Looking at possibly buying a propane M5. In general are these good tractors? Is there anything in particular concerning this model? It is not running. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
 
Neighbor had one on a loader for probably forty years with no major issues. Has a flat tire at the moment but otherwise still a good tractor.
 
avant I picked up 2 m5's this summer one is running and the other needs some work to get it running, both mine are on gas and I found it to be a nice smooth tractor with lots of torque, live pto, the amplitorque tranny is a great feature. I pulled my john deere 336 baler with it this aug. and was impressed with how it handled the baler. I'm not experienced with the propane models but lots of members here have them and can give you lots of insight on getting it up and running. imo a great tractor.
 
I think you're a little bit hard on them. I don't think that the torque was weak, if so, no weaker than anybody else's and a heck of lot easier and less expensive to repair. Power steering isn't a Massey 230 but adequate for "assist" type steering. Usually wear renders the steering less than great but that can generally be made pretty good. The radiator is fine but the engineering up front there is poor. Compare an M5 to an IHC 560 and ask yourself which tractor you'd like to have brand new. An M5 is easier to get on and off from, the PTO engineering an functionality is better. (I own an M5LP, maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better about it) LOL

CC
 
We picked up this M-5 Propane this summer from a local guy 1/2 mile away. Everything works, the tack and working hour meter show under 1100 hours. It was only used to plow a little snow away from his business for the past 25 years. Before that it came from a local farmer that bought it new and used it very little. Original rear tires and very few leaks except on the loader. Got it for $2,000 as is. Power steering, 3 point, live PTO and good ampli-torque. Farmhand F11 loader with pto pump works good but needs a couple cylinder seals. I think it was a good buy to add to our collection, considering the low hours.
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Wonder if the front grills were damaged by the dealers delivering them, LOL. Seems even the "low hour" ones have a bashed in grill. Either the dealer did it or the owners drove the tractor into something in the first 15 minutes
 
Our M5's were not utility models. They were standard diesels and we worked the bag off them! Had stands built so we could split to do torque again. Used to shear the bolts off on the drawbar where it attaches to casting on belly. Remember drilling them out. Rad shop had bottom tank made so he could keep repairing our cracking rad. Really vibrated causing rad to crack and also tin vibrated holes in fuel tank. Type E hydraulics leaked from the Gresan valves. Never used in winter as they would never start.Had a spinner on steering wheel,still not sure why as you needed two hands and it drove like a bus. Otherwise put hundreds of hours on M5's and just about done rebuilding one.
 
No, the grill is perfect on this one. That is some sort of bracket bolted on the weight casting that is sticking up in front of the screen, I was going to take it off but haven't had time to work on it at all yet. I'm not sure what it was for either.
 
That's an artful response and I appreciate it. I had a M5 Diesel and always wondered how a dealer ever sold one. They start so hard and smoke and knock. I tried to imagine a sales guy telling a customer that is what he should buy, not a silly smooth running easy starting 560. I once was visited by a volunteer fireman after getting the M5 running inside the barn in the middle of winter. Vibrate? Sometimes you couldn't hear the engine over the roar of that long hood vibrating. Drawbar, yes my casing was damaged and repaired. OK, so you're not wrong but I think we could put something equally as colorful together about other models of that age. I'm just saying about my M5LP, it's dependable, comfortable, rugged and easy to operate.


CC
 
good morning avant, just an observation on my m5 being a gas engine it doesn't have the vibration issues the diesel owners are talking about, I'm going to guess the lgp model would be the same. the other thing I've noticed using it is how nimble it is turning, for a tractor with a 7 ft. long hood it will turn with the best of them, and if it's a tricycle front end it's even better. when I get the tractor in the shop for it's winter work over I will be pulling the bolt out of the draw bar to see what shape it's in. thanks for the heads up guys.
 
Not a bolt. The 4 bolts that go up into casting. Not drawbar but hangars.Book call them
drawbar support guides.
 
In reading you guys comments on the 336 diesel in the M5, I have one of those too and I overhauled it as it was stuck and even though now it starts easy and runs well, it does seem to have that vibration that you all speak about when you rev it up. The hood has a couple of cracks near the bolt holes that need repairing. Do you suppose that is because of the four cylinder design, the 425s or 504s don't have that vibration so the 6 cylinders must balance it out better? I've never used it for anything but running an auger etc. so have never had it in the field but I bet it vibrates all the time unless it's pulled down with the load. Does the UB Diesels vibrate too, or do they run slower? I haven't been around them.
 
Early design. By the time the 670 super came along most of the problems were rectified. Hydraulics were divided with the use of two pumps. The power steering was separate, New rad with bottom tank. Different control valves that didn't leak as bad when oil got hot.
U or UB diesels run fairly smooth as they are only 283 ci or 2/3 of a 425. 4 1/4 holes.
Just thinking back to running the M5. When you revved it up the tin would vibrate especially on side tin pieces by fuel tank.
Working on M5 now. Have worn splines on lpto shaft that drives hydraulic pump. Means pulling shaft out and replacing. Have a parts one. Went to check for parts. Didn't realize I have 5-M5's,all diesel standards. Know have a gas motor also. Parts getting picked over.
 
I will pull the 4 bolts holding the draw bar pin plate and give the bolts and pin close inspection, was wondering about upgrading bolts to grade 8 spec?
 

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