New 203 workbull owner

[Dpgoat]

Before the snow fell picked up this 1960 203 workbull diesel from an old timer few towns over. Loader and backhoe. He used it on a small property and for a few foundations. He had it since 87, before that it was homeowner used close by as well but not sure how long. Runs like a top, he put new sleeves in it and a clutch recently. It was well maintained and I got lots of receipts and all manuals with it. Ran it for a last week moving some pine logs and dragging brush. Got it stuck in the wet woods for an hour, dug/dragged myself out. Not much tracking with wet snowy or mud. He gave me some chains. I値l put them on today. Can稚 wait till the weather gets better so I can clean this girl up. Dash is a mess will need to sort that out, few pistons leak down over night, other pistons have slight pitting echoe bucket needs some welding but not too much and one tire has very very slow leak I noticed. Otherwise I.m happy. I値l get some pics up tonight

 

[shaeff]

Excellent! They’re a great machine and will last a lifetime! Feel free to post pics here and also in the “Massey Ferguson Picture Thread” a few threads down in the forum. Lots of cool pics in there!

 

[Dpgoat]

Some pics of my new friend

 

[Dpgoat]

couple more

 

[Turbys_1700]

Nice older machine. It will take you a while to get used to the controls on the backhoe. They are like our old 3616 IH (1967 vintage) we sold to our neighbor couple years ago. It used a diverter set up with a couple of pumps. Don't know the exact way Massey ran their hydraulics on that unit. Don't know what you gave for it but I know those old machines can do a lot of work for a little coin. Keep us updated on your progress. I like old machines of that vintage.

 

[Dpgoat]

It has a pump off the front of engine, diverted valve at the loader controls that selects loader or backhoe. You have to switch between the two. Kind of a pain jumping out of the hoe seat to the loader bucket. Got it for a good deal I think.. 3k. I’ll get a lot of use out of her.

 

[fried1765]

It has a pump off the front of engine, diverted valve at the loader controls that selects loader or backhoe. You have to switch between the two. Kind of a pain jumping out of the hoe seat to the loader bucket. Got it for a good deal I think.. 3k. I値l get a lot of use out of her.

You will LOVE it!
I bought my 1970, Ford 3400TLB in 1986 (33years ago) for $10K.
It will be 50 years old next year. I was 30 when it was born.
It is a 4 lever machine also. I have had it so long I would not know how to use the modern two lever system.
Mine was a cemetery machine, and has a 10' hoe. It had 1350 hours (gas) then, and has 1850 now.
I completely refurbished it 3 years ago. It has never spent a night outside in the past 33 years.
Looks like new, and I would estimate that it might be worth almost $10K today.
Obviously I do not use it often (It is North, and I live South 1/2 the year), but it does make life so much easier for me.
I am 78 now, so each year it helps me out even more.
ENJOY!!!

 

[m7040]

I have a 203 as well. it has seen a lot of use over the years. Have all workshop manuals also for it

 

[shaeff]

Great looking machine, I sure wish mine came with a backhoe. I think $3k is a steal for a good running machine with a loader and backhoe.

 

[Turbys_1700]

That is a more than fair price. We sold our 3616 to my neighbor for 2K but it needed a back tire plus had a couple of hydraulic leaks and minor maintenance attended to. He's a good mechanic so he's spent a little time and effort to get it into good shape. He's used it a lot around his house. Dug out a huge oak stump in his front yard and had a hole the size of a couple swimming pools. He was grinning from ear to ear.