Massy Ferguson 540 combine

I am going to look at a massy ferguson 540 combine on Friday. It looks to be in good working order and comes with a 13 ft grain head and 4 row 30 in corn head. They are asking $9400 for all of it. It has a grey cab . I'm from western Pennsylvania and am having trouble finding a combine , so is this too much money for this machine ? Also are they good combines, any problem spots, etc. thank you

That is enough money for a 540. Is the Corn head an 1143 or a 43? For that money it had better be near perfect, and have an 1143.


My dad has a low hour grey cab 540 in the shed that we have been keeping as a backup to my 550. I am certain he would sell it for less than half of that(with a 43). I'm in western PA.

About double the current market value of a museum quality MF 540. They will not bring that kind of money anywhere I know of.

That being said. A MF 540 is just a fair combine at the best. The drive line is not the strongest. ON the hills around me they had final drive issues and clutch failures. They are a real PAIN to work on too.

Then add in the fact that AGCO parts are SKY high your looking at a very over priced combine.

I think it is $4000 to much. I see a lot of JD 6600 and 7700 for under $5000. I know of a couple of case/IH 1460's near the NY/PA border for under $8000 and both are in great shape with a lot of extras. I would suggest that you buy a hydro not a gear drive

Just speaking from personal experience I would not
buy one of these 540/550 combines I remember my 550
as a machine with problems. I should have just
bought the IH rotary to begin with and save myself
one step towards more trouble free harvesting.

where are you in western pa?

its a 1143.

This part of the country ( Tennessee) that is just about twice too much. Four thousand is about what it would bring around here if it sold at all.

Probably a little to much. Maybe 2 times too much if it was in very good shape. I sold my MF 550 (late model) for $5,000 two years ago with both heads and it was a good decent machine. I thought I was lucky to get $5000. I think for the most part MF combines have taken a steep dive in their value .... probably more than red or green. As for the combine, they aren't that bad. They are at the small end for a 4 row corn head and 13' platform. The thresher drive is a flat wide belt and it can loose its power, slip, and then you plug the combine. As for the traction drive the designed system is fine. Sort of the same traction drive as a MF 300, 410, 510, and 550. Never had any problems with the traction drive on my MF 550 with gear drive. Maybe some new belts from time to time. On an old combine a gear drive may actually save you money down the road as you won't be rebuilding a hydrostatic drive. I don't think the MF 540 is much larger than a MF 300. 300 is only a 3 row at max. and the 540 is of course 4 row corn. Might have to pace yourself in hills and/or high yielding corn. If the machine is low hour, shed kept, in good mechanical condition it could be worth more than myself or others are suggesting. John Deere 4420's are bringing more than 6600's and 6620's. There just aren't many good small combines around anymore. The smaller combines were probably used on smaller farms, therefore they have less acres on them, and less hours. Less acres means better condition and maybe they are worth more. It is all in the eyes of the beholder. If you really want it you probably need to do some research to build a case as to what the combine is selling for in a hundred mile circle from you. Private sellers will pay attention to what they are selling for, especially if they want to get rid of it. I don't think the MF 1143 corn heads are worth $1000 any more and that is for a good one. I have seen them bring $350 on consignment sales. The MF 1159 grain heads are worth even less. I bought a ready to use one 6 years ago for $35, but $200 might be a better average sale price. I know of MF 750's, 760's, 850's, and 860's that are worth more for scrap metal and the tires than they ever will get out of them for resale.

(quoted from post at 18:06:46 08/31/14) I don't think the MF 1143 corn heads are worth $1000 any more and that is for a good one. I have seen them bring $350 on consignment sales. The MF 1159 grain heads are worth even less. I bought a ready to use one 6 years ago for $35, but $200 might be a better average sale price.

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A ready to go, private sale 1143 is still 2500 around here if you can find one, $4000+ from a dealer. Saw a poorly narrowed 1144 bring $1800 last summer at auction. A 43 will still bring a grand.

Grain tables are $1000 and up.

It all depends on where you are in the country I guess.

To the OP, I'm in Mercer county.