Looked at a 135 MF

Jiles · Dec 2, 2011

A friend of mine suggested I take a look at his uncle's 135 MF diesel with power steering. He said the owner was going to sell it cheap. I called the owner and made arrangements to take a look. He wanted $1500!
I drove about 20 miles and the elderly gentelman came out, he could barely walk and was at least 75 years old.
He said it was parked in his field where it had been for nearly a year, with the transmission locked up.
He needed $1500 to buy an old running JD he had found.
I drove my truck with him inside and looked the tractor over. Started it up, after a boost and start fluid and ,as he said, transmission was hung in two gears.
I was aware of this somewhat common problem with many 135s so I told him I could fix it for him. He said he didn't have the money, and someone told him they would fix it for $600.
I said my repair would be free and I showed him how to unlock the transmission through the transmission fluid fill hole.
He asked me if he could back out of the sell and I said fine.
Needless to say, he was thrilled and wanted to pay me something, which I refused.
I just didn't have the heart to buy the tractor.
Suprised that this old man had tears in his eyes.
He insisted that I take a Troybilt garden tiller that he could no longer operate, which I did.
I may have missed a bargin but I certinally received a blessing!

Chris(WA) · Dec 2, 2011

You done Good!! God Bless!

Billy NY · Dec 2, 2011

Instead of whats in it for me, you did a very nice thing for this man, its nice to hear about people being good to each other, because it seems to be a rare thing these days, just imagine, could be any one of us later in life, in a bind and having to depend on or trust someone who may be a complete stranger.

You can buy tractors all day long, but no bought tractor will ever provide the experience of being honest, caring and helping another person out with a problem, its the way things should be, and you know that tiller will always remind you of it, sometimes its an insult to not take a tip or small token of appreciation from someone you would never take money from for anything you did for them, I always lose that argument, "your money is no good here" I tell em, then find an envelope in my car, the mail or some darned thing, nice to hear of your experience helping this person !

One time, myself and a friend a plumber, pulled 300 feet of galvanized pipe from a well, to repair a pump, was later replaced with pvc, and new pump, for a very good friend, we set up a rig over the casing, did the work, saturday, nice outside, just helping out, he sends a check, envelope addressed wrong number on my short road, it went to my neighbor, name on envelope is "Wild Bill", was funny what he wrote on the envelope, just too much, what in heck is my neighbor going to think after reading whats on envelope LOL, its all good though !!!

DoubleR · Dec 2, 2011

You did the right thing. I'm sure you feel better about yourself than if you would have stole the tractor from the old guy.

DCM · Dec 2, 2011

Nice story, good for you.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 2, 2011

You will be rewarded in time. I love helping the elderly. Honesty and being a good person is not a bad way to be.

POPPY11 · Dec 2, 2011

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND GOOD JOB!!!

James Williams · Dec 2, 2011

Jiles,30 years ago I was a liscensed wood seller{fire wood},I was selling wood for 60.00 for 2/3 cord.A older lady gave me her address,not by direstions but by route and box #,took me 2 hours to find her.When I unloaded the wood she tryed to pay me with cash{a hundred dollar bill}I had no change and just gave her the wood.Makes you feel good.I can tell a lot of stories like this,Ive never missed the money

jimmy

rick165 · Dec 2, 2011

my 135 does that all the time just take the transmission fill plug out (RIGHT BESIDE THE SHIFTER)]get a small bar or large screw driver down inside and start sliding those gears around untill they get realined and i bet you she will be freed up
RICK

Chip812 · Dec 2, 2011

Nice! Lots of good Karma!!!!
8)

Jiles · Dec 2, 2011

(quoted from post at 20:56:07 12/02/11)
my 135 does that all the time just take the transmission fill plug out (RIGHT BESIDE THE SHIFTER)]get a small bar or large screw driver down inside and start sliding those gears around untill they get realined and i bet you she will be freed up
RICK

I have been told that there is an inexpensive repair kit that will correct the problem. I guess that's what someone was going to install for $600. Just consider this if you ever have your's apart.

aFORDable · Dec 2, 2011

You did the right thing.

