Farmall M (should I go get it)

Hey ya'll,
I'll try to keep this post short, I'm getting out of the old tractor collecting as I'm putting my second kid through college now and have sold off all of my H.Fergusons and N Fords to raise some much needed extra income. But the old fever is still there that I can't shake off. I've never posted on this site since I've only owned one Farmall A with belly mower and that was many years ago. Here is my situation, I saw pics of a good looking M thats 2 hours away from me, owner is asking $2000 obo, says it runs good, has 3 point lift and wide front end. This is the tractor that I have always wanted, I'm in south Alabama and have not seen many M's in my 50 years down here, theres plenty of Cubs,A's, and C's around and once in a while you'll see an H but no M's. Up in the central and north part of the state M's are plentiful. What I would like to know is what are the going price ranges on a Farmall M now in your area, and what do you think about this M that I am interested in for $2000 or maybe less? Thanks, grayrider(ex-Fergie owner)May have to change my name to redrider if I go get it.

YES!Go for it!.If you get in a bind,you can always sell it later.The price is fair-about average.Since this tractor is a "lifetime dream",and rare for your area,you will always regret not buying it.Trust me,I know.I say "get it before it gets away"!

(quoted from post at 09:19:21 03/05/11) Hey ya'll,
I'll try to keep this post short, I'm getting out of the old tractor collecting as I'm putting my second kid through college now and have sold off all of my H.Fergusons and N Fords to raise some much needed extra income. But the old fever is still there that I can't shake off. I've never posted on this site since I've only owned one Farmall A with belly mower and that was many years ago. Here is my situation, I saw pics of a good looking M thats 2 hours away from me, owner is asking $2000 obo, says it runs good, has 3 point lift and wide front end. This is the tractor that I have always wanted, I'm in south Alabama and have not seen many M's in my 50 years down here, theres plenty of Cubs,A's, and C's around and once in a while you'll see an H but no M's. Up in the central and north part of the state M's are plentiful. What I would like to know is what are the going price ranges on a Farmall M now in your area, and what do you think about this M that I am interested in for $2000 or maybe less? Thanks, grayrider(ex-Fergie owner)May have to change my name to redrider if I go get it.

Click to expand...

The wide front is worth an easy $800 to $1,000 IF it is not broken, welded up, or worn out. Likewise, that 3 point is worth another $500 to $800, so if the rest of the tractor is decent, runs well, and has GOOD tires, the asking price is probably fair.

Up in Iowa, the wide front and 3-point would bring $1000 by themselves...so your really only looking at $1000 for the M. If it runs good and is in decent shape the only real concern value-wise is the condition of the rear tires/rims. If they are shot you can expect to spend $1000 or more for new. I just sold a '48 dual-fuel M for $1000 WITHOUT rear rims and tires...

It's not a super steal, but it isn't over priced. The wide front and 3 point may be worth $750 on their own, but they don't just add that much to the value of the tractor.
Nobody asked what kind of wfe it was. That will make a difference. I know of a Super M with a Norton and nobody wants anything to do with that wfe. If it isn't an one of the big brands nobody really cares.
As for the 3 point. Not one M came from the factory with a three point hitch. I have seen some homemade crap, some quality homemade, and decent aftermarket hitches. The value of the hitch depends on what type of hitch it is. Don't forget about the hydraulics to run the hitch. If it has a dual spool setup so you can have downpressure that is worth more (and better to use!) If it has live hydraulics you are really in business. (it wouldn't have this from the factory) You can tell by looking at the distriburtor. If there are two hyd hoses there you have live hyd.
Finally, it all comes down to tires. Tires, Tires, TIRES. You'll have a solid $1200-1500 bill if you have to put rear tires on it. But just like the wfe and 3 pt they don't just add 1200 to the value if they are useable. Figure about half of their value.

in farmall infested southern ill an M will go for 800-1200 depending on condition, 3pt and wide front are worth as much as tractor. sounds about right kj

Only if
1) the three point is a Saginaw
2) The WFE is an IH or Scwhartz
3) You don't have to buy rear tires.

Thanks for the tips, plan to go look at it. Didn't know there were different front axle options or different types of lifts put on them.

(quoted from post at 12:15:53 03/05/11) Only if
1) the three point is a Saginaw
2) The WFE is an IH or Scwhartz
3) You don't have to buy rear tires.

Click to expand...

WRONG Gordo, it's an instant buy! :lol:

To the OP, there are actually multiple IH WFEs. I forgot to mention that you can take a 450 (or 400 with more work) fast hitch an put it on an M as well. Then you can retro it into a 3 pt.

I haven't heard of a Norton WFE. Any chance you have a pic or a source? I like tractors with odd accesories. ie Sears, or other one offers.

Thanks,

Stumpy

(quoted from post at 05:57:37 03/06/11) I haven't heard of a Norton WFE. Any chance you have a pic or a source? I like tractors with odd accesories. ie Sears, or other one offers.

