sunspot said:
Massy # 43 Bottom plow
The local dealer is asking $550 for this plow. It has new (shares?).
Is this an OK price? He also has a Ford 101 that is well rusted. Not a speck of blue paint and he wants $450 and it needs new shares. It is in the back of the photo.
BTW, what is a moldboard? I'm new to this stuff.
I have a Ford 3910 47 hp.
#43 is a really good plow. That one is in just about as good of condition as any used plow I've seen in recent years. Worth considering is the fact that plow has good coulters and looks to have good coverboards too. #43 is a high clearance plow, built during the late 1960's through mid 1980's. It's a SLIGHTLY more modern design plow than a Ford 101. (more throat clearance/ more rigid "box frame" as opposed to truss frame of the Ford plow) $550 is a "dealer price", typical of what you'd expect to pay for a plow in that condition off of a dealers lot. You MIGHT find one cheaper through an individual, but good luck finding it when you need it. More a "happenstance" find these days. That plow would bring $500+ in a New York minute, near springtime. Wear parts for that plow near $250 per bottom (inc. freight). You might find a worn out plow for $200, then spend $500 to update. All in all, considering condition, not a bad buy, just not a bargain.
Ford 101's sell for roughly the same price as that Massey plow in simular condition. Replacing wear parts about the same cost. Shares are $12 to $15 each, plus freight. (Shins approx. $12, Moldboards approx. $95, Landslides approx. $45, coverboards approx. $45 (steel, plastic around $30) [+ freight]) The moldboard is the big "wing" part of each bottom that rolls the dirt over. Share is the lower leading edge of the bottom. The shin is the vertical cutting edge. Ford 101's were built for Ford by, at first, Pittsburg Plow, then later by Oliver/White. Same plow either way. VERY good plow IF in good condition. All in all, best mounted plow Ford ever sold.
A plow is a plow, not a '63 Vette. A shiney paint job isn't the first thing I'd be shopping for. All parts there, and not worn out would be my first thoughts. The Massey plow is all there and in good shape, ready to flip some dirt.
Your tractor will EASILY handle either plow in just about any conditions. #43 Massey Ferguson is a heavy plow for 2 bottoms. Some older 2-plow tractors (lower hp/less lift capacity) would have fits with a #43, but you're good to go.
Last winter, I started a thread on here titled "Plowing New Ground". It might be worth your time to do a quick search for that thread. In it, I rebuilt a #66 MF plow. I identify every wear part and what it's purpose is, along with initial set-up of a mounted plow. (In "Attachment" forum) Here's a couple pictures of the #66 MF plow (2X14")
