steering, live hydraulics and a 3 pt. hitch would make life MUCH easier for me.

MisterT · Oct 5, 2012

IH realized the shortcomings of the Farmall M, so they introduced the 400 and then the 450.

oldtanker · Oct 5, 2012

(quoted from post at 10:26:21 10/05/12)
IH realized the shortcomings of the Farmall M, so they introduced the 400 and then the 450.

LOL I know that. I'm going to be farming fulltime in the spring. I have a 1206 (used year round), the M which isn't or hasn't been used much and a couple of Ford 8N's that get used a lot in the on seasons but not in the winter. I just picked up an IH 85 Grinder Mixer and can run that and the poo spreader with the M and am thinking that up grading the M would make it more suited for what I need. Replacing it right now just isn't in the budget. So I'm fishing for ideas. I need a field cultivator and a combine much more than I need to trade/sell a traactor for an up grade.

Rick

BigTone · Oct 5, 2012

Just thought of something, could you imagine how much more useful the M would be with 4 wheel drive!!

Andrew Z · Oct 5, 2012

lower first and reverse gears standard.

Funny thing is that what everyone is saying was
around as either factory/ aftermarket or could be
taken from a latter series, ie the 400/450.

Andrew

flambeauone · Oct 5, 2012

Add power steering, saginaw three point, and live hydraulics.
Maybe a 560 wide front or a shwartz with some float tires on
front would also be nice. A nice seat with a backrest is also
high on my list. As others have said dif lock, lower gears and
gour wheel drive would be awesome but not very practical
on a budget.

notjustair · Oct 5, 2012

Live hydraulics. I'd be fine with the five gears if it had a high
and low range like our 856 and 966 had. I love the narrow
front, but I would love to have a little different design so every
other tractor you look at didn't wobble like a drunkard.

Did I mention hydraulics?

SadFarmall · Oct 5, 2012

Well, for me it would be a differential lock. That would make ploughing easier on occasion. Also an instrument lamp for the ammeter, so it could be seen at night. It's a small thing, but I don't like having instruments, which cannot be seen all the time.

IHC made some improvements to the M out here, which included three point linkage with the hydraulic cylinder INSIDE the gearbox lid and altering the swinging drawbar to strengthen it and make height adjustment easier.
1st gear on many Farmall M tractors here was a low speed gear as standard. By the time the AW-7 Diesel was made, a low low first gear was the norm.
Basically other than the differential lock and ammeter lamp, I wouldn't change much. I just work the tractor with old IHC and Sunshine equipment and it performs admirably all the time.
SadFarmall

DeltaRed · Oct 5, 2012

My old SM is JUST FINE the way it is.It has live
hydralics and a 3 point.M/W live pto.Power steering
would be nice(some times).If an M had all those
'modern' improvements,It just would'nt be an M!BTW,I
just spent several hours 'seat time' on my "Super" today.
<):^)

Janicholson · Oct 5, 2012

Durable paint. Better seat bushings (urethane)
Better starter drive. Two stage clutch for PTO/s.
All fixed on the 400 (except better paint). Jim

Old Iron · Oct 6, 2012

My '49 M has Char Lynn power assist steering w/wide front end, live hydraulics with a DuAl loader, and a Saginaw 3pt.

Plus a set of tire chains for snow pushing.

Live PTO would be nice,... but the old M is a handy son-of-a-gun just the way I have it set up now.

scotc · Oct 6, 2012

Just the spreader and feed grinder? Sounds just about right.

mkirsch · Oct 6, 2012

If money is a consideration, leave it alone.

Live hydraulics will run you well over $1000. Power steering another $800. Three point hitch another $1000.

You can do better with used parts on price, but EVERYONE wants those features so you don't see them come up for sale very often, and when they do you better be ready to run with a stack of $100's in your hand because someone else will get them first.

Whatever you put in the tractor will come close to the tractor's value as-is, and won't add a fraction to the tractor's resale value.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 8, 2012

I just added a three point from Saginaw, converted to 12V with alternator, next is live hydraulics. This was my Dads tractor and he rebuilt the engine, recored radiator, new rear tires and it is worth a small fortune to me.

oldtanker · Oct 8, 2012

I'd love to be able to use it more. Like with my haybine but lack of PS for a guy with back problems makes that impractical. Don't really see where I would use 3 point too much. Would really like to have better hydraulics. Not intent or need for a loader on it. I have a TLB and a loader on the 1206. Don't really run it in the winter. Been hearing that the Swartz (spell???) wide front is better than the OEM so that may be something I look at. I will be planting small grains/grass with it next spring. About 40 acres worth.

Rick

tntleake · Oct 8, 2012

Is this you on your super LOL
Hope you don't mind

oldtanker · Oct 8, 2012

(quoted from post at 15:12:32 10/06/12) If money is a consideration, leave it alone.

Live hydraulics will run you well over $1000. Power steering another $800. Three point hitch another $1000.

You can do better with used parts on price, but EVERYONE wants those features so you don't see them come up for sale very often, and when they do you better be ready to run with a stack of $100's in your hand because someone else will get them first.

Whatever you put in the tractor will come close to the tractor's value as-is, and won't add a fraction to the tractor's resale value.

OH believe me I understand that.....kinda makes me laugh when I read an ad that states "over X amount invested". Some people need to learn that "investing" 3500 into a 2000 dollar tractor isn't a wise investment.

Rick

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