advice on buying a M

kennell · Mar 12, 2012

I'm not sure why i can't beat this Red fever, but wondering what i should offer for this M? It has a strange front end on it. Did those front ends work OK? He says it ran when he bought it but he hasn't had it running. He's asking 1K for it but he'll listen to offers. What would be a reasonable price to offer. Thanks Kent

mkirsch · Mar 12, 2012

That's an original factory IH wide front end for an M.

All the tires are shot. Used tires are difficult to find, and new tires will run you about $2000 for all four.

It doesn't run, one of those typical "ran when parked." You have no idea if all it needs is some fresh fuel and a battery, or a full overhaul.

You also have no idea of the condition of the transmission, though Ms transmissions are usually pretty decent.

Is the engine free at least?

That tractor is worth $750 as scrap. You can get an easy $400-600 out of the front end by itself if it's not all busted up. If the engine is free that makes it more valuable. A compression check of more than 100PSI is a pretty good indication that you might have a runner.

If you really want to take it on, start at $750.

sflem849 · Mar 12, 2012

$700. It is worth less but the tractor salvage guys and scrap guys will go about that high so if you want it you aren't going to get it any cheaper.

Andrew Z · Mar 12, 2012

It is a early IH factory front end, the bad side is it takes a football field to turn them, but it is 'correct'. Hard to tell in the pictures the quality of the tin but it does not look too bad and seems to be mostly there. If the engine is holding coolant and is not stuck i would say you have a fairly easy fix. His asking price of 1000 is not that far off and is a good place to start ,in my opinion for him. I would say a reasonable price is anywhere from 500-850 or so without knowing more.

Andrew

Pete76NY · Mar 12, 2012

If it"s not stuck and the tires are servicablen it will be worth slightly more than scrap, so $800-$1000 tops

Yooper Farmall · Mar 12, 2012

Does it have 2 pairs of rear wheel weights?, those are worth $150 each.

I"d be weary of a "ran when parked" engine. Mine ran when I bought it, the governor kept searching so he threw in a spare governor. Ended up the engine was shot and needed rings, pistons, sleeves, and a bearing kit about $700

State of Jefferson · Mar 12, 2012

Looks like a decent enough project. Everyone has it about right. $7-800.

Ben

teddy52food · Mar 12, 2012

Be careful. Looks like it has been outside in the weather without the exaust covered.

dej(Jed) · Mar 12, 2012

(quoted from post at 09:04:50 03/12/12) Be careful. Looks like it has been outside in the weather without the exaust covered.

I would have handed him $1000 and been gone with the M. You can see a can on the exhaust so it has been covered. Heck that old style front is worth at least $500 if it isn't all cobbled up.

D Slater · Mar 12, 2012

Hey Yooper where in the US are the rear weights selling for $150 each? Thanks

Nick Roepke · Mar 12, 2012

i have an M and it seams like the moter jums around alot and it kind of seams like the governor is "searching" would a rebuilt gov help the motor run smother or is it past that point?

Yooper Farmall · Mar 12, 2012

Depends on if the govenor is out of tune. In my case the govenor was fine, but the compression was very low and the head valvles were so worn and the engine was just so tired that it just wouldn"t run right, the govenor would search trying to adjust but just couldn"t do it.

Yooper Farmall · Mar 12, 2012

I was thinking $150 was the going rate, but given the fact you are asking now I am doubting myself. Maybe it is front wheel weights I was thinking about. I see rear weights advertised on ebay for $100, $125 and $150, but of course that doesn't mean anyone is buying them at that price. Don't buy that M based on my thoughts on the wheel weight price!

mkirsch · Mar 12, 2012

(quoted from post at 10:12:07 03/12/12) Hey Yooper where in the US are the rear weights selling for $150 each? Thanks

Yeah, I paid $100 a pair, and thought it was highway robbery.

Super-H-Mike · Mar 12, 2012

The license plate tabs are expired too, figure that in ! lol

Zachary Hoyt · Mar 12, 2012

Here in NY I have sold 6 sets of those weights over the past couple of years, always for $100 per set. Seems to be a fairly middle-of-the-road price locally as far as I can tell.
Zach

Nick Roepke · Mar 12, 2012

what did you all have to do to your motor to fix it up? am i better off sending it down the road or putting money in it? and could it just have the valves reground, valve springs replaced, cylinders honed and rings replaced, or does it have to be compleatly redune?

Yooper Farmall · Mar 12, 2012

I really couldn't answer for your engine, but on mine I could guess that 90% of my engine's problem was the valves. My head never had the hardened valve seats installed for nonleaded gasoline and were just plain worn out. I don't think I needed new springs. My head work was between $200-$250. That might be a good place to start. I don't beleive you need to have your cylinders honed, the cylinders are sleeved. Parts are for sale on this site:
Piston ring set $55
Piston sleeves are $56
A whole piston sleeve kit $280
My oil pressure was low so I ended up replacing the bearings also, it was dangerously low when warm, and now the needle is pegged at 75lbs

outdoors · Mar 12, 2012

Do you live in that area? I grew up in Wallace. My uncle bought a Super 77 Oliver near where that M is. Amazing what is still about in (or behind) old barns!

Depends what you want when you are done but there are quite a few straight Ms about in decent condition for around $2000 and so if you need to do much work or buy rear tires it would be cheaper to keep looking. I understand that it is hard to pass up an old tractor though...

Save it if you can.

sflem849 · Mar 12, 2012

(quoted from post at 11:50:10 03/12/12)

(quoted from post at 10:12:07 03/12/12) Hey Yooper where in the US are the rear weights selling for $150 each? Thanks

Click to expand...

Yeah, I paid $100 a pair, and thought it was highway robbery.

We are still $80 at the junkyard around here. Remember the thread where WBrehm told me I was a moron for saying they were worth $80? Him and Yooper must shop together. :lol: Don't worry Yooper, I do see them advertised for that but that doesn't mean they sell.

kennell · Mar 12, 2012

I live in PEI, but M's are scarce over here, so i though i'd slip across the bridge if its a good deal. I'll keep everyone informed. Thanks Kent

shawnm · Mar 12, 2012

I was speaking to this same fellow. I was over to Tatamagouche to look at a JD dozer on the weekend. Had the deal fallen through on the dozer I would have stopped into Truro and looked at this. I ended up taking home the dozer but if my trailer was big enough I would have had the M on it too.

The M's aren't all that scarce on PE, it's prying them loose from the old fella's hands is my problem.

Nick Roepke · Mar 13, 2012

my oil pressure if fine and i pulled the head off last night and the valves look like they are worn out do the valve seats have to be reground and valves replaced? and do you know how much clearence there should be between the push rods and rocker arm? i think i will have the valves replaced and maby some new rings while i'm at it. did you have the head compleatly rebuilt? or what did you all have dune to it?

Yooper Farmall · Mar 13, 2012

Actually it has been over a year since I had the head work done so I don't really remember, I just dropped it off at my cousin's machine shop and he did what needed to be done. I'm sure it got new valve seats but don't know if the valves were ground or replaced and don't know if the springs were replaced. I would say just bring it to your local machine shop and see what they suggest.

Nick Roepke · Mar 13, 2012

thanks for the help i will take it in and see what they say

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