First MH tractor, think its a 44 special but need help!!

i just bought a MH 44 special i think... it has the emblems of the 44 special on the front of the tractor but could have been put on there wrong. i bought it to use on the farm i just purchased so it will not be a show quiality. so my first question is if i really do have a 44 special and if i do what year was it built.


my next question is the three point on the back. is it a hitch all or a diffrent aftermarket 3 point.


my third question is the power steering unit on it is out where would i buy one and how would i go about changeing it?


my fourth question is in regards to teh super six front end loader. what is its lift capacity if anyone knows and what is one worth?

my fifth and final question is about converting the tractor to a screw on oil filter. how is it done and where do you buy the parts at? auto zone? napa?

I apologize for all the questions at once but i am new to the massey game and would really like to know all the information. i will be posting pictures as soon i can figure it out. and a little bit of backround. i worked for the man that owned the tractor. he had it restored and re painted about 8 years ago but after he had it done he left it in the middle of a pasture. about 4 years ago i tinkerd with it and got it running and moved it so it would be easier to brush hog the pasture. and that is where it has sat. it is not currently running but am pretty sure i can get it runnig fairly easily. i paid 400 for the tractor.

Thank you and sorry bout the long post im just really excited about my new tractor.

i couldnt get the pictures uploaded but the numbers on the driver seat area is 763396M2 with S underneath it

the number on the right side of the engine block is H260A319 with M underneath that and a K22Z to the lower left of that. any information would be great and also i will try to post pictures tommorow to make the rest of my questions make sense. thanks in advance.

The serial number will be stamped on a flat spot on the top of the
transmission cover near the gear shift.

theres my photobucket album to the pictures of the tractor. thank you

http://s1174.photobucket.com/albums/r617/rduttonks/

That is original three point hitch. I have one on mine. You will need to get an original center link for it as you can see the pto is higher than the center link hook up. The origianl link is open in the center allowing the shaft to pass through it.

I will try to answer some of your questions on your new 44. It's not a special, the special has many different features, throttle up on top, gas tank filler to the rear, updated hydraulics, and where your engine casting is a H260, the special had a larger engine with the number H277. without the serial # I would say yours is a 51 or 52. The 3 pt. looks to me to be a combination of factory and home rigged. The power steering is a Char-Lynn set up that looks to be a kit that was sold to fit the tractor, the pump and pump drive is rare, no longer available. I would try to get it repaired, parts are available at a good hyd place.I can't help on the loader, it is what it is. You can convert the oil filter to a spin on with components from NAPA. The set up is a by pass filter and has to be replaced with a by pass spin on unit, or you will have no oil pressure. The part # for the base is 4755 and use a 1050 oil filter on it. The original pressure line and fittings can be used(bend to fit) and the return to crankcase can be made with a flex grease gun hose if needed. The original filter # would be a NAPA 1090 and is no longer available. Good luck on your project!!

Thanks for the replies. Its good to know what ive got. Mike do you have a step by step guide or some pictures of a tractor already conuerted to a spin on?

Alder man do you have a picture of an original link i could use to fabricate a new one.

Also any other info about the loader or tractor would be great. Also anything else ya notice in the pictures would be great thanks.

As David G said - s/n will be steel stamped into top of frame / transmission housing about where your left foot would be. Frequently these are covered in grease, grime, or multiple layers of paint - but they will be there. It will probably be 2 lines top line should look like 44G1RF or possibly 44GR.

Second part of s/n should be a 4 or more likely 5 digit number which is the actual s/n. Early 44 started at 1001 and ran up to mid 3xxxx in mid 1952 when they restarted at 40001. Later 44 went 40001 to 47060. Then 44 Special started at 50001 and ran to 60719. 444 started at 70001 in 1956.

Engine s/n will be steel stamped into a flat spot just below the head on drivers right side. It will start MHA260 or MHA277 with a suffix. The MHA277 will be a 44Special or 444.

In general the MHA260 will be a regular 44, however the 260 was still used for High Altitude (44G5RF), LP gas (B engine suffix), and distillate (K engine suffix) in the 44 Specials.

best, ed

You have an late 40's or early 50's tractor. It is not a 44 special and the three point is not original. you have $400 worth of tires on it.

Crotchity is correct on the years. You can tell by the throttle. They
used that vertical throttle early on, then went to a rotary type, then
came back to it in the 50s'.

I have a 51 with the same throttle.

Just an update got the tractor running.
The floats bad but got a new one in the
mail. Everything seems to run good on it.
Thanks for all the replies still havent
tracked down the serial number yet.