Need your advice.

ucsspirit

New User
Please pardon if this issue has already been hashed out but I would like to ask some advice your all you fine folks.

I cam across an old Massey Ferguson MF50. I got the chance to look at it today, and the owner just wants it gone, it seems rather complete. however this is where I need your help. It has been sitting out side for some time. I am not sure if it run, however the front cylinder had a new plug in it, the gas bulb was nice and clear with gas in it. it looks like it has a newer starter. but he current owner doesn't have the keys. It has power steering, a hydraulic control box by the seat, and the body seems mostly complete, however I don't know what I don't know. He is willing to let me take it for what I think is a steal. Let me know what you all think, I am going to take a battery, and some jumpers to see if i can make it run before I decide to buy it. But I would love to hear your opinions on what something like this would be worth. or if i should just run away. PS i do enjoy working on things but I don't want a huge project. more of a working project.
 
Those are the type of tractor I try to buy all the time. Buy them super cheap and drive them off the trailer after I get them home but winch them on. I have many I have done that with. Non running there worth a whole lot les then when running so if you get it running before you pay for it, it is likely to cost you more.
 
If you are clueless about whether to buy it or not and are asking about it here, why not tell us how much
the guy is asking. That'll give you a good idea as to whether it is or not a steal.
 
Yeah, money. He wants it 'gone' right? So? free? Give you a couple beers to make it be gone?
Old has a really good point here, YOU get it to run BEFORE you pay him for it.... and you are setting yourself up for a big lesson. If it is- a couple hundred, a bit more if the tires are good... oh... if the tires are not good, it ain't worth too much even if running good. If you are willing to get into the project, tell ya, I got 3 50's, and happy i got em.
I do this in a situation like this. Its iron weighs about a ton. I offer double scrap price. so if iron is? $150 a ton where you are? Then dog will offer him 150 something, so you offer 300. That way nobody is getting robbed.
 
Be SURE the individual ACTUALY OWNS this TRSACTOR?

Purchase the TRACTOR and find out later he had no wright / permission to sell....you are up the creek Sir:

Bob....
 
Ya doesn't have the keys is a little fishy to me.. Check and see if the serial number tags are still attached too. If both are missing i would walk away.
 
Both the serial number tags are displayed, the
tractor is in an open field that was bought by a
developer, how do I verify he actually ownes it, do
they have titles ? As of now the negiated price was
400 buck and neither one of knows if it runs but I
feel it should run pretty easy. The tires are in rough
shape but hold air. My use will mostly be moving
my airplane around, and mowing large swaths of
grass. And possibly more odd jobs as it finds work
 
Buy it before you try to start it or he may decide he wants more for it. I wouldn't worry about the keys, easy enough to hot wire it.
 
It sounds legit then. Buy it for that price and haul it home without messing with it. For that price you could part it out and make your money back easily.
 
my lifetime experience,
if a deal is too good to be true, then something is not right.

if you buy the tractor, get seller to give you a bill of sale,
may still not be much help, if the real owner can prove its his tractor,
so do not pay more than you are willing to lose.

Just my two cents.

ask around in the neighborhood, maybe some old guy down the road can give you the 6 and 7 on who really owns the old tractor.
no use to get into a fire fight over an old tractor,

I have the serial number of my tractor written down in my records in case it were ever stolen, also some of the casting numbers, in case they removed the serial data plate,
do not know if it would do me any good, but worth a try, to prove its mine.
 
As I re-read this.... power steering? pay him and just get a bill of sale. There is only one? 2 ? MF keys, don't worry about that.
Pull your airplane eh? Someone told me the Royal Canadian Air Force bought nothing but Masseys for tugs and mowers for decades. That would be a cool addition to your ....aerodrome...
 
Clean gas and a new plug and no key plus want it gone equals time to make sure it will turn over either with a wrench or pulling it off in gear. Sounds like someone else already walked and said loose the key. Be sure and check the oil if new red flag if milky black flag. Bought a MF50 not long ago sitting for years paid 500 purrs like kitten top end looks brand new just needed clutch. If all is well I'd offer 200. If you get it home and too big a job then buy another and use for parts.
 
This is the advice i was looking for, I didn't want to try and start it in front of the guy i was buying it from, but I did want to make sure it would turn over. I figured at $400 I would have a hard time going wrong. but again I am new to all this. I did kind of want something i could refresh if you will and make into am amazing tug and lawn mower
 
when buying or selling a tractor I have always requested or given a receipt. also make the seller count the money while you stand with him.
 
(quoted from post at 08:49:00 10/12/17) when buying or selling a tractor I have always requested or given a receipt. also make the seller count the money while you stand with him.





X2 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Update,

I went up today to get it, however I think there is a bigger issue, I tried to just turn the motor over, and then load and leave. the problem is the motor wouldn't turn over, and something in the gear box is preventing any tire rotation. The H/L shifter was stuck, and immovable, and the main shifter moved and never felt like it engaged any gears. as I started to look I see evidence of someone messing about with it and couldn't make it work. Ie, no key but the ignition has been bypassed, newish starter, newish fuel, a patch of dirt infront of the rear tires where it looks like it had been drug, the transmission filler bolt was hand tight, and the willingness of the guy to use his excavator to " set it on my trailer" all a bunch of red flags to me, unless you tractor guys know a way to lock up the rear end.
 
Was the fluid clean like it was just changed? Sounds like it sat for a long time full of water and it's now all rusted inside. The shifter moving without resistance is probably from someone trying to force it into neutral and broke the fork. Most likely it can all be fixed but it would be a very in depth, aka time consuming and expensive, project to do so.
 
The filler cap was loose, cause someone was trying to stick a screwdriver in there and free up the yokes. Which happens now and then. Sounds like the problem is further back. Even a jammed pto can do this. Like mentioned, it is fixable. If you aren't put off, and he will load it, get it. Even if something in there is toast, there are tons of brain donors out there, 35,40,50,100 and 200 series - many MF's into the 1980's had the same arsend.
IF... you still want it. Seriously, the power steering parts are worth nearly what he is asking.... and if you can get it going, you might be very happy with it. Where are you?
 

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