ZAU Question

Hi, I've been a member for a while, just never posted. I'm looking at a MM ZAU that is coming up at an auction in March. I don't know much about MM tractors, as I'm an Allis and Ford guy, but this tractor seems fun. I've looked online, and while I can find parts by the thousands for all my Allis and Ford tractors, parts for the Z series tractors seems as hard as finding hens teeth. Does anyone have any good sources for parts other than going to junkyards? I'm not sure on the condition of the tractor, it's a "barn find" currently, and I don't even know if it runs. A friend told me if carbon builds up on the pistons, when the pistons rise, the carbon buildup will crack the head. Is there truth to this? Everyone I talk to loves MM tractors, but this scarcity of parts is the only thing holding me back. Also, I guess every time you overhaul it you have to bore the block, as there are no removable sleeves. How much can you safely overbore one of these Z blocks? And also, back to the main question, where do you get parts for them then? I guess AGCO would be able to get some, but I don't want it to cost an arm and a leg.
Please bear with me here, as I'm new to the world of Molines.
Any advice appreciated!
Thanks!

I don't know anything about a ZAU or parts availability. But I do have 2 G 1000's, a G 900, a GB, and an M670 Super. I also have 6 Ford's and 5 Allis Chalmers. The parts for the MM's are a little harder to come by, but they can be found in most cases. The guys on YT are pretty knowledgable about parts sources and can help you a lot. I really enjoy my MM's as they are well made and don't give me much trouble. I mostly just play with them as I have newer tractors for the hard work. I would not hesitate to buy another if I had the chance. I don't think you will be sorry if you buy it.

In terms of MM tractors the Z series are amongst the most common. Parts are not as readily found as say a Farmall H or Ford 8N but most can be found in the short term. The guys here will fill you in on the sources. The cost of acquisition will be considerably lower than a same age Farmall. If it were me I would buy it and enjoy the experience of working with a less than common tractor.

About the carbon build up and cracking the head;I have never heard of that happening and I have owned and drove M M s for fifty some years. My first M M was a ZTU, which is almost the same eng. that a ZAU is. But It mite be possible.
When boring the blocks, that mite be a hassel , you have to have the tool with an offset cutter to do the job rite, due to the 'blind hole'
We have had blocks bored that were not bored all the way to the top. To correct the prob, the top edge of each piston was machined off a bit. It caused no trouble.
As for parts being avaible , there are some very good places to get parts yet. But , like all old tractor parts , they will become harder to get in the future. Some auto parts places can be good for getting tractor parts. Some not so good .
One thing I have found out is that a MM does not have to be in perfect shape to still get the job done.! clint

Thanks everyone for the replies. I do appreciate them.
Could you elaborate on the special cutter for the "blind hole"? I'm not sure I understand what you mean there. I can't do machine work myself anyway, so I would have to take it to a shop, if it needed done.
When I go see this tractor, I would like to do a compression check, so I know where it stands as far as engine condition. On my other tractors, over 100# is considered good. Is that a good number for these Molines as well? Thanks
Also, if anyone could list out good places to find parts, I would appreciate it. I live in Oklahoma, and there aren't many MM's down here, so they are especially hard to get parts for, compared to other tractors such as JD, A-C, Ford, and IH.

Here is a "not so good" photo of the tractor. The tires look decent, but the rear in the photo is flat, so I'm hoping it's not rotted out. If so, that's a bunch of money gone.

Are you wanting to overhaul it so you can farm with it or is it just a toy? If the latter, I'd just try getting it running first and see what you have.

As for parts, AGCO can get some. Also s T e I N e r has some. Plus the people on this board can direct you to some good suppliers.

Curious as to what the red box above the starter is--or is that just the way the light is hitting it?

Good luck. Keep us posted and let us know if you get it.

It will be a "play farming" tractor. I have about 20 acres of wheat I cut with my Allis-Chalmers All-Crop combines every year, and a few acres of Milo, and I need
a tractor to run one of the combines. I also have about 10 acres of wildlife feed plots. So..."yes" it's farming, but it's a hobby.
I'm not sure about the red part in the photo. It may just be the light. Hopefully I can go look at the tractor in person soon and see what the condition is, and
get better pics.

The Z and R engines are different, the heads are on the side of the block, valves are horizontal. Cylinders can only be accessed from the bottom. If you scroll down a little to the post "Minneapolis mm ZTN", Charlie Biler posted cutaway pictures of the Z engine. Charlie is a parts supplier himself and is very knowedgeable. Another good source for parts in Welters Farm Supply 417 498 6496. There are two publications for MM colectors "The MM Corresponder and The Prairie Gold Rush. The Corresponder has a list of parts suppliers on the back page every issue. Good luck!

8NNkid, I am in central OK.Where are you located here in OK.? It would be nice to meet up , as we have several M-M s in our collection.405 328 0081 evenings

Bought a 1948 ZTN about a year ago. It was in a field near my house and hadn't run in a few years.
Didn't take much to get it running. I have restored in with new paint, tires, gauges, steering wheel, seat cushions, and a few mechanical bits. Of the 12 antique tractors in the collection, it has become one of my favorites. I use it as my arena drag tractor. Has the best sound of any 4 cylinder tractor I have. Loads of pulling grunt. Parts haven't been that tough to get. There are several people on this site that have parts tractors.
Buy it - you'll love it.

8Nkidd, getting back to you about the boring tool. The cutting tool holder or the 'bit' has to have an offset in it to reach the top end of he cyl. If it does not have the offset, it will not go clear to the cyl. top. That small distance has to be bored out to let the piston travel to the top. We had a set of blocks bored that were not all the way. The "shop" that did the job turned off a little on each piston outer edge at the top. It got us by , but maybe we were lucky.
Here is some thing that mite help you out when looking for used parts. The cyl. blocks are the same for the 'Z " series and the " R " tractors. Same for some of the pistons. The heads are interchangable too. Valves and rockers also. Same for the fan unit, and the water pump, IIRC. Hope this helps you. clint

Not pistons Clint
MMDEL