what would you do with my 47 M?

Posted by scruffyia on June 29, 2005 at 09:19:37 from (206.195.193.254):

Here's my delima. I have a 1947 Farmall M I use as an acerage tractor, blading a 700 foot lane in the winter and mowing 3 acres (was mowing 7 acres but decided to seed 4 in clover and rent out for hay). The tractor is starting to smoke more and more, mainly noticable out the breather. Also, the clutch is adjusted all the way and it's starting to run out of pedal.

We just had our first daughter but I've been putting some $$ away because I knew this day with the old tractor was coming. So I have some $$ but I really don"t have any time or the tools or experience to slit a tractor and do the work involved.

I have the local IH dealer, who has a fair amount of experience working on M"s, giving me an estimate to do an in frame overhaul of the motor (rings, pistons, rod barings, etc., internal stuff) as well as the clutch, rear axle seals, and while he has it apart put in a new radiator and steering gears and bushings (front wheels shutter really bad going down the road, lots of steering play from a front loader I no longer use). We're not doing the mains because it runs very high oil pressure currently so they were probably done before I got it.

I won't have a firm estimate until the end of this week at the earliest. Any ideas what I should expect??? I"m guessing around $3000, possibly $4000.

I'm also considering just getting another tractor for that amount of money. The only reason I'm leaning towards fixing the old M up is because in the past 5 years I've replaced the hydralic hoses (2 hookups in back, 1 up front), fuel system, ignition system, tires, brakes, hoses, belts, lights, etc. The tranny is tight and so is the rearend, and both are very very quiet. The PTO works flawlessly, the tranny never kicks out of gear, the tractor always starts and runs perfect.

The old M also has very strong 3point, live hydro running off distributor gear, 12 volt (gm alternator), loader w/7" snow bucket, new firestone rubber 3 years ago, plus all the other work I've done replacing the ignition, fuel system, brakes, seals/gaskets, etc. It could use a new hood and nose to be presentable at shows but other than a few dents the paint is only 10 years old and is fine (with the exception of a few scrapes from trees mowing).

I've had the M for 10 years and after the work is done by the shop the only thing left to do to her mechanically is put on a new steering wheel.

So while paying $3000+ to finish fixing a tractor I bought for $500 10 years ago seems absord to my wife, I know what I got and I know what I"ll have after the work is done.

So what would you do? Fix it or sell and replace it?

thanks,
Mark

Follow Ups:

• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? Leland 23:54:20 06/29/05 (0)
• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? Andy Martin 16:02:25 06/29/05 (0)
• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? John M 14:10:38 06/29/05 (0)
• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? JT 13:36:27 06/29/05 (0)
• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? John in Ct 13:05:57 06/29/05 (1)
  • Re: what would you do with my 47 M? scruffyia 13:56:37 06/29/05 (0)
• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? dave from MN 12:15:50 06/29/05 (0)
• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? captaink 10:37:28 06/29/05 (1)
  • Re: what would you do with my 47 M? scruffyia 11:21:17 06/29/05 (0)
• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? Brian in NY 10:29:30 06/29/05 (3)
  • Re: what would you do with my 47 M? scruffyia 10:59:24 06/29/05 (2)
    • Re: what would you do with my 47 M? riverbend 11:26:45 06/29/05 (1)
      • Re: what would you do with my 47 M? THEkyroastnear 12:11:56 06/29/05 (0)
• Re: what would you do with my 47 M? dej(JED) 09:42:32 06/29/05 (0)

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