Anyone have some interesting MM stories...

and want to make a few bucks by writing them down? I'm looking for someone to write a a few short articles about their experiences with MM tractors and equipment primarily in the 1960s and 70s for a magazine I publish. If you are sincerely interested I will provide more information. You can message me through this site or email address is in my profile.

I might be. Let me know the details. I was an employee at the engine development lab in Mpls. fron 1965 to 1972.

This doesn't have anything to do with writing, but just curious if you have any pictures of the factory or where you worked in the lab. Like seeing how it was when they were built if you do and can share them that'd be great. Thanks

I agree, pictures would be nice if you have them. Stories first hand are very interesting. I would want to read them.

The only pictures I have are the ones I posted earlier of the prototype A4T-1600 taken in Arizona.

I have one more of a disaster of an Oliver engine after it exploded on the test stand. It is not very clear, I may try to post it.

Now I wish I had more!!!!

Please do. ANY stories are always welcome. I enjoy hearing about things first hand.

In the early 60's, my Dad was using our 1949 (he thinks) ZA on a project where a large lake complex was being created. The area was being cleared, and they were able to get logs for hauling them away. They were operating on the ice. At the site was a small Cat dozer. It had started to settle down into the ice, and couldn't move as the tracks were spinning. The dozer operator asked Dad to hook a chain and pull him up out of the area. Dad backed the tractor up close enough to hook the chain. When Dad got off the tractor, he slipped the transmission from reverse into third gear. Dozer started to settle. Dad said all of a sudden he was standing in 6 inches of water. He was able to jump onto the drawbar, and because the Moline was a hand clutch he was able to just engage the clutch and move the tractor out of the area. Dozer went to the bottom. If that tractor hadn't been a hand clutch, and if he hadn't have put in into a forward gear before getting off of it, it too would have went to the bottom. Dad is 82 now, and still laughs about that day. Took quite a project for them to get the dozer out as it went down about thirty feet.

Dad had converted a U over to LP and had the bottle in front of the radiator. Since he didn't have an evaporator it ran on vapor only. So when he worked the tractor hard, the bottle would frost up.

SO...he placed his beer between the LP tank and the radiator... Always had a cold one at the end of a hard day.....

We had two sayings that I heard from our resident test engineer Charlie Barth in Arizona where we did winter testing:

>About the MM manure spreaders..."We stand behind our products:

>About our tractors..."Outstanding in the field"

I may be ...we had a new 64 M602 that I still own and use ...
Lots of memories

Hey Schrocky, how are you doing?

We ran M-M tractors on our Kansas Wheat Farm. Had three 21-32's on LP, G-VI and Grandpa bought a new 602 with a 3pt plow. After about 3 rounds around 160 acres Dad ran Grandpa out of the field with the 602 as the 602 screwed up the corners so that the old 21-32's with no brakes and long nosed G-VI would fall off the corners. Grandpa went to town and traded the 602 for a 707!

As a small boy I spent many hours riding on the 21-32 setting on the toolbox watching the stubble turn under. And falling asleep there too. I still have one of the 21-32's on LP in my collection and when I walk past it I remember those days riding with Dad. Our last M-M tractor was a 1355 Diesel we bought new in 1974. I still have it but my favorite to run is the 1355 LP. When they tell me I have only one day left to live I will be heading to the field with the 1355 LP and the White plow.

I guess I don't understand the problem the 602 was creating?

When that 3pt plow was lifted on the corners it screwed up the curve of the corner so the old 21-32's and long G-VI would have the front land wheel fall into the furrow. Then it would be quite a fight to get the land wheel back up on top.