Farmall M

Well, we went out yesteday and picked up and M I have been eyeballing for about a month. Since the owner wasn't advertising it, I felt I could wait a little and see if he would come down on price. He didn't, but it was still a good priced tractor. It is a late 1950 model and looks like it was painted about 10 years ago - but stored inside. The previous owner said he just used it to power a grain auger after the "restoration".

She starts and pulls great with no smoke. I drove her to the gas station and she developed a leak in the transmission with some milky looking oil. I will get the appropriate manuals and start looking into the fluids ASAP.

The guy also threw in a tandem pull type disc approx. 8' wide with the deal, but we couldn't fit it on the trailer. I will pick it up next weekend. That disc should be a lot nicer to use than my 23a disc behind the cub. When you are disking a couple of acres with a 4' disc behind a cub, it can get a little back breaking.

It has old 15.5" tires on it and the rear rims were widened, which makes me think this one might be a retired puller. It sure does pull nice in 5th gear.

I plan on looking at a 2-3 bottom plow and just seeing how much juice this old girl still has in her. Any input on the plow would be appreciated.

Here are some pics...

It sounds like you may have some water in the transmission. Even with these old tractors stored in side they can get water in the transmission from the air over time. It looks like it is in good shape, and you will be suprised at how much power these old tractors have. Good luck with it!

Looks like a fine machine Matt! Congrats!

There is nothing nicer than an honest old M! You will really enjoy it. Don't faint when you find out how much lube the drive train holds!

Good old rigs, but be warned, they hold either 7 or 11 gallons of 90 wt gear oil in the transmission, don't remember which. It is available in 5 gallon buckets form most farm and implement places. Leak is probably coming from where the drive comes out of the transmission to the hydraulic pump.

Sweet M !!

Good looking tractor. Hope you enjoy your M as much as I enjoy my H.

Always good to see the boss lady with a smile on her face next to a new (to you) tractor.

If it were me I would try to find a good #60 or #70 three bottom, 14" plow. They were built in the late 50's and 60s and are great plows. Working it a while in 3rd gear should let you know what you have!

On the rear tires, I have heard of some farmers back when widening their rims for 15.5 tires.

Looks like a real nice tractor! Used to have a Super M that looked a lot like it. Ended up selling it because it needed more than I wanted to put in it. May have to get another one one day.....

Al

That's a really good looking M. I love mine. Hope you don't have to take out a loan to buy the 52 qt. it takes.

Seems like I remember 4 disc on the trailer plow behind Grandads old Super M when my uncles drove it. Plowing red clay too!

Nice lookin' "M"!!! You'll really enjoy it. Looks to be pretty complete and straight. When I restored mine a couple years ago I spent months buying up 85W-140 gear oil, it's alot of money to spend all at once. Good luck with gettin' to know it, if you have any questions just ask...

Thanks guys. I am getting to know her. I drove her to the shop yesterday afternoon and it went great.

I need to find someone with a couple of plows I can try. I don't want to buy a 3 bottom plow and find out she can't pull it, but I don't want to buy a 2 bottom if she can pull a 3 bottom.

We always pulled a 3 bottom with Granddads M with no problem. It won't take long to plow a your subdivision with that rig!

Larry

Thanks guys. I am getting to know her. I drove her to the shop yesterday afternoon and it went great.

I need to find someone with a couple of plows I can try. I don't want to buy a 3 bottom plow and find out she can't pull it, but I don't want to buy a 2 bottom if she can pull a 3 bottom.

What is your soil like? Under "normal" conditions a M should pull out of a 3 bottom 14".... good idea though if you can try out a couple different ones to see which you like the best.

Al