Mike (WA) · Dec 2, 2011

Good for you. Many wouldn't resist the opportunity to take advantage of someone. And I'm glad you took the Troy-Bilt- to refuse any reward for your actions would dishonor him, and his sense of fairness.

Reminds me of a good definition of "character"- its how you act when nobody's looking.

Don't be surprised that he had tears in his eyes. Its a common afflicition- I'll bet several who read your post suffer from it, as well.

Bama Ray · Dec 2, 2011

you did a good thing......If you would have bought that tractor knowing how simple a fix it was Gears would have teeth borke off them...you can never go wrong doing something like you did

Tech 7 · Dec 2, 2011

Good story and everyone ends up happy....Unlocked a few of those Masseys over the years for other people and myself the odd time (the 65 ALWAYS had a heavy screwdriver on board)When I started working for a MF dealer the boss sent me out to unlock a 245 one day asked me if I knew what to do, I told him what I had done in the past and to him that sounded right. I returned to th shop about 2 hours later and the boss had to know why I had been so long. When I got to the farm I removed the fill plug and popped the gears back to their proper spot and was just putting the plug back in when the owner drove up. Don't start that tractor he yells,then explains how he tried to unlock it himself,didn't have a bar close by so used a 3/4" wrench.....and dropped it into the transmission. Ended up loosening the hood,steering column and removing the shift cover to get the wrench. Customer felt bad that he had screwed up but I was glad I didn't test drive it before he got there.Just one of those times the "quick fix" wasn't.

Dave I Love My H · Dec 2, 2011

Good job Jiles.
Plain and simple; good job.
Too many people think they are "Self made men"
And while all of us should be proud of the hard work we put out to succeed; as we grow a bit longer in tooth and look back, there were many people along the way doing a "good job".
Dave

larry@stinescorner · Dec 2, 2011

thats a real nice story,good for you,you did a great thing. The world needs more people like you!

danofarming · Dec 2, 2011

My Granddad an MF dealer always had us use an adjustable wrench, it would not fall through the hole!

onefarmer · Dec 2, 2011

I have a MF 175, 265, 85 and they have all done that at once. You tell the gent you want the option to buy should he decide to sell in the future. It's a nice thing ya done

Jiles · Dec 2, 2011

(quoted from post at 00:37:23 12/03/11) I have a MF 175, 265, 85 and they have all done that at once. You tell the gent you want the option to buy should he decide to sell in the future. It's a nice thing ya done

He told his nephew--my friend-- that when it was time to sell, he would give me first choice at $1500.
Oh, and by the way, he sent me a dozen of the best homemade fried pies I have ever eaten. He said to tell me that his wife made them and can make more anytime

Bob D. (La) · Dec 2, 2011

Thank You and God Bless. It's always heartwarming to hear of an honest person who not only knows the right thing to do but also does it.

jbp · Dec 2, 2011

Jiles, the world could use a lot more people of your kind to not take advantage of others. God Bless. Joe

onefarmer · Dec 2, 2011

MMMMMMMMM no better way to get paid!! MMMM

Ultradog MN · Dec 2, 2011

That's a great story Jiles.
Things like this is why I hang around on these boards. Folks here are like that.
Thanks

JDseller · Dec 3, 2011

You did good following your morals. The feeling you have now is worth more than any amount of money. Plus friends are better than money when times are hard.

We all need to remember that we all will need some one else's help some day.. So start your karma out right.

BlaineF · Dec 3, 2011

You have done a good thing .Very nice story and you are a good person.The help you gave that gentlemen was more than just getting his tractor going.You warmed his heart aswell.No good deed goes unrewarded.My Thanks goes out to you !

Looked at a 135 MF

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