1953? MF Model 30 - Opinions Wanted

I'm looking for a decent cheap tractor that needs to mow and repair my dirt road with a box blade, bush hog, and maybe a sickle bar mower, but doesn't need to look good and I would like opinions on this tractor.

I have been offered the pictured tractor with a used box blade and a used bush hog for $2050.00.

What do you think?

What picture? 1953 won't be MF and probably doesn't have a 3 pt. hitch. An MF30 is an industrial tractor made in the 70's.

if it is a 54, it is probably a ferguson 30 that is or once was painted grey. they are a very good 30hp tractor but if you are going to use a bush hog, i wouldn't think it would be what you are looking for. you should have a live or an independant pto. otherwise engaging the pto can be a bit of a nuisance. you have to stop to engage.

Couldn't get the site to load the photo, not that it will matter as your opinion is not needed. This particular tractor has a 3 point hitch and looks EXACTLY like the 500 other photos of a 1953 MF30 tractor on the internet... maybe you should stick to welding.

Thanks John, I'm new to this... how do I engage the PTO? Is it like my old Chevy 4WD where I had to get out and lock the hubs or like my newer Chevy where I need to stop to go to 4WDH?

I agree with stick welding. NO SUCH THING AS A 53 MASSEY FERGUSON 30. For being a new guy and not knowing how to engage a pto you sure seem to think you know it all. You won't get much help with your attitude.

I agree with you, seems like he has an attitude problem or shouldn't be trusted on a tractor.
Maybe the name says it all. smartgen

No I don't think it's an attitude issue on my part. I don't appreciate an attitude coming at me because I incorrectly called it a Massey-Ferguson, I was going by what the 90 year old man selling the tractor told me and I have to admit I was a bit insulted as I do know what a 3-point hitch looks like and this tractor does have one. That is why stick welders opinion is not needed.

hey smarten, it might be time you smarten up and come back to this forum with a new name and new attitude, you pretty much blew it here. tractor guys are a tight nit group who can be real generous with their many years of experiance, or they can be, ooohhh youll find out.

I don't know what the rest of the thread is about, but, scroll down to 'advanced posting tools' click 'upload' then 'browse'. If you get to your photo gallery in your harddrive, pick one, click 'open'. Then click 'upload'.... wait.... then when the thumbnail pops up, click 'continue'. If you do this with several pics, you need to end by clicking 'continue' over the thumbnail a last time. Then try 'preview. This learning process could take hours, just keep trying.
I will bet you are looking at a 1953 Harry ferguson TO-30, which as mentioned, is an awesome little tractor, but when brushogging, you have to to plan 20 feet and 20 seconds in advance. 2 grand for a nice one with extras ain't a bad deal in most locations.

In my humble opinion, if you are going to do a lot of bush hogging and lift work with your box blade, you will want a tractor with a live power lift.
To get that you will have to move up to a TO35 Ferguson, 1955+ model year.
Before you buy the tractor, shop around a little, drive a later model tractor with live power pto,
If the individual or dealer will allow you to test the tractor with bush hog, you will see what I am talking about.
These old TO-30’s were great tractors as about the only other option you had back then was looking at the butt of an old mule, so this tractor was great.
Just a word to the wise, look around some and at least check out the live power option and be sure you fully understand what it can do for you, before you buy.
Many old boys have run their tractors into a pond, fence, barn or something else while bush hogging as the pto will continue to push you forward,
If you do buy this tractor at least get an over riding clutch added to the pto shaft.

Good luck and stay safe,

Note: we grew up driving these old tractors, you have not been around them that much, they will hurt you, I started up an old D-14 AC one morning, it started in gear, almost ran over me.
but even in 1957 some tractors would still start in gear, so you see what I am talking about safety wise.

Thanks Tony, yes I have figured out that the tractor is indeed a Ferguson TO-30 and if I look real close at the photo I have of the front of it I can see the Ferguson emblem under the ton of paint covering it.

I'm still having problems with the photo upload... must be me.

Thanks again!

Thank you WellMax and I appreciate the warning. I used to drive an old Ford tractor many moons ago, but mostly for picking up trash at the park where I worked... no PTO involved.

I will look into a few others before I buy.

"No I don't think it's an attitude issue on my part."

Well in that case you'd be wrong! I never intended to insult you but was trying to to get some more accurate information to help you out. The facts are:
1. There was no picture
2. MF did not exist in 1953
3. A 30 could be more than one tractor. I think there may have been a Massey Harris 30 with no 3pt. An MF30 is an industrial tractor from the 70's and then there's the Ferguson TO 30

Going by your description, the only correct answer is an MF30 industrial but the year would be wrong.

Are we supposed to be mind readers to know what you're talking about?

The price (assuming all are in good shape) would be reasonable for my area. I have both the To30 and the To35. There is no doubt that the 35 is a much better tractor with the live pto and the hi-low gears. However, the To30 can handle bush-hogging and grading - obviously depending on the severity of the work needed.