(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

possible purchase also posted on MF board

M

Mike Henry

Member
found a massey ferguson to20 on craigs list. Story is older gent bought 10yrs ago. Used it to do gardening and snow plowing. Gent passed 3yrs ago. Been sitting in the barn under a tarp and at 84yr old widows request s.i.l. is selling for her. serial number on the tag says 13344, think I looked it up it was 47. painted well in battleship grey. Rear tires are awesome looking and seller says it needs fronts. Says after all this time sitting he installed battery and it fired up and ran well. PTO and 3 point work well as well according to him. I understand that it don't have live power. I am looking for something to put a 3 pt blade on to smooth out landscaping and drive. Also for wife to drive on tractor rides and go across mackinaw bridge in the next yr or 2. Looking for any advice into the goods and bads of this tractor. Is there any flaws I should look at. I am not that familiar with these tractors but am the fords. Thanks in advance for any help given.
 
I don't know that there was a dimes worth of difference between them and an 8N except the engine. The Ferguson had a valve in head instead of a flathead. A 47 would have been a straight Ferguson though,not a Massey Ferguson. I had a TO30 with a Freeman loader on it that was way too big for it. It was a tough little tractor. You hardly every see one that actually has any real hard core mechanical problems.
 
My understanding of the hydraulic lift, it is either up or down, no stopping in between. That will be somewhat of a problem using the blade.

Also no power steering, Ok for parades but tiresome working it.

Remember, at 70 years of age, there will be some problems pop up time to time. Anything degradable will need to be replaced, wiring, seals, etc.
 
Randy, I don't know how they did it... Never actually operated one, but what I hear they would use chains to limit the drop. What a pain!

Then some aftermarket attachments were designed that would give some control, suspect it was still a guessing game!
 
No position control,draft control only. 8n had both. You can get a 'Zane Thang' linkage attachment to make the implement stay where you want it.

Garry
 
They had excellent draft control, so they plowed, disked, cultivated, and yes bladed well. The lever kinda has a neutral. Like a allis or moline. A new cheaper Kubota has poor position control, and no draft control. It will be fine.
 
I don't know where you came up with that follishiness about using chains to limit drop. Only time something like that would be done is carrying a mower down the road without unhooking the PTO shaft to keep it raised without it running. I had a TO30 and a Ford 9N and a Ford 2N WITHOUT THAT POSITION CONTROL ALSO naa AND 2 4000 AND A 5000 WITH, NORMALLY KEPT THEM OUT OF POSITION CONTROL. Keyboard messing up
 
"My understanding of the hydraulic lift, it is either up or down, no stopping in between."

That is mostly correct, it was called the Ferguson system.
Ford used it for years too.
Ground engaging equipment used the large spring on the top
link and the linkage attached through it, to provide feedback
to the hydraulic system to adjust itself.
Thus maintaining constant draft control of the implement.

The 3pt will stop between all the way up and all the way down,
the thing is there is nothing that tells it to stay there so it drifts.

Feedback mechanisms like the Zane Thang add that with a simple
bolt on the outside addition. 15 minute job, no modifications.
 
Mike the only bad thing I've heard about the engine in the TO's
was that the block tended to crack between cylinders.
No personal experience with that, so take it with a grain of salt.
It still may be worth a compression check and close inspection
of the antifreeze and oil.

The only bad experience I had with a TO-20 was trying to get
the #$#@$ oil filter cover to seal. That thing is a PITA.
Once I did get it sealed, it was sealed. Until the next oil change.
 
Steve

There is control between up and down with things like a blade. But it needs holding your mouth the right way and a constant very delicate finger on the control.

Or maybe - years agone there was an ad around this problem (no longer available) to replace the control valve.

From one who has one on the front line
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Looking for advise on tractor purchase
Replies
12
Views
715
jm.
jm.
D
Case 630 Possible Purchase
Replies
4
Views
412
George by Geneva, NY
G
Z
MF 265 No Fuel to Injectors
Replies
6
Views
384
zcronk
Z
C
Red power hay making tractor?
Replies
7
Views
940
jwal10
J
Stroby
Root grapple
Replies
6
Views
377
Stroby
Stroby
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top