Thanks,

Stumpy

Click to expand...

My neighbor had it on a Stage I. It was an akward looking design. Maybe it was retro off a 460/560? He sold all his tractors to a kid that was jokeying on Craigslist. He had a picture of it on there when I searched last week. The kid bought it for $1000 and was selling for something like $2500 advertising it as a one owner tractor. Maybe one owner means he doesn't have a wife that owns half :lol: Anyhow, the kid is a slimy little weasel so beware if you want the tractor. IIRC it was on Madison CL. I went and looked for it now so I could post the picture here, but couldn't find it.

Here it is on YT photo ads. It is a rear view of the tractor. WATCH OUT FOR THIS GUY! The tractor runs very poorly unless he did some carb work.
https://photos.yesterdaystractors.c...utton=on&db_id=419276&query=retrieval

1952 Farmall Super M with norden wide front and freeman trip bucket very nice one owner tractor and easy restore 2200 firm

For what it's worth, a guy I know has an M with that Norden wide front and while moving big rounds with the loader, one of the spindles snapped right off. We did a little measuring and comparing and found that a new spindle, thrust bearing, and spindle bushings for a Schwartz were close enough to get it up and running again. If I remember right, the Schwartz splindle was maybe 1/4" to 3/8" longer than the original Norden spindle.

I got up with the owner of the M tractor tonight and he still has it. He told me that he's owned it for 7 years and only used it to bushog with, said that 3 point lift works good, the rear tires are new, front tires are weather cracked and needed replacing soon. He said tractor runs good. I plan on making the 2 hour ride to look at it possibly tomorrow afternoon, he is going to call me back to give me the width of tractor so that I'll know which trailer to carry in case I buy it, got a 6' wide tandem axle trailer that may be too narrow and also have an 8' wide tri-axle trailer if needed. He wants as near to $2000 as possible for it but told me to make him an offer on it, I don't want to insult him but was thinking about offering $1600, do you think that would offend him. I did notice in the pictures that the old M does not have the original seat on it, someone has put a modern day padded seat on the tractor which takes away from its appearance. Will post pictures if I do bring it home.

(quoted from post at 20:40:41 03/07/11) I got up with the owner of the M tractor tonight and he still has it. He told me that he's owned it for 7 years and only used it to bushog with, said that 3 point lift works good, the rear tires are new, front tires are weather cracked and needed replacing soon. He said tractor runs good. I plan on making the 2 hour ride to look at it possibly tomorrow afternoon, he is going to call me back to give me the width of tractor so that I'll know which trailer to carry in case I buy it, got a 6' wide tandem axle trailer that may be too narrow and also have an 8' wide tri-axle trailer if needed. He wants as near to $2000 as possible for it but told me to make him an offer on it, I don't want to insult him but was thinking about offering $1600, do you think that would offend him. I did notice in the pictures that the old M does not have the original seat on it, someone has put a modern day padded seat on the tractor which takes away from its appearance. Will post pictures if I do bring it home.

Click to expand...

You'll need the 8' trailer or more. That is only 96" so you would need to have the tires flipped in and quite a ways on the axle. Mine is 102" and I have about 4" on either side with 13.6" tires and axles slid all the way in and dished in (normal at least IMO)

I always figure people will take 10% off. I would lead a little closer to $2000.

The new rear tires are $1500 +/-. So, that leaves $500 for the rest of the tractor. Front tires will run approx. $120 each with tubes +/-.

Take $2000 with you. Offer him $1800, make sure you take the wad of $100's out and hold it forward saying, "Will $1800 work?". If he takes it, you paid for your fuel. If he doesn't, you can still give him the other $200 from the "reserve" pocket.

Bottom line, $2000 for a decent running M with new rear rubber, and other goodies to boot is a fair price. If you don't do this, you will kick yourself later, especially if M's are not common in your local area.

IMHO.

Tuesday(3-8-11), The owner of the "M" called me this morning and said he was headed somewhere to Mississipi this afternoon and would not be back till Thursday night, it will be Friday at the earliest that I can drive the 2 hours to look it over, I asked him how firm he was on the $2000 and he asked me to make him an offer on it, I offered $1500 and he said he would meet me in the middle at $1750, so thats where things stand right now. The old "M" looks darn good in the pictures, maybe she purrs as good as she looks. Can anyone add to this post of things that I need to pay close attention to before handing him the cash?

ASk to take the oil pan plug out, just enough to let a bit of oil come out. If there is antifreeze in the oil, it will come out first. Also, look in the radiator for oil. Tell him you want to hear a cold start, ie. don't have it warmed up when you come over. Does it smoke? note oil pressure at start up, and let it warm up for 10 mins and look at the oil pressure again. should drop a little, but not WAY down. take it for a short ride. Go through all the gears. LIsten all the way through.