Should I Buy?

CharlieP

New User
Folks, I could use some help, and would be grateful for any I get here. I am looking at a 1959 "Big Mo 400," asking $3,550. Gasoline engine. Tachometer doesn't work, but everything else supposedly does.

I know NOTHING about tractors. I just moved from the city to 20 acres in the country. I would use this for mowing, grading, maybe plowing. I'm considering this because it's much cheaper than a new tractor.

Off the top of my head, the biggest issue would be parts, and finding someone to fix it (The Dalles, Oregon). It comes with no attachments, so I'd also want to know if I'd have trouble finding stuff that would fit.

Any and all practical advice would be hugely appreciated, including advice to stay the hell away from it. I'm not a collector of any kind. I'd buy this to use it, not to look at it.
 
There might be better tractors for the job... or at least ones easier to get parts for.

Something like a small Ford 3000 or 5000, or a Deere 2020 or newer, or something with a dealership nearby.

Minnies are neat tractors, but I think you should get something a bit more common so that you can find help easily.
 
X2 what coonie said....I would add an MF 35, 50 , or 65 to the list. Much more user
friendly than big MO. Ben
 
Here's one you might want to consider
https://eastoregon.craigslist.org/grd/d/two-1950s-farmall-super/6333147194.html
 
I don" think most Big Mos came with 3 point hitch which needs to be on the tractor you buy for your purposes.That's alot for a Big Mo unless it's very grear show quality also
 
good evening Charlie, there are a lot of things to consider when buying a tractor, the first of which is you. are you handy at fixing and pulling wrenches?, do you enjoy working on older iron? servicing and keeping ahead of issues on older tractors will keep you rolling. if your not Charlie I would start with finding out which farm equipment dealers are close to you and talk to your neighbors, what are they running? ask them about after sales service. tour and talk to the people at your local dealers, do they take the time to talk to you? or do you get the feeling your bothering them!! you'll be able to get a feel for how your going to be treated after you buy their brand of tractor or equipment. we used to have a first rate mf dealer close to us that was 1st rate but over the last 20 years it has gone downhill fast. we have a good case and john deere dealers close with first rate parts and service people you can talk to and they are glad to take the time to talk to you and help answer any questions you have. I would recommend around a 50 hp tractor with 3 pth. 540 pto, rear hydraulics, this will give you more options when buying equipment to use with it. good luck Charlie and keep us posted how it's going. john
 
Charlie a couple of add on thoughts, I see by your post you don't want to be spending a fortune so in the used dept. be shopping in the 1960 to 1990 year range, farm equipment like cars and other equipment have gone high tech in the last 20 years. high tech computer controlled has it's place but NOT on farm equipment. check out your local auction people, a farm auction either a farmer retiring or an estate sale, most likely if their equipment was being used recently it will be decent in shape, when you get to the sale and your looking at the equipment, have a look around the place, is it nice and clean and tidy?, do's it look like a dump? that will give you a lot of insite into how the equipment was looked after. is the equipment stored under shelter? is it sitting outside covered in rust and muck? if you decide to go with the big mo 400, there is a lot of knowledge and help here, members here will be able to line you up with parts and help you need. good luck Charlie. john
 
That model now is a collector only tractor. Very few ever made and not even sold in most areas.
 

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