Dad's first new tractor was a 1951 MC. I remember running it when growing up on the farm. It had transmission problems so he sold it back in the 70's.
This one was advertised as running 4 years ago, engine still loose 4 months ago. It was down at Red Cloud, 75 miles away. I was wondering how I would get it home. When I got there, it was already on a trailer; he had hauled it in from the farm. Tracks not as good as appeared in the pictures, but workable for what I'm doing. Not a restore; just get it running and use it as is.
He was asking $1800 + $200 for a parts tractor.
We made a deal for a straight trade: my '46 A for it and the parts tractor, delivered to my place.
Got to looking at the parts tractor, not worth bringing home. Then asked to make sure the engine was loose on this one. Hooked up battery cables to the starter.
CLUNK!
Stuck!
That changes everything!
He backed down to $1000 cash. No longer interested in trading, since he would have to pay me.
He threw in some extra parts (correct seat frame, dozer lift arms).
I came home and rearranged the shop. Figured I may have to put something outside, but got it done so the MC will fit in the back where I can work on it and be out of the way so I can still use the hoist.
It just so happened that he was meeting a fellow in Grand Island that night, so he brought it up. He brought his skid steer to push it in. We put down plywood as we went to protect the concrete from the cleats. As we backed it in, I was moving the levers so I know the steering clutches & brakes are working.
Now to get to work!
Looking forward to it.
Hopefully, it will let me link to my FB album of it's progress:
https://www.facebook.com/gary.hickman.54/media_set?set=a.2156321251117755&type=3
This one was advertised as running 4 years ago, engine still loose 4 months ago. It was down at Red Cloud, 75 miles away. I was wondering how I would get it home. When I got there, it was already on a trailer; he had hauled it in from the farm. Tracks not as good as appeared in the pictures, but workable for what I'm doing. Not a restore; just get it running and use it as is.
He was asking $1800 + $200 for a parts tractor.
We made a deal for a straight trade: my '46 A for it and the parts tractor, delivered to my place.
Got to looking at the parts tractor, not worth bringing home. Then asked to make sure the engine was loose on this one. Hooked up battery cables to the starter.
CLUNK!
Stuck!
That changes everything!
He backed down to $1000 cash. No longer interested in trading, since he would have to pay me.
He threw in some extra parts (correct seat frame, dozer lift arms).
I came home and rearranged the shop. Figured I may have to put something outside, but got it done so the MC will fit in the back where I can work on it and be out of the way so I can still use the hoist.
It just so happened that he was meeting a fellow in Grand Island that night, so he brought it up. He brought his skid steer to push it in. We put down plywood as we went to protect the concrete from the cleats. As we backed it in, I was moving the levers so I know the steering clutches & brakes are working.
Now to get to work!
Looking forward to it.
Hopefully, it will let me link to my FB album of it's progress:
https://www.facebook.com/gary.hickman.54/media_set?set=a.2156321251117755&type=3
