Buying Advice 1967 MF 150

wojeepster · Nov 19, 2011

Went to look at a tractor today. Let me give you a description Sheet metal straight except for 2" dent in the front cowl, black plastic coming off steering wheel, "ears" that attach rear fenders all broken and rewelded but the fenders excellent, stale gas (perkins gas engine) and it did not want to run well but smoothed out when he shut off the gas like it was running too rich, exhaust rotted in two in front of the muffler underneath, gas gage broken, seat showing foam. Lift worked when I let clutch out 1/2 way. I left it up and as we talked the box blade slowly lowered with the engine off in 30 minutes. Play in steering but not in box under steering wheel seemed to be in the linkage under the front cowl. Other than that it looked pretty much orignal. He was asking $4500 said he would take $4400 with $200 to deliver. Then he called back and said he would take $4400 delivered. Let me say I loved this tractor but I was thinking more along the lines of $2800. Am I being unreasonable? I would prefer a 150 diesel but to tell the truth I am just going to remove snow and scrape the drive so it doesnt make a whole lot of difference. I think I will wait to find one in better condition. What do you all think? I am completely new to tractors. 5,778 hrs

WilliamBos · Nov 19, 2011

wojeepster said:
Went to look at a tractor today. Let me give you a description Sheet metal straight except for 2" dent in the front cowl, black plastic coming off steering wheel, "ears" that attach rear fenders all broken and rewelded but the fenders excellent, stale gas (perkins gas engine) and it did not want to run well but smoothed out when he shut off the gas like it was running too rich, exhaust rotted in two in front of the muffler underneath, gas gage broken, seat showing foam. Lift worked when I let clutch out 1/2 way. I left it up and as we talked the box blade slowly lowered with the engine off in 30 minutes. Play in steering but not in box under steering wheel seemed to be in the linkage under the front cowl. Other than that it looked pretty much orignal. He was asking $4500 said he would take $4400 with $200 to deliver. Then he called back and said he would take $4400 delivered. Let me say I loved this tractor but I was thinking more along the lines of $2800. Am I being unreasonable? I would prefer a 150 diesel but to tell the truth I am just going to remove snow and scrape the drive so it doesnt make a whole lot of difference. I think I will wait to find one in better condition. What do you all think? I am completely new to tractors. 5,778 hrs

Could you do us a favour, and give a general location. This can be a determining factor.

wojeepster · Nov 19, 2011

North Carolina near Franklin

cowski · Nov 19, 2011

$4400 for a gas? too much for me.i would look for a diesel.

TnWV · Nov 19, 2011

I have the same tractor but with the diesel. I would think for that kind of money you could find one with a diesel. Way too much for a gas model in my opinion. I can't say anything about the gas models, but if you get a diesel 150, they are a great tractor. Check tractorhouse.com for price comparisons. Good luck with your search.

Mike476 · Nov 20, 2011

None of the problems you listed seem serious but it will take a little money if you need to repair the exhaust, possibly rebuild the carb and the few other issues you had mentioned. The three point lowering in half an hour with an implement attached isn't anything to worry about if the cycle time to raise and lower the implement wasn't an issue.

I paid close to $4500 for a 135 Continental where I'm at, but the tractor was in excellent condition and running very well, also came with a 7' MF back blade, which is built like a WWII Sherman.

I debated the gas / diesel question too when I bought, a gas concerned me and all I had planned to use it for was clearing 2 acres of trees, landscaping the property after I built the house and then snow removal and manure etc for the horses we have. I have no regrets except I don't have a loader, which is why I'm looking at a 4WD with loader to add to the collection, makes moving manure / hay / feed and just about anything else a lot less hassle. As far as the HP goes, it will bury itself and keep digging long before it runs out of HP, so I wouldn't let that concern you.

wojeepster · Nov 20, 2011

The tractor seemed very well made to me. Everything on it seemed built to last which is unusual now. The seat was the most comfortable tractor seat I have ever sat on. I was thinking maybe the float has a hole in it and is making it run so rich. I am not familiar with tractor carbs though and the adjustments are a mystery to me. I figure all will be explained in the manual. It seemed the right size to me. I saw a massey fergeson 165 in South Carolina a couple weeks ago and it seemed to be a locomotive in size. Important because I have to find a place to put it and my wife is already going into convulsions over me getting anything more than the crap I already have. (1950 willys jeepster, bridgeport mill, hardinge lathe, mig, tig, two volvos, a chevy truck, and a pile of tube radios) I figure the first time I clear the drive of snow she will get over it. I figure do a compression check and it that is ok, make an offer. On tractor house . com I see one that looks to be in better condition in Alabama, I am trying to find out if it is a diesel.

Mike476 · Nov 20, 2011

In case I wasn't clear (after re-reading my post), my 135 is the Z134 Continental gas, and have never regretted it for lack of HP or torque. Had I been on this forum at the time I might have held out for a diesel, more for the fuel economy and would have been assured not all old diesels are a nightmare to start during winter months, which was the last thing I wanted.

wojeepster · Nov 21, 2011

So today I called about the tractor and offered him $3000 for it. As this is $1400 under what he said he was willing to take for it I doubt I will hear from him again. So be it. Every time I have bought a car, truck, etc there are a bunch of things you don't see. I think the tractor needs it's gas tank cleaned out, a carburator rebuild, exhaust system, a fuel gage, and paint restoration, seat upholstery, choke cable, a little sheet metal work and so on. Then if you get it you find what it really needs. There can be alot that is hidden. I really would prefer a diesel just because I like the sound. Hard to beat a perkins 3 cyl. (I have been looking at U Tube) and reading on this forum had definitely influnced me. A couple of weeks ago I just wanted a tractor to scrape the drive with. Now I want a specific tractor with a specific engine and a specific transmission in the best condition possible. There is what appears to be a clean one in Ohio. I travel to Ohio so it is possible although I do not know how I would get it back home. I guess I am at the age where condition is more important than the price. I am just glad there are alot of 150's out there and I will find one eventually.