N80 said:
Farmwithjunk, looking at that those pics, what type of work would need to go into such a set to get it working (I'm not too concerned about cosmetics)? Will the bearings be shot? Can you find replacements, etc.? Any help appreciated.
Look for a disc without any breaks in the frame or obvious welded "repairs". 3-point disc's suffer the most abuse when you attempt to turn the tractor with the disc still in the dirt. That is rough on frames. Also discing over very "irregular" ground will twist the frames.
Bearings can be replaced. If they're "boxings" instead of roller bearings, you can get along just fine with some wear in the bearings. (That's why they've stayed popular all these years.) They are also easy to replace if needed. Agri-Supply sells "generic" boxings through their online catalog. They fit 99% of all disc's using boxings.
Make certain the AXLES have been kept tight. If not, the disc can wallow around and start cutting into the axle, as well as loose disc blades tend to break easier.
Disc blades are easy to replace too. Just remember, you're looking at $12 to $15 each, maybe more if shipping is involved. They add up quick.
There's still a bunch of these old disc's around. Massey Ferguson and Ford stuck with the small tractor market when everyone else was trying to win the horsepower wars of the 60's and 70's. MF and Ford also kept a nice line of implements for their utility tractor line. The MF #25 and the Ford "flex hitch" disc are still the 2 best designs EVER for a lift disc. They do a great job, and the somewhat flexible manner in which they're built allows them to survive hard use.
I paid $475 for my disc and a 2-row cultivator. (I figure the cult. was worth $150) It was in working condition when I bought it. I used it to disc 18 acres just a few days after I got it. There's $125(+) invested in new disc blades. I'd match it head to head against anything comparable on the market for performance and durability.