comments on MF 243 requested

[geneP]

I'm going to look at a 2000 model 243 with 680 hours on it tomorrow. It supposedly has 2 sets of remotes and synchro shuttle. I'm looking to upgrade from my Case-IH 385, mainly for the additional power. The 385 has a lot of good features and the 243 seems to have most of them plus a little more horsepower. MF's model numbering schemes is really confusing to me. The 235, 231, and 245 seem to be in the 38-42 PTO hp range and weigh in the lower end of 4000 LBS. Then the 243 comes in at 47 PTO hp and about 5000 pounds and has the synchro shuttle available.

I don't see many 243s for sale so the pricing is a little hard to nail down. The owner says it has a loan value of $8500, he's asking $7650. He says there is noting wrong with it except faded paint. I plan to hook up a brush hog and give it a workout to look for problems. I posted in the MF Buying/Pricing section and got a couple of comments, but this forum seems to have more participation. Comments on the reliability of the 243 and the wisdom of giving up my 385 for the extra power are appreciated.

 

[masseyrider]

I had a 2000 also. Good tractor, light on fuel, reliable. My main issue was the rad. The filler neck just never wanted to hold. Bad joint that never accepted my or pro repairs. Check were it joins the main rad for sweating. I had similar problems with other British built 200 series Masseys. More of a pain than a real problem. The 243 also sounds like a can of rocks until it warms up. It's an emission thing were the timing is retarded. You can hear it when it reaches the desired temp. and the engine smoothes right out. I really liked mine, hope it turns out.:thumbsup:

 

[geneP]

I checked it out. He advertised 680 hrs, but the tach is broken and it looks like a lot more that that. It has never been under a shed and the hood has rust blisters on it and is faded. Seat is sun-bleached and cracking. The hitch leaked down with a 6' cutter on it about 6-8 inches in ten minutes. I offered $6500, he countered with $7000. I just couldn't see it. It is still for sale.

 

[masseyrider]

Just as well probably. If someone doesn't take enough care to properly store a valuable piece of equip. then they probably did little maintenance either. You might have just side stepped a **** of a headache. Shame is they are a good tractor.